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A review by asreadbyallie
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
Originally posted on asreadbyallie.wordpress.com
One thing that readers should know: this is a book about fairies, but not a fairytale.
Taken away as a child after her parents are brutally murdered to live amongst the faeries in Elfhame, Jude's life is the definition of unconventional. A mortal child raised as an equal in fairyland is rare, causing Jude and her twin, Taryn, a myriad of problems. Constantly feeling like she has nothing and everything to lose, Jude makes it her mission to rightfully earn her place among them. However, her attempts lead her down a darker path, to a fate that entangles her further into a world of politics, passion, and the power of Elfhame.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was definitely one that captured my attention from the beginning. It starts with tragedy, is set in a bloodthirsty fairy court, and ends with a cliffhanger.
It's a world that's fantastical and terrifying at the same time. Enemies and betrayal are at every corner. There are plenty of twists that keep you at the edge of your seat. And as for the romance? It's a very slow burn, but one that will definitely grow into something beautiful.
The characters in this book are really well written. Our protagonist, Jude, and her older sisters, Vivi and Taryn (her twin), are shaped by their upbringing and are traumatized, which shows itself in different ways throughout the book. Family is a huge theme in this book (and belonging of course), and let me tell you, love and loyalty are on the line and it will leave you feeling a lot of emotions.
The characters are (almost) all morally gray. With the exception of the antagonists, the characters are not bad but neither are they truly good.
Jude wasn't the most lovable narrator to have, but slowly, as the novel progressed, I fell in love with her. I found her grit, roughness, and determination admirable because there were many places where she could've thrown in the towel, but she kept going. Granted, a lot of her actions are questionable, but when you're a 17-year-old human playing a game with fairies, things are bound to get messy. (Although, I did find myself screaming into the abyss: "GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING?").
Holly Black is one of those authors that I have a self-admitted soft-spot for, as I've been reading her books since I was 13 years old. First with the Spiderwick Chronicles, followed by her Modern Faerie Tale trilogy, which introduced me into her dark fairy world (side note: if you have read those books, characters from that one do make an appearance as they share the same universe as TCP! It isn't required to read those books to read this one though but if you're curious, I recommend it).
Her magical world of dark fairies and intrigue has always taken me on a thrilling ride, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
The Cruel Prince is no exception.
Her writing is lyrical and strings everything together into the wonderfully crafted story that is The Cruel Prince; think Alice in Wonderland meets Macbeth. She is amazing at capturing a reader's attention, and I think she is an amazing fantasy writer.
MY RATING
I definitely have to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think that this book is great for teens to adult readers. It's a book that will make you wonder "What's going to happen next?" and "It can't get worse, can it?", but will also have you heavily invested with what will happen next.
It really was a book that made me remember why I love reading fantasy.
Reader warning: this book contains bullying, abuse, and death.
One thing that readers should know: this is a book about fairies, but not a fairytale.
Taken away as a child after her parents are brutally murdered to live amongst the faeries in Elfhame, Jude's life is the definition of unconventional. A mortal child raised as an equal in fairyland is rare, causing Jude and her twin, Taryn, a myriad of problems. Constantly feeling like she has nothing and everything to lose, Jude makes it her mission to rightfully earn her place among them. However, her attempts lead her down a darker path, to a fate that entangles her further into a world of politics, passion, and the power of Elfhame.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was definitely one that captured my attention from the beginning. It starts with tragedy, is set in a bloodthirsty fairy court, and ends with a cliffhanger.
It's a world that's fantastical and terrifying at the same time. Enemies and betrayal are at every corner. There are plenty of twists that keep you at the edge of your seat. And as for the romance? It's a very slow burn, but one that will definitely grow into something beautiful.
The characters in this book are really well written. Our protagonist, Jude, and her older sisters, Vivi and Taryn (her twin), are shaped by their upbringing and are traumatized, which shows itself in different ways throughout the book. Family is a huge theme in this book (and belonging of course), and let me tell you, love and loyalty are on the line and it will leave you feeling a lot of emotions.
The characters are (almost) all morally gray. With the exception of the antagonists, the characters are not bad but neither are they truly good.
Jude wasn't the most lovable narrator to have, but slowly, as the novel progressed, I fell in love with her. I found her grit, roughness, and determination admirable because there were many places where she could've thrown in the towel, but she kept going. Granted, a lot of her actions are questionable, but when you're a 17-year-old human playing a game with fairies, things are bound to get messy. (Although, I did find myself screaming into the abyss: "GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING?").
Holly Black is one of those authors that I have a self-admitted soft-spot for, as I've been reading her books since I was 13 years old. First with the Spiderwick Chronicles, followed by her Modern Faerie Tale trilogy, which introduced me into her dark fairy world (side note: if you have read those books, characters from that one do make an appearance as they share the same universe as TCP! It isn't required to read those books to read this one though but if you're curious, I recommend it).
Her magical world of dark fairies and intrigue has always taken me on a thrilling ride, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
The Cruel Prince is no exception.
Her writing is lyrical and strings everything together into the wonderfully crafted story that is The Cruel Prince; think Alice in Wonderland meets Macbeth. She is amazing at capturing a reader's attention, and I think she is an amazing fantasy writer.
MY RATING
I definitely have to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think that this book is great for teens to adult readers. It's a book that will make you wonder "What's going to happen next?" and "It can't get worse, can it?", but will also have you heavily invested with what will happen next.
It really was a book that made me remember why I love reading fantasy.
Reader warning: this book contains bullying, abuse, and death.