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A review by tovetott
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Okay so... this is a very wierd book to review, I feel like. Despite it being nearly 400 pages, it feels like nothing really happens. We don't really get to know any of the characters that well. We don't understand the world or the magic or the history of it that well.
What we DO learn, however, is the backstory to what I imagine is the Actual Story. This book feels like a prologue. A 400-page buildup to the story Holly *actually* wants to tell.
I have seen and heard so many people claim that The Wicked King is such an incredible lift in the story, and I'm willing to believe that. The Cruel Prince leaves me with 110+ angry, frustrated notes on my Storygraph containing everything from... *interesting* word choices to straight up me screaming at Jude, and I leave this book off with an equal dislike for every single character lol. Nothing makes sense, everything is stupid, and I'm disappointed because I really REALLY wanted to love this book. Believe me, I DID.
However, The Cruel Prince is written like a prologue. It finishes off with a lingering aftertaste of promises that I haven't even gotten ankle-deep into the story as a whole. If The Wicked King is not as great as everyone and their aunt has made it out to be, I'm suing.
What we DO learn, however, is the backstory to what I imagine is the Actual Story. This book feels like a prologue. A 400-page buildup to the story Holly *actually* wants to tell.
I have seen and heard so many people claim that The Wicked King is such an incredible lift in the story, and I'm willing to believe that. The Cruel Prince leaves me with 110+ angry, frustrated notes on my Storygraph containing everything from... *interesting* word choices to straight up me screaming at Jude, and I leave this book off with an equal dislike for every single character lol. Nothing makes sense, everything is stupid, and I'm disappointed because I really REALLY wanted to love this book. Believe me, I DID.
However, The Cruel Prince is written like a prologue. It finishes off with a lingering aftertaste of promises that I haven't even gotten ankle-deep into the story as a whole. If The Wicked King is not as great as everyone and their aunt has made it out to be, I'm suing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail