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3.5 

The Cruel Prince

By Holly Black
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

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.

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.

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108938 Reviews

3.5
“This was…a lot. It overall was a very entertaining book. I very very very much appreciated that it was more plot based vs dialogue based. However, I was really not on board with the romance in this book. I know the main focus of this series is the fantasy and political world, but I really can’t get over this enemies-to-lovers dynamic where the mmc is legitimately trying to hurt and kill his love interest (and not in a cute flirty way (if that’s a thing..?)). He genuinely wanted her to suffer. I don’t like how he did one thing right and was then forgiven for all his wrongdoing. ANYWAYS. Very engaging with lots of action, drama, and complex relationships.”
Surprised Face with Open Mouth“I decided to read The Cruel Prince due to the amount of “ads” I got from Instagram, and I’m actually pleasantly surprised. I’m usually disappointed with “hype” books but this was a well-done morally and politically complex novel with a hint of enemies-to-lovers trope. I came in knowing that there wouldn’t be too much romance, but I don’t mind at all. It takes on a very appropriate tone since this story is mainly about the survival of one mortal girl — far from ordinary and weak — who decides to be the kingmaker of Faerie. Jude definitely deserves the acclaim for being quick-witted but also kind and sometimes naïve. Cardan is also a fun wildcard that somehow makes the story all the more engaging. At first, I didn’t want to pick up the rest of the trilogy, but after finishing the last chapters, I can see the appeal.”

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