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I had the same feeling when I was reading The Cruel Prince: this book was meant for me, and I am the target audience. Every time I put the book down, I kept thinking about the story. And I think it’ll be on my mind for a while even after I’ve finished. I guess I’m a sucker for gothic dark fantasy….? It definitely had one of the coolest magic systems I’ve seen in a book.
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Death of parent
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Torture, Religious bigotry
Rachel Gillig continues to be a unique, poetic, beautifully spoken, and well-written author with this as another testament to her work.
This darker take on a fairytale style “what if?” manages to be completely its own, while reflecting many beloved pieces of tales you may know, making a world that is both easy to fall into and dazzling in detail. Perfectly planned, leaving breadcrumb details to unravel the mystery throughout every chapter while remaining completely unpredictable without hindsight, and consequently leaving you hooked for one more chapter every time you reach a final page.
Easily loveable yet complex characters are quickly enthralling especially as their dynamics mix and unfold leaving blossoming friendships, addictive romance subplots, and family roots ready to fight for one another… or those that they have found to call such.
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Child death
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I picked up this book. I had stayed away from spoilers, somehow blocking out the storyline.
I was definitely not disappointed! I LOVED this book and read it so quickly that I could not put it down.
The magic aspect of this storyline I loved. The Nightmare was portrayed, at the beginning of the book, as the villain. Constantly living in Elspeth’s head, taunting her, but ultimately her protector. The fact that the villain, later in the book, was shown to be the King and the High Prince was incredible. The twist of the Nightmare being the Shepherd King had me placing the book down and staring shocked at the closed book for ten minutes.
I was taken on a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, and found myself shouting at the book when Elspeth (the fmc) was being an idiot.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m already reaching for the second in the series. 5⭐️
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Death of parent
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Death of parent, Alcohol