Cruel Beauty (urspr publ 2014; utgåvan 2016)

3.5 stars

The description says that this is Beauty and the Beast mixed with [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810]. I'd add in a dash of [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone|8490112|Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)|Laini Taylor|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg|13355552] for a little spice.

This was a really good book, though I have to admit that I was confused a lot of the time. Perhaps because I listened to it on audio, and couldn't easily go back, a lot of the prophecy/riddle stuff went over my head, and that's kind of bad because the denouement depends on interpreting the bargains with the Kindly Ones. But, I got the gist, so I think I'm good. ( )

This Beauty and the Beast retelling was so much darker than I expected. I loved every minute of it. Nyx is a flawed and wonderful character. He strained relationship with Ignifex makes this story so interesting. I highly recommend this one. ( )

This was a really enjoyable read. I love retellings so I might be a bit biased though. This was a really quick read (like one day) and I tore through the book. I liked all the characters, except Nyx's sister. The story was good but predictable. Despite a couple flaws though, this was just too enjoyable to not give 4 stars. ( )

The romance wasn't my bag, but I loved the myth and the twists in the ending. ( )

Beauty and the Beast is by far my favorite fairy tale. I've read several re-tellings of the classic tale, and Cruel Beauty is one of the best I've read. The story is a bit dark....but beautiful at the same time.

All her life, Nyx has been prepared to give her life to save her people. Their land has been imprisoned outside of the world for years by an evil demon being, The Gentle Lord. Because her father made a pact with the demon, Nyx will be his wife. For years she has been training, gaining the knowledge she needs to kill the Gentle Lord and save her people. She is prepared to hate him....to kill him...to die for her duty, until she actually meets him. Ignifex is beautiful, and strangely compelling. Nyx never expected to love her husband. She's faced with a horrible choice.....love her husband and not save her people, or betray her love and fulfill her duty.

I loved this book! The descriptions of Ignifex's strange house are beautiful. The slow build of the relationship between Ignifex and Nyx definity fits the Beauty and the Beast theme, with a bit more darkness and evil than the classic story.

I was a bit disappointed with events leading up to the ending. Nyx makes some decisions that I had a hard time reading. I wanted to hop into the book, grab her and yell NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. But odds are she wouldn't have listened to me anyway. :) The ending was satisfactory, so I can live with a few bad decisions by the main character. In her place, I think I would have been just as torn, confused and conflicted.

All in all, a great new spin on an old tale. I am definitely going to read more by Rosamund Hodge. I like her writing style and storytelling! There is a novella, Gilded Ashes, set in the same universe. The novella is a re-telling of Cinderella. :)

The cover art work is phenomenal!!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.rosamundhodge.net/ ( )