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noellegrace8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That being said, I really like the main characters. Some of the side characters are a bit flat, but Jude, Cardan, Maddoc, Vivvie, Dain, Taryn, Oriana... none of them are "good" or "bad." They just are. They make decisions, they have instincts and natures that make those decisions difficult. I love the complexity! I also think this book set up a series (trilogy) well, so I'm hoping to like the next two even more! The worldbulding is awesome. Holly Black has created a very interesting mix of "fae" and "mortal," complete with rich history and quirks and physical descriptions.
I don't factor audiobook reader into my overal star rating, but I give Caitlyn Kelly 3.5/5⭐️. Honestly, I think she was part of the reason I struggled to get into this book, but there's no telling for certain. She oftentimes doesn't seem to read with the same cadence that the words on the page suggest. She also has a cheesy tone when voicing male characters and over-acts when it comes to emotional (and even sometimes non-emotional!) scenes.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Excrement, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and War
lyr1cal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
yasaman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism
readwithria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Jude is such a force to be reckoned with! Her pivot from wanting to be a knight to embracing her newfound skills was so great, and I really enjoyed seeing her grow into her strength.
The political maneuvering was so interesting! I love tactical plays in books like this, and The Cruel Prince was full of them. The planning, the manipulation, the betrayals 😩 SO GOOD
I will definitely be continuing the series asap. 4 stars.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
readyourrights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Toxic friendship
evermoresversion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
surprisingly, i liked this. i honestly wasn’t expecting to, as many extremely hyped up books on booktok turn out to be not for me.
Jude might be my new <u>favorite</u> FMC. she’s everything. i love her. my queen.
as for the other characters, though… i hate them all except Vivi and Oak (he’s the sweetest).
now, Cardan. i am the type of person who will <u>never</u> forgive nor forget when people wronged me. so, if someone treated me this way, and then <i>wanted</i> me… yeah, i’m sorry, but no.
the whole vibe of the book was very unique (to me, at least). it made me feel like i was living in one of the fairytale worlds i read about as a child. it felt very <i>cozy</i> to me. i loved it.
the plot was lacking in the beginning, but about 150 pages in it got interesting. although, the plot twists and reveals at the end were my favorite and made the book for me.
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
philosofreaky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
mothmanisbbygrl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Bullying and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
reaganenthusiast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood
j_day's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Also the
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Murder