The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Reviewed by Katie B.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is the first book in a trilogy. The plot opens with the main character, Jude, being whisked off to the High Court of the Faerie – the land of the fae (faeries) by the man who killed her parents. This man and his wife raise Jude, along with her twin Taryn, as sisters to their own two children. The book starts with Jude as a child, but soon, the reader will see her as a young adult. Jude is desperate to be accepted by the fae and this mystical world in which she is living. She and Taryn navigate being human in a world where that is unacceptable. Their adoptive father is tough on them, and their adoptive mother doesn’t accept them due to the fact they are human. They face many challenges growing up in a society that rejects them. Many of the challenges center around Prince Cardan; he bullies Jude relentlessly. He and his posse of minions try to foil Jude in all of her ambitions. Soon, however, the reader learns that his feelings about Jude are more complex than they first appear. Cardan’s life, as it transpires, is also more complex than the reader might first guess. As the book progresses, Jude is shown that trust is worth its weight in gold – but whom can she trust? Appearances, as the story unfolds, are found to be misleading.
Many of the twists and turns of the story’s plot give the reader a window into the intrigues of the palace of the faerie. While the faerie may at first seem regal – mannered and charming – Jude learns more, as she nears adulthood, of the hidden alliances and betrayals occurring behind closed doors. All of this takes place under the shadow of a looming threat. When she reaches adulthood, Jude must leave Faerie unless she marries a fae or demonstrates a rare skill. Jude desires with all of her heart to become an immortal faerie. Knowing that she cannot, she works day and night to develop a skill that will win her a place in the Court; she wishes to become a knight. To do so, she must win the Summer Tournament. Against whom will she fight? Will Jude remain in Faerie, or will she find herself cast out? King Eldred will soon choose a successor. On whose head will the crown rest? What lies beneath Cardan’s torment of Jude? The reader soon finds that they are compelled to learn the truth.
Holly Black is able to create a highly immersive world that will draw you in and won’t let you go until you’ve uncovered every secret. The characters are given complex decisions that are captivating. The author weaves such an intricate world that the reader, intrigued, is impelled to read on. The details are slowly revealed to the reader, and this cultivates curiosity like no other book. The writer’s style plays a pivotal role in world building. She describes the surroundings and scenes in such a way that it makes the reader feel as though they are along for the journey through a whimsical and deceptive world. Where will the journey end? At the end of the Cruel Prince, the reader may find themselves driven to read on. The reader is in luck: book 2 is The Wicked King; book 3 is The Queen of Nothing.
This book is highly recommended to people who enjoy reading fantasy, as well as those who like to read about strategic plots, with twists and turns on every page. Another book that is similar to The Cruel Prince is Six Of Crows, which also has a similar level of strategic plot and complex characters.