She was raised to be the hope for her kingdom and the revenge of her mother. All that was required would be her death. Nyx has knows since she was nine her life was not her own. Her kingdom of Arcadia has been cursed for over nine hundred years and it is up to her to be the one to break that curse. To do so, she only has to marry a monster and then find a way to kill him.
Once Nyx meets her demon lord husband, she is surprised by the contradictions in him. Ignifex, as he asks her to call him, can look so human, it disturbs Nyx. But then she meets, Shade, who is the shadow of Ignifex and seems to want to help Nyx in her quest to destroy the demon lord. If only Nyx can find what she needs to trace her sigils to break the curse. However, the house of the demon lord changes daily, with locked rooms and keys she needs to get in order to carry out her duty.
As time goes on, Nyx begins to realize that Ignifex might not be the monster she always thought. But what difference will that make, since her kingdom is still cursed and she is still the only one who can save everyone?
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is for anyone who loves the story of Beauty and the Beast, Blue Beard and mythology since this book has it all.
Recommended for 8th grade and up.
Books in the Middle: Reading for Middle School 