After reading the fantastic The Darkest Part of the Forest last year it feels like I’ve been craving more Holly Black faerie stories forever. I’ve seriously been desperate for more nasty and creepy and beautiful hidden people stories. Stories of them being wicked!
So when I heard about The Cruel Prince I just knew I’d need to get my hands on it as soon as possible. And thank you so SO much to Readers First for providing me with a copy a little early so I could review it. And it was actually the last book I read in 2017 and it was a damn good way to finish off my reading year!
The Cruel Prince starts as a book about a mortal girl surviving being horrifically bullied by immortals. But then slowly builds into a royal battle for the crown. There’s secrets and lies coming from every side and you’d never guess the twists and turns the plot takes!
And the action starts so quickly too! By the end of chapter 2 there’s been multiple murders and a tournament to become a knight has been mentioned. Stinging faerie ointment has been smeared in our main protagonist’s eyes to give her True Sight so that she can see through glamours. Oh and she wears a necklace of rowan berries so she can resist enchantments.
If none of this sounds like the kind of book you’d like I urge you to at least go out to a book shop and read the first dreadful (in a good way) chapter. I’m pretty sure it’ll have you hooked immediately, like it did me. I really didn’t expect the faerie nastiness to get going so quickly!
And if, even then, you’re not feeling it you can still admire the GORGEOUS map which is very pleasing to the eye! I love all the beautiful illustrations. Especially the mermaids and the person riding a frog (both are actually featured in The Cruel Prince).
Overall I was hooked from about page 5 and I’m certain that if you like Holly Black’s previous stories (or faerie stories in general) then you will find yourself quite thrilled by The Cruel Prince!
So when I heard about The Cruel Prince I just knew I’d need to get my hands on it as soon as possible. And thank you so SO much to Readers First for providing me with a copy a little early so I could review it. And it was actually the last book I read in 2017 and it was a damn good way to finish off my reading year!
The Cruel Prince starts as a book about a mortal girl surviving being horrifically bullied by immortals. But then slowly builds into a royal battle for the crown. There’s secrets and lies coming from every side and you’d never guess the twists and turns the plot takes!
And the action starts so quickly too! By the end of chapter 2 there’s been multiple murders and a tournament to become a knight has been mentioned. Stinging faerie ointment has been smeared in our main protagonist’s eyes to give her True Sight so that she can see through glamours. Oh and she wears a necklace of rowan berries so she can resist enchantments.
If none of this sounds like the kind of book you’d like I urge you to at least go out to a book shop and read the first dreadful (in a good way) chapter. I’m pretty sure it’ll have you hooked immediately, like it did me. I really didn’t expect the faerie nastiness to get going so quickly!
And if, even then, you’re not feeling it you can still admire the GORGEOUS map which is very pleasing to the eye! I love all the beautiful illustrations. Especially the mermaids and the person riding a frog (both are actually featured in The Cruel Prince).
Overall I was hooked from about page 5 and I’m certain that if you like Holly Black’s previous stories (or faerie stories in general) then you will find yourself quite thrilled by The Cruel Prince!