Scan barcode
A review by ghoulish
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I make it a habit to read books that are popular on booktok/stagram/twt/blr to see if they live up to the hype, and this just wasn't it for me. perhaps it's just that I've grown away from that genre; the YA royal-faerie-romance book is so popular, but even so, I can't say this novel was carried out in a compelling manner.
character's backstories were flat and flimsy: murdered parents, abusive parents, lying parents were generally the source of everyone's characterization. the world building was thin, and the politics of the Court were boring considering it was run by magical creatures who could live for centuries.
my biggest grievance was that while this book has been lauded for being an incredible enemies-to-lovers story, Cardan is childish and petty, not much more than a bully who's been given too much power (but it's okay bc those with more power than him have hurt him and he has a crush on Jude?). I've had my share of surly, secretive, begrudgingly besotted black-haired boys, and Cardan was a diluted and weak imitation of them.
but I understand why it's fun to read, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
character's backstories were flat and flimsy: murdered parents, abusive parents, lying parents were generally the source of everyone's characterization. the world building was thin, and the politics of the Court were boring considering it was run by magical creatures who could live for centuries.
my biggest grievance was that while this book has been lauded for being an incredible enemies-to-lovers story, Cardan is childish and petty, not much more than a bully who's been given too much power (but it's okay bc those with more power than him have hurt him and he has a crush on Jude?). I've had my share of surly, secretive, begrudgingly besotted black-haired boys, and Cardan was a diluted and weak imitation of them.
but I understand why it's fun to read, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯