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
I cant put into words how at the edge of my seat wild fun this series was. The characters were so unpredictable that I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what would happen next.
Jude and her twin sister Taryn came to fairy by force after her mom and dad got killed, her older sister vi was half Fae and belonged to her dad, he came and killed his ex and her new man, and in honor he took care of all kids…
Even If Murdoch taught them both to me though and strong, and as general of the court he was high in status…
Jude and Taryn couldn’t be more different as twins.
Jude has an vendetta with prince Cardan and all kinds of wrong that can happen happens …
Jude is smart and out maneuvers some main characters and even tricks Cardan…
I loved it and can’t to read the next …
I loved the Folk of the Air series so much, that I read all three books twice!
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this series, but I was sucked in from page one. The characters are so dark and twisty and the romance is just what I was looking for.
This is definitely one of my favorite book series of all time. It was a great read. I very much enjoyed it. I was also very happy how the series ended. If you are looking for a good book to read I say you should read this one especially if you like dark fantasy.
Really liked the book! Finished it in 2 days so it was an easy read. I loved the vivid characters that are in the book! Its not just hot elves which is refreshing lol. I like the idea of goblins and sprites and crow-footed hags!
The beginning is really interesting and kinda slow but around the ending I felt so rushed! With Jude all of a sudden killing 2 people in one day? When shes never hurt anyone in her life? i don’t know… to be honest I don’t really like Jude lol shes a little bit annoying to me. Like she wants to brag about her power over and over its nauseating. BUT maybe that’s what we need to be feeling? I’m looking forward to the rest of the series! This was pretty fun! 🙂
Jude’s life was forever changed when her parents were killed in front of her. Jude, along with her two sisters, were taken to live in Faerie, despite only one of the three actually being fey. Jude is an intelligent girl, who has trouble keeping her opinions to herself. She makes the most of her situation by learning to defend herself. Unfortunately, Prince Cardan is set on making her life miserable.
Through a surprising turn of events, Jude is chosen to spy within the courts. She is subjected to seeing and hearing things that both intrigue and upset her. Everyone in these courts has their own scheme, and betrayal is a common theme amongst them. You never know who is trustworthy.
I loved this story. I am mad at myself for leaving it in my TBR pile for so long! The characters were complex, no one is who they immediately seem to be, and the story just grips you. I can’t wait to get onto book 2! The ending had a big twist and I NEED to see where it goes.
Hum… I don’t think I understood what this story was before reading it, LOL. From the blurb and other reviews I thought it was a romance between a human girl and a grumpy Faye Prince, with action. It’s not. It is about a girl and her life in a different world. Both trying to find her place and trying to save the new world.
What I liked: well built world, interesting characters and rules, detailed descriptions, well thought out plot.
What didn’t quite work for me: almost too flowery in the description, not enough action. I really disliked that the main character thought out the story in her plotting and didn’t live out the action. I wanted to experience rather then be told. There is no romance, nor did I feel a connection to develop one. And I thought the story line was rather predictable (especially knowing the title of book two).
I do want to know what happens next so I do think I will read the rest of the trilogy. At least I know what basic structure and writing style to expect. I am expecting more from Cordan though so I hope I won’t be disappointed. Is the book good, yes. I wouldn’t give it the outstanding praise most other reader have, but it is an entertaining story.
Holly Black at her best to date! Write more like this please!!!
This book and several others books written by Holly are phenomenal. Absolute page turners. I find myself falling in love with not only the words but the characters and I seem to do this often in Holly’s books. When I was a child I found myself getting in trouble a lot in class for not being able to stop reading and my first book I obtain that was by Holly Black was “The Darkest Part of the Forest,” and it absolutely caught my attention quickly within the first few chapters. Now I am almost 24 and I always look for the next new book. The Cruel Prince is beautiful and filled with blood-soaked adventure, also, you might throw some romance in it with some drama and deception. *wink.* Now I am on the “Wicked King,” and I can’t wait to see what Holly has in store for Jude and Carden! Let’s not forget the third book that I was lucky enough to have autographed !!
Exceptional story that draws you in just like getting tricked into a bargain to go into the land of Faerie. I could not put it down. Can’t wait to read the next one and see where all the scheming goes.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU HOLLY BLACK!!!!!!!!!!
After my last few reads I was starting to lose hope for the future of YA fantasy coming from Big 5 Traditional publishers but Holly Black and Little Brown DELIVER IN SPADES! Immersive and decadent world-building. Solid writing. Story structure that keeps you interested but isn’t overly obvious. And can I please write an ode to the trope destruction happening in this book! No overpowered Mary Sue characters, every character no matter how small had their own agency, backstory, and layers of development. They all had PURPOSE!
Yes, I can see how Jude/Cardan is a toxic relationship… it’s sort of the point. It’s an awful trainwreck we can’t look away from. He evokes so many anti-hero Heathcliff and ‘I like you against my better judgment’ Darcy feelings in me- romantic leads we love to hate and love to love. It’s complex and messed up and so INCREDIBLY REAL!
There are dead parents, but that trope is turned on its head with the inclusion of ADOPTIVE faerie parents, and the dynamic is fresh and complicated like most actual Young Adults would have as they are growing into adulthood and trying to assert their independence.
I listed to this as my very first audiobook and will say the narrarator was great! There is a part where Jude’s name is repeated like… for nearly a minute and OMG I didn’t think my breath could catch due to the different inflections.
I can’t wait for the next one. Great storytelling. GREAT storytelling. I really hope she keeps it up!
I knocked a star off because I hate first person present tense and felt like the book subsequently read a little amateur in places, which is odd because Holly Black’s third person past tense work is excellent. Still, the faerie realm is wonderfully described and Cardan is horribly great. I’m a sucker for fairy tales and all things twist fae so of course I was going to like this.
My first foray into the twisted world of Faerie fantasy was a complete success. The characters, the edgy, atypical main character in particular, were beautifully developed. The Cruel Prince hails as a young adult story full of complex world building. A coming of age story set against a magical world that is not for the light hearted. Full of war, deceit, cruelty and fierce characters, both good and bad, this book will leave you wanting more of the story of a girl who’s forced to learn a world that’s not her own, adapt to it, then seek to find a valiant place in it. It’s intriguing and dark and fun and weird. Holly Black’s storytelling is ripe with beautiful prose and rich with plot twists that you don’t see coming. She creates a fantasy world for which you’ll feel like you’re an immortal part of. It’s easy to read and even easier to feel immersed in the corrupt, mystical, and ever-changing world of Faerie.
I loved these incredibly flawed characters. Author Holly Black created a world that I easily got lost in. I’ve read the whole series and enjoyed each book. Highly recommended!
An audiobook review:
Oh, what a wonderful book. A wonderful story. Such fantastic characters.
Ms. Black weaves a great tale, one with both humans and mystical creatures of legends. Her skills in taking an insignificant human and making her the most dangerous of them all is spectacular.
The story begins a little slow, but every little morsel dipped into each chapter is important. It’s impressive story-telling!
As for the narrator: she was fantastic as well. Soft-voiced, pleasant, but could also act the other parts, including the male voices, with ease.
Looking forward to diving into more of Holly Black’s published books.
I loved this series….
Wonderful read!
This book had me hooked from the start, talk about adventure, and survival and I love that there is so many unpredictable moments that kept me on edge and entertained.
Holly Black amazes me every time with her world building and rich characters!