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A review by pineapplebunnies
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Near-5 stars for a fantasy books about fairies? I never thought I’d see the day.
Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but I LIVE for messy, impulsive FMCs who want all the wrong things for the right reasons. Jude wants power, yes, but it’s clear that, at her core, she wants it not to exploit, but to protect. However, she needs to grapple with the truth that a quest for power inherently involves lying, cheating, and hurting others. This moral war does inform a lot of her internal monologue, self-perception, and impulsive decision-making.
Cardan is a nice foil to her in many ways, outrightly cruel and enjoying of the exploits his power gives him. At the same time, he doesn’t want any of the responsibility that comes with it, and he is unwilling to cross certain thresholds. The only thing I would’ve appreciated is some more characterization for him.
The book has a great exploration about power and oppression and also draws well on the ancient myths of faerie to create a rich and terrifying world. The ending was simply fantastic, the last lines bringing together the true theme (one prevalent in myth and folklore) - in fear and in the pursuit of power, what are humans willing to bargain?
Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but I LIVE for messy, impulsive FMCs who want all the wrong things for the right reasons. Jude wants power, yes, but it’s clear that, at her core, she wants it not to exploit, but to protect. However, she needs to grapple with the truth that a quest for power inherently involves lying, cheating, and hurting others. This moral war does inform a lot of her internal monologue, self-perception, and impulsive decision-making.
Cardan is a nice foil to her in many ways, outrightly cruel and enjoying of the exploits his power gives him. At the same time, he doesn’t want any of the responsibility that comes with it, and he is unwilling to cross certain thresholds. The only thing I would’ve appreciated is some more characterization for him.
The book has a great exploration about power and oppression and also draws well on the ancient myths of faerie to create a rich and terrifying world. The ending was simply fantastic, the last lines bringing together the true theme (one prevalent in myth and folklore) - in fear and in the pursuit of power, what are humans willing to bargain?