Welcome to my stop on the Cruel Beauty blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.
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Release Date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 352
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon
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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.
Nyx's father promised Ignifex a bride. Part of the deal he struck was to give up one daughter to be his wife. Nyx knew all her life she would be the wife a monster and trained on how to destroy him and the curse. Nyx grew up angry and resentful towards her dad and her sister who gets to stay and have the life she can't have. It is easy to understand how hate would brew being forced into a marriage with an evil overlord while your sister gets to live happy and free. Nyx looks at herself honestly though and knows she has hatred in her heart. But she would do anything to save her world.
Ignifex was a great character. I loved him but then at times I hated him. Which made him all the more complex and fun. He would do cruel things and there was one especially evil thing he did to Nyx that made me mad. At first I wasn't sure if I would fall for him. Then he would be charming and say sweet things and make me laugh. Ignifex and Nyx had the best banter. I loved their conversations whether they were arguing or teasing each other. Nyx expected someone hideous, cruel and demanding. Ignifex is very good looking expect for the red eyes with cat like slits. When she shows up he takes things slow. He is not at all like Nyx pictured but she made an oath to destroy him at all costs.
I like very loose re-tellings which is why I loved this so much. It seemed a little bit more Bluebeard than Beauty and the Beast to me. The magic and world building was unique although a little confusing for me at times. There were things in the house Nyx had to find and destroy to break the curse of the land. It is a little weird but I liked how different it was. Nyx is on a mission to find these things but as she gets to know Ignifex she realizes they actually have a lot in common. They both see each other clearly through all the flaws and hatred and love each other anyway. That made the romance really unique and enjoyable. I am always happy to find reads so different from what I usually read. I loved everything about this book.
"If you start wondering how this house works, you'll likely go mad. That could be amusing, I suppose. Especially if it's the kind of madness that causes you to run naked through the hallways. Do feel free to indulge in that anytime."
"Then don't," I said. "Stay right here and never strike another bargain."
"Oh, you're that desperate to be with me?" He leaned forward, his hand still on my shoulder. "If you wanted a kiss, you only needed to ask."
"You don't have to carry me," I said. "I can walk."
"I'm your lord husband. It's in my arms or over my shoulder."
"Over the shoulder."
"You want me holding you by the thighs? Not that I would mind."
"But you know what you are, and what you deserve. You lie to me but not to yourself. That's why I love you."
"I love you," he said. "I love you more than any other creature, because you are cruel, and kind, and alive. Nyx Triskelion, will you be my wife?"
"I know what you've done."
"The exciting parts, anyway."
Rating: 5/5
Rosamund Hodge grew up as a homeschooler in Los Angeles, where she spent her time reading everything she could lay hands on, but especially fantasy and mythology. She got a BA in English from the University of Dallas and an MSt in Medieval English from Oxford, and she now lives in Seattle with seven toy cats and a plush Cthulhu. Visit her on the web
Cruel Beauty Blog Tour
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1/28/2014- Imaginary Reads- Review
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1/30/2014- Bewitched Bookworms- Review
1/31/2014- Some Like it Paranormal- Review
1/31/2014- Parajunkee- Interview
~Giveaway~
I had a very much love and hate with Nyx and Ignifex as well, but ended up wanting the best for them
ReplyDeleteI loved this one and how it was so unlike the typical retelling.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome retelling of B&TB. Which was good but this sounds much better.
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I really want to review this book!
ReplyDeleteI have heard nothing but great things about this book! I need to buy it!
ReplyDeleteI loved how complex Ignifex was too. The banter was so great between the two of them! I also found that the Beauty and the Beast elements were really light and I think that may have benefited me. GREAT REVIEW!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading this book. I love retelling of fairy tales. And the cover is absolutely amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI liked this but didn't love it. I thought that calling a B&TB retelling hurt the book as I wasn't surprised. It would have been so much better going in with no preconceived notions.
ReplyDeleteI really want to read this book! It sounds so good and the cover is awesome! Thanks for the giveaway! =)
ReplyDeleteI've heard SUCH good things about this book! I'd love to read it. :) The idea of mixing mythology and fairy tales is so epic.! :)
ReplyDeletesounds really interesting, can't wait to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good! I've been hearing a lot of people talk about it. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale so I'm super excited for this retelling.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so wizard! I've heard amazing things about it, and Nyx and Ignifex sound like my kind of characters. I can't wait to read it, one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI was worried about the world building being a little confusing, but I still plan on giving this one a go. I'm happy to see you enjoyed it! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED this book and hey I don't know I didn't even consider it YA - I know she was young but what do you think?
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