A likable main character can make or break a fantasy novel -- it's the difference between an inoffensive plotless story and "Twilight." 
 And unfortunately, "Cruel Beauty" is hampered severely by a not-very-likable main character, a cold-hearted villain who is also a sexy woobie, and a fantasy world that is intriguing but poorly-sketched out. While the first half of Rosamund Hodge's debut novel is gratingly predictable, she does manage to introduce some interesting twists in the second half... which are usually railroaded by the romance. 
 Because of a deal her father struck, Nyx has spent her entire life knowing that she will be wed to the ironically named Gentle Lord, Ignifex, the master of the madness-inducing demons. Unsurprisingly, she hates everyone in her family who is involved in this, including the sister who will be safe because of her sacrifice. And when she is finally sent to her new husband's labyrinthine house, she has just one goal: find a way to kill him. 
 However, Ignifex rather predictably turns out to be incredibly hot, doesn't hurt her, and doesn't have sex with her. Nyx is left to wander through the house with a mysterious, enchanted young man she calls Shade, who looks exactly like Ignifex. But as she gets to know Ignifex better, she learns that he is being controlled by outside forces -- and has secrets that may be her key to stopping him. 
 One major problem with "Cruel Beauty" is the setting and background... or more precisely, the fact that it's distractingly difficult to even tell what it is. It seems to take place in a Greco-Romanic society set in an alternate Great Britain, with demons and a covered sky... but Hodge leaves giant chunks of her invented society a mystery, such as the question of whether this is a pseudo-medieval society or not. 
 Unfortunately, the book's biggest flaw is Nyx herself. She's a fairly standard spunky princess type, but it takes a LONG time for her to experience anything other than seething hatred for anyone or anything. And while it's understandable that she would be extremely angry and bitter... it doesn't make her very likable. While eventually we see some inner conflict and affection for others, the bitter, sour taste continues until about halfway into the book. 
 She also provides a villain/love interest who is almost as irritating, because he's explicitly mentioned as being a Faustlike creep with a Bluebeard-style room of dead wives... but Hodge keeps softening him up and making him less and less evil, so we won't overlook his hotness. It makes him feel more like a post-Edward Cullen bad boy, trying to convince us of how evil and dark he is... but not really, because he's also hot and misunderstood and tormented. 
 However, Hodge does have some promise as a writer. Her world, however confusing, is intriguingly unusual in its mix of old English and Greco-Roman influences, and she slashes the story with some excellent-quality horror (Nyx locked in the room of dead girls, or attacked by the singing Children of Typhon). And she throws some intriguing twists into the story, such as a betrayal by someone Nyx trusted. 
 And while Hodge overloads the story on romance (seriously, how many times will Nyx ogle Ignifex while he's sleeping?), she does manage to produce a fairly decent fantasy story in the book's second half, with a rather shocking act by Ignifex that changes everything. However, the ultimate twists involved with Shade and Ignifex are kind of predictable. 
 "Cruel Beauty" is not quite a cruel experience, but Rosamund Hodge needs to do some work on her world-building exposition and characterization. Interesting for fans of paranormal romance or twisted fairy tales, but has some serious flaws.