Cruel Beauty

Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the burden of family expectations or struggling with the feeling that they are inherently flawed or 'bad' because of their anger. It is an ideal pick for the young reader who feels invisible compared to a sibling or who is navigating the transition from seeing the world in black and white to understanding the complexity of human nature and morality. The story follows Nyx, a girl raised to be an assassin to save her kingdom from the Gentle Lord, a demonic ruler she is forced to marry. As she enters his enchanted castle, she discovers that neither her enemy nor her own heart are as simple as she was taught. This dark, atmospheric reimagining of Beauty and the Beast explores themes of resentment, agency, and the transformative power of choosing love over duty. While the setting is fantastical, the emotional core deals with the very real adolescent experience of reclaiming one's identity from a predetermined path. Due to some mature romantic elements and intense themes of sacrifice, it is best suited for readers aged 14 and up.