“Nice things don’t happen in storybooks,” Taryn says. “Or when they do happen, something bad happens next. Because otherwise the story would be boring, and no one would read it.”
Wow! What a compelling, vicious and beautiful story teller Holly Black is. The Cruel Prince is the first Holly Black book I’ve read that she’s written on her own. I’ve read books she’s collaborated with other authors on like The Magisterium Series with Cassandra Clare but nothing written by just her. Now I’m wondering why I’ve waited so long. Her world building is imaginative, elaborate and beautiful. Her writing style is fluid and engaging and has a depth to it that draws you in to her world and doesn’t let you out again, much like a faerie compulsion.
The story felt very character driven and with good reason. There is a full cast that all have their own agendas and flaws.
None of the characters are all good or all bad but rather a mixture of both.
Jude is a human raised in the faerie world, where she’s never really fit in. Mercilessly bullied by the ‘Cruel Prince’ Cardan and his band of cronies she has learned to hide her fears behind her angry exterior. Jude soon realises that if she wants to be accepted and respected she needs to make it happen for herself and despite her fears she sets out to do just that. Her character evolution throughout the story is dramatic and enthralling and I cannot wait to see this continue into book 2!
Cardan is a true fae prince. Spoiled, cruel, manipulative and handsome with a gang of hangers-on prepared to do whatever they can to make Jude’s life a nightmare. However we soon see that Cardan is a product of his upbringing. He’s suffered years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father and brothers. This has made him cunning and cruel in order to survive. Don’t get me wrong he’s still an asshole but maybe he doesn’t deserve to be the villain of the story after all.
All of this made me warm towards him and dare I say it - root for him with Jude 🙈. The hint of romance between these two is unlike most other YA romance, in that it feels a little wrong and uncomfortable, yet I wanted it to happen anyway. I’m definitely interested to see more of these two together in book 2 and to see how their relationship dynamics change and evolve.
There is a large supporting cast in this book so I won’t mention them all but I will mention the main ones that made an impact on me - either good or bad!
Taryn - I didn’t like her one little bit. She’s a spoiled, brat and a coward. The way she betrays Jude is unforgivable.
Locke - What a nasty piece of work he is! I detested him from the moment he revealed his true colours. A truer villain than Cardan will ever be.
Madoc - the general of the High King’s Army is blood thirsty and willing to do anything to gain power. Again I felt he wasn’t fully bad or good but a little of both at times.
Vivi - I loved her fiery nature and her rebellious defiance to not fit in despite being the only one of the 3 girls Madoc takes to faerie that has any fae blood.
The Cruel Prince is a superb YA fantasy read that’s packed full of twists, turns and violence, that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The only thing stopping this being a 5 star read for me was part of the story (before the big twist) that seem to been drawn out more than necessary.
Wow! What a compelling, vicious and beautiful story teller Holly Black is. The Cruel Prince is the first Holly Black book I’ve read that she’s written on her own. I’ve read books she’s collaborated with other authors on like The Magisterium Series with Cassandra Clare but nothing written by just her. Now I’m wondering why I’ve waited so long. Her world building is imaginative, elaborate and beautiful. Her writing style is fluid and engaging and has a depth to it that draws you in to her world and doesn’t let you out again, much like a faerie compulsion.
The story felt very character driven and with good reason. There is a full cast that all have their own agendas and flaws.
None of the characters are all good or all bad but rather a mixture of both.
Jude is a human raised in the faerie world, where she’s never really fit in. Mercilessly bullied by the ‘Cruel Prince’ Cardan and his band of cronies she has learned to hide her fears behind her angry exterior. Jude soon realises that if she wants to be accepted and respected she needs to make it happen for herself and despite her fears she sets out to do just that. Her character evolution throughout the story is dramatic and enthralling and I cannot wait to see this continue into book 2!
Cardan is a true fae prince. Spoiled, cruel, manipulative and handsome with a gang of hangers-on prepared to do whatever they can to make Jude’s life a nightmare. However we soon see that Cardan is a product of his upbringing. He’s suffered years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father and brothers. This has made him cunning and cruel in order to survive. Don’t get me wrong he’s still an asshole but maybe he doesn’t deserve to be the villain of the story after all.
All of this made me warm towards him and dare I say it - root for him with Jude 🙈. The hint of romance between these two is unlike most other YA romance, in that it feels a little wrong and uncomfortable, yet I wanted it to happen anyway. I’m definitely interested to see more of these two together in book 2 and to see how their relationship dynamics change and evolve.
There is a large supporting cast in this book so I won’t mention them all but I will mention the main ones that made an impact on me - either good or bad!
Taryn - I didn’t like her one little bit. She’s a spoiled, brat and a coward. The way she betrays Jude is unforgivable.
Locke - What a nasty piece of work he is! I detested him from the moment he revealed his true colours. A truer villain than Cardan will ever be.
Madoc - the general of the High King’s Army is blood thirsty and willing to do anything to gain power. Again I felt he wasn’t fully bad or good but a little of both at times.
Vivi - I loved her fiery nature and her rebellious defiance to not fit in despite being the only one of the 3 girls Madoc takes to faerie that has any fae blood.
The Cruel Prince is a superb YA fantasy read that’s packed full of twists, turns and violence, that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The only thing stopping this being a 5 star read for me was part of the story (before the big twist) that seem to been drawn out more than necessary.