Waiting on Wednesday: Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

 What I'm waiting for...

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When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose. Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.

The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.

Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.

Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.

Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting. . . .

Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Bright Smoke, Cold Fire is a darkly romantic and atmospheric fantasy from acclaimed author Rosamund Hodge. 

*****

Why am I waiting on this book?

I have no words to describe how excited I am for this book! I love Rosamund's writing and reading this one was inspired by Romeo and Juliet... Best news ever!

What about you?

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What's new? Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

 

Ookay, this book sounds like Cruel Beauty, the cover is like Cruel Beauty's, and I want to read it just like I wanted to read Cruel Beauty. But at the end of the synopsis says: This is a standalone novel, not part of the Cruel Beauty Universe.
So, I don't know what to think, really.

Check it out!

Expected publication:  May 5th 2015 by Balzer + Bray

 

 

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

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Book Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

 Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Pages: 352
Buying links: Amazon/ B&N/ TBD
Source: eARC provided by publisher
Summary:

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

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people. But Ignifex is not at all 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. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

*A huge thank you to Harper and Edelweiss for the eARC of this book*

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is an intriguing and dark read. Fans of re-telling will love this one.
Hodge mixed perfectly the story of Belle and the Beast with Greek mythology.
The author created an amazing world, full of suspense, magic and dark elements.

Since the first page this book got me trapped. The world building was fantastic, and with Hodge’s gorgeous writing and phenomenal characters there wasn’t a second where I stopped reading.
What I loved more about this book is the fact that Nyx wasn’t the typical good girl. She was angry, she hated, and she wasn’t looking for the right things to do. She was just a girl with no choice… a strong and brave one, I have to say.

"If one of us had to die, it ought to be the one with poison in her heart."

In the other hand, Ignifex wasn't what I was expecting at all, he was mysterious and gorgeously described. Every time he made an appearance I ended up with a huge smile on my lips. He was an incredible Beast, it was impossible not to like him.

"That's what makes you my favorite." He reached up and wiped a tear off my cheek with his thumb. 
"Every wicked bit of you.”

Cruel beauty is unique in its way because the author managed perfectly the way to put all the mythical factors in a love story about Belle and the Beast.

The romance was a very important part in this book, but not the main topic. Although the “love triangle” bothered me at times, it just ended perfectly. It also felt like insta-love, but somehow Hodge developed it in the right way.
But definitely, what made of Cruel Beauty an unforgettable story is the writing. The descriptions were so detailed and well created that I didn’t have a problem picturing all the things in my head.
The world-building and the magical scenarios were breathtaking.
I’m not a huge fan of high fantasy but this one leaves me begging for more.
Cruel Beauty is a wonderful debut, a must read. I’ll an eye on Hodge new projects.

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