Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - The Cruel Prince

Because it’s the first book of the series, it was very slow. This is my first fantasy book so I can’t really say anything about the world building because there is nothing to compare it to. 25% of the book was building the bases of the story, describing relationships between characters. 50% of the book is where it really started to pick up and I was hooked. The ending, I knew there was going to be a twist and it was pretty obvious. Overall I give it 3.5 ⭐️.

Content Warnings

pelb's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was so much better than I expected it to be. I’m not all that into fantasy so I didn’t think I’d enjoy it but had to give it a try because of all the hype, and WOW. I’m speechless. That was such a wild ride of twists and turns. It’s so well written, with a beautifully crafted world and deeply complex characters. If you’re coming into this just for the enemies to lovers plot you will be disappointed, because it’s a bit different than that, but personally I loved it. It’s more political intrigue with a side of bully romance than a typical enemies to lovers romantasy. But even though the romance is a subplot it’s SOOOO GOOOD like you will be confused at first and hate it but do not fear. They call it a slow burn for a reason. That’s really why I fell in love with it. The main character Jude is morally grey, incredibly clever, and really, really cool. I usually end up hating female leads (esp in fantasy) but I LOVE her. Anyway if you want your life changed for the better, read this book!

Content Warnings

swane_nook's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

sugiieop's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

samflowerv6's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I really liked this!!! The story is immediately interesting and never slows down. Jude is a one of my favorite FMC ever, she’s strong willed, passionate, protective and never gives up. Yes, she’s not perfect but that’s almost even better. We meet Jude and her twin, Taryn when they are about seven. They are living with their mother and father in the human world alongside their older sister Vivi, who is considered weird by those around them. A tale of blood, faery lore, magical lives and lands intertwined with determination and a VERY slow, slow burn. In this new land, we meet Cardan, a cruel manipulative prince *wink wink* who’s gorgeous beyond repair. Jude and Cardan hate each other so much…. Not sure it’s even hate anymore.

Fuck that traitor bitch Taryn… yes, Locke sucks but HE DIDNT BETRAY HIS TWIN

If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.

“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It's disgusting, and I can't stop.”

“Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?” Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a compliment.
“No” I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. “Tell me.”
"I can't.”

“If you hurt me, I wouldn't cry. I would hurt you back.”

“So I am to sit here and feed you information,” Cardan says, leaning against a hickory tree. “And you’re to go charm royalty? That seems entirely backward.”
I fix him with a look. “I can be charming. I charmed you, didn’t I?”
He rolls his eyes. “Do not expect others to share my depraved tastes.”

“I am going to keep on defying you. I am going to shame you with my defiance. You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing. 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 is the least of what I can do.”

“Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”

“Father, I am what you made me. I’ve become your daughter after all.”

“Let's have a toast. To the incompetence of our enemies.”

“You really do want me,' I say, close enough to feel the warmth of his breath as it hitches. 'And you hate it.”

“Cardan looks at me as though he's never seen me before. He looks at me as though no one has ever spoken to him like this. Maybe no one has.”

“I get why he chose her. I just wish she had chosen me.”

“It's shocking," he says, as though he's giving me some great compliment. "I know humans can lie, but to watch you do it is incredible. Do it again.”

“I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.”

“He stares at me as though I am a stranger, but I have never felt less like one. For the first time, we are both unmasked.”

“Faeries make up for their inability to lie with a panoply of deceptions and cruelties. Twisted words, pranks, omissions, riddles, scandals, not to mention their revenges upon one another for ancient, half-remembered slights. Storms are less fickle than they are, seas less capricious.”

“There is a pleasure in being with them,” he says. “Taking what we wish, indulging in every terrible thought. There’s safety in being awful.”

“Crowns of flowers on our heads, shooting bows and arrows at the sky. Eating candied violets and falling asleep with our heads pillowed on logs. We were children. Children can laugh all day and still cry themselves to sleep at night.”

Content Warnings

More...