A review by pgmoon
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.0



This is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while, as I've heard so much about it. I know it’s a bit polarizing, with some people loving the sequels more, but I have to say, I really enjoyed this first installment.

For me, the characters are the strongest aspect. They’re all flawed but fascinating. I really liked Jude and her journey from feeling oppressed and ostracized to realizing just what it takes to gain power. Vivi and Oriana were great side characters too—Vivi’s determination to escape and Oriana’s resilience after everything she’s been through really stood out.

I know Taryn isn’t everyone’s favorite, but I want to learn more about her,
as her flaws often were the center of the emotional core of the story.
And then there’s Cardan and Madoc—definitely not likable at first or even by the end of the book, but by the end, you kind of understand them in a way that makes you want to sympathize… maybe?

The world-building was another highlight for me. The idea of the world of Faerie existing alongside our world, kind of like Narnia, is a intriguing idea. I’d love to see more mingling of the two worlds in future books.

I’ve seen some people say that this book doesn’t have a lot going on, but I’d disagree. The first half is more focused on the characters, and the plot really picks up at the end. The pacing felt fine to me, and there are some lovely, quotable moments in the prose.
The coup at the the end was so fun to read and the twist pulled on Cardan was jaw dropping (to me at least!)


As for minor drawbacks,
the kiss between Cardan and Jude toward the end, while fun, felt a little out of place
. I also wanted more development for some of the minor characters, but that’s often the case for me with the first book in a series.

Overall, The Cruel Prince was a very enjoyable read with well-written characters and an interesting plot. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
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