The Beautiful is Renée Ahdieh’s darkest and most compelling novel yet

If you haven’t picked up Renée Ahdieh’s The Beautiful yet, we suggest you do so before Halloween — because it’s her darkest and most compelling story to date.

Renée Ahdieh is no small name when it comes to young adult literature, having released two best-selling duologies: The Wrath and the Dawn and The Flame in the Mist. Her Eastern-inspired fantasy stories are beloved amongst YA readers, and her newest novel has been receiving just as much attention since its release — though The Beautiful is a far cry from anything Ahdieh has written before.

Set in New Orleans 1872, The Beautiful follows Celine Rousseau as she begins her new life in America — and attempts to escape the secrets she left behind in France. But Celine soon realizes that leaving your past behind is much easier said than done. And that’s particularly true when you find yourself caught up in a series of murders occurring in the city you now call home.

Of course, the murders Celine keeps running into aren’t the ordinary sort either. With the victims’ bodies torn up — evidently by some extraordinary force — it’s clear that something supernatural is lurking in the dark alleys of New Orleans. And it seems to have its gaze set on the story’s protagonist.

While on the topic of Celine, she’s incredibly relatable in her struggle to fit into “proper society” — and though the obstacles thrown at her are framed in a 19th-century setting, it’s hard to deny that the sexism and racism she experiences and witnesses is relevant and applicable to modern-day society as well. This story very easily makes itself timeless in its ability to tackle such issues.

The supporting cast of characters is also a group that fans of books like Six of Crows and The Last Magician will appreciate — if only because so many of them are morally grey and residing in the crime-ridden underbelly of the city.

Ahdieh’s writing style throughout The Beautiful is lush and eerie, and it perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere the author is going for. You’ll get chills reading this, and it’s hard to say whether they’ll be from the creepy things happening in the story or the gorgeously crafted passages scattered throughout the book.

The mystery element of The Beautiful is also an obvious reason to pick the book up, as it’ll keep you flipping through its pages. Between chapters, readers get the perspective of the murderer via his journal — and having no idea whether you’re listening to a character you already know or one who’s completely new to the game will leave you needing answers.

There’s also plenty of exploration of morality within the pages of The Beautiful, and Ahdieh doesn’t hold back when it comes to highlighting the darkness that resides in all human beings — whether they choose to act on it or not. This captivating story will leave readers with plenty to think about, both in terms of the plot and the greater meaning behind it.

Have you read The Beautiful yet? Tell us what you thought of it in the comments!