The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Published by: Hot Key Books
Pages 375
Format Hardback
My Rating ★★★★
Published by: Hot Key Books
Pages 375
Format Hardback
My Rating ★★★★
‘I can see why humans succumb to the beautiful nightmare of the Court, why they willingly drown in it…’
‘Black’s world is intoxicating…this delicious story will seduce you and leave you desperate for just one more page.’
Leigh Bardugo, bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom
‘I require book two immediately. Holly Black is the Faerie Queen.’
Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of the Red Queen series
‘Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.’
One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The fearsome assassin abducts all three girls and brings them to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed into the royal court. Mocked and tormented for being merely mortal, Jude soon realises that to survive in this treacherous, dangerous, new world, she needs to be as smart, cunning and deceitful as the Fey themselves.
But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan. Jude must take the utmost care…
‘Black’s world is intoxicating…this delicious story will seduce you and leave you desperate for just one more page.’
Leigh Bardugo, bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom
‘I require book two immediately. Holly Black is the Faerie Queen.’
Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of the Red Queen series
‘Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.’
One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The fearsome assassin abducts all three girls and brings them to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed into the royal court. Mocked and tormented for being merely mortal, Jude soon realises that to survive in this treacherous, dangerous, new world, she needs to be as smart, cunning and deceitful as the Fey themselves.
But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan. Jude must take the utmost care…
My thoughts:
I hadn’t read any Holly Black for a long time, and was recommended The Cruel Prince by many people, so thought I’d give it a go. After reading only a couple of pages in, I found myself really invested in the characters and the unfolding plot. I would describe the book as a really remarkable fantasy novel that was immediately gripping from the very dark beginning.
The story features everything from murder and magic, to fight scenes, spies, bribery and corruption, all set in an incredible world created so vividly and interestingly by Holly Black. Every element of the fantasy world has been considered and explained with such detail and intrigue. It is hard not to get wrapped up in it. There are many great plot twists and high-intensity, suspenseful moments, but probably what I loved the most is the actual scale of the Faerie world that the story takes place within.
It is almost as though the entire book reads like one giant tragic ballad, yet it is equally divided between emotions of heartbreak and hope. The narrator, Jude, is a character who has already been through so much in her short life, and all she really seems to want is to finally find her place in the world. As she embarks on discovering this at last, she is forced to push herself physically and mentally, learning secrets about her family and she begins to question her values, and to decide who she should be truly loyal to. This book is haunting, dark, and twisted, but also exciting, uplifting and most of all, very entertaining to read. It was an enjoyable story that I quickly finished, eager for more. I would highly recommend checking this one out particularly if you already enjoy books by Leigh Bardugo.
Overall reaction:
I hadn’t read any Holly Black for a long time, and was recommended The Cruel Prince by many people, so thought I’d give it a go. After reading only a couple of pages in, I found myself really invested in the characters and the unfolding plot. I would describe the book as a really remarkable fantasy novel that was immediately gripping from the very dark beginning.
The story features everything from murder and magic, to fight scenes, spies, bribery and corruption, all set in an incredible world created so vividly and interestingly by Holly Black. Every element of the fantasy world has been considered and explained with such detail and intrigue. It is hard not to get wrapped up in it. There are many great plot twists and high-intensity, suspenseful moments, but probably what I loved the most is the actual scale of the Faerie world that the story takes place within.
It is almost as though the entire book reads like one giant tragic ballad, yet it is equally divided between emotions of heartbreak and hope. The narrator, Jude, is a character who has already been through so much in her short life, and all she really seems to want is to finally find her place in the world. As she embarks on discovering this at last, she is forced to push herself physically and mentally, learning secrets about her family and she begins to question her values, and to decide who she should be truly loyal to. This book is haunting, dark, and twisted, but also exciting, uplifting and most of all, very entertaining to read. It was an enjoyable story that I quickly finished, eager for more. I would highly recommend checking this one out particularly if you already enjoy books by Leigh Bardugo.
Overall reaction:
