I’ve read Holly Black’s White Cat and The Coldest Girl in Cold Town. It was with these books that I fell in love with the magic that is Holly Black’s writing, so I knew that I would love The Cruel Prince as well. And I did.
The Cruel Prince takes me back to when fey were dangerous and treacherous. Not romanticized fey who resist their dark natures in the hopes of becoming something better. (Though I do love Ash from The Iron Fey series, to name one.) No, these fey are greedy and selfish, and they view humans as playthings and refuse, good only to serve their whims. In turn, these fey bring out the worst in Jude, who will do anything it takes to get what she wants. And she wants nothing more than to make a place for herself in the High Court.
Jude is definitive of the strong heroine who comes back with a vengeance in the face of adversity. If someone tells her no, she’ll find another way to get what she wants, and she’ll come back to ground her heel in the face in the one who got in her way. I wouldn’t want to be her parent or her enemy.
Treacherous fey + determined heroine = a plot full of intrigue, tension, and surprises in The Cruel Prince by Holly BlackClick To TweetJude is a box full of surprises. She’s headstrong and excessively reckless at times, but she shows that she knows the court and can work the system. Throw in her tragic backstory and her dysfunctional family dynamics, and she’s a character with depth and complexity. What I love most about her character is that there’s so much potential in her for love and goodness yet also for vengeance and darkness. I can’t wait to see where her story takes us! (…all of a sudden, I relate to a certain foxy character with a penchant for drama. Lol.)
But enough sighing over Jude. While a standout heroine certainly helps, there’s so much more to this book.
The world of the High Court is a fascinating place—in a dark and dangerous fashion. Never forget that. There is lots of political intrigue, backstabbing, and all sorts of cruel and inhumane acts done in the name of entertainment. Or the name of whoever committed the act on a whim. Someone can do evil without killing someone and still consider themselves kind. In fact, some of my favorite characters do terrible things while concealing a heart that could have been kind and gentle—if only they grew up in a different world. (I’m thinking about a raven boy who’s all sorts of cruel.)
The result of all this craziness? I was never sure where the plot would take me next. Sure, I had my guesses, but they were guesses at best in this world of mind games and betrayals.
Lastly, I never thought I would say this but I loved the dysfunctional relationships. Why? Because the dysfunction mirrors the treacherous, dysfunctional nature of this world, and is a telling sign of the need for drastic change in the court if true love and kindness is ever to prevail. (Both of the familial and the romantic kind.) If the stagnant nature of the fey is to change.
Which raises the question…can the fey change? Will dysfunctional love ever blossom into the real deal?
I’m looking forward to seeing how Jude will navigate the politics of the High Court and the changes that she will bring to it.
The Cruel Prince is one of the best dark contemporary fantasies that I’ve read. The writing is simple and easy to read, not being bogged down with detailed descriptions, but it succeeds in conveying the treacherously beautiful magic of the High Court and the political intrigue underlying the glamorous surface. Once I became mired into the world, I could not stop turning the pages, as if I had been caught up in one of the fey dances. I recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy political intrigue; dark, cruel, treacherous fey; and a strong, never-gives-up heroine who’s willing to get her hands dirty.
Related: You may also love my compilation post of 33 books to read after The Cruel Prince.
Thoughts on the B&N Edition
I’m reviewing from the Barnes & Noble edition. I love the black cover. It mirrors the dark nature of this court and provides a stark contrast to the gold design.
The added bonus? This book features a short story set in the world of Tithe. I’m not going to comment on the short story because I have yet to read Holly Black’s Tithe series, and I don’t want to spoil anything for myself. However, I believe that fans of Tithe will enjoy this bonus!
Content
- Language (Swearing)
- Kissing, Making Out
- (No sex, but the MC wakes up in the same bed as a boy)
- LGBT* (MC’s half-sister is in a relationship with a human girl)
- Bullying, Corporal Punishment, Torture
- Violence
- Death
Chat with Me
What kinds of fey stories do you enjoy reading? (E.g. more romanticized fey or treacherous fey?) What do you recommend reading while I wait for The Wicked King, book 2 in the series? (Seriously in need of books here!!)
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Sophia Rose says
I love when fey are not glamorized for made feeble and I like the sound of a strong heroine and political intrigue. I’ve had this on my list for a while. I’m glad it is worth it.
Crystal says
Same. I hope you enjoy The Cruel Prince! I’d love to hear your thoughts when you’re done with it 🙂
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer says
The Fae are one of the scariest creatures.They will always be dark to me, I must say this wasn’t one I was considering until I read your review.
Crystal says
I agree. The Fae will always be dark to me. That’s why I love this book so much! If you do read this one, I’d love to hear your thoughts!