Realms Review: "Cruel Beauty"

Cruel Beauty cover

In a retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast, set in a world based on Greek mythology, what isn’t there to love about Rosamund Hodge’s debut novel, Cruel Beauty? Nyx, the protagonist, is being forced to marry the cruel ruler of their land, Ignifex. Even though she’s been forced to marry him, Nyx has also been training to kill him and unravel the spell that has separated their kingdom from the real world.

            Without giving anything else away, we would like to rate this tale with four stars. For a debut novel, it’s absolutely mesmerizing. The writing is beautiful, the world-building in incredible, and for a tale that’s been retold in so many ways, Hodge still makes it original and spins it on its head. Nyx is our strong female protagonist who represents the dark side within all of us. We’re all bound by responsibility, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hate those responsibilities. And, sometimes, what we want the most is what everyone else disapproves of.

            Rarely have I seen such a well-developed character with a strong voice. Even when she’s “helpless,” she’s independent and strong. Whether dealing with her father, her sister, or Ignifex, she bends the rules to achieve her goals. Ignifex is a great foil to her character. He represents pure evil, but, ultimately, reveals that no one can be categorized in such a black-and-white fashion. The well-rounded characters have you constantly guessing who the real villain is, and in the end, you have decide for yourself.
          Cruel Beauty is a magnificent tale that will have you dying to know what happens next. We couldn’t put the book down. You can buy the book here on Amazon! And, if you like this book, you need to check out Hodge’s new novel, Crimson Bound, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl with No Hands, set to release May 5, 2015.

Crimson Bound cover

Realms Review