What Holly Black wrote one more time with the Cruel Prince is a book about faeries. The cruel faeries.
Synopsis

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
Review
6 cruel stars
Holly Black IS THE Queen of Faerie
I won’t delve into the plot as you can read it above but I would rather focus on what made this book so special.
What I adore above all else with Holly Black’s books is that they come in all shades of grey. They are never white or black. No character is spotless.
The main characters develop in such a way that their soul is slowly eaten away. The become more intense, more focused and have to adapt to their dangerous environment. It’s like a cloud of dark ink is slowly tainting their soul and heart.
Jude was good but she had to adapt to survive.
Holly Black does not write fairy tales.
Holly black does not leave you with a rosy and unicorn feeling.
What Holly Black wrote one more time with the Cruel Prince is a book about faeries. The cruel faeries. The ones that trick you and have you dance till you die of exhaustion. The ones that will harass you because they see humans as worms and want to squish them.
Jude went into faerie coerced. She had no choice. She soon realizes that:” In Faerie, there are no fish sticks, no ketchup , no television.”
Humans are at the very bottom of the pond in Faerie. They are weak and vulnerable. Jude had to be taught 101 Faerie to be somewhat “safe”.
“It was Tatterfell who smeared stinging faerie ointment over my eyes to give me True Sight so that I could see through most glamours, who brushed the mud from my boots, and who wrung dried rowan berries for me to wear around my neck so I might resist enchantments. She wiped my wet nose and reminded me to wear my stocking inside out, so I’d never be led astray in the forest.”
Faeries make up for their inability to lie with a panoply of deceptions and cruelties. Jude and her twin sister will be bullied and tormented. So many time that she craves power.
She dreams of becoming a knight and have a master’s protection. But she will be a spy. In exchange for power. Because being human in Faerie is frightening. You are powerless.
She does not want to be like them. She wants to be better than them.
“Nocasia’s wrong about me. I don’t desire to die as well in the tournament as one of the fey. I want to win. I do not yearn to be their equal. In my heart, I yearn to best them. “
If she has to become a monster to achieve her goal and protect her family then she will.
For years now she’s been silent, enduring Cardan’s mistreatment. But no more of it!
“You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down. I promise you this: this is the least I can do.”
Relentlessly she will counter the prince. She will resist. He will be unbalanced.
“It’s funny how you get under his skin.” “Like a splinter?” “Of iron”
Slowly Jude evolved from the abused good human to a rebellious girl ready to be corrupted by the faeries if it guarantees her safety and that of her family.
She became flawed, tainted, complex with conflicted feelings. I loved it! No bland character here but richly tri-dimensional heroes full of flaws, making mistakes, trying to adapt and survive.
Now about Cardan…
He 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.
It was simply enthralling. You have murder, secrets, betrayals and even more plot twists. Your friends will backstab you. Your own family will be deceitful. Your enemies will become allies around a common cause. You will do things you never thought you would have done. You will become someone you won’t recognize. Because Faerie is a cruel place you have to survive.
Recommend it? Hell yes!
Have you read it? Do you plan to? Or read any other Holly Black book?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
I’m so glad that you loved this too! This will definitely be a book that I will be re-reading (hopefully soon)! And I can’t wait for the sequel! <3
Haha you saw me drooling on your Giveaway Flavia 😉 I can’t wait for the sequel either!
oh now I want to read this even more…nothing like a good fae book to get you into a reading mood
So true! And Holly Black is like none other truly. I hope you’ll read it soon and if you do would you be so kind as leaving a comment here just telling me if you loved it?
I’m SO excited for this one! Love your review. The darkness is what I can’t wait for.
Thank you so much Vani!!! I hope you’ll love it <3
Love your review!! <3
Thank you Adrienne!!! <3
GAH IT ATE MY COMMENT… well this was an excellent review Sophie… your quotes won me over more than any review I’ve read so far… I think I’m going to have to add to me TBR, I just love the idea of dark fae! ♥️
Oh Dani it was really a unique read. I’m so happy if I could help convince you 😉
I hope I can get a copy soon
Me too Dani! I can’t wait to read your review 😉
Great Review, Sophie! I’m so glad you loved this book! I haven’t read it yet but I’m hoping to pick it up soon.
Thank you raven! I hope you’ll read it soon 😉
Fantastic review! I keep hearing great things about The Cruel prince and so many bloggers are loving this book. I have to admit, I’m very curious to read this, discover the author’s writing and this world as well 🙂
I hope you’ll get the chance to read it Marie! Holly Black is truly unique.
I loved The Cruel Prince!!! It was such an amazing book! <3
Your review captures it perfectly! Most of the characters are not black and white. Holly Black twists and blurs the lines between good and evil. In my review (which should post in about half an hour) I struggled to capture exactly how I felt, but reading your review its like you were pulling the thoughts from my head! Great Review 😀
Thank you Brittany! Headed to your blog to read your review <3
I haven’t read her writing before, but this sure sounds intriguing! Great review Sophie, I love your enthusiasm!
Haha Daisy thank you! I’m always gushing when I love a book. If you are in the mood for a twisted fairy tale Holly will be your woman.
Your review is absolutely fantastic. I will definitely give her a go❤️
Thank you Ari! I promise it is so worth it 😉
I love the sound of those shades of gray, and the way you described the flawed, complex characters and the intensity has me wanting to read this book even more! Glad you loved it!
I can’t wait for you to read it. I wonder what your review will look like. Holly Black has a unique tone.
I’m so glad you loved this! It’s probably my favorite read of 2018 so far! I’m planning to pick up The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black ASAP, since I hear it’s connected with this book!
I’m so glad that you loved it! This book was amazing and so was your review!
I need this in my life!! I’m waiting for the paperback price to reduce a bit so that I can afford it but seeing so many rave reviews, my patience is on a thin line. I’m so glad you loved this book, I seriously can’t wait to jump into this intriguing world!
Loved your review!
Thank you Poulami! And I understand you waiting for the paperback. That’s what I did before bookstagrams. Now I’m influenced by other bloggers and …well let’s say I don’t have a student budget so I often buy the hardcover. I can’t wait for your review!
Great review! I like the way you talk about Holly Blacks writing style
Thank you!!! And congrats on your pictures. Your island seems really beautiful 😉