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lyss_kane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have SO much to say and SO much to react to!
To start this review off, I want to state that I have technically read up to 80% of book 1, about 1.5-2 years ago. I had soft DNF'd it back then, mainly because I had just finished reading both ACOTAR & FBAA and thought The Cruel Prince was also on the same level of those. I wasn't into booktok or anything at the time, so I didn't realize it actually was YA fantasy, not adult. So, quite frankly, I was a little bit bored at the time of first reading it, back then. I knew that it was a beloved series so I decided to soft DNF it, and come back to it when I was ready to give it my full attention. This time around, I was able to take my time with it and overall had a pretty good time with the story and characters.
"Here's why I don't like these stories: They highlight that I am vulnerable. No matter how careful I am, eventually I'll make another misstep. I am weak. I am fragile. I am mortal. I hate that most of all. Even if, by some miracle, I could be better than them, I will never be one of them."
In my heart of hearts, I think this book wouldn't need a whole lot done to it to elevate it to the new adult/adult category. I kind of wish that it was, to be honest. I feel like there is so much potential to expand the story & characters, as well as all of the dark stuff and crucial scenes that happened within the book. Add 100-200 pages worth, add more tension between Jude & Cardan (and probably Locke at the beginning, even though that pains me to say), create more complex sentence structures and <i>bang!</i> - you have a new adult book. I can definitely see exactly why this series is so beloved by many. I wish I had read this is in high school, to be honest. I can still appreciate it as an adult, but I think it definitely would have hit harder in my teens/early 20's.
Also, as a side note, it should be said that I also rate books differently, depending on the categories they fall under (i.e. I wouldn't rate an epic fantasy the same, mentally, as I would a rom-com. The same goes for this, I wouldn't rate a YA necessarily the same as I would an adult book). I think that's more fair, to be honest, and it's become second-nature for me to do.
"Children can laugh all day and still cry themselves to sleep at night."
"I can see why humans succumb to the beautiful nightmare of the Court, why they willingly drown in it."
"Three is an odd configuration of sisters. There's always one on the outside."
"I get why he chose her. I just wish she had chosen me."
"Welcome," says the Roach, "to the Court of Shadows."
"Father, I am what you made me. I've become your daughter after all."
Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this book, so I would probably rate it a 4.5⭐
• Loved the characters and the relationships within (mainly Maddoc/Jude's messy relationship).
• Loved the setting, and the atmosphere Holly Black created, in the world of Elfhame.
• Enjoyed a lot of the plot, and how it's now set up for the next book(s).
• I was left wanting a little bit in the writing, I wish some sentences were a little more complex. However, there were still some amazing quotes throughout that I really enjoyed.
Recommend? Yes, I would probably recommend this, depending on the person.
I have a feeling that once I'm done with all three books, that I'll probably consider it a favoruite - but we will see. I just loved the whimsical setting so much.
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Violence
beejulee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide
dreadspawn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Child abuse, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
viacrow's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Suicide, Murder, Death, and Slavery
monomoon_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Nevertheless, I was on the edge of my seat, to my sweet surprise. I saw all the bad reviews but knowing Holly Black's past works, I decided to give this a read. It did not disappoint whatsoever.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Classism, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, and War
nabzilla's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Xenophobia, Slavery, and Racism
Minor: Suicide and Murder
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: Child death, Classism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Death, and Domestic abuse
alysbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Bullying, and Murder
arisyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Suicide
dramagirl2003's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thoughts while reading
p33: love jude's imagination
p35: well that is a surprise
p39: i can just see jude quickly becoming a killer just to prove madoc wrong. i don't think she'd dare to sneak into the running for knighthood without his approval
p77: based on trope norms, i suspect this is the point that carden starts to secretly admire jude
p88: I'm scared dain is gonna abuse her in some way. faeries are mischievous at heart, no matter how supposedly honourable they are. but then maybe carden will save her, and then it might be alright
p96: hmm bet scattering jude's salt is just a cover for saving her
p100: HE DID THAT ON PURPOSE
p118: oh. my. gosh. no wonder carden is so cruel!
p197: i could never
p200: well due to spoilers i think i know that
p211: interesting. and all of a sudden, now she's a killer
p245: CARDEN KNEW I SWEAR HE MUST HAVE KNOWN AND THAT'S WHY HE'S MISSING
p275: well i did think that
p292: that makes so much sense
p307: well this is a mysterious turn of events. i feel so much more sorry for carden because jude is a badass manipulator who will break him with any fraction of vulnerability he displays
p353: what. a. badass. move.
p358: ah meirda
p365: now that i was not expecting. i'd actually forgotten all about the spoilers after i getting fully invested in the story
quotes
I draw my sword, and he does, too, the scrape of metal loud in the room. I hear distant laughter, but here in the hall, we are alone.
My hands are sweating, but this had the feeling of inevitability, as though this is what I was careening toward the whole time, my whole life.
"You can't beat me."
"I already have."
"I imagine you're not feeling quite yourself," I tell him.
His sword sags a little, and he looks at me in sudden comprehension. "What have you done?"
"I poisoned you. Don't worry. It was a small enough dose. You'll live."
"The cups of wine," he says. "But how did you know which one I would choose?"
"I didn't," I tell him. "I poisoned them both."
"Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?" Carden asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a complement.
"No," I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. "Tell me."
"I cannot."
Graphic: Bullying and Murder
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Infidelity, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Suicide, War, and Stalking