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A review by adeliab
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I am really conflicted on how to rate this books. On one hand I enjoyed myself and there were some elements pertaining to mortality that I thought were interesting. On the other I take issue with some of the plot beats relating to the romance and with the overall pacing.
This book is just flat out addictive. I started listening to the 13 hour audiobook yesterday and am finished with it today. I did not put the book down. My favorite fantasy novels are those that focus on interpersonal relationships, but have fantastical and sociopolitical elements to spice it up. Luckily for me, that is what this book does. It focused on the relationships between Jude, her family, and the rest of the court all within the setting of this fantasy world.
The strongest element of this book, in my opinion, is the exploration of morality. All of the main cast of characters are morally complex. Whether is be the Jude's adopted father Madoc,who kills Jude's biological parents, but clearly loves Jude and the rest of the family or Taryn Jude's sisterwho lets Locke, the boy Taryn is engaged to, court Jude because she want so badly to be accepted by the fae or even Jude who is tries to secure peace for the human and fae people while you the reader can tell she is brimming with violence and desire for power . I appreciate this book for exploring how one can both love someone and disdain them for their actions.
Further, the books focus on making all of the characters morally ambiguous ensures that the characters are dynamic. Oriana Jude's step-mother, for exampleseems to occupy the niche of evil step mother, a relatively static role, but is later revealed to have acted out of caring. She may have lectured and been suspicious of the girls, but it was because she was influence by her own experiences as the concubine of the king to protect the girls from evils of the court. Oriana, could have remained a static character, a foil for the plot, but I believe because of the book's commitment to exploring mortality she was given more depth .
Yet, when it comes to Cardan (finish review later)
This book is just flat out addictive. I started listening to the 13 hour audiobook yesterday and am finished with it today. I did not put the book down. My favorite fantasy novels are those that focus on interpersonal relationships, but have fantastical and sociopolitical elements to spice it up. Luckily for me, that is what this book does. It focused on the relationships between Jude, her family, and the rest of the court all within the setting of this fantasy world.
The strongest element of this book, in my opinion, is the exploration of morality. All of the main cast of characters are morally complex. Whether is be the Jude's adopted father Madoc,
Further, the books focus on making all of the characters morally ambiguous ensures that the characters are dynamic. Oriana Jude's step-mother, for example
Yet, when it comes to Cardan (finish review later)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Slavery, and Alcohol
Minor: Kidnapping