ALA Booklist

As part of her father's ill-considered bargain, 17-year-old Nyx has been betrothed to the "gentle lord," the prince of demons who destroyed the line of Arcadian kings and now torments the villagers. Coached by her father and underground patriots, Nyx plans to kill the gentle lord, the beast she comes to know as Ignifex, and release Arcadia from his evil power. Nyx discovers, however, that Ignifex struggles with his own demons, and against her will and steely determination, she falls in love with him. A compelling and convincing narrator, the feisty Nyx mellows and evolves as she relates the story. Based on "The Beauty and the Beast" and borrowing ancient Greek gods and myths as well as folklore motifs, Nyx's Arcadia is a fascinating if sometimes confusing, complex fantasy world. Sexuality is never explicit, but confrontations and sexual tension between Nyx and Ignifex propel the fast-paced romantic fantasy.

Horn Book

This "Beauty and the Beast" re-imagining is set in a steampunk world plagued by demons. Promised in marriage to the prince of the demons, Nyx hopes to kill her new husband, avenge her mother's death, and save her world. Instead, she falls dangerously in love. Overstuffed with random mythology, this overblown novel is further hampered by a confusing plot and unlikable characters.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Fiery 17-year-old Nyx has always known she is destined to marry the prince of demons-her father bargained her away before she was born. Even so, she has been trained in the Hermetic principles, and she hopes to use her skills to thwart Ingnifex's power and save her homeland from his control. When she arrives at the ruins of his ancient castle, nothing is at it seems: the rooms constantly change location, and she finds both beautiful magic and chilling horrors behind the countless doors. Also, Nyx cannot deny her attraction to Ingnifex, who is not exactly the monster she dreaded to meet. Debut novelist Hodge has created a rich, complete world in this twist on "Beauty and the Beast"; it can be slow-going (though not unrewarding) to wade through details about the demon's many rooms and the complicated, tragic mythology that brought him there. However, the banter between these well-matched foils is lively and sharp, and the pace picks up toward the end as Nyx first sacrifices for duty, and then for her own heart. Ages 13-up. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Associates. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Nyx Triskelion has known for most of her life that she must marry Ignifex, the "Gentle Lord" who terrorizes her world, due to a bargain her father made before her birth. She also knows that once married, she must destroy the evil despot and the demons under his command. For years, Nyx has been training in the Hermetic Arts, the method by which she is supposed to kill her husband. Yet when the time comes, she cannot shake the desire she develops for him. It does not help that she was raised as barely more than a sacrifice, unused to the idea of love. Despite her attraction to Ignifex, Nyx makes several attempts on his life (all of which are easily thwarted). Hodge's story infuses elements of Greek mythology and classic fairy tales. The plot moves quickly, and the characters are well formed; their transgressions make them interesting and authentic. The complex relationship between Nyx and Ignifex is especially engaging. An entertaining read for teens who enjoy romantic fantasy. Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY

Voice of Youth Advocates

Since her birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the Great Lord Ignifex, evil ruler of her kingdom, an arrangement made by her father. She grows up with resentment for her position, but also a burden to fulfill the bargain. She struggles with her feelings of hatred for her family for not trying to change this destiny, and she also feels ashamed for wanting to escape her fate. Nyx decided early on that the solution to this would be that soon after she married, she would kill him and destroy his castle, freeing her country of his tyrannical rule and breaking the curse put on her people. But Ignifex is not what Nyx expected. She soon sees that he is kind and compassionate and she is intrigued by his charms and enthralled by his castlethe shifting maze of magical rooms all for her to explore. Nyx begins to solve the mystery of the powerful curse her people are plagued by in order to free her homeland. As she unravels each mystery, she becomes more engrossed in Ignifex, and is beginning to feel love for him. In a powerful clash between sworn duty and allegiance, and the unmistakable influence of love, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or her future with Ignifex.This young adult fantasy-fairytale will have readers clutching the book and flying through the pages. Filled with mystery and romance, readers can connect to the story and feel the conflict, as well as the love. With roots in the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, and mythological elements from the stories of Cupid and Psyche, this book is a well crafted, modern rendition that will resonate with a wide audience. Love is cruel, but also beautiful, and Hodge has created a story around that theme that readers will devour. ûSusan Redman-Parodi.