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A review by andlovetoowillruinus
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Anyone who has taken a middle grade writing class knows how to make a plot chart. Exposition, inciting event, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
The problem with this book is that there are over 200 pages of exposition. The inciting event— ie, when the plot actually starts— is two-thirds of the way through the book. I can appreciate dedicated world-building, but this is just sloppy writing. It’s like an editor didn’t even touch this book to cut out the redundant nonsense that fills the first half of it. The plot picks up and you think, ’Finally, I’ll be rewarded for slogging through hundreds of pages of teen drama and boring lore!’ only for the book to abruptly end. This book does not have enough substance or story to stand on its own, and it’s absurd any publisher or editor thought otherwise.
I guess the reason this book is so widely lauded is because of the protagonist, Jude, though I can’t imagine why. From what I had seen before reading the book myself, everyone described Jude as this cunning powerful woman able to meet the fae blow for metaphorical blow. After reading the book, I’m confused as to how anyone reached that conclusion. I think people just saw a protagonist who could wield a sword and immediately designated her as a “strong female character.” Despite the book being in first person, Jude is inconsistent, far beyond being an unreliable narrator. She rarely acts in ways that match how she describes herself or her own worldviews and philosophies. She is the worst strain of YA protagonist— one who completely lacks depth, but hey, she can fight, so that makes her a badass role model for teenage girls!
Like some other reviewers pointed out, this book struggles to engage its readers with its characters or plot in any meaningful way. If you like generic edgy YA love interests who bully others, then maybe Cardan’s your cup of tea and that’s what gets you through this book (though don’t expect him to get any significant characterization or development. He is, after all, just a trope disguised as a character). Maybe if you really like fairy lore and don’t mind inconsistent and vague world-building, that will get you to care about the half-baked plot. Maybe if all you look for in a protagonist is someone who can throw a punch, then you’ll be inclined to root for Jude. Me personally, I look for a riveting story or at least interesting characters, and this book failed to deliver on both fronts.
The problem with this book is that there are over 200 pages of exposition. The inciting event— ie, when the plot actually starts— is two-thirds of the way through the book. I can appreciate dedicated world-building, but this is just sloppy writing. It’s like an editor didn’t even touch this book to cut out the redundant nonsense that fills the first half of it. The plot picks up and you think, ’Finally, I’ll be rewarded for slogging through hundreds of pages of teen drama and boring lore!’ only for the book to abruptly end. This book does not have enough substance or story to stand on its own, and it’s absurd any publisher or editor thought otherwise.
I guess the reason this book is so widely lauded is because of the protagonist, Jude, though I can’t imagine why. From what I had seen before reading the book myself, everyone described Jude as this cunning powerful woman able to meet the fae blow for metaphorical blow. After reading the book, I’m confused as to how anyone reached that conclusion. I think people just saw a protagonist who could wield a sword and immediately designated her as a “strong female character.” Despite the book being in first person, Jude is inconsistent, far beyond being an unreliable narrator. She rarely acts in ways that match how she describes herself or her own worldviews and philosophies. She is the worst strain of YA protagonist— one who completely lacks depth, but hey, she can fight, so that makes her a badass role model for teenage girls!
Like some other reviewers pointed out, this book struggles to engage its readers with its characters or plot in any meaningful way. If you like generic edgy YA love interests who bully others, then maybe Cardan’s your cup of tea and that’s what gets you through this book (though don’t expect him to get any significant characterization or development. He is, after all, just a trope disguised as a character). Maybe if you really like fairy lore and don’t mind inconsistent and vague world-building, that will get you to care about the half-baked plot. Maybe if all you look for in a protagonist is someone who can throw a punch, then you’ll be inclined to root for Jude. Me personally, I look for a riveting story or at least interesting characters, and this book failed to deliver on both fronts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent