Waiting on Wednesday: Defy and Cruel Beauty

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we just can't wait to get our hands on!

This week both my WoW picks have roses on the cover!

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Goodreads' description:

"A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?"

This sounds kind of like a Tamora Pierce-esque fantasy! Not sure how I'll feel about the love triangle, hopefully it's executed well. Also, how cool is it that the handle of the dagger on the cover is a rose?! (Probably would make it pretty difficult to wield, but hey, details...)

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Goodreads' description:

"Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom—all because of a reckless bargain her father struck. And since birth, she has been training to kill him.

Betrayed by her family yet bound to obey, Nyx rails against her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, she abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, disarm him, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her. As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. But even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, could she refuse her duty to kill him?

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny." 

The cover for Cruel Beauty was just revealed today, so I'm sure it'll be popping up on lots of WoW posts, but that's okay. Take a look at that cover! The rose and staircase entwining = awesome. Plus Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite fairy tales. Apparently there's also some Cupid & Psyche and Bluebeard in the mix, so I'm interested to see how Hodge weaves elements of these tales together while still making it a romance.