Hi dear friends,
Amy and Angy from respectively @foxyblogs and @collectorofbookboyfriends are once more organizing a tour around our favorite book boyfriends!
This time it’s about royalty!
You can find the tour line up below and a giveaway at the end of the post!
Tour line up 2019
JUNE 17:
Collector of Book Boyfriends (author Tiffany Reisz / guest post)
(Kingsley Edge, King of the Underground – Original Sinners Series)
JUNE 18:
Collector of Book Boyfriends (author Tiffany Jade / guest post)
(The boys in Royal Heart Academy Series)
JUNE 19:
Collector of Book Boyfriends (Ralou)
(Brooks Walker from Royal Affair by Marquita Valentine)
JUNE 20:
Book Babes Unite
(Prince Henry from Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston)
JUNE 21:
Collector of Book Boyfriends (Angelica)
(Prince Edward from Royally Yours by Emma Chase)
JUNE 24:
Beware Of The Reader
(Prince Cardan from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black)
JUNE 25:
Let’s Read Romance
(New Camelot series (Ash, Greer, and/or Embry) by Sierra Simone)
JUNE 26:
Foxy Blogs
(Prince Thabiso from A Princess of Theory by Alyssa Cole)
JUNE 27:
The Fairest of All Book Reviews
(Prince Alexander from Command Me by Geneva Lee)
JUNE 28:
Collector of Book Boyfriends (author Emma Chase / guest post)
(Prince Nicholas from Royally Screwed – Royally Series)
When I learned about the topic I had one royal in mind immediately: Cardan!
For those who don’t read YA or fantasy, Cardan is one of the main characters with Jude Duarte of The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King by Holly Black.
Cardan is a faery prince but honestly he’s been tortured and bullied by his older brother all his youth.
With no real power he took it upon himself to bully Jude, mortal living among the cruel Fae.
Just now I hear you think that he is no hero but rather a villain!
And you’d be right!
That’s why I love Cardan so much: because he is a anti hero, a villain who had so much growth potential in the story!
From a rather “meek” hero in The Cruel Prince, with not real ambition, he’s been forced on the throne by Jude.
By the end of the first book I wrote:
“Cardan was not easy to read. He also won’t be your all-powerful hero in this first installment. He’ll be rather powerless and honestly pathetic. For all his bullying he lacked substance to be a formidable hero.
But I’m convinced that’s because we’ll see a huge change in the sequel. He needed what Jude did to grow. That’s my deep conviction. Just watch and see him becoming a formidable hero.”
Let’s jump to the second book The Wicked King
Now that he has the crown Cardan will own it and become a true Fae King!
Cardan is deceptive. He’ll have you think that he is uninterested, just focused on drinking and partying while he has an acute mind and will crush his opponent when you least expect it!
Cardan is certainly no role model but I so love his hate/love relationship with Jude!
And what he did to her by the end of The Wicked King I don’t know if I must be furious or admirative!
By the end of book two here were my thoughts:
“I began the book telling that I really hoped Cardan would stop being shallow and fickle. That I wanted his shoulders to broaden and be a king. That I wanted him to impress me.
Well that’s Holly Black who impressed me as she played me for a fool! She blurred the lines, sent me one way, blinding me with plot twists when all along she was working on Cardan!
I didn’t see it coming!!!”
Here are some quotes and some gorgeous art to help you grasp Cardan’s personality .
Cardan did not like to feel “something” for that disgusting mortal Jude!
“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”
― The Cruel Prince
Always charming with Jude …
“Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?” Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a compliment.
“No” I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. “Tell me.”
“I can’t.”
― The Cruel Prince
And truth be told about the kind of male Cardan is …
“He looks like a faerie lover stepped out of a ballad, the kind where no good comes to the girl who runs away with him.”
― The Cruel Prince
Just to embody Cardan and Jude’s love/hate relationship:
“Our eyes meet, and something dangerous sparks.
He hates you, I remind myself.
“Kiss me again,” he says, drunk and foolish. “Kiss me until I am sick of it.”
I feel those words, feel them like a kick to the stomach. He sees my expression and laughs, a sound full of mockery. I can’t tell which of us he’s laughing at.
He hates you. Even if he wants you, he hates you.
Maybe he hates you the more for it.
After a moment, his eyes flutter closed. His voice falls to a whisper, as though he’s talking to himself. “If you’re the sickness, I suppose you can’t also be the cure.”
He drifts off to sleep, but I am wide awake.”
― The Wicked King
Now some art about Cardan with my favorite artist being Loweana! You can buy her art on Redbubble https://www.redbubble.com/people/loweana or follow her on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/loweana.art/
I was lucky to get that precise picture in my special box “Wicked King” by Shelflovecrate! It was a postcard and a booksleeve!
As you’ve been kind enough to read this whole post, here is your giveaway!
Now do tell me: who is your favorite Royalty?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
I love the art work. Sorry I missed the giveaway. You always have such amazing pictures!
Mary
My favorite royal is Adrian Ivashkov from Bloodlines and Wrath from Black Dagger Brotherhood. I have been putting The Wicked King off because I don’t want to wait long to read the last book but this post just made me want to read it more.
I loved Wrath Jamsu!!!
Cardan, of course!! I love him so much!!
Yesssss!
I have lots of fave royalty, too hard to choose! But regarding The Cruel Prince and the Wicked King, I’m loving this series. And I am with you on those plot twists! Holly Black is so cruel with her endings, how will I survive the wait until book 3?
I honestly don’t know how we’ll manage Mogsy!!!
Forgot to say that from the excerpts you shared, Cardan would definitely be on the list!
Hahahha maybe you’ll give him a chance one day Laura!
I still haveb’t read this series. My brain is drawing a blank for a royal BBF.
What a fun topic. I only skimmed about Cardan in The Wicked King because I’m planning to read that book this summer, but his character fascinated me in the first book.
Well he comes to his full potential in the second book!
I know I’m in the minority here but I don’t really read royalty romance…the only couple I can really think of are Wrath and Beth from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series!
Well that’s a good one Trisy!!! I still recall the first book when he entered her flat and it was all hawt!!!
I haven’t read these as yet but they’re on my wishlist! From movies Black Panther and from books Ursula from The Talon of the Hawk by Jeffe Kennedy
I need to watch Black Panther Timitra! I only have heard amazing things!
Oooh I love Cardan!!! And that art is awesome!! Haha I completely agree that Black did an amazing job with all her twists and turns and catching everyone off guard! I don’t usually like books like that (or books with huge cliffhangers) but somehow she made it work and I love it <3
One of my favorite royals is Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic (even though he doesn't believe it he it totally part of the Royal family and they love him)
Oh yes Kell! And there are amazing fanart with him too!