The Damned

In the second installment of the New York Times bestselling The Beautiful quartet, Bastien is no longer human but will not give up on reversing his fate to get back to the one who sacrificed everything for him.

“Forbidden romance and harsh consequences set up this highly anticipated sequel that will leave you wanting so much more.”—Seventeen

“Decadent escapism.”—Kirkus Reviews

Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is no longer human. Like the rest of the Fallen, Bastien is now cursed to walk the earth forever, hungry for blood. And after breaking the tenuous peace his uncle had brokered with the Brotherhood, promising never to bring another vampire into New Orleans, war between the Fallen and the Brotherhood seems imminent. But Bastien is too obsessed with his lost humanity to care, and thoughts of Celine—who ensured his life by giving up all her memories of him and any claim on his heart—haunt him. Bastien decides Celine paid too high a price and sets about unmaking himself, intent on finding his way back to her.

Celine, meanwhile, recovering from the attack on her life, is still gravely troubled by the events of a night she struggles to remember, and she can’t help feeling that everyone is lying to her about what happened. When, at last, she crosses paths with Bastien, now a stranger to her, she feels an inexplicably intense emotional reaction to him that leaves her bewildered by desire. As Celine tries to puzzle out her connection to Bastien, one she knows he felt too, forces lurking in the shadows finally strike out, threatening not only Celine and Bastien’s relationship, but their lives.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs