Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

147 reviews

kiwitiger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Grief and Classism

lottebluebird's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. 
I do not know, but many plot twists were no secrets for me, but I liked it maybe even more because of it. 

The writing style was so good, that I wanted to read almost the whole book, even English isn’t my mother tongue, in one seating. 

Jude and her story.. the cruel prince and the subplot with her twin sister. I loved it all the way, even if very dark things happen in the plot. 
And can I have those elaborate gowns the fey wear at parties? The descriptions of them were stunning!

You’ll find me ready the sequel 🤭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and War

ashnoble's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism and Slavery

nabzilla's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia

Minor: Suicide and Murder

oddpilot97's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

I think I might be obsessed with this book. It’s the first novel I read as an adult that gave me the same feeling as when I read as a child. 

 

Enemies to lovers is one of the best tropes in my opinion. And this book did not disappoint. I appreciated that both characters were complex, with dynamic motivations, and that there wasn’t an uncomfortable power dynamic.

The only tiny critique I have is that the audiobook narrator got a bit whiny at times of high tension. It was a tad grating/melodramatic.
 

The main character isn’t a goodie two shoes, and I loved that. The plot had excellent twists and turns without being predictable, and never got too dull. The twists were well established in advance as well, which I appreciated. It's got my favorite parts of YA without feeling immature.

 

Read this! It’s amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

thejackalopeswarren's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Loved me some morally grey men and women

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

caitsamermaid's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Fun enough read, but nothing to enthrall me or encourage me to continue the series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism

miss_berry315's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Re-read review. Changing rating to 4⭐  
Love how strong and badass Jude is.
The writing and flow of the story are something to get used to, but it works well.

it feels almost like an unreliable narrator in the way that since we are in Jude's mind, we get everything the way she interprets it. She sees what she wants to see and tells the reader what she wants us to know.
Poor Cardan is just a sad, hurt lil dude who admires the way Jude handles her shit. He's just bad at flirting bc he's scared to get close to people and he deserves a hug and kiss on the forehead and to be told he's doing a good job!!

Original review:
This book had kind of a slow start to it, but about 30% in, I was hooked. 
The characters are complex and feel (mostly) realistic, the courtly politics kept me guessing. I wanted to slap Jude the whole damn book, but her decisions make sense for who she is, and that's what makes it so good! 
So glad the next books are out so I can keep reading! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

e_emmaa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

rchulin1's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism