Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is a perfect read If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast. This retelling of the classic fairy tale contains elements of fantasy and romance. Cruel Beauty is so magical and captivating that you won’t want to put it down!
Title: Cruel BeautySeries: Fairy Tales #1
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Also by this author: Crimson Bound
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: January 24, 2014
Rating:
Series Rating:
Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.
Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
❀ Well-Written
Cruel Beauty is so well written. Everything is so well described, especially the setting and how the main character, Nyx reacts to it. “There was no sound besides the drip-drop of melting ice and the occasional splash when I found a puddle. The mist swirled away from my feet and then back around my ankles, like a fearful but affectionate cat. I shivered, but the cold air had a sharp clean taste as sweet as honey, that made me want to linger.” I could picture every room so easily, it was almost like I was watching the Disney movie, but a dark, eerie version.
❀ A Good Betrayal Book
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge was so full of betrayal. Nyx’s family betrays her by sending her to live with a demon, her mission is to betray that demon to set the land free, and there are so many more examples! This book is almost like Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, with all of the betraying. It is so full of deception and trickery. I love a good betrayal book.
About Rosamund Hodge
Rosamund Hodge grew up as a homeschooler in Los Angeles, where she spent her time reading everything she could get her hands on, but especially fantasy and mythology. She received a BA in English from the University of Dallas and an MSt in medieval English from Oxford. She now lives in Seattle, Washington, with seven toy cats and a plush Cthulhu. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Cruel Beauty; Gilded Ashes, a Cruel Beauty novella; Crimson Bound; Bright Smoke, Cold Fire; and Endless Water, Starless Sky.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
This book seems great! I didn’t know it was based on Beauty and the Beast! 😮 I need this ASAP.
Great review!
I love fairy tale retellings so I’ll definitely check out this one. I like it when the tales are kinda twisted into something darker, it’s much more fun!
This is one that has been on my wishlist a while now.
I like fairytale retelling stories and I love a few plot twists, it is definitely something I am going to pick up 🙂
This book definetly sounds interesting!
I want to read it so badly. Thanks for the review!
wow 5 stars..must read book !!!
thx u for ur review, i will read this book 🙂