Cruel Beauty

By: Rosamund Hodge

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's 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 17th birthday, she abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, disarm him, and break the 900-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.

©2014 Rosamund Hodge (P)2014 HarperCollinsPublishers

Great story

Very different from anything I’ve read before. I really loved this. I got pretty emotionally attached to the characters. Beauty and the Beast type story but darker

Such a lovely story

What did you love best about Cruel Beauty?

I love that the story keeps you on your toes. It isn't predicable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

It is such a good story, I really love it!

Totally engrossing!

What did you love best about Cruel Beauty?

This book was presented to me as a "Beauty & the Beast" retelling. It was so much better, and included so many other elements. Mythology, mythology, mythology.

Have you listened to any of Elizabeth Knowelden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I had never listened to this speaker before, but I think she gave a wonderful performance. Her voice really did the characters justice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I couldn't quit listening to this if I wanted to!

Any additional comments?

I wish there was an actual sequel to this book- it left me wanting more.

Great and original retelling of a classic

I loved this retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast. So many wonderful concepts here. I adored the narrators voice as well. However, the story + the narrators voice, at times left me drifting away from the story a bit. Typically I go through a book every couple days this one took much longer. Maybe my life is more interesting now.... Who knows. The story was just lacking... Something. Still really great! Just missing something..

Fabulous

Another stunner from both author and narrator. Richly imagined, ingenious use of Roman mythology, layered and nuanced. A cutting look at human nature and unconditional love.

love love love!!! this book is amazing & beautiful

this book was beautifully written, suspense and romance and magic!! i can't express how much i loved this novel

beautiful

the mystery, the romance, the wonders and strange world, I didn't know whether to cry or laugh anymore, it was simply beautiful.

Know your Fairy Tales!

This is a very different take on many fairy tales combined, some are well known, some are not. It also incorporates a lot of mythology and metaphors. You could get as deep as u want, the deeper, the better the story it becomes. It is still a very fascinating story either way. The only problem is, the end can be quite confusing. So, you'll probably get to the end and go 'That was good, but, er, how did we get here?' 'What does that mean?' Long story short, it is based on approximately 4-5 sentences out of the WHOLE BOOK. If you're someone that can comprehend each and every sentence out of the WHOLE BOOK, u r good to go. If u r like most people, and don't hear it or don't realize a sentence is important because it's only said once, u will be confused by the ending. Which will be quite frustrating, because the story does pull u in. You'll probably have to Google some information to figure it out . That is, of course, what I had to do, and it took some time because a lot of people didn't understand it. If u have time, it's worth it. Good Luck!

Incomplete

The narrator was great, but that was the only great thing. The story had the potential to be as well, but unfortunately, it is rushed and lacking in detail. The world and mythology have so much promise, but they were all cut short and not properly developed or explained. The characters also had a lot of promise, but not a single one had any growth or development. Honestly, it reads as a short draft of an amazing series. I would have loved for this world and mythology to have been expanded and made into several books as well as the characters.

<3 Beautiful Retailing of a Fairy Tail <3

I loved the story and the characters and the world this fairy tail exists in. I will probably read this story on KINDLE and enjoy the story all over again.