BEAUTIFUL CHAOS

In the third entry in the Beautiful Creatures series, teenagers Ethan and Lena face the consequences of Lena’s magical powers. Dark magic seems to be attacking Gatlin, South Carolina, and as the apocalypse approaches, narrator Kevin Collins brings listeners close to Ethan's palpable dread. Further, there are truly creepy conversations with the Lilum demon. With all of these, listeners will be glad for the comic relief of Ethan's incubus sidekick. Collins’s diction and pace are not what they could be, and his sibilance is distracting. The book’s sound effects—of fire, water, echoes—are well placed, as are the magical songs. To best understand this lengthy fantasy, listen to the preceding books first. C.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2012]