The Beautiful Ones

The Beautiful Ones is a beautiful, engaging historical romance that interweaves interesting characters and fantastical elements into a lovely narrative. Silvia Moreno-Garcia blends the supernatural world of telekinetics with a courtship romance and family politics to create one of the most enjoyable stories I've read all year.

The characters in this novel are nicely well-realized and deep. The love triangle at the heart of the novel's conflict feels real and passionate, while also being understandable and complex. Each of the characters feels complete in their own right, has understandable motivations and desires, even when certain ones are presented in a villainous role.

The setting of the story in belle époque Paris was a lovely touch as well. Not only is it an interesting period that is sometimes underrepresented in fiction, but it also serves as a perfect metaphor for the heart of Nina and Valerié's relationship. Moreno-Garcia's use and description of setting in this way was masterful, and blending the historical elements with the supernatural elements of telekinesis gives the story a unique feel.