Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
October 18, 2011
518 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Book Depo/or Amazon
Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What — or who — will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?
For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself — forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.
For some, crazy reason I didn't review this book last fall. I still don't know what that reason was. So I reread it to be able to review it. . . .
I do love this series. Love. It's unbelievably imaginative and creative. Each book takes us somewhere great from where the previous book left off (and they do leave off somewhere that leaves you just needing to read that next one).
The first two books sort of set up the odd-ness that was out and about in Gatlin, where Ethan and Lena - the now semi-new girl live. From Lena's uncle Macon and his dog Boo, to Link and his latest changes, to Amma and whatever she might be up to, Ethan's aunts, Link's mother, and Marion we sort of knew the score.
In Beautiful Chaos, however, there are some new twists. Lena's claiming seems to be affecting everything from her family to Gatlin itself and even Ethan. With Gatlin's never silent religious faction more than ready to speak up about the quasi Biblical events: heat, storms, locusts, Lena's family's powers going haywire and Ethan having his own troubles - including someone new in his dreams and possibly waking hours - this third book has its own tale.
It's one that is just as hard as Beautiful Creatures or Beautiful Darkness to put down, too. The characters are working together in different ways. Some characters who seemed established as either set good or bad - or at least neutral - characters, are presented differently in Chaos. You at least question their current actions, if not their past.
I've already said it, but it does bear repeating: I love this series and I'm beyond thrilled that the authors are scheduled to appear at Miami Book Fair International. (Fingers just about impermanently crossed that nothing interferes with their appearance or my going.)
Rating: 9/10
Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are scheduled to appear at MBFI on Saturday the 17th at 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm
(I'm hoping to finish Beautiful Redemption prior to MBFI, as well, and get that reviewed, too)
book originally received from LBYR - thank you
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