Cruel Beauty in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

Jan 08, 2014 鈾モ櫋垄蟽蟽泻喂褦鈾モ櫋 (Krystle) rated it it was amazing

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I have read and enjoyed several Beauty and the Beast retellings so when I say this is one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings I have ever read, I don鈥檛 make that statement lightly.

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The author didn鈥檛 stick too closely to the source material. Nyx wasn鈥檛 exactly beautiful and Ingnifex wasn鈥檛 really a beast, but the author made sure to take several elements of the original story and give them a fresh twist. The result was something ...more

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Jun 19, 2013 Kat rated it liked it

Shelves: stand-alone

This wasn't a bad book, but it also wasn't a fantastic one. Some of the descriptions Hodge used struck me oddly: like, for example, when in the very beginning Ignifex is draped across Nyx like a cat. I couldn't help but make this kind of face: O.o And at times, he sounded almost...childish.

I have to admit, I guessed the two halves of the lost prince pretty early on, but it didn't make the story any less intriguing. It was definitely a worthwhile read, even if the ending was tied up just a bit t ...more

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Dec 22, 2013 Alexandra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hands-down, summer-2014, retellings, swooooon, alternate-world, fantasy

Achingly dramatic and very puzzling up until the end.

It has been a while since I've read such a very romantic, fantastical, and puzzling story. I love Nyx, of being selfish, impulsive, hateful and brave without being overrated. She lies to you but never to herself. She may hate you but she'll give out smiles, but what amuses me is that she knows she's not good, she's not kind, she knows her duty. But Ignifex..., the moment he blankets himself to her, I have bet that this will be a good book. And ...more

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Feb 27, 2014 Carie rated it really liked it

4+ for this one 鈥� it鈥檚 a vivid, imaginative, very romantic story that drew me in and kept me thinking. I鈥檓 still thinking about it!

The book started with a bang, but slowed down a bit when Nyx first entered the Gentle Lord鈥檚 house. And, honestly, it didn鈥檛 completely hold my interest at first when Nyx was alone, wandering around searching and thinking about things. But, once the story got going and there were more interactions with Ignifex and Shade, I was completely hooked!

This story is like a r 4+ for this one 鈥� it鈥檚 a vivid, imaginative, very romantic story that drew me in and kept me thinking. I鈥檓 still thinking about it!

The book started with a bang, but slowed down a bit when Nyx first entered the Gentle Lord鈥檚 house. And, honestly, it didn鈥檛 completely hold my interest at first when Nyx was alone, wandering around searching and thinking about things. But, once the story got going and there were more interactions with Ignifex and Shade, I was completely hooked!

This story is like a really crazy merging of Beauty and the Beast, Bluebeard, and Rumplestiltskin, with some elements of Howl鈥檚 Moving Castle and Alice in Wonderland thrown in. I LOVED the mythology references and stories, too!! Though I knew immediately that (view spoiler), I was always thinking about who everyone was, how all the pieces fit together, how the mythology tales and poetry verses tied in and what they all alluded to, and how the story would end. This story definitely kept me guessing and thinking throughout the whole book!

I LOVED the characters, particularly Nyx, Ignifex, and Shade. Nyx鈥檚 anger and hatred were SO understandable and heart-wrenching!! Sometimes her behavior with Ignifex was a little TOO outrageous, but I loved their verbal sparring and that they recognized themselves in each other and loved each other despite (and often because of) their faults. I loved the mysteriousness of Ignifex and Shade--their different approaches to life and that the characters were often very surprising and both loveable and detestable. Speaking of detestable characters, I liked the contributions of Nyx鈥檚 family to the mix. I could relate somewhat to Astraia, but Nyx鈥檚 father and aunt were really hard to take!

I loved the wonderful world Ms. Hodge created, too! With the Gentle Lord, the Kindly Ones, the bargains, the shadows, the birds, the crazy house with surprises behind every door, and the vivid, fantastic descriptions and imagery, her writing really drew me in and tickled my fancy and imagination. I LOVED it all!! The bargains, in particular, were fascinating and thought-provoking.

I would鈥檝e liked a little more at the end of the story, though :( I鈥檓 still wondering (view spoiler). I was left a little less than satisfied by the ending we were left with, but I still loved the book! What an awesome read!!

This story is fairly dark and it does have some implied sexual situations (no details given!). I can't wait to read more in this world! I'll definitely be picking up Ms. Hodge's next book :)
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Aug 12, 2015 M. rated it it was ok

I picked up this book after I read Sarah Maas's retelling of Beauty and The Beast. And let me tell you, it was like going from drinking champagne, to cheap warm beer.

I did not care for the protagonist. At all. She was so damn fickle. I couldn't stand her. The love aspect of the story was underwhelming and suffered from a serious case of the insta-loves (plural, because the MC falls in love with two different guys in the span of days).

There was an interesting twist to the classical tale, but it w ...more

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Feb 18, 2014 Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-or-fantasy, ya, sort-of-spicy

This gets like 3.8 stars from me! Let's start with things that I didn't absolutely loved. There were some times that the plot was slightly confusing. The main character was kind of all over the place in her emotions. Now the things that I liked! Mythology mixed with fairytale-I think that's genius! I liked that both of the main characters were beauties and beasts! That was kind of a cool twist of having everyone flawed. I liked the setting! It was magical and twisted. And finally I liked the lov ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Amber rated it liked it

I know it's wrong to judge a book by its cover, but I mean, look at this thing. Could you help yourself?

But I learned that I should rely less on the summary. From there, I gathered that she would be this kickass assassin chick, but she was far less skilled than someone who's been training her life should be. Her husband knew what she was up to the moment he saw her. So saying it's like Graceling is a tad misleading.

So, Nyx is this ridiculously selfish girl raised by ridiculously selfish people, I know it's wrong to judge a book by its cover, but I mean, look at this thing. Could you help yourself?

But I learned that I should rely less on the summary. From there, I gathered that she would be this kickass assassin chick, but she was far less skilled than someone who's been training her life should be. Her husband knew what she was up to the moment he saw her. So saying it's like Graceling is a tad misleading.

So, Nyx is this ridiculously selfish girl raised by ridiculously selfish people, all of whom have a singleminded goal that's more important than Nyx's own survival to them. If ever there was a main character I wasn't expecting to like, it would be this one, but she didn't make it easy. One second, I'd think "Wow, this girl is pretty awesome. KEEP IT UP!" and then the next I'd be screaming (out loud sometimes) "I HATE YOU. YOU MAKE STUPID DECISIONS AND MY HEART HURTS."

Ignifex was perfection. Throughout the book, I was just enthusiastically waiting for more scenes with him in it and from the very beginning, I knew he would probably end up being my favorite character. Truth be told, when I found out that he was demon lord, I knew there was no hope for me. But if you were expecting some hideous creature, then try no to be too alarmed when you're introduced a breathtakingly beautiful demigod, yeah? And then his personality. Oh man, he was funny, and snarky, and SO ENTERTAINING.

The plot was much darker than I had expected. It's not like Beastly, if that's what you think you'll get when you pick this up. There are demons and death and horrible bargains and myths. It makes you feel claustrophobic, though that might have been the intention of the author. At times, it felt like the book fell flat plot-wise, but on the other hand, there were times that I devoured happily. And then the ending... I'm happy, but not quite satisfied because it was a little abrupt. Not enough time for a proper happily ever after.

I'd recommend this to people who like retellings, but don't come in thinking you're reading a Disney fairytale. And if you enjoy demons or slightly dark romances, have at it! It'll be perfect for you! Personally, I'd probably only recommend this to a certain type of person, because this definitely isn't going to be everyone's flavor.

Rating: 3/5 ...more

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