Review: The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED
By: Page Morgan
Published By: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Series: The Dispossessed (#1)
Pages: 352
Genre: Historical Fiction / Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA Midwinter
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

And Grayson has gone missing.

No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.



I have to admit that I was first drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover and the sound of the title - I am a sucker for gorgeous covers. But I was hooked by the synopsis. I loved The Phantom of the Opera, and any books set around that time in Paris are books I want to read. Add in gargoyles and I knew this would be a book I would like.

After a scandal in London, Ingrid Waverly is eager to escape to Paris. She wants a fresh start, and she also wants to be reunited with her twin, Grayson. She didn't expect to be living in an abandoned abbey surrounded by gargoyles, and she certainly didn't expect to learn that Grayson was missing. Though the Paris police think Grayson is just on an adventure of his own, and though there have been mysterious disappearances, Ingrid knows that Grayson is alive and that he needs help. But her search for him will bring her into a world that she never imagined existed - one in which gargoyles are alive and assigned to protect people. However, Ingrid's own gargoyle, Luc, might end up being a little more than just a gargoyle to her. But with danger all around them, magic in the air and rules surrounding gargoyle protection, can they be anything to each other? And can they find Grayson before his time runs out?

The Beautiful and the Cursed is such a sweeping story, reading just like a beautiful, classic novel. Aside from a few POV shifts, it was easy to get caught up in the writing and feel like I was there on the historic streets of Paris with Ingrid, Luc, and Gabby. I lost myself in the world of gargoyles and magic. There was a rich history surrounding the gargoyles and quite an elaborate world that Ingrid and Gabby found themselves in, and I enjoyed learning all of this background. In some respects, things felt historically authentic - I found myself wishing they could all dispense with propriety rules a few times - but in others, the characters challenged the standards of that society. I especially enjoyed Gabby and her interactions with Nolan. Gabby was no ordinary society lady; instead, she wanted to fight and be fully involved in the new world. I also liked seeing her relationship with Nolan develop alongside the relationship between the one between Ingrid and Luc - they were both different but still interesting and sweet.

Although I did love Luc - after all, who wouldn't want a gargoyle like him protecting them - I have to admit that the "I love you, but I can't be with you" construct is becoming overdone. Still, there was so much else in the story that I was able to overlook this. A few moments were predictable, but with the world-building present it left me wanting more and eager to see where Page Morgan takes these characters next.

If you like historical fiction combined with magic and writing you can be swept away by, then The Beautiful and the Cursed is the book for you. I look forward to reading more from Page Morgan!

Blog Tour: The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED by Page Morgan

It was bizarre and inexplicable, and after it happened, Ingrid Waverly was forced to leave her life in London behind. She had to trade a world full of fancy dresses and society events for exile in gothic Paris with her mother and her younger sister, Gabby.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and disturbingly, the house rented by Ingrid's twin brother, Grayson, isn't a house at all. It's an abbey. A creepy, old abbey with a roof lined in stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.

And to top it all off, Grayson is missing.

Yet no one seems to be concerned about Grayson's whereabouts save for Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant who has some deep and dark secrets of his own.

There's one secret about the city that even Luc can't keep hidden, though: there's a murderer on the loose. And every day that Grayson is missing means there's less chance he's still alive.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn't dead--she can feel it deep in her soul--but she knows that he's in grave danger, and that it's up to her and Gabby to find him before all hope is lost.

And yet the path to him is more dangerous than she could ever imagine. (From Goodreads)



~INTERVIEW WITH INGRID~

I was very excited to have the opportunity to ask Ingrid from The Beautiful and the Cursed a few questions. Take a few moments to learn more about the heroine!

If you could have sent a telegram to anyone after discovering the truth about The Dispossessed, who would you have contacted and what would you have said?

If I had still been on speaking terms with my best friend Anna (I’m quite sure she hasn’t yet forgiven me for setting fire to her ballroom), I would have sent a telegram to her, asking her to come to Paris and assure me that I was not, in fact, losing my mind.

Are there days when you wish you could trade the life you found in Paris for the safe, normal life you had in London?

Only when I’m feeling frustrated or particularly cross. Honestly, my life in Paris is so much more exciting than the one I led in London. The truth is, there are demons everywhere and I know I’m safest here, in Paris, with Luc. Besides, I don’t think my life—whether it’s spent in Paris or in London—will ever be considered ‘normal’ again.

What is one of your favorite childhood memories with Grayson?

Grayson and I preferred our country estate, Glendale Manor, to our London residence, Waverly House. There was this little swimming pond that we’d wade into, armed with nets and pails, and we’d try to catch frogs. We’d always choose the fattest, leggiest frog to sneak back into the manor. We’d then let it loose and settle back and laugh as the servants tried to find the source of all that wretched croaking. One time our cook found the frog in her soup tureen and fainted!

What nickname would you give yourself, since you don't like Griddy?

I don’t believe there is a respectable nickname for Ingrid at all. Even my middle name, Charlemagne, is atrocious.

What is your favorite thing about Luc?

I think I’m drawn to how intense he is about his duty: to keep my family and me safe. I know he doesn’t truly have a choice—the Angelic Order forces him to protect us—but I also know that he wants to be here with us. With me. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s insanely good looking.

Is there anything you want to do in Paris that you haven’t been able to do yet?

I haven’t been up into the Eiffel Tower just yet or to the l’Opera. Maybe I’ll have time for sightseeing and a show soon!

What do you think your biggest challenge will be in the future?

I’m not sure which will be the biggest challenge—having a relationship with a gargoyle, or learning how to handle my new, strange ‘abilities.’ At least I won’t be alone for any of it. I have Grayson and Gabby, Vander and the rest of the Alliance, and of course, Luc. I’d say I’m in good hands.

There you have it! You can learn more about Ingrid and her family and friends by reading The Beautiful and the Cursed! And for even more information, you can find the author, Page Morgan, here:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads



~GIVEAWAY~

There are two giveaways for this blog tour! The first involves trivia questions and answers that you can find scattered on all of the participating blogs. Here are the details from Books Complete Me:

To enter this giveaway, you'll need to follow a few steps, but trust us, it will be worth it! Each blog participating in this tour will have trivia question or a trivia answer. They will be broken down between two teams, TEAM DISPOSSESSED and TEAM WAVERLY, with each blog having either one question or one answer from each team.

Match up as many correct TEAM WAVERLY and TEAM DISPOSSESSED trivia questions and answers as you can, and when you're sure you've got them right send an email to: TBandTCgiveaway@gmail.com with all your answers paired up. There will be a few clues scattered throughout the tour to help you in finding the correct answers, but you do not wait until the last day of the tour to enter. You may enter at any time during the tour. However, once you've emailed in your answers, you may NOT enter again, so be sure to wait until you're certain.

Here are the trivia question and answer:

Team WAVERLY Trivia QUESTION: Ingrid has fled London because of a scandal. What did she do?

Team DISPOSSESSED Trivia ANSWER: livery boy/stable boy

The second giveaway is for five swag packs. Enter using the Rafflecopter below!

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This contest is closed.

Cover Reveal: The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

Several months ago, I participated in the cover reveal for The Beautiful and the Cursed. Since then, the cover has been updated, and the UK version has been finalized. This is one book that I'm very excited to read, and I'm glad to share these new covers with you! And now, without further ado, I present the new cover for THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED by Page Morgan!



Fans of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series and Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy will devour The Beautiful and the Cursed, a wholly original interpretation of gargoyle lore.

It was bizarre and inexplicable, but after it happened no one spoke of it and Ingrid Waverly was forced to leave her life in London behind. She had to trade a world full of fancy dresses and society events for Paris with her mother and younger sister, Gabby.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house her twin brother Grayson found for them isn't a house at all. It's an abbey. A creepy, old abbey with a roof lined in stone gargoyles that one could almost mistake for living, breathing creatures.

And Grayson is missing.

Yet no one seems to be concerned about Grayson's whereabouts save for Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant who has some secrets of his own.

There's one secret about the city that he can't keep hidden, though. There's a murderer on the loose. And every day Grayson is missing means that there's less of a chance he's alive.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn't dead--she can feel it deep in her soul--but she knows he's in grave danger, and that it's up to her and Gabby to find him before all hope is lost.

Only the path to him is twisted—and more deadly than she could ever imagine.

Compare that with the UK cover and synopsis:



Ingrid Waverley is a young woman to be reckoned with. Faced with her brother's mysterious disappearance after an abrupt move to Paris, she is determined to discover what has happened to him. Soon she and her sister Gabriella are drawn into a Parisian underworld more terrifying than they could ever have imagined, but watching over them are two impossible (and impossibly handsome) young men. Luc is a 'Dispossessed', an ancient gargoyle whose sworn duty it is to protect the humans who inhabit his abbey. Nolan has secrets of his own too. He is a member of the Alliance - a shadowy group dedicated to keeping Paris safe from the demonic forces that threaten to destroy it.

Secrets, danger and hidden powers stalk the girls in this beautifully imagined paranormal romance that will keep readers gripped from beginning to end - and one thing is for sure - you'll never look at a gargoyle in the same way again...



About the Author: Page Morgan has been intrigued by les grotesques ever since she came across an old, black-and-white photograph of a Notre Dame gargoyle keeping watch over the city of Paris. The gargoyle mythologies she went on to research fed her imagination, and she became inspired to piece together her own story and mythology for these complex stone figures. Page lives in New England with her husband and their three children.

Find Page online here:
Author Website | Twitter | Random House


Which cover do you like best? I think the US cover is beautiful, but the UK one is definitely eye-catching and striking. What do you think?

Title and Cover Reveal: The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

I'm so excited to be one of the blogs participating in this reveal! I know that I've already added this book to my must-read list for 2013. And now, without further ado, I present THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED by Page Morgan!



Fans of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series and Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy will devour The Beautiful and the Cursed, a wholly original interpretation of gargoyle lore.

It was bizarre and inexplicable, but after it happened no one spoke of it and Ingrid Waverly was forced to leave her life in London behind. She had to trade a world full of fancy dresses and society events for Paris with her mother and younger sister, Gabby.

In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house her twin brother Grayson found for them isn't a house at all. It's an abbey. A creepy, old abbey with a roof lined in stone gargoyles that one could almost mistake for living, breathing creatures.

And Grayson is missing.

Yet no one seems to be concerned about Grayson's whereabouts save for Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant who has some secrets of his own. There's one secret about the city that he can't keep hidden, though. There's a murderer on the loose. And every day Grayson is missing means that there's less of a chance he's alive.

Ingrid is sure her twin isn't dead--she can feel it deep in her soul--but she knows he's in grave danger, and that it's up to her and Gabby to find him before all hope is lost.

Only the path to him is twisted—and more deadly than she could ever imagine.



About the Author: Page Morgan has been intrigued by les grotesques ever since she came across an old, black-and-white photograph of a Notre Dame gargoyle keeping watch over the city of Paris. The gargoyle mythologies she went on to research fed her imagination, and she became inspired to piece together her own story and mythology for these complex stone figures. Page lives in New England with her husband and their three children.

Find Page online here:
Author Website | Twitter | Random House


There is more! Enter for a chance to win one of two ARCs of The Beautiful and the Cursed!

1. Open to U.S. mailing addresses only.
2. Giveaway ends at midnight October 12, 2012.
3. You may earn extra entries by referring others to this cover reveal and giveaway. They must name you in the Rafflecopter form for you to get credit. You'll receive one extra entry for every person who names you. Thank you for spreading the word!

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