The Damned

Gr 7 Up–Set in New Orleans, Ahdieh’s latest resumes after the events of The Beautiful. Sébastien is cursed. He is in love with Celine, but has been told to stay away from her. Struggling to remember her past, Celine feels lost and worries that she has set in motion dangerous events that may end her life. With dark forces working against them in the shadows, can the two find a way to be together? Narrator Lauren Ezzo does a great job of portraying the characters’ French accents and bringing them to life. Her intonations are clear and crisp and draw the listener into the story. Her pace fits well with the Ahdieh’s writing style. The author skillfully builds the supernatural world of Celine and Sébastien. The plot is well-developed, full of twists and turns, and ends tightly wrapped up, but still keeping readers pining for more.