I absolutely loved this book, as I have always loved Faerie related books, but I don't see as many as I would like, so this was a great addition to my faerie/fantasy collection.

I liked that in this book there were a lot of traditional superstitions about Faeries, and it was nice that while I was reading this I could compare all the different superstitions used and see which ones overlapped with other books I had read.

In fact, I loved how different this book was to other Faerie books I've read - it was dark and totally fascinating, letting you understand the more darker side to the Faerie world (which was exactly like I have always imagined the Faerie world to be - dark and slightly twisted if you aren't careful). The writing style of Holly Black is beautiful, it really had me feel like I was in the book seeing what she described, and I sometimes have trouble imagining things in books.

My favourite character was Jude, the main character in this book. She went from a young, inexperienced child to someone that could navigate her way through the Faerie world with ease, and I can't wait to see where her character goes in the next book.

Holly Black truly is the Queen of the Fae.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a story featuring Fae and I’m so glad I waited for this one. It’s deliciously dark and twisted and so, so good. The writing is wonderful, Black creates a fantastically vivid world and a story that gripped me from the very start.

Main character Jude is incredible and I loved how she developed over the course of the story. The other characters are similarly unexpected and complicated and the relationships between them are just as unpredictable. As the majority of characters are fae, there are a lot of tricksters, some charming and some vicious, nasty and horrible. Very few are who they seem and many turn out to be completely different than you thought.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this story, some I saw coming and others that took me completely by surprise. Almost everyone seems to be scheming and plotting to maneuver themselves into a position of power or at the very least safety. It’s a dangerous and violent world, think Game of Thrones, where there are sudden bursts of brutal and bloody violence as the various factions try to take out their enemies.

As humans in a powerful fae family, twins Jude and Taryn are particularly vulnerable. They have no power and spend most of their time afraid and on the defensive, at the mercy of whoever decides to risk the wrath of their guardian Madoc. It fascinated me how both sisters were in the same position but took such different approaches, Jude looks for her own power while Taryn seeks protection. It makes for an interesting dynamic between them and quite a bit of conflict. I could understand Taryn’s attempts to go unnoticed and smooth the waters but I loved Jude’s determination and fire. The moment where she pretty much goes f*** it and starts playing the game had me cheering.

There is some romance in this, those fae can be very tempting, but it is fairly light and like a lot of the story not necessarily what it seems. The focus is much more on family relationships, friendship, loyalty and trust. Basically all of the good things and I loved it.

Overall this is a brilliant story, so dark and twisty with a lot of violence. It’s one I’d recommend to all YA fantasy readers and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

This is definitely one of he top anticipated books of 2018, so I was so glad to received an e-copy for review and I’m even happier now I’ve read it (more like devoured it) and absolutely loved it.

This book and world is basically everything I want a Faerie story to be. It’s beautiful and magical while at the same time it’s dark and tricksy.I love that Holly Black never shied away from the horror that the Faerie world holds for mortals - it’s not a gay paradise but a hellish prison unless you’re lucky like the twins and have the protection of someone like Madoc, and even for them it was extremely dangerous.

I loved the dynamic between the younger characters like Taryn, Jude and Cardan and Locke. It always felt like there was something sizzling in the air between them all (something very akin to a sexual energy if i do say so myself) and I just kind of wanted them all to stop fighting with one another and start kissing one another but maybe that’s Faerie glamoring me.I am ensorcelled!

I really liked Cardan’s role in the story and how he began to really unravel in front of the reader in the second half of the book (after things got really crazy, like oh my god!). We finally started seeing his vulnerable side and to be honest, he kind of reminded me of Draco Malfoy a lot with the way he acted out to hide his own insecurities and behind it all he was really abused and lonely.

The ending was absolutely great. I actually gasped when I realised what Jude had planned all along, it was so brilliant. I cannot wait for the next book but I do know i will definitely end up reading this one again, and buying my own copy when it’s out in the shops.

There are dozens of the Folk here, crowding around the entrance to the vast throne room, where Court is being held—long‑nosed pixies with tattered wings; elegant, green‑ skinned ladies in long gowns with goblins holding up their trains; tricksy boggans; laughing foxkin; a boy in an owl mask and a golden headdress; an elderly woman with crows crowding her shoulders; a gaggle of girls with wild roses in their hair; a bark‑ skinned boy with feathers around his neck; a group of knights all in scarab‑green armor. Many I’ve seen before; a few I have spoken with. Too many for my eyes to drink them all in, yet I cannot look away. I never get tired of this— of the spectacle, of the pageantry. Maybe Oriana isn’t entirely wrong to worry that we might one day get caught up in it, be carried away by it, and forget to take care. I can see why humans succumb to the beautiful nightmare of the Court, why they willingly drown in it.

I have been a big fan of Holly Black since I first picked up Tithe from my local library and dove in with no idea what to expect. I know that many reviewers find it hard to connect with her characters as they are flawed and find her combination of the real world and the faerie courts jarring. Yet, if you read the old versions of fairytales (not Disney’s) the fae are often tricky, mischievous and cruel.

For me, she was one of the first writers I came across who managed to successfully capture the decay and darkness beneath the faerie glamour, truly managing to replicate the sense of menace, designed in traditional tales, to make humans cautious.

In this story she has once again proved why she is known by some as the ‘Queen of Faerie because she successfully creates a dark, twisted world inspired by the old folktales where the fae are capricious and cruel, yet sets it alongside a modern world that feels all too familiar. I liked Jude’s father and her sister Vivienne, wanted to find out more about her stepmother, mother and Locke’s mother – all of whom have fallen foul of the darker side of the Court. I would have liked to know more about Cardan and his motivations…have to wait until Book 2 for that!

Faeries make up for their inability to lie with a panoply of deceptions and cruelties. Twisted words, pranks, omissions, riddles, scandals, not to mention their revenges upon one another for ancient, half‑remembered slights. Storms are less fickle than they are, seas less capricious.

” You are nothing. You barely exist at all. Your only purpose is to create more of your kind before you die.”

He’s wrong about me.

I am going to make my mayfly life count for something. I won’t be afraid of him or of Prince Dain’s censure.

If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.

What I liked: Travelling back to the dark world of faerie that the author has created so lovingly and painstakingly in her previous books – anyone who has read other works by Holly Black will easily recognize cameo appearances from main characters in other books. Jude’s strength and determination to make something of herself in a system which is stacked against her – could respect that more than Taryn trying to fit in by giving up some of her independence.

Even better if: At times there was a bit of info-dumping and it is difficult to fully sympathize with many of the characters as they all have something about them which makes them unlikeable – realistic, yet unlikeable. I didn’t really ‘ship’ any of the relationships as they seemed a bit shallow.

How you could use it in your classroom: As with all books by Holly Black, I would recommend reading before recommending to others – know your children! I can see them being very popular with teenage readers who like the grittiness of her stories but could also see them proving unpopular with more conservative parents because of candid discussions about sex, drink and drugs.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for my e-ARC)

First of all I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book ahed of time.

It's been a while since I read an Holly Black's book. I am not a huge fan of Fairie stories, however when I read the plot for this one I was compelled to give it a try. Plus, can we please notice that gorgeous cover?

I started this book with no expectations, I was ready to be disappointed once more. Oh, I was soooo wrong.
It was a hell of a book.
It has interesting characters and an even more interesting world.
It has court and political intrigue, bloodshed, nastiness, love and a main character with nothing to lose.
What's best, nobody can be trusted, literally nobody.
You think you have understood how things works, how the plot will unfold and then you have a twist, somebody does the unexplicable and you are yet again to wonder how the book will end and how all the threads will come together.

I loved Jude, the protagonist, she is willing to do the unthinkable, to sacrifice everything, herself included.
And Cardan, the asshole, self-centred, "cruel prince" from the title is one of the most complessed character I have ever had the pleasure to read so far.

This novel has characters with grey morality, it's dark and it's twisty and it is great!


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2145417555

4.25/5 Stars.



"I want to win. I do not yearn to be their equal. I yearn to best them."



When I got my hands on an early copy of The Cruel Prince, I didn't know what I was letting myself in for. Having never read a book by Holly Black (I was more of a Series of Unfortunate Events kind of child) I wasn't expecting to be wowed. Of course, I'd heard good things about her previous books, but I'd also heard a couple of mixed things as well, so going in as a blank page felt like the right thing to do.

And I wasn't wrong to do that. This book was, by all accounts, fantastic. I can see why Holly is described as the Faerie Queen.

Set in the world of Faerie, and following the human Jude, we delve into the politics of the royal family and the implications of court life.

Having witnessed her parents murder at 7 years old, Jude, her twin sister Taryn and their half sister Vivienne are taken to the world of Faerie to live with the murderer, Madoc. Fast forward 10 years and Jude wishes to be Faerie, or at the very least a prominent part of their world. Yet, navigating the world of the immortals is no easy feat. Jude is mortal, destined to live a short life compared to those around her, and her ears define her, and she is therefore subjected to discrimination at the hands of the youngest prince, Cardan.

The world that Holly has created is one that was easy to understand and comprehend. My understanding is that this worlds is just an extension of her previous work, but as a complete outsider, I never felt like it was too difficult to wrap my head around. In addition, the magic system seemed simple enough, with the ability to manipulate peoples minds and inanimate objects being mere examples of the system. Much of the basics were founded on classical fairy tales, with a modern twist, making this feel like a true classic instead of a completely new universe.

This story was very politically driven. Jude grows up in the household of her parents murderer, treated like his own family, and as a result learns their way of life through his tutelage. I think it's because of this that the plot is driven in a way that relies heavily on political advantage. Madoc is a spy master and general, and Jude seems to take after him in a variety of ways. In fact, when compared to her twin sister, Jude is clearly the stronger of the two, standing for what she thinks is right when Taryn is happier to just play along with Cardan's games.

I actually liked Jude, her morals seemed to be in the right place, and nothing she did really annoyed me. She valued her family, and knew when to stand her ground. Cardan and his friends were very cruel to her in the first half of the book, and in some cases this became extreme, but where as Taryn was happy to leave her sister and pretend like she didn't exist, Jude seemed to care more about the impact her actions would have on everyone else. This only changed in regards to Taryn later in the story, for a very specific reason, but I would argue that this was justified.

It wasn't only Jude I liked. Despite his flaws, Cardan was probably my favourite character due to his vulnerability. Sure, in the beginning he was cruel, and he was very befitting of the title, but as the story progresses, we see another side to him that I grew to love. Okay, the whole bad-guy-turned-good-guy trope is one that needs to be buried in a hole somewhere, but Cardan doesn't quite fit this trope. He's cruel, and probably always will be, but he is also slightly misunderstood. And I think a large part of his reputation comes from his friends.

Of course, the characters are not the only amazing thing about this book. The plot was very driven, especially during the second half, and I found myself incapable of putting the book down. The twists and turns the story took were never expected, leaving me completely unaware of where the adventure would be heading next. Holly's writing was fluid and fast paced, and I truly found myself captivated. At the major turning point in the book, I had already decided that this was going to be an amazing novel, living up to the hype it has already generated among young adult readers.

We've had so many books and series based on Faeries and re-tellings recently, that for once it was nice to see it from a different perspective. Seeing the world of the Fae through Jude's eyes was a fresh point of view, written beautifully and made me wish that I could see this fantastic world with my own eyes, hear the court drama with my own ears, and dance the night away at the celebrations. 

(Oh and did I mention, there are a couple of mentions of LGBTQ love in this?)



However, not everything can be good. As much as I loved this book and the world it brought me, there were a couple of things I would have preferred to have changed. For example, the real plot didn't begin until about half way through the book. For the first third of the book it felt like nothing was really happening, with Jude travelling between home and classes and suffering at the hands of Cardan and his entourage. This may have been intentional, after all a little world building has to take place before the real action can begin, but it was almost a little too mundane for my liking. In the world of the Faerie, you don't expect to be reading about classes, you expect lavish parties (which admittedly there were a few of, but they were often described as unsafe for mortals) and magic.



Final Thoughts:

If you haven't read a book by Holly Black yet, I would highly recommend this as a starting point. The politics and drama are delightful, and the world is so vivid the book is difficult to put down. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I picked this up and was pleasantly surprised when I loved it, and can't wait to pick up more books by her in the future.

If you love faerie tales, re-tellings and fantasy, this is a book you do not want to miss!



"Everything will go on. But I am not sure that I can."

Jude was only a child when her she witnessed her parents being murdered and were then stolen away, along with her two sisters, to live in the High Court of Faerie, only to be raised by the very man who stole her away. Years later, Jude no longer feels as though she belongs in the mortal world. She longs to belong in Faerie, to prove she can thrive and be important, despite her mortality. It is her mortality that the fey despise and it is what places Jude in a war with Prince Carden, the cruelest son of the High King. To win her place in court and to best Prince Carden, she must prove she belongs, in any way she can.

Do you love brutal, dark, and atmospheric reads? Do you love morally ambiguous main characters? Do you love court & political intrigue and stories full of adventure and danger? Do you love dark and violent Faerie worlds? Then The Cruel Prince is the book for you.

I’ve always heard great things about Holly Black and her fae reads, but in all my time book blogging, this is the first time I’ve ever picked up one of her books. It did not disappoint.

I loved Jude and her development throughout the book. Jude is a very complex character which I couldn’t help but admire. Jude is, ultimately, very scared, scared she won’t find a place in Faerie, scared she will live a mortal and unimportant life, and she tries to cover this up with bravado. She is unwilling to let Prince Carden and his group of friends beat her, refuse to let them hold her back, and it is what I love so much about her; her defiance and determination. Throughout the book though, we see her intelligence, leadership, and skill at manipulation come through. I loved her involvement in the court politics and I loved the political intrigue. The ending left me so happy, it was thrilling and powerful! I love Jude so much, she’s a terrible person but she knows it – I can’t wait to read more of this series. The hints at romance were glorious and slightly unexpected, but it worked perfectly. I also loved Carden, the ‘cruel prince’ who appeared to be a cruel, jealous, and drunken bully, but turned out to be much more different that he was shown to be.

Overall, The Cruel Prince reminded me what it is I love about a well-written fantasy. A compelling, engrossing, and thrilling read with fantastic world building and unlikeable and untrustworthy characters.

The story is about Jude Duarte who was stolen by Madoc along with her twin sister Taryn, and Vivienne, who is the biological daughter of Madoc, after murdering her parents in front of her eyes.
After 10 years She lives with Madoc in his house along with his second wife Oriana and son Oak, Jude wants to become a knight in Faerieland, whereas Taryn wants to fall in love and Vivienne who vows to hate Madoc all her life wants to return to the mortal world, where she also has a girlfriend.

Prince Cardon who is the youngest son of High King Eldred, who is a spoiled brat, along with his friend used to bully Jude in school and then all the political drama.

I am confused If I like it or not starting of the book didn’t hook me, I tried really hard to get into it, at many points I was too close to DNF it, But I already DNF 2 books in December and don’t want anymore. Just this thing made me read it completely. In last 150 pages, this got good enough to hooked me, I really liked the way the book wraps up.

Judging by the cover I could never guess that It is going to be this much dark, I expected some darkness as the name is The Cruel Prince, but there were more murders than cruelty, I didn’t mean murder is not cruelty it is next step of cruelty.

I felt word Blood was the most used word in the book, and it really annoyed me.

CHARACTERS
Jude Duarte

“No matter how careful I am, eventually I’ll make another misstep. I am weak. I am fragile. I am mortal. I hate that most of all.”

My opinion about her changed many times throughout the book, She got my sympathy in start and as the book proceeds, She annoyed me as much as she wants to become part of Faeries, I am not saying I hate her or dislike her I just couldn’t tolerate her in most of the book, and Isn’t it Irony one murderer is judging other 😅

Prince Cardon

He was also annoying in most of the part, In the end, he developed something good and caught my interest, still, he is a drunk and annoying character, who is complex enough.

“too young, too weak, too mean”

Locke

I really liked him but he turns out a piece of shit,😂 He likes to make stories out of people, didn’t care about others emotions.

“If I can’t find a good enough story, I make one.”

Taryn

She is a disgrace on the name of sisters.

Vivienne

She is the only likable character for me throughout the book, she is fun and cool, but I have a question what does author means by Cat eye? I understood shape, so no one notices it in mortal world or we have to ignore it?

I think I have this odd relationship with HYPE books they left me disappointed.
Ratings-🌟🌟.5

I received a copy of The Cruel Price (The Folk of Air #1) by Holly Black from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre, and Hot Key Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I had heard a lot about a new novel coming from the Queen of Faeries herself, and was super excited when I saw this book appear on NetGalley - even more so when I was granted the opportunity to read it! This book had me captivated from the first page; I wasn't sure what I really expected as usually I don't read the blurb in too much detail; then the book is much more exciting and unexpected!

The beginning of this book begins in the human world, when Jules' family are visited by the High Fae: Madoc. Vivi, Jules' older sister, has always been a little different with her pointed ears, and slender frame compared to her younger siblings' stockier builds. Madoc is in a rage demanding Jules' mother and Vivi return to Faerie with him, when they refuse, and Jules' father attacks the intruder, Madoc goes on a murderous rampage, killing both the parents and taking the young girls with him.

This book is captivating from the first pages, with such a shocking entry-chapter, and equally gripping sequential chapters, this is a novel which harbours artistic world-developments, and rich character evolution. Jules is struggling to fit in with the life in Faerie, all of her peers know of her differences, as well as her twin sister Taryn's and bully the two of them; Jules seems to be the major target of this abuse due to her feisty and vibrant nature; whereas Taryn aspires to be more like the gentry they live amongst.

One of the Fae - Locke - appears to be more sympathetic to Jules, periodically putting a stop to the Jules' bullying at the hands of Prince Cardan. Throughout the story, Jules finds herself in trickier situations as she aspires to be a knight within Faerie, and twinned with the upcoming crowning of a new King of the High Court, she finds herself in more complex circles of trust within the court.

Even when Black is just setting the scene within this book, this writing is captivating and descriptive without being overly complex and confusing. This is a great read for fans of The Mortal Instruments/ The Infernal Devices/ The Dark Artifices series as well as the ACOTAR, and Thrones of Glass books. Black really has a way of keeping the audience gripped whilst painting a wonderful backdrop to her story.

The characters themselves are well-developed, becoming 3-dimensional within pages of their introduction. They really come to life on the page, so much so you feel like you yourself are a member of the court, and experiencing the sight and sounds of the mystical world.

Overall I am awarding this book 5*/5 with no hesitation - it was lively, gripping, exciting, and had some amazing plot twists which kept me turning the pages. I am thoroughly excited to see what is in store for the next books in The Folk of the Air series.

Keep an eye out from the 2nd January 2018 for this amazing first installment.

Oh my gosh I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I haven’t read a book with fey in it for a long time so I was a bit dubious when I started, but I’m so glad I did! I'm even going to be giving away a signed copy of this book! Info on how to enter will be at the bottom of this post.

Synopsis







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Overview





The Cruel Prince is a compelling fantastical read. It follows Jude’s life in the Courts of Faerie after she, her twin sister Taryn and her older sister Vi are stolen away from the mortal world as children. The first chapter was brutal and a just started the book with a huge bang. Her older sister Vi is a child of the fey, and I loved that Jude was the main character instead of Vi, as she would have been the obvious choice, being the one with magic and everything. Instead we follow Jude who struggles with her mortality in the face of the immortal beings all around her. I couldn’t put the book down (cliche I know) but it’s true, I was desperate to know what happened next. I loved how the fae weren’t just portrayed as these amazing beings, they were also dangerous and encapsulating. If you got too close you would be burned.

Only thing that could have been an issue is if you haven’t read anything like this before. There were mentions of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, which rang a bell for me from something I’d read before, but it didn’t go into depth of what they were. Also as I’m not too familiar with all this I’m not sure how much was original and how much derived from other fey works, I loved it though so it was okay! There's also some LGBTQ in there which I loved, though I wish there was more if I'm honest, it made me a tiny bit sad it wasn't a bigger storyline.

Structure





The narrative was told from Jude’s PoV which I loved. We only knew as much as Jude did, which most of the time was not a lot. The world building was beautiful, the language delicious and enchanting.

Character





There were a lot of characters to get used to pretty quickly but they’re developed well so it’s okay.

The characters were all so flawed it was delicious. Jude has a lot of darkness in her and is too hot headed for her own good. I see a lot of myself in her though. At one point a guy 'flirts' with her by grabbing her, and she hits him. I loved it, I would have (have done) the same myself. I love her complicated relationship with Madoc, it's believable and torturous, the conflicting emotions playing on me still.

Taryn and Jude have a complicated relationship as twins. They are so close but at the same time, so different. I think anyone going through what they did would be affected, and even though they're twins, it doesn't mean they'd respond the same to trauma, which is clear in this story. I think Holly really portrays the complicated relationship well, especially with Vi.

I really loved the contrast between Vi and her sisters. Vi, who technically fit in and was 'goals', acted out and wanted to be someone/somewhere else. It makes sense as she was older when she was brought to the courts, but it's still surprising and an interesting element, it surprised me.

Then there's the guys. Oof. A lot of gorgeous fey men to feast upon, but none are what they seem. I don't want to say anymore for fear of spoiling anything. There wasn't a huge emphasis on the romance but enough to keep me going.

Did you encounter the hype for this book? Perhaps not, but I certainly did, which is always a dangerous game as you never know if a book is going to live up to your expectations. In my case, this concept was what sold me, I love a story where the fae are involved and where they are certainly not the good guys. What intrigued me was the idea of a human stolen into Faerie who wanted to stay.

I could compare this, in many ways, to Dreams and Shadows, a book with a similar dark faerie theme to it. Where Cruel Prince differs is it feels (quite rightly so given the differing target audiences) much more YA. There are relationships (romantic and otherwise) between characters which feel like key parts of this particular genre.

I wanted to like this, and for the most part I did. I think what threw me most (except for one thing which I can't talk about because spoilers) was that the dialogue feels oddly stilted. I think this is probably part of the 'fae are different from humans' aspect of the story but all the same it feels quite clunky to read at times and that made me enjoy it less. There are also huge plot changing moments caught up in dialogue so if you're not following completely you can miss them (maybe that's on me for not having better focus...).

Was this the best book I've ever read? I don't think it was. Was this a solid start to a series? Absolutely. There's a lot of room for growth in a lot of different directions, which excites me. I'd quite like it if we moved away from the protagonist Jude (who can feel a little too preachy at times) and instead looked at her sisters in more detail, they feel a bit fleeting in this story and it means you don't always understand their motivations even when their actions shape Jude's story significantly.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next books in this series because I do believe they will improve. In the meantime I'm going to keep scouting the world for scary gothic faerie books with which to frighten small children.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Holly Black is a genius. The Cruel Prince is a fairy masterpiece. Fairies and goblins are a couple of my favourite fantasy creatures to read about and there are so many books out there about them already that I love so much. The 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' series, An Enchantment of Ravens, and Wintersong just to name a few. But The Cruel Prince seemed so original and without a doubt stood on it's own. I was stunned at how well put together the plot and characters were. And I easily got lost in Holly Black's lush whimsical world. I didn't want the book to ever end. Usually a first book in a trilogy or series lacks substance and feels like an introduction but I feel as though this book could stand on it's own without a sequel, it was that good. I honestly cannot wait to find out what direction the author will take this story in the future.

'I stand up, having made my decision. For good or ill, I know what I am going to do. I have my plan.'

The plot is fast paced and exciting but also so beautiful and I'm finding myself constantly thinking about the characters. I just can't get them out of my head. The book starts off with a bang when the protagonist Jude's parents are brutally murdered and she along with her two sisters are stolen away and taken to live in the High Court of Fairie. Ten years later, we follow Jude in her quest to find a way to show that she belongs there; but that isn't the easiest thing as humans are despised and treated as slaves. The Fey make no attempt to hide their hate for them. Along the way Jude foolishly makes many enemies including Carden, the youngest prince and son of the High King. But to do what she needs to she must defy the cruel prince and face the repercussions. 

There is loads of political intrigue and also, so many intriguing morally grey characters in this book and I am totally living for it. I can't help grinning now, just thinking about it! About half way through, some serious plot twists go down and I was literally clapping my hands and applauding Holly Black for her amazingness.

“But I will not stand in front of your happiness. I will not even stand in front of misery that you choose for yourself.”

To start off I was a bit hesitant, as the story is based in a modern setting. But it kind of worked. It was very different and also intriguing. Jude and her sisters are raised in the mortal world in modern times before they are suddenly taken to the Fairie world. I loved the way the sister relationships were a major aspect in this novel and how it was a crucial part that intertwined with the main plot made a very interesting result. It was an amazing intricately woven web of a story. The only perspective we get is Jude's which is probably the one thing that I think held back the potential as I would have loved to see some of the things that happened from Carden's, or possibly Taryn's point of view. However, even though I personally would have liked that, I do think that Jude as a protagonist was enjoyable and interesting choice of perspective to read from. I especially loved that she is often conflicted and we see her process of deciding what to do. And that there is also a trace of mystery there along with a small amount of uncertainty about whether to trust her narration. I often felt like I was being tricked, the author kept me in a constant state of unease.

I often read a lot before I go to sleep and I had the biggest trouble trying to put this book down. And when I finally did I couldn't sleep anyway because I was constantly thinking about what would happen next. 

“Because you’re like a story that hasn’t happened yet. Because I want to see what you will do. I want to be part of the unfolding of the tale.”

Jude wants to be a knight, she doesn't want to settle down and find a husband, she wants to be good enough to feel as though she deserves a place among the Fairie. I thought this was great and I adored the fact that Jude is fighting for what she wants and going against other's wishes to try and become her own person and do what she wants to do. It was so exciting and engaging to read about the obstacles she is constantly overcoming and dealing with the Fairies that are treating her badly. It's always great to see a character stand up for what she believes in and fight against those bullying her. It's empowering.

"What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong?"

This was my first book that I've read by Holly Black, and I loved the way she writes. It's beautiful but also quick and straight to the point, which makes for a very quick read. And also a very fast paced plot. I don't know how she did it but, even though it seemed to move so quickly, so many things were slowly developed especially the relationships. Which I am so glad about! Overall I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this and I am so excited for everyone to get their hands on it and read it next year. It's so good and a stunning fairytale of a read that I highly recommend picking up. I will definitely be reading more from Holly Black soon. I've heard there are characters that appear in this book that are first mentioned in The Darkest Part of the Forest so I am so excited to read that soon. The Cruel Prince is due to be released on the 2nd of January and is available to pre-order now.

Thank you so much to Hot Key Books, Holly Black and NetGalley for providing an e-arc to read and review.

Ever since I read the synopsis of THE CRUEL PRINCE this past fall, it jumped to the top of my Most Anticipated Reads of 2018. I am very happy to report back that it completely lived up to my expectations. THE CRUEL PRINCE is cleverly written and a darker twist on the fae folk and you need this on your bookshelf come January.

The 411: At age seven, Jude and her two sisters, Taryn and Vivi, are whisked away to the fae Kingdom of Elfame after the brutal murder of their parents. Their captor, Madoc, is revealed to be the general of the High King Eldred, a past lover of their mother, and Vivi's birth father.

Fast-forward ten years, the sisters are still in Elfame, but living different lives. Humans are highly looked down upon in Elfame, leading to Jude and Taryn having a difficult time finding friends and fitting in with their peers. One of their key tormentors is the youngest son of High King Eldred, Cardan aka The Cruel Prince.

In an effort to find her place in Elfame, Jude expresses desire to join the court. In order to earn her place, she must form an alliance with another of King Eldred's sons—in complete defiance of the current order.

GUYSSSSS....BELIEVE THE HYPE. This book is so good. In the past year, I've read many books that involve the fae, and while I love this world, I'm always looking for a fresh take and original story. Holly Black delivers this perfectly. I'm going to start devouring her catalog now. I've been convinced. THE CRUEL PRINCE has already been optioned for a theatrical release, and I am so invested in whoever plays Cardan.

There's glamour, intrigue, betrayal, a romance to root for (I'm trash for this ship already), and I cannot wait for the rest of the trilogy.

MY RATING:  ✰✰✰✰1/2
RECOMMENDED FOR: lovers of the world of the fae, who like a darker twist

Thank you Little, Brown Books for my galley. The Cruel Prince is available Jan. 2.

Even though I haven’t read Holly Black’s other novels that are centred around fae, I know that people call her the Queen of Faerie. And it’s true. I don’t know if I talked about my love for all things fairy tale and faerie and magically strange, but as soon as I heard of The Cruel Prince , I knew that I had to read it. And it had it all! I loved everything about the Faerie aspect of this book, from the part where the fae cannot lie, to their tricks to bend the truth so much that you still can’t trust them, to their dislike for mortals. It was honestly so interesting to read about Jude, the protagonist and a mortal, and about how she learned to survive in Faerie - and what she had to do to find her place in a world that’s not her own and doesn’t treat her kindly.

"If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse."

The story itself is as strange, dark and unusual as could be expected from Holly Black! The plot was filled with court intrigues, spies, mystery and so many unexpected turns and twists! I had a lot of theories and most of them were wrong, but I love that in a book: when you never quite know what’s going to happen next and you can’t put it down, because you just need to know what’s really going on. The Cruel Prince was like that. And that ending!!!!! Wow, I didn’t see it coming at all and I want to read the next book so badly!

"Instead of being afraid, I will become something to fear."

As for the characters, all I know is that I love Jude. She is everything one could hope for in a protagonist: brave, clever, strong and not easily intimidated. I think she could become some sort of anti-heroine, so if that’s something you enjoy, you’re probably really going to like her.

The family dynamics in this book were very complex and interesting, too: I liked the relationship between the sisters — Jude, Taryn and Vivi, and I hope we’re gonna see a lot more of their interactions in the following books, as well as the dynamics in Madoc’s whole family. I just wish they would get along better! It’s harder to say for the other characters; there were characters I really liked at the beginning and throughout the story I started getting angry at them for betraying Jude (I have two characters in mind here, but I won’t say their names, as not to spoiler anyone). Others, I never thought I would like, but I felt myself starting to care about them - this goes for Oriana, Madoc (in parts) and, for reasons that are beyond me, Cardan. I started liking him somewhere around this part:

“I may be rotten, but my one virtue is that I’m not a killer. I wanted to frighten you, but I never wanted you dead. I never wanted anyone dead.”

One thing I can say with certainty, though, is that whether you like the characters or not, they are all brilliantly written and filled with much depth (and everyone is kind of— not good? Like, no one here is really a nice person? They all have their dark sides and I love that!)

The Cruel Prince made me remember why it’s such agony to start a series when not every book of it has already been released. But I‘m more than certain that book #2 in the The Folk of the Air series will be worth the wait!

'What they don’t realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. I was raised by the man who murdered my parents, reared in a land of monsters.'

Just simply breathtaking.

I read with bated breath wondering what would happen next. Would it be death, would it be violence, would it be more thrills, would it be darker than before, would it be more wicked......would it be what I expected it to be?

It was all of those things, and more. Every little morsel I ate up and every detail consumed me.

This book! This book! It has everything. World building = supreme. Character building = supreme. Faerie politics= supreme. Story = yes, you guessed it, supreme.

I'm just going to inhale into a paper bag to get my breath back. I need that next book!

This book was everything I want from a five-star read and SO MUCH MORE. The Cruel Prince is a story filled with political intrigue, scheming characters, wicked plot twists and just the tiniest hint at a possible dark romance unfolding in the sequels.
Let me be clear that this is not a pretty read. I have heard this being compared to ACOTAR and it is not like that. Yes, both stories deal with faes and romance and rivalries, but The Cruel Prince invites the reader into a world with nothing entirely friendly about it and I absolutely loved it.
The story:
The pacing of this book was something completely different and took some time getting used to, but nevertheless, it was a breath of fresh air in YA. After a badass, bloody opening in which our MC Jude and her sisters' parents are brutally murdered by the fae they're going to stay with in Faerie, the story continues to build up slowly for the next 200 or so pages. We get to know the wicked characters, the Faerie world, and the political alliances. Though this part is at times slow, it does not get boring at any point because of the rising tension between the characters and the secrets piling up. I'm thinking that this is a talent of Black, to continuously add more tension to have the biggest combustions possible in the later parts of the book instead of banking on one single climax.
The funny thing about this book is that for every time I guessed a plot twist, another, bigger one would sneak up on me ten pages later and that is a talent I have always admired in writers. to make one believe you have figured out the story, just to have your expectations turned upside down.

The characters:
What makes this story what it is, though, is our fierce narrator Jude. Jude may not be the only morally grey character in this story, but she is by far my favorite. After years of keeping her head down to save her twin Taryn and herself from ridicule to no avail, Jude decides to fight back. And boy, does she know how to enthrall the reader with her ambiguity. Continuously telling herself she does not want to be one of the faeries, yet still yearning for it in the darkest parts of her heart. Realizig that if she cannot be better than them, she will be so much worse.
Watching Jude stand up to her oppressors is like watching a horror movie - you're equal parts shouting at the character to not be so stupid investigating the weird noise in the basement while at the same time needing to see what's going to happen next. Jude's thirst for power, for revenge, for belonging drive the narrative from one tense moment to the next until the inevitable combustion.
Cardan, the cruel prince (one of three who could have earned the title to be frank) is an asshole. He bullies and shames and ridicules Jude and for most of the novel I want to strangle him. And yet I found myself looking forward to his and Jude's scenes because they either made me boil with rage or question my entire morals in the best way possible.
Another set of characters I need to highlight without any spoilers: Prince Cardan's friend group who self-proclaimedly love "dramatics, violence, and power". Holy shit. You think you know who is the worst and then another scene rolls around and you just want to bury them all and yet...
Black knows how to create characters you simultaneously hate and root for. Not one of the fae nor the humans in this book was entirely likable. They all have their flaws, their dark moments of deceit, they do horrible things (Jude included) and yet they find ways to live with them - and themselves. They do not beg forgiveness, they do not fall apart. They move on to the next wicked deed, which was just incredibly refreshing and intoxicating to be a part of.
Little things that made this story even better:
- Viv, Jude's sister is gay and in a committed relationship with a girl. This obviously isn't the focus of the story, but I'm here for casual LGTBQIA+ rep in fantasy. We need more of that.
- The Court of Shadows. They're the new YA gang to be envious of.
- the romance aspect. there were two romances in this novel and while I loathed the first, I find myself rooting for the second.
- the magic. It was glorious and horrifying and entirely too compelling at times.
The cataclysmic cliffhanger at the end does not disappoint and makes me eagerly await the second book in what is sure to be one of the biggest YA fantasy series of the next years.
5/5 stars for The Cruel Prince.

I went into this with high expectations and maybe I shouldn't have. What little I read of it beforehand was enough to grab my interest into wanting to read the rest as I did enjoy the prologue and the premise intrigued me.

Although, I'm sad to say that it did not grip me in the way I would have liked. I could have simply placed this book down and carried on with my life. For example, for me, I know when a book is gripping and I'm fully immersed in it by say being able to read whilst the TV is on and blaring out all the background noises. With this read, I just couldn't.

I didn't particularly love any character or hate any character. I did like Vivi although she wasn't central, I feel like I would have liked Jude (who shares a name with my younger sister) more if she was more like Vivi. And the sister on sister hate/rivalry/jealousy between Jude and Taryn did not appeal to me. I have five sisters, and I would think things should especially not be that way with your own twin. If there was an inclusion of the other maybe, an apology...but there wasn't. Don't get me started on Locke and his games, Cardan and his manipulative ways, to be cruel for those reasons.. Just no. Where is the nice guy in all of this? Does everyone have to be unnecessarily cruel? And I think Jude just ends up becoming sadistic along the way. And she comes across as childish..along with the others her age, petty really. (I would expect that from 12/13 year olds maybe but sometimes she came across as appearing young to me).. And Jude and Cardan's relationship is an unhealthy one. I just don't know really. I'm half and half with this. The world building I did find good though, and I do like Vivi, Oak, and the Court of Shadows members. There will be lots of people giving this one raving reviews though, I can imagine and I will possibly pick up the next one too.

I’m gonna say it: This book is so fucking good. It’s so good that every book I read this year just disappear of my mind. It’s so good that I’m crying because I need the next one and I don’t have it because I HAVE TO WAIT TILL 2019. HOW DARE YOU.

Holly Black is a faery goddess, she made me a faery believer and now I can’t go with my life because I need moooooooore.

It’s ridiculously really good. It had tension, betrayal, bittersweet romance, very bitter. Unexpected turns.

It’s basically one of the best books of the year. It’s THE book.

I truly loved it.

Holly Black has done it again. Ever since I read Tithe, many many years ago, I've loved her tales of Faery. In fact she has the honour of getting me back into reading and enjoying YA books as an adult, so when I saw The Cruel Prince up on Netgalley I was after it immediately. With all that hype, it had pretty big shoes to fill but I'm pleased to say it filled them and then some. The Cruel Prince is a wondrous tale of intrigue, court politics, magic and mayhem that delights and entertains for hours on end. Easy to read yet weighty and intelligent, Black's writing is so enjoyable I wish I could just read her work forever. This particular tale is full of fantastical faeries and magic, gorgeous descriptions that bring a scary and beautiful world to life. It's a glorious, rich tapestry of fair folk and creepy monsters, words that seem to bind the reader to the pages until its finished, as if the book itself were enchanted.