Monstrous Beauty

by Elizabeth Fama

In alternating chapters, tells of the mermaid Syrenka's love for Ezra in 1872 that leads to a series of horrific murders, and present-day Hester's encounter with Ezra's ghost that reveals her connection to the murders and to Syrenka.

• ISBN10: 0374373663
• ISBN13: 9780374373665
• Publish Date: 4 September 2012
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 2 July 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 295
• Language: English

Reviews

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

Trigger Warning: Rape is a feature in this book.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama sounded like such an incredible book, but I was left with mixed feelings.

It's in no way a bad book, I think it's down to personal preference. It's absolutely gripping in regards to writing; I was completely captivated and couldn't put it down, but at the same time, it's also a little slow - or at least, Hester's story is. The story is told in alternating chapters, past - 1872-73 - with Syrenka, and present, with Hester. I was much more interested in what happened in the past than in the future. That was probably because both are linked, and, with Syrenka, the reader sees things as they happen, where as with Hester, we're waiting for her to work things out about the past, and she may not work out what we've just read for another few chapters. Because I already knew what she was trying to discover, I was much more interested in what would happen next with Syrenka. Most chapters would end on little cliff-hangers, and so you'd have to read a chapter from the alternate time before you could find out where the cliffhanger would lead.

I found the intensity of the love in this book a bit hard to believe. It's insta-love, obsessive love, but without much foundation. There are only a few times when Hester has conversations with Ezra, and those conversations are really short. She doesn't really know the guy at all, and yet this overwhelming love seems to hit her out of nowhere. Granted, there could be an explanation for that, but we don't find that out until much later on, so I spent a lot of time frowning at Hester, thinking, "Really?" And with Syrenka and her Ezra, we don't actually see them fall in love. We see the first time they meet, but after that, numerous meetings happen off-page, so perhaps their love is a little more gradual, but we don't see it. Even so, it's also obsessive love. It all just seemed a bit much.

Monstrous Beauty is also a really grisly book. It's full of violent deaths, and Syrenka's transformation into human is pretty horrific. It's not overly graphic and descriptive, but it did turn my stomach a little. At the same time, when things are finally revealed, as to what the "horrific and deadly consequences" as described in the description are, I was left thinking, "Is that it?" Don't get me wrong, I had moments of "woah!", but once the tragedy had happened, I was taken aback by how different it was to what I expected. How the curse is created. I was expecting something a bit more sinister, something evil spawned from the desire for revenge. And though things do get pretty bad, they don't get as bad as I was expecting, and Syrenka didn't turn out to be the kind of person I thought she'd be.

I also felt a little let down by Hester's ending. Once she worked everything out, and realised what she had to do, what she actually had to do seemed far too easy. It wasn't the nicest thing to witness, and she has a few issues, but it was pretty easy in the end. And I felt a little let down by that. After everything that happen in Syrenka's time, after all the tragedy, that's all Hester had to do? I just felt it should have been more difficult. Emotionally, for Hester, it is, but physically, it's the simplest thing.

There's also a little predictability to it, in regards to Hester's time. I'm not talking about what's revealed in Syrenka's chapters, but just in things you have to work out as a reader along with Hester. But Hester took ages to work out things that were pretty damn obvious to me, which just made Hester seem stupid. But I rather think that's a flaw in storytelling, that these particular things were really obvious to me. I can't really say much without spoiling things, but I do think there should have been more mystery around certain elements of the story.

Monstrous Beauty isn't a bad story, and it's a really intriguing The Little Mermaid retelling. I was captivated and gripped, but then also rolling my eyes, and feeling slightly let down by the reveal. But as I said, I think it's mostly just me, and my preference rather than huge problems with the book. It's still a book I think I enjoyed overall, because it's been several days since I finished it, and I'm remembering it pretty fondly, but I did have a few quibbles. So maybe read some other reviews before you decide whether or not you'll read it.

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

Find this review and others like it at The Literary Phoenix.

This book had me hooked from the beginning.

When I went into Monstrous Beauty, my opinions on it were 100% "Ugh. A mermaid book?  I probably won't like this one, either.  Well - here goes!"  ...  I WAS SO SO WRONG.  This book is beautifully written, the characters are deep and interesting, and the story is just magical enough to be fantasy, but mostly it reads like a contemporary ghost story.  I loved it.  Monstrous Beauty exceeded my expectations in every way and I was so, so pleased.

Hester is my literary dopplegänger.

There are plenty of characters out there that I will read, and relate to in some way.  Characters who are interesting, likable, or have similar quirks or interests.  Loves, I have never related to a character as much as I related to Hester.  Within the first chapter of listening, I knew that she:

- Had a little brother she mostly gets along with.
- Is inexplicably drawn to the ocean.
- Is a HUGE history buff.
- Is the QUEEN of socially awkward.
- Hates parties because they're dumb.
- Doesn't seem to really have any close female friends.

These probably aren't that remarkable, but all together?  Hester and I would be friends, at the very least, because I am all these things, too.



She's not the only likable character, though!  Everyone in this story is really interesting.  I liked Pastor McKean a lot as well, with his kindly demeanor.  I liked Hester's brother, Sam.  And even Syrenka and Ezra and Adeline were great to read.  Peter and Eleanor.  All of them.  I can't say I liked Eleanor as a PERSON, but as a CHARACTER?  She's really good, really well-written.

The history fanatic in me was dying.

Dying in a good way!  I am not an expert on Plymouth, Massachusetts.  In fact, despite my proximity, I've never been there.  But you can tell when the author has gone the extra mile to research her world.  Whenever there's the slightest bit of historical fiction in a book, I am ready to destroy it.  I am ready to find the lazy inaccuracies.  Monstrous Beauty is really careful, really intricate, and it adds so much to the story.

I really enjoyed the scenes where Hester was at her job at Plymouth Plantation.  I loved her switching between her thoughts and character, making pottage and sweeping her cottage.  Also... I just plain loved the fact she had a job?  And actually went to work.  And had to make excuses when she wasn't there, like REAL LIFE.

A quick shout out to the narrator, here?  Katherine Kellgren uses a lot of different dialects in her reading, but I think that the dialect she uses for Hester at Plymouth Plantation is amazing?  I can imagine Hester in the break room practicing her accent so that she's more historically accurate.  Not just because the job requires it, but because it's important to her.



THINGS THAT BOTHERED ME, AS A HISTORIAN?

This is nothing to do with the research or the history, but I need to chastise Hester.  AS A HISTORIAN SHE SHOULD KNOW BETTER.  There's a point where she takes a fragile, historical book and just... shoves it in her backpack?  It's a little journal and it's over three-hundred years old.  OMG WHAT ARE YOU THINKING.  And even if she's being dumb and impulsive and I want to forgive her, SHE DOES IT AGAIN LATER.  With another three-hundred-year-old antique.

STOP STOP STOP.

The mermaid-ness of this story is important, but not overwhelming.
I bring this up because if you're considering this book for all its undersea treasure and aquatic goodness, that's few and far between.  The fact that there are merpeople is really important to this story, but at it's core?  Monstrous Beauty is a ghost story.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD GHOST STORY.

There's a lot of twists and interestingness with the ghosts, so I won't go into detail (I REALLY WANT TO).  I will say there was one bit near the end where I legit thought the author had just dismissed a character and was making up justifications for this in my head (I came up with reasonable ones I found acceptable!) AND THEN NO SHE DIDN'T AND STUFF HAPPENED.  It was really good.  I was really pleased.

I do like a good ghost story.

Overall?

I loved Monstrous Beauty, and I'm glad it's a standalone because it's a well-written concise story all together.  I would definitely read another YA fantasy book by this author, especially if she continues to use this level of research and give us complicated characters.

[layawaydragon]

TW: Rape. It’s a hard to read myth perpetuating depiction (stranger overcome with uncontrollable lust with lots of victim blaming), which permeates the entire story. It’s necessary to the plot as surprise twist, to make other attractions non-icky and show how the victim suffered then sacrificed to get what she wanted like a superhero rape backstory.


Recommended: Mermaid, mythology, YA fans. Well-written and dark tastes recommended that’s not dumbed down by assuming teenagers can or should only read twee melodramas and can’t handle mature subject matter. It’s better if you don’t think about it much and enjoy the ride for what it is: a haunting, gripping tale beautifully told with possibly ship-wrecking blights.

Pros

Well written and atmospheric
Returns to classic mermaid mythology
Dark & twisted
Solid, compelling characters
Engaging Story

Cons

Plot Holes
Mystery killing blurb
Foresaw most events
Awful depiction of rape


I don’t remember the first time Monstrous Beauty wound up on my radar though it’s been extremely well spread and hyped. I do remember lots of “this is the mermaid book I’ve been looking for” and similar praise. I can’t say the same but this dark, twisted YA tale is certainly right up my alley.

For me, mermaids have always been beautiful and dangerous so I’ve been looking for something fresh like moving past the gorgeous white girl top half and whale tail. Really, Monstrous Beauty returns to classic mermaid mythology everyone’s seemingly forgotten after Disney’s Little Mermaid.

However, I’ll certainly never forget meeting the awesome Mickey from Book Sharks when she gave it to me in a big bag of books to clear off her to-read shelf. Thank you again.

Ideally, I’d have read it right then and reviewed it right away. Alas, ‘twas not meant to be. Monstrous Beauty was waiting to be read on my shelf for so long, I’d forgotten what it’s supposed to be about. This worked out for because it added mystery, which the blurb completely kills with its first words: In 1872.

Without knowing the date, it’s a rather surreal experience wondering where they cross and collide that I thoroughly enjoyed. So I’ve no idea how it reads while knowing that beforehand. It may be a story killer because I was able to piece things together before Hester throughout the entire story anyways.

As gripping as the story is, it’s not without faults. There’s several plot holes noticeable while reading. For instance, why would anyone assume their child is dead when there’s clearly another option, which they were worried about just a second ago? I’m sorry but how does that make sense? This isn’t the only occasion of such gaps either.

Beyond that, at round the halfway mark there’s mind-boggling action via domino effect straight out of Hamlet. My first thought was that someone pissed off the DM badly to get the party wiped (lol), which I doubt was the intended reaction. It just came off as so outrageous yet I couldn’t look away.

Characters are sensational despite their awkward lapses described above. I really enjoyed their point of view, especially Hester’s and found them compelling. It’s so well-written and atmospheric; I couldn’t help but overlook the immersion breaking moments and breathlessly continue when that’s usually a deal breaker. It’s rhythmic, beautiful and haunting. I fully enjoyed it even though most turn of events were obvious; it’s all about the journey.

[inlibrisveritas]

Holy crap, a mermaid book I actually loved! The impossible has happened!

---

There are two paranormal creatures that I usually have a tough time reading about, Angels and Mermaids. It never fails that I end up either unimpressed, underwhelmed, or flat out frustrated when I read a book focusing on them…but not this time. Monstrous Beauty took the myth of the mermaid and kept it the way it should be, wild and untamable.

The story focuses on two different timelines and two different women. Hester is the present day main character, who meets Ezra in a cave on the beach and he sets her off on the path to find out more about her strange family lineage. Hester is quick tempered and super logical, making her a bit difficult to deal with at times but someone I could understand quite well. The other is Syrenka, a mermaid who despite all warnings fell in love with a human. I loved Syrenka’s personality and how completely untamable she seemed, she’s strong willed and utterly refuses to give up on the things she wants much to her detriment. These two women are separated by hundreds of years, but their stories are brilliantly intertwined creating a almost heart-wrenching tragedy that slowly unfolds.

I loved the use of the mythology in this one. The mermaids are fierce and despite their beauty can be downright horrific if needed, and that was a huge draw for me. I love when an author takes a creature that has been tamed and made approachable by others and turns them back into the monsters they once were. but despite their freedom there is a sadness about the creatures in this book. A fair bit of warning though, this book can get graphic at times and has a fair amount of cussing. So if you’re looking for a clean YA read, this is probably not the one for you.

I also listened to the audio version of this while at the store and LOVED it. Kathrine Kellgren is a top-notch reader, and made each character come to life. Anyone who can do several different accents AND switch to a ‘male’ voice has my vote!

So glad I decided to pick this one up finally and give it a try!

[Chelsea]

Cover

Guys. Look at that cover. It's beautiful! That's what originally caught my eye.

Initial Thoughts

I bought a copy of this book on BookOutlet because it was on sale and they're going to be having a discussion about it in June. That was why I bought it. It said it was young adult and fantasy and that's what I read so there was no reason not to buy this book right? That's what I keep telling myself. I'm glad I did buy it though because it was very interesting. I really didn't think I was going to like it when I started it because every other chapter was in a different point of view and time. There was a lot of characters to keep track of though but I eventually caught on.

My New BFF

I really enjoyed that main character Hester. It's a terrible name and very unfortunate for her, but she was really interesting. I found that she wasn't the stupid main character who couldn't figure things out if she tried. She was actually really good at putting the pieces to the puzzle together and I was proud of that. I was upset that she didn't get a happy romance ending but I was ok with it. She could be a little impulsive at times but it made for a good story.

My Crush

Ezra. That's probably what everyone would pick but I really liked him. He had a really sad story but he was also very interesting. I liked how he did research for a living and wasn't at all surprised about the mermaids. He had a really interesting life story too, which was sad but it was fun to read.

Writing Style

The author had a really smart style of writing. She had her facts straight and there was no fooling around. I really enjoyed that style of writing though. It was refreshing. The story was set at a good pace too. It was slow but in a good way. It made it so that you could figure some things out yourself instead of waiting for the main character to figure it out.

Closing Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading this book. I found that I liked the story being told in two different time periods and perspectives. I thought the little bit of mystery was really cool too. Some parts were obvious but I liked that we got to see the whole story. There was nothing left out. This was definitely not a typical YA paranormal book so if that's what you're looking for, this book probably isn't for you. It was kind of a dark story in some ways. It's not a Disney mermaid story, there's some scary parts. I liked that there was some surprises here and there. Nothing too crazy, but they were there all the same. There was a lot about history and myths in this book. Usually that's not for me but this book managed to suck me in. I was really impressed.

Bonus

I thought it was a bonus that this wasn't necessarily a happy ending kind of book. It made for a better ending.

[Ashley]

BookNook — Young Adult book reviews

I have read no other book like Monstrous Beauty. We have mermaids, ghosts, history, lineage, love, heartbreak, and a fascinating story with multiple characters whose lives, deaths, and fates are all intertwined.

I love how Monstrous Beauty is told in two different time periods: modern day and the 1800s. It allows us to follow Hester's life as she tries to piece together her history, and follow Syrenka's life as she lives the very history that Hester is trying to uncover. We read about Syrenka's tragedy, and then switch to Hester trying to figure out her lineage, and what may be a curse that follows her family.

Monstrous Beauty is riddled with a lot of death and sadness. The truth that finally emerges is really devastating.. but I won't spoil it for you. ;) The mermaids are brutal, harsh, and violent. They earn a very bad reputation amongst the sailor and fishermen's myths, and for the most part, it is well deserved.

I was actually surprised how little romance is in the book. Obviously, the story itself was fueled by romance, but it doesn't dominate the story at all. The main point of the story is really the mystery aspect—Hester trying to learn about her lineage. She follows clues from the library to the graveyard to the bottom of the ocean. She tries to figure out why all the mothers in her family die after giving birth. The reason behind that is linked to a tragic love story, but we mostly learn about the history of that love rather than actually experience it first-hand.

I suppose the romance was my main disappointment. It was sweet between Syrenka and Ezra, but there wasn't much romance between Hester and Ezra. Obviously it all gets explained in the end and it makes sense, but the romance between Hester and Ezra was so small, fleeting, and insta-lovey that I didn't care for it. There is a reason for that insta-love, but it didn't make it much more tolerable for me.

But overall, I really enjoyed this story. I loved trying to piece together all the facts and uncover the truth. Once I got about 60 or 70% through, I pretty much already knew exactly what the ending will be, which was a bit of a bummer. But the book was still dark, creepy, and very much worth reading! My favourite part is definitely how all the characters come together at the end. They all play a significant role in the history, and it's brilliant to see how they overlap and intertwine!

[Angie]

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Mermaid books have yet to impress me and even Monstrous Beauty, which is a fabulous mix of fantasy, folk lore, and mystery, failed to wow me. It's beautifully written and drew me in from the prologue, but then fell off somewhere in the middle. The mermaids in this book are beautiful, yet terrifying, and a bit tragic. The overall tone of the book is on the darker and more mature, but I liked that a lot.

The story alternates between past and present which is something I really enjoy. Hester is our present day heroine, who is afraid of her family history. All of the women seem to die shortly after childbirth, so Hester is determined to avoid love and sex at all costs. She's also taken an interest in the so-called church hauntings. Are there ghosts or something else? And do her ancestors have something to do with it? Then we have Ezra who lives in 1872 and falls in love with a mermaid who nearly kills him. His tale is full of loss and sorrow, and I enjoyed his chapters much more than Hester's.

While it starting off quite promising, around the midpoint it felt like the author was trying to do too much with the story. There were mermaids, sea witches, forbidden love, ghost hauntings, reincarnation, and all kinds of other things thrown out there. Somehow I also got bored with it towards the end. I had figured many things out before Hester thanks to the historical chapters, and it just became a waiting game to see when she'd figure it out and when we finally get the whole story.

Another reason why I think I was let down by Monstrous Beauty was that it became too much of a ghost story. I've had pretty bad luck with ghost books, so combined with my less than stellar track record with mermaids, it was a recipe for disaster. Luckily, the concept for this one was so unique and I enjoyed the writing that I was still able to enjoy it.

In the end, Monstrous Beauty is most definitely not a bad book. It's beautiful and complex, but it became something I just didn't particularly care for. Fans of mermaids, ghosts, and mysteries are certain to love this one. I just happen to be iffy about those three genres.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[rakesandrogues]

Originally posted at: http://muggle-born.net/monstrous-beauty-by-elizabeth-fama-book-review/

MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama is a genre-bending mix of historical, paranormal, and fantastical centered around hauntings and mermaids. Hester is determined to figure out the cause of a century-old curse that causes the women in her family to die after childbirth. By digging through the past, Hester uncovers secrets and mysteries that have long been forgotten.

First of all, I felt a lack of connection between myself as a reader and Hester. Maybe she’s just a bit mature for her age, I don’t know. I do know that I am well past the targeted audience for MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama and I couldn’t quite relate to Hester’s intense worry about not ever becoming a mother. Hester prevents herself from ever getting too close to any guy because she knows that in the future, giving birth to a child means her premature death. Um, okay, but do you really worry about all this while still in high school? Falling in love with someone in high school doesn’t mean you’re going to get hitched and have a baby… And if Hester didn’t want to ever risk having a baby in the future, there are modern alternatives such as surrogate mothers and adoption. But let’s not get carried away…

Initially, I loved the alternating timelines between the present and the past, but as the plot moved along in MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama, the alternating timelines were detrimental to my enjoyment. For the most part, the alternating timelines ruined any surprises for the reader along the way. Because I knew what happened in the 19th century, I spent the majority of the book waiting for Hester to just figure it all out already. The clues are laid out for the reader, so instead of discovering something new along with Hester, the reader has to impatiently wait for Hester to catch up (which only happens at the end of the book, go figure). It made reading the chapter set in the 19th century fascinating, but the chapters in present day a bit on the dull side.

The love connection between Ezra and Hester just didn’t work for me. I didn’t feel any connection between them. It was a little disappointing that there was so much emphasis on the romance between the two of them when it really wasn’t a spark. Don’t read MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama if you expect some heavy romance.

Fama creates an interesting world regarding the mermaids, but I think it could have used a little more development. This is a serious mermaid book, and I was quite lost in all the folklore.

Unfortunately, MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama was just not the book for me. The fantastical and paranormal elements just did not work to my liking.