Book Summary and Reviews of The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Book Summary

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a sweeping fantasy of manners set in a world inspired by the belle époque.

In a world of etiquette and polite masks, no one is who they seem to be.

Antonina Beaulieu is in the glittering city of Loisail for her first Grand Season, where she will attend balls and mingle among high society. Under the tutelage of the beautiful but cold Valerie Beaulieu she hopes to find a suitable husband. However, the haphazard manifestations of Nina's telekinetic powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

Yet dazzling telekinetic performer and outsider Hector Auvray sees Nina's powers as a gift, and he teaches her how to hone and control them. As they spend more and more time together, Nina falls in love and believes she's found the great romance that she's always dreamt of. But Hector's courtship of Nina is deceptive.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. When we first meet Hector, he feels completely out of place at the De Villiers' party, but he is determined to see the woman who captured his heart years ago. What first impressions of Valérie did you create, as seen through Hector's eyes? How does Valérie compare to his memories of her?
2. As she watches Hector perform in Chapter 6, how does Nina change her understanding of her own special powers? What social distinctions become clear in Chapter 7 when Nina is criticized for doing levitation tricks? What would you try to achieve if you had Hector and Nina's supernatural ability?
3. In chapter 2, we learn that Nina's sister, Madelena, had married a "respectable physician" she'd known since they were children. The...