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
THE CRUEL PRINCE is the beginning of a new series, and it was awesome. Royal faerie intrigue – I mean, come on.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been this invested in a book, and ever since I finished it, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Easily my favorite read of 2018.
This exactly how the title reads, The cruel prince. This was one story I felt cam alive through the spoken words as the narration was phenomenal.
I felt a girl want to belong, The hurt after every fall and love that had become. There was something so very magical about this book.
The world building was vivid and lively, while dramatic but now overly done that it left no room for imagination. The characters were vast and they ranged in age and personalities each that were distinguished and unique.
The plot was creative and held my attention past the noise of my children and place me front and center, like a fly on the wall experience. There where many what just happened moments through the novel.
This was one that even though I’ve listened in audiobook would be one I’d pick up and read just to see if I would have the same feeling towards the novel.
First, is Cruel Prince. Next, is Wicked King. And the trilogy will be complete in a matter of weeks with Queen of Nothing. If you love magic and bad boys and banter and darkness you will love this series.
“So I am to sit here and feed you information,” Cardan says, leaning against a hickory tree. “And you’re to go charm royalty? That seems entirely backward.”
I fix him with a look. “I can be charming. I charmed you, didn’t I?”
He rolls his eyes. “Do not expect others to share my depraved tastes.”
Really. Go. Read.
I listened to the audiobook and loved every second of the story. So many of the scenes had me on the edge of my toes (cause I was walking while listening). I really liked how dark it got and how I was never sure where the story was going. Highly recommend. I am eagerly anticipating the release of book 2!
Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince is a gorgeous read and although it’s more a fantasy than a romance, Prince Cardan and Jude certainly look like they’re shaping up to be a great example of the hate-to-love-you relationship that I adore. Yippee! It’s beautifully written and the URST sizzles so hard it splatters deliciously. One for young adults and up. I can’t wait for book two!
I loved this book and am reading the sequel The Wicked King. Anyone who likes fairies and actioned packed romances with a love-hate relationship, this is your book. It is masterfully done.
I absolutely loved this book! Fae Royalty, courts and intrigue!
I can’t stop thinking about this book. It seriously rocked my world.
Beware, possible spoilers ahead!
Overall Rating:
4.5/5 Stars. I loved it so much. This book held so much intrigue. I was constantly wondering when Jude was going to do something badass. Everything about this book is magical. HB did such a wonderful job at bringing this story to life.
Trigger warning for murder, abuse, and suicide.
Plot Rating:
I really enjoyed this story. I also really like that it takes place in modern times. It’s not every fantasy book where in the human world, there are microwaves and televisions. It was a big shocker for me in the beginning.
The Cruel Prince has a unique plot. Jude and her sisters are kidnapped by Madoc after he kills their parents. They are raised in The High Court of Faerie. Jude and Taryn are faced with many obstacles because they are human and the Fae folk do not necessarily care for mortals.
This book just shows how strong Jude is as an individual and as one who is simply mortal in a world filled with immortals who are stronger than her in any and all means.
I was kind of expecting a little romance in this. Cardan and Jude get a little steamy and I wanted more for them! I really hope their relationship blossoms in the future books.
I really enjoyed the politics. There was plenty of drama and bloodshed. I’m pretty excited to see how the politics change in the next book.
Character Rating:
I really love Jude. She’s a kickass character who doesn’t take crap from anyone. She stands up to those who look down on her. Her growth in this book is magnificent. I just really wish Taryn and Vivi had the same growth instead of being scared and running from their problems.
Okay, so Cardan? I don’t know why but I loved him throughout the entire book. I just knew there was something else going on with him and I couldn’t hate him until I found out what else there was to him. I really don’t care for his drinking problem, but one who has a crappy family probably has an excuse to get drunk so often.
All of the other side characters were very well developed. HB did such a great job with writing a story for just about everyone in this book.
I really liked how she represented faeries. They’re not all good and love humans and I love that she made them hateful creatures. I don’t think I would have enjoyed this book if every faerie loved humans.
World Building:
As much as I love this story, I’m going to say that the word building could have been a little bit better. I really like how she goes into detail on how to get into Faerie Land. But once you get there, you don’t really get a sense as to what Faerie Land is about. Do they have the same things that humans have in the mortal world?
I just don’t really see Faerie Land being all that different from the human world and I was kind of disappointed in it.
Writing Style:
HB made this book whimsical. This book is easy to read and it’s easy to get through. I’ve never read any other book by HB but I can already tell by this book that I will easily be able to pick up another book by her and devour it.
Favorite Quotes: .
“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”
“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”
“Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”
The Cruel Prince was hands down my favorite traditionally published book of 2019, closely followed by its sequel Wicked King. Holly Black has set a new bar for the entire genre.
Full disclosure, I’ve been a Holly Black fan since Spiderwick, so ya, I read all her books and love them all. But this one, oh, man. This was awesome! No spoilers, but if you’ve read her books you know Holly is a master of telling Fae stories. “The Cruel Prince” is like Labyrinth for older kids (and adults too).
The Cruel Prince is a perfect blend of family and politics in a fantasy world. The book is a balance of fantasy and reality wrapped into one. I love how Jude and her family interact. And the plot twists are amazing! The Cruel Prince starts off on the slow side and I wasn’t entirely sure why I was reading. Then the romantic relationships in this one are awkward and unsatisfying. I would totally suggest that anyone read this book because although it’s set in a fantasy world, it’s not shoved in your face where you won’t understand the inner workings. Caitlin Kelly also does a great job bringing Jude to life in a believable and powerful way. I look forward to continuing this fantasy series! I’ve already placed my hold for The Wicked King (book #2 of The Folk of Air series)!
Holly Black is one of my all-time favorite writers and she does not disappoint with this new series. The Cruel Prince introduces readers to Jude, a human whose mother was once married to a fae warlord. A shocking event in the very first chapter sends Jude to fairyland. The story really kicks off when the page introduces the reader to Cardan, the Cruel Prince. Cardan is one of the best anti-heroes I’ve read in a long time.
Excellent book. Jude wasn’t a nice girl to whom bad things happened, but a product of a cruel and hostile environment. She wanted power and not to be afraid all the time, and she chose the straightest route to that, no matter what it cost her. But she was still likeable and I definitely rooted for her; she’d been put through a lot to become that way. And, deep down, her aim was to change the fairly world better for everyone. The fairy world where she’d been taken to as a child was well built, and the occasional trips to the human world set it nicely into contrast. Unlike most YA books, this isn’t a romance, but a story of survival. And the ending definitely makes me want to read the next book.
The Cruel Prince was a book I was iffy on reading, but after hearing so many amazing things about it, I decided to give it a chance. I contemplated putting this one down because it does start out a little slow, but I decided to push through in the hopes it would pick up. I am SO SO glad I stuck with this one because the story picked up and took a few twists and turns on the way to its action packed ending. One of the things that stood out to me about these characters is the fact that the characters are not black and white. These characters are complex and deep with a mix of good and evil that makes them seem so REAL. Even the characters who are supposed to be the bad guys have some spark that makes you hope they will overcome the bad in them. Even though I was able to predict a few of the details about the way this one would end, there were several surprises along the way that made this story wonderful.
The Cruel Prince is one of my top books of all time now! That’s how amazing it was! If you like fae and incredible characters, this book is fabulous!
The cruel Prince was wonderfully written, it had a dream-like quality to it. The majority of the characters were most definitely cruel including the heroine. I would have loved more interaction between Jude and Cardan, but hoping the next in the series will deliver that. 4.5 stars.
First things first… this was my first read from the infamous Holly Black and I was beyond impressed with what I found. Her writing and the world she created were both eloquent and ethereal. I fell in love with her words and I think I may have fallen in love with the least liked characters of all!
Now on to my issues…
I’m going to be of the minority here. I know this. I accept this. And I’m good with this. I didn’t like Jude. At all. She drove me absolutely nuts and as much as I wanted to admire her fight and her gumption, I couldn’t. I found her to be pathetic, senseless, impulsive, and impudent. She continued to play a game she didn’t know the rules of. She constantly put herself into situations she didn’t know how to get out of. She forever and a day made assumptions about people (especially Cardan) without actually knowing them. I get making judgments based on appearances and observations, but she only took the negative and never analyzed the positive. I’m trying to remember if there was ever a heroine I hated more than I hated Jude. I’m drawing a blank. She lacked respect, loyalty and honor.
I have wished for many things over the years, but the first wish of my heart was that none of this was real.
If that was truly her wish, then why doesn’t she go home. And I’m not talking about Madoc’s house. I’m talking about her real home. Why was she putting herself through all of this mess if there was another alternative? She’s human. She can live among humans. What’s the problem? Oh yeah, I guess the story would have to end there, huh? I just don’t get why she was so desperate to fit in when it was beyond obvious that she’d never fit in because she’s human!! When she’s given the opportunity to go home, she not only spurns the chance, she scorns it. I wanted her to fall into a sinkhole.
“I like for things to happen, for stories to unfold. And if I can’t find a good enough story, I make one.” – Locke
Was I the only one who saw some foreshadowing with these words? Could the dude be more obvious? And yet, this naive, oblivious chick, who slithers like a snake, ‘beyond her station’, who believes that she is all-knowing and all-powerful, didn’t see it. Not so smart now eh? I thought it was hilarious how many ways and times this phrase was made and she didn’t have a clue of what was really going on. If the best friend of your enemy who has enjoyed making your life miserable suddenly ingratiates himself to you, be suspicious!!
I am weak. I am fragile. I am mortal.
I hate that most of all.
Even if, by some miracle, I could be better than them, I will never be one of them.
If you know this, why do you keep pushing? I get that I’m supposed to cheer you on, hoping you vanquish your enemies and triumph in enormous ways, but I only wish for your downfall. I know that’s bad. I know I’m probably the only one. But here I am, at the end of the book, and once again you’ve annoyed me. I can only hope that Cardan finds some way to punish you… severely. Maybe even let Madoc in on that action.
I’ll probably read the next book, The Wicked King, because I have a signed copy sitting on my shelves, but it’s only because I want more of Cardan and Madoc. I can’t get enough of those characters and I can only hope and pray that I’ll finally get their perspectives. I can’t stand being in Jude’s head for a minute longer than I have to.
I love love loved this book! It’s YA with considerably less romance than I typically like but the tension between Jude and Cardan is just delicious. Holly Black is a faerie queen.