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monetp 's review for:
Cruel Beauty
by Rosamund Hodge
4.5 stars
"Almost immediately, I found the red door into the library. I opened it idly- and the breath stopped in my throat. It was the same room I remembered: the shelves, the lion-footed table, the white bass-relief of Clio. But now, tendrils of dark green ivy grew between the shelves, reaching toward the books as if they were hungry to read. White mist flowed along the floor, rippling and tumbling as if blown by wind. Across the ceiling wove a network of icy ropes like tree roots." ~ [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669]
This book is a fantastical adventure; a canvas of explosive imagination and colors. The imagery and gorgeous descriptions are enough for me to give this novel four stars, but ultimately it's been one of the most wondrous books I've read this year so: 4.5 stars. For a 400 page standalone novel, there were plenty of twists and turns! Due to its spellbinding imagery and various plot twists, this novel is perfect for fans of [b:The Starless Sea|43575115|The Starless Sea|Erin Morgenstern|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554996038l/43575115._SY75_.jpg|66444785] and [b:An Enchantment of Ravens|30969741|An Enchantment of Ravens|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486244049l/30969741._SY75_.jpg|51586838]. The writing is of a similar style and the plot structure is as well.
Ohmygosh I thoroughly enjoyed Nyx and Ignifex's silly banter! One of my favorite chapters is the one where Nyx tosses a piece of crockery at the demon lord's head! She is so impulsive and childish and I love that about her character. Nyx as the main female heroine is complex, flawed, and impossible to understand at times. However, it's her "poisoned heart" that makes her so intriguing.
As far as critiques go, I only have a few. First of all, I would've loved more library scenes. In the original "Beauty and the Beast" story, the library usually plays a much more important role. In this retelling, the library seems important initially because Nyx struggles to read the books, but then the library fades into the background. I was dying for more Nyx and Ignifex library scenes! Also, the last-minute plot twist of an "alternate reality" I guess, it felt rushed. So much was happening at once and I was trying to get my bearings. I would've liked one more chapter in this new reality so I could process and understand what had happened to Nyx. While I enjoyed the ending, it felt jarring. Nyx spent the whole story attempting to save the day, so why did she have to rush to do so in the end?
"Almost immediately, I found the red door into the library. I opened it idly- and the breath stopped in my throat. It was the same room I remembered: the shelves, the lion-footed table, the white bass-relief of Clio. But now, tendrils of dark green ivy grew between the shelves, reaching toward the books as if they were hungry to read. White mist flowed along the floor, rippling and tumbling as if blown by wind. Across the ceiling wove a network of icy ropes like tree roots." ~ [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669]
This book is a fantastical adventure; a canvas of explosive imagination and colors. The imagery and gorgeous descriptions are enough for me to give this novel four stars, but ultimately it's been one of the most wondrous books I've read this year so: 4.5 stars. For a 400 page standalone novel, there were plenty of twists and turns! Due to its spellbinding imagery and various plot twists, this novel is perfect for fans of [b:The Starless Sea|43575115|The Starless Sea|Erin Morgenstern|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554996038l/43575115._SY75_.jpg|66444785] and [b:An Enchantment of Ravens|30969741|An Enchantment of Ravens|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486244049l/30969741._SY75_.jpg|51586838]. The writing is of a similar style and the plot structure is as well.
Ohmygosh I thoroughly enjoyed Nyx and Ignifex's silly banter! One of my favorite chapters is the one where Nyx tosses a piece of crockery at the demon lord's head! She is so impulsive and childish and I love that about her character. Nyx as the main female heroine is complex, flawed, and impossible to understand at times. However, it's her "poisoned heart" that makes her so intriguing.
As far as critiques go, I only have a few. First of all, I would've loved more library scenes. In the original "Beauty and the Beast" story, the library usually plays a much more important role. In this retelling, the library seems important initially because Nyx struggles to read the books, but then the library fades into the background. I was dying for more Nyx and Ignifex library scenes! Also, the last-minute plot twist of an "alternate reality" I guess, it felt rushed. So much was happening at once and I was trying to get my bearings. I would've liked one more chapter in this new reality so I could process and understand what had happened to Nyx. While I enjoyed the ending, it felt jarring. Nyx spent the whole story attempting to save the day, so why did she have to rush to do so in the end?