Reviewed by Kim Deister on
Renee has lost both of her parents in a mysterious death and is shipped off to live with her grandfather, a man who seems cold and elusive and someone she doesn't even really know. He ships her off to a very Gothic and exclusive, and mysterious, private boarding school... Gottfried Academy. This is where Renee meets Dante and the attraction and the mystery and the intrigue begins.
Dante was a great character, but I didn't initially get that Book Boyfriend feel for him, that I wished real guys were like him. Over the course of the story, though, he grew on me. For the most part, I enjoyed Renee, although there were times where she came off as so rude and so obnoxious that it was hard to care about her.
I loved the story and its premise, but there were aspects to it that seemed very "YA paranormal romance" cliché to me which kept me from giving it a full 4 mugs. It got a little too simpering and sappy for me at points. There was definitely a bit of the Twilight goes to Hogwarts feel to it. Although I am a Potterhead, it is a whole different beast when in the context of Harry Potter. Despite these things, I enjoyed the story enough that I want to read the next in the series, Life Eternal.
Things to love about Dead Beautiful...
--The Undead versus Zombies. I have a questionable relationship with zombie fiction... some I love, some I hate, some just creeps me out. While there are definite zombie aspects to this, it is clearly pointed out that the Undead are not zombies.
Things I wanted more of...
--Well-rounded, likable characters. I wanted Dante to be a bit warmer (ironic, I know) and Renee to be a little more compassionate.
My recommendation: A good read, but one that I hope is improved upon in the next book, My rating: 3.5 mugs
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 27 August, 2013: Finished reading
- 27 August, 2013: Reviewed