The Cruel Prince, a novel written by Holly Black, introduces us to the world of Faerie. Jude Duarte, our main character, is a mortal, along with her twin sister, living in a world of immortals. Jude wants nothing more than to prove herself and show that she can be their equal. She craves power and is very cunning. This book is full of plot twists, betrayal, and incredible world-building. Each character is complex and has secret ulterior motives. It is up to Jude to navigate her way through a game where everyone is trying to make her a pawn. However, she might have what it takes to win the game altogether.
I absolutely adored this book. Jude is unlike other protagonists and that made me love her even more. Her actions aren’t completely moral but I believe that displays her human side even better. Her character is one of my favorites because she is crafty, resilient, and relentless. She will do whatever it takes to get to the top and that has serious consequences on those around her. Her character development is incredible and I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
I also want to touch on the world Holly Black has created. Faerie is a magical place full of captivating creatures. What truly sealed the deal for me was the politics in the kingdom of Elfhame. With impression attention to detail, Black creates a world where power might as well be the currency. How the different groups of faerie interact with each other contributes to the world-building and shows how different everyone is. Whenever I picked up this book I felt like I was between the pages myself. If the rest of the trilogy is anything like the first book, this might be my favorite series yet.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy and likes their characters morally grey. Also, Jude Duarte is a strong female protagonist so if you appreciate that as much as I do I would suggest giving the book a try. Finally, if you are a lover of books that have never-ending plot twists and are a little bit dark you are sure to love this novel. Go give it a try! Happy reading.