The Cruel Prince is a fantasy novel written by Holly Black. Jude is a mortal who is swept away to Faerieland with her two sisters by Madoc. Jude struggles to fit into the Faerie world, but unlike her twin sister Taryn, she doesn’t try to blend in. Despite being bullied by the king’s children, especially Prince Cardan, she strives to attain a spot in the High Court. When she least expects it, an opportunity is presented to her, one that will help reach her dream, but also risk the safety of her family and herself. Themes of revenge, love, family, and bravery are interwoven throughout this novel.
From someone who doesn’t read a lot of fantasy novels, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Cruel Prince. Holly Black does a wonderful job of painting a clear picture of Faerieland and I could form an image of each character as I read. Jude has to juggle various relationships between Taryn, Madoc, and Prince Cardon among others. I was intrigued throughout this book to see how these relationships were affected as Jude takes on a job as a spy for the High Court. Although Jude has to spy and hold the weight of protecting her kingdom from war, she tackles problems that teens experience today which is why I felt I was able to relate to her. This book is full of twists, surprises, and will keep you at the edge of your seat!
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys fantasy and stories with many twists and turns. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.