Cruel Beauty

By Rosamund Hodge
Read by Elizabeth Knowelden

unabridged

Format: CD (In Stock)
  • 2 Formats: CD
  • 2 Formats: Library CD

  • ISBN: 9781482991437

  • ISBN: 9781482991420

Runtime: 10.29 Hours
Category: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult (12–17)
Language: English
Sign In For Price

Summary

Summary

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom—all because of a reckless bargain her father struck. And since birth, she has been training to kill him.

Betrayed by her family yet bound to obey, Nyx rails against her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, she abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, disarm him, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not 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. But even if she can bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him?

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.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews

“A dazzling and clever retelling, Cruel Beauty is delightfully dark, lushly romantic, and utterly spellbinding. I adored it, and can’t wait to read Hodge’s next novel!” —Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series
“A completely engrossing tale.” —Alex Flinn, New York Times bestselling author of Beastly and Towering
“A marvelous and inventive book. Hodge creatively intersperses several well-known fairy tales into something that stands completely on its own. Nyx is a heroine comparable to The Hunger Games’ Katniss: she’s fierce, loyal, and a stalwart warrior. As far as debut novels go, this one is a winner!” —RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)
“Absorbing, beautifully complex…Engrossing.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Will have readers clutching the book and flying through the pages. Filled with mystery and romance, readers can connect to the story and feel the conflict, as well as the love. With roots in the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, and mythological elements from the stories of Cupid and Psyche, this book is a well crafted, modern rendition that will resonate with a wide audience. Love is cruel, but also beautiful, and Hodge has created a story around that theme that readers will devour.” —VOYA
“This adaption of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ combines Greek mythology, particularly the myth of Cupid and Psyche, with fairy tale lore to weave together a complex fantasy that is rich in detail, action, and hidden meanings. Nyx comes to embrace the darkness and the light that is within her and those she loves. Though some layers of the story unravel rather confusingly, this is a clever debut novel that delivers plenty of intrigue and romance.” —Children’s Literature
“Hodge’s story infuses elements of Greek mythology and classic fairy tales. The plot moves quickly, and the characters are well formed; their transgressions make them interesting and authentic. The complex relationship between Nyx and Ignifex is especially engaging. An entertaining read for teens who enjoy romantic fantasy.” —School Library Journal
“A compelling and convincing narrator, the feisty Nyx mellows and evolves as she relates the story. Based on ‘The Beauty and the Beast’ and borrowing ancient Greek gods and myths as well as folklore motifs, Nyx’s Arcadia is a fascinating if sometimes confusing, complex fantasy world. Sexuality is never explicit, but confrontations and sexual tension between Nyx and Ignifex propel the fast-paced romantic fantasy.” —Booklist
“Elizabeth Knowelden narrates with an accent befitting Nyx’s education and privilege, and she uses sharp enunciation to convey Nyx’s resentment as she moves into the Gentle Lord’s castle and finds him to be different from what she expected. Knowelden’s subtle inflections add to the mystery and mood as Nyx explores her new home and builds her plans even as she grapples with her growing feelings toward the Gentle Lord and her ambivalence toward her mission. A fantasy that’s as much about self-acceptance as it is about the redemptive power of love.” —AudioFile
“What a stunning debut. This is a book you will want to read as fast as you can for the intricate plot and as slowly as you can to savor the gorgeous world-building and the ravishing love story.” —Sherry Thomas, author of The Burning Sky

Reviews

Reviews

Be the first to review this product

Author

Author Bio: 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, especially fantasy and mythology. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Dallas and a master’s degree in medieval English from Oxford. She now lives in Seattle, Washington. 

Titles by Author

Details

Details

Available Formats : CD, Library CD
Category: Fiction
Runtime: 10.29
Audience: Young Adult (12–17)
Language: English
1-800-621-0182
Serving libraries since 1987, Blackstone Library is your one-stop shop for audiobooks. We are dedicated to providing top-quality audio content, offering over 25,000 unabridged titles—with more than 500 new releases and 75 exclusive titles added each month.
©2018 Blackstone Library Beta. All rights reserved. Privacy Terms of Use Purchase Terms ©2018 Blackstone Library Beta. All rights reserved.