An instant bestseller!By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue. Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I … forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
more
What an incredibly fantastical book. I have to admit I was hesitant to start this book. There were so many great reviews and recs that I gave in and it a try. I was hesitant as I started reading and some point while reading I unknowingly was enraptured by this world Holly Black created. It claws through all the typical YA cliches and sits on a throne of its own making. I can’t begin to explain the pure genius that is The Cruel Prince. So me at least try.
This world is amazing. I didn’t know much about Fae until I read this book. Holly Black is the King of all things Fae. The world, the magic, the people, the way they looked, it all was so desciptive in my mind that I didn’t need to create my own images. That alone makes this book brilliant.
The other reason I fell head over heels for this book is because of the main character Jude. The complexity of her personality and the choices she makes make you both love and hate her. I never knew what she would do or her intentions. I loved it. Jude is steadily in a grey area, not good, but not necessarily bad either. She is all about herself and power. She is consumed by hate, vengeance, and greed. When you understand the life that was taken from her and how she must live in Fae as a unaccepted human, I would probably have the same resentment and need for acceptance just like her. I love that she is not perfect. She understands that in making certain decisions she will looked at as a villain, yet she does them anyways. Her first thought is always about how she can help herself and makes no apologies for it. But in doing so she is also becoming all the people she despises.
The story is addictive and draws you in. I never knew what would happen next or the actions Jude might take. I loved seeing how life with her family was and how much it plays into the story. I really just couldn’t get enough. I loved Jude’s sister Viv and the Cruel Prince Cardon. Ohhh Cardon how I loved his complex storyline and fell in love with him by end. I can’t wait to see what happens with him. Needless to say I really enjoyed this book for its own unique creativity and heartstopping story.
Holly Black is so good at lush, descriptive writing. I like that all of her character have flaws and you never completely root for someone. If you like dark faerie tales than this is definitely for you!
This book is full of magic, romance and twist and turns. It’s a great book for young adults and adults.
I absolutely loved this book!!! It was a perfect balance between twisted and magic!!! If you liked Throne of Glass ( If you haven’t read that go read it RIGHT NOW!!!) you would adore this book!!! Fantastic writing style!!!! Loved it!!!
The book was by no means your typical faerie story. Interesting characters who were unique and mysterious and a protagonist who is as fierce as she is fragile.
Ive read better written books. Ive read books with a more likeable protagonist. But yet, I couldnt put it down.
Jude is taken as a child from her mortal world by a fae who murders her parents. She never knew another world existed, much less one her Mom was once part of before she ran away.
Jude and her sisters now grow up in a fae land, now not fitting into either world.
She is constantly bullied for being a lesser human, but wants to prove herself as someone worth reckoning with. Shes not sure what to do though when she starts to learn the truth of hidden secrets and her life is turned upset down.
When she starts to have romantic feelings for a mean guy, you want to slap her on the back of her head for being dumb. The ending has a great twist plot and Im excited to read the next.
*There are sexual remarks and comments, heavy kissing (once its two women on a man), and mild homosexuality (just girlfriends, I dont even remember a kiss).
Wonderful
Loved it!! Can’t wait for the next one!!
Holly Black has done it again.
I began reading her books when I was just 10 years old. Now here I am, 22 and being dragged into Faerieland yet again by such an enchanting book. She captures her readers with every word and knows exactly how to string them along until the very end.
The Cruel Prince will not leave you disappointed. Except that you have to wait nearly a year to find out what happens next.