This was one of the most intriguing vampire stories I've seen in a long time. While the vampires took traditional form (allergic to sun, sleeps "in coffin," super senses/strength, charismatic and alluring, wealthy, arguably homoerotic bonds between vampires and their sire, eternally how they "died"), the author's voice and the way she expanded on the typical attributes of the genre made it feel new again.
The main character, Lev, has been in a continuous struggle since the day his brother turned him. He would have never chosen this life at the cost of his soul. Although he knows it's grasping at straws, he refuses to kill in the hopes of salvaging that tiny piece of the "real Lev" that he believes still exists within him. Meanwhile, his brother has long been lost to bloodlust and constantly pressures Lev to kill. He says doing so will eradicate the rest of his human emotions- the ones that once again have led him to heartbreak as his most recent human lover lay dying in a hospital.
He could turn her so they may be together forever, but two things stop him: he doesn't want her to lose her humanity, her soul and she has already stated she does not wish to be turned.
As Lev sits next to his unconscious lover, listening to her heart beat fainter and fainter, he struggles with whether or not to turn her. He doesn't want to be alone. He doesn't want lose her. He knows that without his soul, he will be damned in the next life while she will live on in a better place. The only way not to lose her is to damn her as well. This part of the story really had me on edge because I can imagine being in his position. It would be so difficult to not act selfishly and keep her with me.
Finally she dies, but her ghost approaches the distraught vampire with the announcement that she has three more days they can spend together before she must move on. Lev of course wants to use this time to find a way for her to stay longer without condemning her. As the story goes on, it is discovered that his brother has been keeping major secrets about being a vampire from him...perhaps major enough that there is indeed a way for the two lovers to be together eternally.
'Beautiful Monster' was nothing like I expected. It was beautifully heart-wrenching, came with unexpected turns, and new abilities and qualities to vampires I have not yet seen explored. I liked that the author capitalized on sexual ambiguity- the vampires were equally interested no matter the gender, even if Lev seemed to prefer females and his brother preferring males. The idea that a vampire can get drunk off a drunkard's blood is something I've always thought interesting too.
The characters all seemed perfectly fleshed out and distinctly different people. I loved how the author was able to pull you into Lev's experience, falling for what he fell for, loving how he loved, frightened of what he feared. I hated that it was so short, but honestly I'm not sure dragging it out further wouldn't have sacrificed the quality. Besides, there are two more installments!
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Top reviews from other countries
Kindle Customer michelle roberts
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2016
Amazon Customer
... in search of his soul - and his soon-to-be-lost love - is a great read
Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2015Peter
Beautiful Monster by Jeanne Bannon had me riveted to the ...
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2015