Guest Review: Beauty’s Beasts by Teal Ceagh

It can’t ever be easy to be raised in the foster care system. And like all good fiction, there are real life experiences that teach as well as entertain. Such is the case with Riley Connors, daughter of two of the best demon killers that ever lived and whose deaths when she was a baby forced her to be raised as a foster child. She always felt that she was one of the lucky ones–she didn’t have to endure any physical abuse or brutality. But she and some of her friends came to believe that the greatest hurt they had to endure was the loneliness. Nearly finished with a college degree she thought she had to have, Riley is confronted by Nicolas and Damian–both vampires and friends of her parents, and both very old. Damian was a Spartan warrior when he was turned, and Nicolas was a playmate of Richard the Lionhearted. An ancient enemy of her parents has once again “risen” and is killing humans so these two are now bringing Riley into the fray. They believe she has inherited the skills and aptitudes of her parents. They also believe that she is now the vengeful target of this old enemy.

I have to admit that this story really had me hooked for some reason. Perhaps it was the suspense — will she be able to kill this ancient enemy or won’t she? That’s not what did it for me, I don’t think. Actually I believe I was drawn into Riley’s own personal struggles with the whole issue of control. It was a big part of this story. She was so into control that she would not even allow herself to fully experience a sexual climax. Damian kept trying to teach her the difference between control and trust. And all through this story this issue of trust kept popping up. If Riley was to move into the kind of maturity she would need to slay this ancient enemy, then only trust — in herself and her abilities, in Damian & Nicolas — could ever allow her to be what she wanted to become.

I liked the characters in this book a lot! Riley was a gutsy gal who worked very hard to be honest about herself and her world, about her goals and her future, about who she was and about the family she didn’t have. She was exceedingly beautiful, to such an extent that she didn’t eat out anymore because she was always being hit on by guys, even when on a date with another guy. She was excessively bright and her intelligence shine through her entire way of relating to others.

I liked Damian and Nicolas very much. Damian was the old warrior, wise in the ways of cultures and generations, wise in the ways of human emotions and responses–even though he hadn’t been human for 3,000 years–wise in knowing himself and accepting who he was. Nicolas was more hidden within himself and far more likely to shut others out. Even though he had been “undead” for nearly a millenium, he still remembered parts about him that reminded him of himself when he was human, but he still struggled against the loss that came inevitably when human friends and lovers were left behind or died. But neither had lost the capacity to love.

This is a really good love story, and very good vampire/gargoyle tale, and, in its own way, a study of human nature. Even at their advanced ages, Damian and Nicolas learn something about themselves, each other, and Riley. Riley certainly learns that no matter the life form, no matter the quality of the relationship and its participants, certain basic truths are foundational. This novel was so well written and very readable. It wasn’t simplistic by any means, but it was not so overly complicated in its plot and story development that a reader would be “worn out” trying to comprehend the basics of the work. I think the author did beautifully in drawing the reader forward throughout the story, and bringing a truly good romantic novel into being.

I am looking forward to reading other works by this author. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.

This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.