Cruel Beauty, (Paperback)

I initially checked this out as an audiobook from the library for my commutes. I'll be quite honest, the ending still confuses me greatly and will probably require a 3rd reread to understand. Nyx is an interesting character, not quite a damsel, not quite consumed by resentment, not quite a romantic. The twist with Shade was pretty interesting, although the relationship between Shade and Ignifex I guessed early on, but that may just be because the book builds on so many mythos I have devoured over the years. Hades and Persephone, Beauty and the Beast, for example. It's not the best book I've read, but I definitely liked it a lot. Got me into Rosamond Hodge as an author. Prose is good, flows well, but gets confusing near the end. I'll be honest, the scene that sold me was when Nyx passes out and wakes up to Ignifex using her as a pillow, and lovable jerks drag me in every time. Ignifex is just that: a sort of whimsical jerk, but one who becomes more endearing to the reader as the book goes on.