The Cruel Prince
Ratings808
Average rating3.8
Yes, Jude may be vicious and annoying but consider this: she is so me
(*Reread. I simply cannot explain the hold this trilogy has over me. Don't ask and don't judge you haters!!)
saw reviews that mentioned content/the book just felt like there might be content. also annoying mc made the stupidest decisions and there was a lesbian relationship.
This series is one of my favorites. Holly Black is a masterful storyteller. She reveals both the beautiful and terrible in her world with excellent detail, efficient prose, and well-timed, natural dialogue. The world comes out to you from the page with lovely description and color.
Jude, our main protagonist (or, it could be argued, anti-heroine), is immediately likable and understandable: she's wickedly clever, ambitious, and sometimes kind. But Black doesn't write a banal coming-of-age character who allows herself to be swept away in the games of others, nor does she give us a girl who wants to be rescued. Jude battles her way through her world, trying to take what she wants, always becoming stronger, and fights for what she cares about. All the while, the reader is painfully aware of how Jude's upbringing has scarred her, and how the circumstances she's been borne to (not a typo here - hehe) continue to limit her heart and mind. She's not perfect; she's vicious and strong and scheming and desperately blind to her desire for love and praise. She's fully human, and I love her for it.
The Cruel Prince (and its sequel, which was just released) is a superior example of fantasy fiction that refuses to play on tropes. Its subject matter is Faerie, but its heart shows us just what it means to be human, to be a daughter, and to be a young woman who has grown up in a merciless world, and what that world ultimately pushes her to become. A must-read for sure.
I went into it a bit reticent because I thought it'd be another take on the common enemies to lovers trope...but I saw a passage on twitter that made me want to read it (it's apparently from another book in the series though) and I was not disappointed! Romance - while somewhat a part of it - is definitely not the focus point of the book. Besides all the fae lore that I absolutely love, the narrative focuses a lot on the political aspect of the kingdom of elfhame and the land of faerie and the inner conflicts and growth of the main character. I feel romance might more of a focal point later on (in the next books of the series) which makes sense with how the storyline has built up so far. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
This is my first Holly Black book. The plot was pretty well thought out and I enjoyed the twists and turns. None of these characters are perfect. Jude, Cardan, all of them do bad things, and none of them are ever excused of their crimes, but they learn to deal with them and the other ramifications that come from their actions. Jude is a bit annoying and Taryn- ugh, I just can't with her. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens next.
4.5 ⭐
What an exciting read! The style of writing is amazing,and i love the world of Faerie. Excited for the other books! The only catch was that I just didn't get into it as much as other books. I hate Locke, but the way he is written is so cool. Cardan greenbriar for life! He is just a great character, and unlike Oro(lightlark) who is a perfect golden boy, he is not perfect, he can be mean, and is not always right. Jude is such a queen, I love how fighty she is, and I like her dynamic with Vivi.
i'm sorry but cardan was giving GOT joeffry so bad it was hard to even try to like is character
Loved this book! The plot was unpredictable with surprising twists and turns. It kept me wondering what would happen next. I also enjoyed that the fmc is strong, unrelenting, and cunning.
Alot of ppl hated this book because it was “boring”. I dont find it boring, the book just got better n better, so therefore ill give this a 4.5/5 ⭐
Definitely a gripping book. I have been reading so many fantasy books these days that all of them are such a blur - faerie kingdoms, faerie powers and glamours, faerie kings, queens, princes and princesses, faerie politics, court intrigues, mortals among the faeries - it is mostly the same. But this one was really good, in spite of being similar to the others. I hope to continue this series.
I will say I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to... It took me a bit to really get into it, but once I got about 60% in i was hooked... honestly not sure how i feel about Madoc - like i think he actually does love his kids and he seems to relate best with jude but well idk
BEWARE! Spoilers ahead
Fav characters (or somewhat liked):
OAK - he deserves to have a great childhood!!! don't know if he'll necessarily be the best king... but he is just precious!!
Bomb/Roach/Ghost - how can anyone not like them. I mean they're just trying to live their best life with as many explosions as possible
Vivi - she ACTUALLY cares about her family cough taryn cough (even if she does get a bit sidetracked...) the scenes with her and Oak were so cuteee
Professor Noggle -he was funny
Oriana - while not the nicest to Jude, idk I couldn't help but like her. She had so much love for Oak and I'm kinda curious what she thought about some of what happened in the book
Cardan & Jude:
he kinda gives misguided Gilbert Blythe vibes... if Gilbert was spoiled and cruel. I'm not excusing ANY of his behavior, however that is the vibe I kinda got by the end of the book. These poor children just need some proper love. and poor Jude needs to feel safe somewhere so she can have some fun... and maybe good therapy sessions...
Despised characters:
Taryn&Locke:
-ugh- the traitorous piece of slime DESERVES Locke. They can off and be horrible together!
but the fact that Locke was all ‘I still like you Jude' ugh HE is the one who chose the slimy traitor so he can NOT try to have both.
I started reading this book a few months ago, but my mind wasn't in the correct section for high-political fantasy. So I left it to finish at a later date, and here I am with the finished first book of The Folk of the Air series. It took me a bit to gather a care for Jude, though slow, one eventually did build, and now, I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Incredible, It got me out of a very long reader's block, and it also strikes a perfect balance between politics, mystery, fantasy and romance, Also the characters are very well developed made it even better. It left me with a very good taste in my mouth when I finished it.
I read it in my native language, I will consider rereading it in English.
Un gran storybuilding, la acción no decepciona y es una historia super adictiva. Aunque debo decir que la parte de bullying me superaba.
I liked it !
Honestly the main thing that's preventing me to put this at 4 stars is the use of the first person, I just don't really enjoy that.
I really liked all of the intrigue and machinations. I didn't like the beginning as much though.
I think I'll pick up the next one.
Espesito al empezar, pero por la mitad del libro ya estás metido de lleno en el mundo. La historia está muy bien, aunque cuando más engancha se acaba con un final completamente abierto.
it is a very interesting book with twists and tunes and very dramatic and has a good side romance and betrayl
The best book I could ever read this year, truthfully. I loved everything it had to offer, the world, the characters, the plot-twists, the bloodshed, tears and desire for power. I love Jude so much, and the fact that she is only a human being, no powers, simple brown hair and brown-walnut eyes? Amazing. I loved everything about it! 11/10
