Title: Beautiful Chaos
Author: Kami Garcia
First published October 18, 2011
516 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316123525 (ISBN10: 0316123528)
Rating: 3.92
Overview
Ethan Wate has finally learned to cope with the strange happenings in Gatlin, a small Southern town. But when Lena and Ethan return home, the impossible takes on a new meaning.
Devastating storms, record-breaking heat, and swarms of locusts plague Gatlin, as Lena’s Claiming takes a toll on everyone, including her powerful Supernatural family. As time passes, the question remains – who or what will be sacrificed to save Gatlin?
Amidst the chaos, Ethan finds solace in a haunting distraction that follows him out of his dreams and into reality. But, as he loses pieces of himself – memories, names, and phone numbers, he’s afraid to ask why.
Sometimes, there are no easy answers, and no happy endings. This time, there’s no going back.
About the Author
Meet Kami Garcia, a bestselling author who has made waves in the literary world. Her work has been published in 51 countries and 37 languages, with over 10 million copies in print.
She is best known for coauthoring the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series, which even spawned a feature film from Warner Brothers in 2013. But that’s not all – she’s also the author of five solo novels, including the Bram Stoker Award-nominated novels Unbreakable and Unmarked (THE LEGION series) and The X-Files Origins: Agent of Chaos.
Kami is a cofounder of the YALLFEST kid lit book festival, and she’s now venturing into new territory with her latest projects. Her first graphic novel Teen Titans: Raven, illustrated by Gabriel Picolo, is the first book in her TEEN TITANS series for DC Comics.
She’s also working on the adult series JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY, which will be released under DC Black Label.
If you want to keep up with Kami, you can find her online at kamigarcia.com, on Facebook @KamiGarciaYA, and on Twitter and Instagram @KamiGarcia.
Editoral Review
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia is a young adult novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and the struggle to find one’s place in the world. Garcia is a New York Times bestselling author and co-author of the acclaimed Beautiful Creatures series, which was also turned into a major motion picture.
Set in a small Southern town, Beautiful Chaos is a contemporary tale with a touch of supernatural elements that will keep readers engaged until the very end. The novel follows the main characters of Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes, two star-crossed lovers who have been through their share of ups and downs.
When strange events begin to occur in the town of Gatlin, Ethan and Lena find themselves at the center of a dangerous and disturbing mystery. As they try to uncover the truth behind the supernatural events, they also have to confront their own demons and the challenges of being in a relationship with someone from a different world.
Garcia does an excellent job of capturing the complexities of teenage love and the struggles that come with being an outsider. The love story between Ethan and Lena is both heartfelt and poignant, and readers will find themselves rooting for the couple throughout the novel.
Garcia also excels at creating a rich and vivid setting, transporting readers to the world of Gatlin and the supernatural elements that exist within it. One of the strengths of Beautiful Chaos is its ability to balance the supernatural elements with the contemporary issues that the characters face.
Garcia touches on themes such as intolerance, prejudice, and the difficulties of navigating the teenage years, making the novel relatable to a wide range of readers. The pacing is also well-done, with the plot moving at a brisk pace that keeps the reader engaged without feeling rushed.
While the novel is a great addition to the young adult genre, it does have its limitations. The character development of some of the supporting characters falls a bit short, leaving readers wanting more depth from them.
Additionally, some of the plot twists are predictable and lack the surprise factor that would have made them more impactful. Overall, Beautiful Chaos is an engaging read that will appeal to fans of the young adult genre.
Garcia’s writing style is immersive and captivating, and her ability to balance the supernatural with contemporary issues is commendable. While the novel has its limitations, it is a solid addition to the young adult canon and will leave readers wanting to know more about the world of Gatlin and its inhabitants.
RATING: 3.5/5
RECOMMENDATION: Beautiful Chaos is recommended for fans of young adult fiction looking for a captivating love story with supernatural elements. It is also recommended for fans of Garcia’s earlier work, including the Beautiful Creatures series.