The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a stunning fantasy novel - filled with every element a
good book should have: mystery, rivalries, magic, battle, and love. Jude is a human girl, whisked
away from the world she knew at age seven and thrust into that of the fae. Despite her mortality,
she wants to make it in this world of magic and war - which means gaining protection from the
cruel Prince Cardan, a classmate of hers and the most powerful and horrible member of the
ruling family. The only way she knows how is to become a knight of one of the other royals with
her exceptional combat skills. Her chance comes to gain protection (though not in the way she
once thought). As she becomes deeply entangled in the power play and politics of the courts,
she soon realizes that the fate of the fae is in her hands - and that not everything and everyone
are as they seem.
This book was a pretty enjoyable read, with stunning descriptions and a lively plot. If you
really like YA fantasy and haven’t picked this one up yet, I would definitely suggest it. The
world-building is somewhat similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses, but I found myself enjoying
this one more. It also contains the eternally engaging enemies-to-lovers storyline, though I wish
it had a little more depth to it and was explored more. Though the main character is a little
insufferable at times and the love interests are not always up to my standards, the book is
nevertheless a fun read, and can be read quickly despite its size. I would give it three out of five
stars.