I just finished reading “The Cruel Prince” and I’m still reeling from the experience. This book completely swept me off my feet! Holly Black’s writing is mesmerizing, and her world of faeries is both beautiful and terrifying.
As a newcomer to Holly Black’s works, I was blown away by her storytelling. “The Cruel Prince” is my first Holly Black novel, but it won’t be my last. I’ve already bought the entire series, and reviews will follow soon! She’s officially become an auto-buy author for me.
About The Story
The story follows Jude, a mortal living in the world of faeries, where power and deception rule. I loved Jude’s determination and resilience, and her complicated relationship with Cardan, the Cruel Prince, had me hooked.
Blurb
Welcome to Faerie, Where Beauty is Deceptive and Loyalty is a Luxury
Imagine a world where mortals are playthings for the powerful and beautiful faeries. A world where one misstep means enslavement, manipulation, or worse – death.
Meet Jude Duarte, a human raised among faeries in the treacherous world of Elfhame. Her life is a delicate balancing act: pleasing her faerie guardians, avoiding the cunning court politics, and hiding her growing resentment.
But Jude’s carefully constructed facade shatters when she’s forced to join the faerie court as a pawn in their twisted games. The Cruel Prince, Cardan Greenbriar, is the embodiment of faerie cruelty and manipulation. His whispers can charm or destroy, and Jude’s caught in his crosshairs.
As Jude navigates the labyrinthine faerie court, she must confront her own mortality and the blurred lines between loyalty, love, and deception. Cardan’s intriguing cruelty draws her in, but at what cost?
With each step, Jude’s entangled in a web of faerie intrigue, ancient secrets, and forbidden desires. Will she become a pawn, a player, or a pawn-turned-rebel?
I am totally in love with the deadly world of faerie politics, where beauty masks deadly intentions, loyalty is a luxury few can afford, mortals like me are mere pawns in faerie games and love and hate are two sides of the same coin but we all know that we cannot see both sides of a coin at once!
If you’re planning to read this fantasy novel, get ready for heart-pounding twists and turns, moral ambiguity that will leave you questioning, a slow-burn romance that defies logic and a heroine who refuses to be broken. And oh how I love such strong FMCs!
But the question is “Will Jude emerge unscathed, or will the cruel prince claim her heart – and her destiny?”
“The Cruel Prince” is a gripping tale of faerie politics, danger, and the resilience of the human spirit.
How I Felt Reading This Novel
The Cruel Prince is one of my most favorite novels that I would never stop recommending. Why? It’s deadly, full of daggers and arrows, talks about politics and features a prince with a heart of gold with the coating of steel.
One of my favorite moments was when Jude discovers the paper with her name scribbled repeatedly by Cardan. A gesture that looks like hate from the way it’s written but at the same time, it’s something else. Something that could play with your heartstrings before you even know it:
“Cardan’s handwriting, familiar from the notes he’d left me, crawled across the page in wild loops and flourishes. Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude.”
This scene gave me goosebumps! It’s a testament to Black’s skill that even the smallest details can evoke such strong emotions.
Another fascinating aspect of Jude’s character is her practice of mithradatism – building tolerance to poisons to protect herself from faerie manipulation. I loved this unique trait:
“I’d taken tiny doses of wolf’s bane and carried a vial of it with me always… The taste was bitter, but it made me feel safer.”
This scene showcases Jude’s resourcefulness and determination to survive in a world where mortals are prey.
I’ve always been a fan of strong female leads and this is what it is. Jude, a mortal with a nerve.
The Verdict
“The Cruel Prince” is a must-read for fantasy fans, especially those who, like me, aren’t fond of smut. This novel masterfully balances intrigue, politics, and romance without relying on explicit content.
Recommendation
If you enjoy fantasy, faerie lore, or complex character studies without explicit content, add “The Cruel Prince” to your reading list. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
What did you think of “The Cruel Prince”? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Stay tuned for my reviews of the next books in “The Folk of the Air” series!
See ya!
