Beautiful Brutal Bodies took me by storm. While I enjoyed Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, this one got me! I’m so glad I got to read it early, even if my review is SO late. Keep reading this book review of Beautiful Brutal Bodies for my full thoughts.
Summary
Tian is a singer-songwriter with a massive online following, known for her hypnotic vocals and ethereal looks. But behind the glamorous façade is a disturbing reality: raised in an isolated mansion, Tian is a prisoner in her own life.
Liya is Tian’s childhood friend and her only close companion, tasked with protecting Tian at all costs. But hidden beneath Liya’s beautiful human exterior is a beastly secret: her teeth are far too sharp, and her appetite much too ferocious.
When several fans mysteriously suffer fatal injuries while watching her livestream, Tian, along with Liya, are sent to a spiritual healing retreat on a remote island in the South China Seas. They are joined by Tian’s musical collaborator Shenyu, a troubled idol whose recent brush with the law and string of bad boyfriends has him seeking his own new start. But the trio soon discovers that the island is no peaceful getaway. There is constant surveillance, bizzare rituals, and something terrifying lurking in the forest. Something not quite human.
In order to escape with her loved ones, Tian must uncover her connection to the island’s blood-drenched legend — and the truth behind Liya’s monstrous identity — before the island claims them all as its final sacrifice.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Already before Beautiful Brutal Bodies, I was excited for this perspective on social media. However, this book takes us on a journey I was not expecting. It’s about unraveling secrets and rituals. There’s an immediate sense of unreliability as we aren’t sure what’s really happening. With now and then chapters, Beautiful Brutal Bodies keeps the suspense increasing. In this sequel, we are asked about the cages invisible and visible that keep us within. It’s about when protection is used as a blade. With plenty of twists and turns, Beautiful Brutal Bodies will keep you guessing.
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You can’t trust anyone around us. And when the show drops, it drops. I loved the themes of friendship and agency with the horror and mystery elements. It’s a focus on found family and friendships which keep us afloat. How far would we go to in order to protect someone? Beautiful Brutal Bodies has a focus on mother daughter relationships which I really enjoyed! If you enjoyed the first, you have to read this sequel! Find Beautiful Brutal Bodies on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.