Monday, January 13, 2014

Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Balzer & Bray (January 28, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Retelling
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!!


Book Description:
Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

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.








Have I mentioned before that the tale of Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite, whether it is the classic Disney tale, a retelling or something darker? Because it is, hands down without a doubt my very favorite. Who could ever resist a girl way ahead of her time? One that is smart and witty and loves to read? One that thinks outside of the box and doesn't judge a book (or person) by the cover? One that follows her heart?

Not I. 

Nyx was exactly that character I was looking for and hoping she would be. In fact can I just say that I loved this book? The unexpected darkness of it, the mystery, the sweet budding romance and the very fact that it blends mythology with a classic tale and the fact that the author takes it all and makes it very much her own. Very much a unique twist on an old tale. 

This was beautifully dark and I quickly became caught up in the magic of it. 


The author truly has created something unlike anything else I have ever read. It was easy to get lost in the mythical imaginative world that she created and not want to be found again. 








*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*


22 comments:

  1. I can't wait 4 it . Exited .tnx 4 the review

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  2. YES ALI!!!! I absolutely loved this one too! I wasn't expecting it to be quite so dark and twisty, but I adored it. It just felt like such a different retelling, but there were elements of the original still there which made me happy. Like you, Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale as well. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Rosamund Hodge! Fabulous review my friend.

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    1. Yes I think that is what caught me off guard, how different this was but how much I adored it as well for the differences! I am so glad you loved this every bit as much as I did Jenny!

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  3. Sweet, Beauty and the Beast is one of my favs so I was really hoping this retelling would be a strong one.

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    1. If you like retellings Kim you are going to love this one!

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  4. I am glad I have a review copy of this because I have been reading nothing but positive reviews for this one. I need to check my schedule and see when I am reading this. So happy it was a winner for you. Happy Monday. The sun is out today here :)

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    1. I know you don't always like retellings Heidi so I really hope you like this one.

      No sun here today sadly, all gray and overcast. :(

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  5. I was thrilled by the darkness of this story, but unfortunately disappointed in quite a few other things. I just dislike retellings too much, it seems, so I ended up giving this 3.5 stars.
    Ah, well, I'm used to being the odd one out.
    Lovely review, Ali!

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    1. We all like different things Maja, nothing to feel bad about!

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  6. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite, too Ali. Well that's the reason I'm so afraid of reading this one. I'm afraid it'll disappoint me. Hopefully I'm wrong as everyone seem to enjoy it. I'm so glad you did. Great review, Ali :)

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    1. I don't think you will have anything to worry about with this one Tanja!

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  7. I'm so glad you loved this one since I have it coming up for review soon. Wonderful review!

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  8. Woop! I was so happy with this one, especially how dark it was. And the romance ... love. My review is scheduled for next week!

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    1. I actually thought of you while reading this one Christy, I was thinking the whole time how this is your kind of story!

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  9. I love that there is some darkness to it, currently reading it! so excited

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    1. Oooo I can't wait to see what you think of it too!

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  10. I LOVE Beauty and the Beast and that was a great review. Definitely going on my list of books to read. I love the cover!

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  11. Wonderful review. Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite tales also. This sounds like a really good book.

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  12. Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorites too! I know I'm going to love this one, can't wait to read it! Lovely review :-)

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