I loved this book! I admit at first I was interested because of the cover and I thought the story was going to be something cheesy that I would think it was a waste to have a cool cover with it but no, I was intrigued when I read the book description and I couldn't wait till January 28 for it to come out. 
 The book is based on the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast but with a twist (like any modern retelling) "the Beast" isn't really a beast, (view spoiler)[he's a demon prince lord who makes (deceiving yet 'honest') bargains and there no servants around that are talking clocks or candles or tea sets. (in fact there's only Shade but I won't go too much into him but he's Ignifex's shadow) (hide spoiler)], and the rest of the characters are just Nyx and her family. 
 I loved how the story was well written, the world that was created was unique and it made wonder if it was a dystopian novel at first but then I realized that it was some sort of different universe in a land named Arcadia where Greek Mythology was still a big part of it. I also liked the way that Greek Mythology and all the gods and goddesses, not to mention the traditions, were included in this book- I've been a fan of Greek mythology since I read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It was nice to learn more about them and see how they were used (view spoiler)[the thing about bargains was interesting especially towards the end with the whole kindness thing (hide spoiler)] 
 The characters were all unique and I liked that not one of them were perfect, they each had flaws that made them realistic and human. The character development as the story progressed was exceptional- I enjoyed watching the characters grow and change. There was no instalove, Nyx hated Ignifex from the start and tried to attack him countlessly but he still kept being nice and teasing towards her which I loved. I loved watching them fall in love with each other, and as for a love triangle? (view spoiler)[Shade, Ignifex and then Lux, well if you read it you would understand the connection (hide spoiler)] that one is sort of complicated to explain without really giving away the major plot of the story, just know that it's something that you would never expect (although I figured it out halfway through the book). 
 Cruel Beauty is definitely going on to my Favorites, so I can re-read whenever I want. This is one of the best books I've read this year (and it's barely January!). I highly recommend it, it's good to read a novel that isn't part of a series every once in a while. Although there's a novella Gilded Ashes: A Cruel Beauty Novella that's from the same universe that I can't wait to read too!