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Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Sexual content
“Magic is the oldest paradox. The more power it gives you, the weaker you become. Be wary. Be clever. Be good. Magic is the oldest paradox.” (219)
Gillig’s writing style is smooth, intense, and atmospheric. I don’t typically like gothic novels, but this one doesn’t get carried away with its ghosts and nightmares. It retains an edge of fantasy over the typical historical gothic genre. Think of mists, dark castles, and trees. The nightmares that are described are bloodless and are more disconcerting than terrifying.
Elspeth is a compelling protagonist. Much of the novel occurs in her head due to her relationship with the Nightmare, but I wasn’t annoyed by this. It is introspective, but moves along at a good pace. I was completely immersed in this book. The romance is light, present but not overwhelming. It retains a feeling of young love without the angst of this trope.
Other books like this:
An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson)
The Bear and the Nightingale (Katherine Arden)
The Foxglove King (Hannah Whitten)
Six of Crows (Leigh Bardugo)
Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Found family
- Hidden magic
- Ancient magic
- Cursed heroine
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
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
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail