Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

  
Reviewer: J

I am completely blown away by this stunning debut novel! Seriously, if you haven’t read this yet, get on it!

Cruel Beauty is such a clever retelling of the familiar fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. This book has some expertly written fantasy and historical elements, so there’s something every reader will love. 

I especially loved the thread of romance throughout.  Normally I’m not a romance fan, but this is just so well-done that I couldn’t not love it! It was so complex and creative. And I loved how the main character doesn’t instantly fall in love with the love interest, a common trope in YA these days. 

And the writing, let’s not forget! Ms. Hodge really outdid herself. Beautiful quotes were sprinkled all through the book. There was such a strong usage of show not tell. And I really felt the characters’ emotions and thoughts. 

Overall, as you can see I absolutely adored this one. I need Crimson Bound, the companion novel, right now! I’m also thrilled to know that the author has another book in the works. (If anyone finds out anything about that feel free to comment and let me know!) This book is smart, original, and a new favorite of mine. 

Rating: 5 stars