Hi, I just finished this book and I just had to write this review, so please mind the incessant ramble that might occur. I hope you enjoy my spoiler free book review for 'The Cruel Prince' by Holly Black!
Author: Holly Black
Edition: US Hardcover
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 384
Synopsis (taken from Goodreads):
'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.'
My Rating: 4/5 stars!
My Review:
"If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse."
Holly Black, has been a favourite for me for maybe 7 years? I read the 'Spiderwick Chronicles'way back when I was a mere 9 year old and I devoured that series. I loved the folklore fantasy, the enchanting writing; I loved the books so much that I own the collectors edition. I didn't know Holly Black wrote YA until last year when I read 'The Darkest Part of the Forest' and I fell in love with her writing all over again. 'The Cruel Prince' was one of my most anticipated 2018 release and I was NOT disappointed.
The setting! I could ramble on for decades about how much I loved the setting, faerie glens, dancing until you drive yourself mad, salt in your pockets. Basically I loved the fantasy element of this novel. It was written so so so beautifully and I literally couldn't not love it. Holly Black has a way of describing things in such mesmerizing detail and I forgot how much I adored her writing.
The characters were well built and layered (like an onion! hah get it?) I especially loved Jude, our MC. I thought she was a great female lead and I liked how she was flawed, because a great lead has flaws. The faeries were wickedly cool, I adored how every different faerie (or pixie, or nixie, or hob) looked different and AHjust. so. perfect. Cardan, depsite being a complete tool for the better half of the book, came through towards the end and I am very excited to see his character develop more throughout the series.
Some other loves of this book were the family representation! Obviously some things were weird and not believable (AKA: when Jude and Taryn went and dueled for Locke's love) but it was still so good! Accurate family rep is something I can always associate with Holly Black, she just depicts it in such a realistic light. I loved how Jude and Taryn, who are sisters, could be mad and angry one minute and then plaiting each other's hair the next; what makes me smile is that this is exactly how sisters are! I also loved the references to her other book 'The Darkest Part of the Forest', I saw them Holly, I saw them.
Overall, this book was a magnificent stand-out read and I am delighted to give it a 4/5 stars! This is possibly my favourite 2018 released book (but I can't talk because I haven't read many) and hopefully it is still one of my favourites by the end of this year. I recommend this to basically anyone who adores a good fantasy read! I can't wait for the next one!
Chloe :))
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