Beautiful Darkness (2010) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is the second book in the Caster Chronicles series, a Southern Gothic fantasy that deepens the supernatural intrigue of Gatlin, South Carolina. Following the tragic events of Beautiful Creatures, Ethan Wate struggles as his beloved Lena Duchannes withdraws into her grief and burgeoning Dark Caster powers, pushing him away while her dangerous family tightens its grip.
As Lena’s 16th birthday approaches—the moment of her Claiming by Light or Dark—Ethan uncovers secrets tied to his own ancestors’ role in the Caster world, aided by the sharp-tongued Link and the mysterious Liv, a Keeper-in-training. The novel’s haunting atmosphere (think Spanish moss and Civil War ghosts) escalates with betrayals, hidden labyrinths, and a cliffhanger that reshapes the series.
A must-read for fans of moody, magic-steeped romance à la Twilight meets To Kill a Mockingbird.
