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A review by nataliestorozhenko
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
5.0
“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”
It was refreshing to read about such a badass fmc. Even though I never thought I would enjoy reading about faeries, I did because they were so cunning and violent. I loved how dark the story was, and although I became overfed with stories about the throne rivalry, it was a nice spin that in this story, the main character acquired the throne not for herself but with other motives.
“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.” (Because you know... faeries can't lie)
Moreover, I loved that this is a true enemies-to-lovers story and a true slow-burn. Jude and Cardan's dynamic is amazing. I rated this book 5 stars because I couldn't stop reading it and enjoyed every single page. Although there may be some faults in the world-building and the plot, it was pure entertainment for me.
“Nice things don’t happen in storybooks,” Taryn says. “Or when they do happen, something bad happens next. Because otherwise the story would be boring, and no one would read it.”
The only thing I personally lacked was that I wish the book had some helpful illustrations of each creature besides people and faeries in the story. I know that the author intended this story to be more than just a fairytale and adjusted the image of each creature accordingly. We do have some descriptions, but not enough of them, and I blanked a little with mentions of pixies, goblins, ogres, nixies, selkies, etc.
“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.”
Overall, I'm super satisfied and eager to start the next book right away.
It was refreshing to read about such a badass fmc. Even though I never thought I would enjoy reading about faeries, I did because they were so cunning and violent. I loved how dark the story was, and although I became overfed with stories about the throne rivalry, it was a nice spin that in this story, the main character acquired the throne not for herself but with other motives.
“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.” (Because you know... faeries can't lie)
Moreover, I loved that this is a true enemies-to-lovers story and a true slow-burn. Jude and Cardan's dynamic is amazing. I rated this book 5 stars because I couldn't stop reading it and enjoyed every single page. Although there may be some faults in the world-building and the plot, it was pure entertainment for me.
“Nice things don’t happen in storybooks,” Taryn says. “Or when they do happen, something bad happens next. Because otherwise the story would be boring, and no one would read it.”
The only thing I personally lacked was that I wish the book had some helpful illustrations of each creature besides people and faeries in the story. I know that the author intended this story to be more than just a fairytale and adjusted the image of each creature accordingly. We do have some descriptions, but not enough of them, and I blanked a little with mentions of pixies, goblins, ogres, nixies, selkies, etc.
“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.”
Overall, I'm super satisfied and eager to start the next book right away.