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A review by kaitie_reads
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
tense
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? No
4.5
Loved it!
Honestly, I debated whether to rate this 4 or 5 stars, but considering I devoured it within a few days, I'm just going to go with 4.5⭐️.
I think a lot of my love for this book stems from the fact that I read a lot of similar books as a child, but this reads darker and more adult. Yes, it is YA, and the characters act their age (for the first few chapters, I was worried it would read a little too YA for my preferences), but it's a brilliant story.
The story starts with a bang. There is no slow introduction to the realm of Elfhame, but rather, we are thrust right into the story like a sword to the gut.
Jude is one of the best FMCs I've come across in a while. She's calculated, strong, and badass. But, as the reader, we also get to glimpse how much she masks her feelings to survive and thrive, which makes her feel very real and relatable. She always stands back up when she gets knocked down, even if she's shaking in her boots.
One thing I will mention is that I see this story discussed in romantasy circles, but there is little to no romance, and it's definitely more of a subplot (at least in this first book). I see this story more as a tribute to finding resilience in the face of adversity and not backing down despite what the world expects and what others might think of you.
I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes in The Wicked King.
Honestly, I debated whether to rate this 4 or 5 stars, but considering I devoured it within a few days, I'm just going to go with 4.5⭐️.
I think a lot of my love for this book stems from the fact that I read a lot of similar books as a child, but this reads darker and more adult. Yes, it is YA, and the characters act their age (for the first few chapters, I was worried it would read a little too YA for my preferences), but it's a brilliant story.
The story starts with a bang. There is no slow introduction to the realm of Elfhame, but rather, we are thrust right into the story like a sword to the gut.
Jude is one of the best FMCs I've come across in a while. She's calculated, strong, and badass. But, as the reader, we also get to glimpse how much she masks her feelings to survive and thrive, which makes her feel very real and relatable. She always stands back up when she gets knocked down, even if she's shaking in her boots.
One thing I will mention is that I see this story discussed in romantasy circles, but there is little to no romance, and it's definitely more of a subplot (at least in this first book). I see this story more as a tribute to finding resilience in the face of adversity and not backing down despite what the world expects and what others might think of you.
I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes in The Wicked King.