Review by melina_30 - The Cruel Prince

melina_30 's review for:

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I expected something entirely different but the story is way better than I thought. I didn't expect any of the developments in the story which didn't happen to me in a long time. Also I liked the morally grey main characters and that it is more a fantasy adventure story than an enemies to lovers romance set in a fantasy world. I'm curious about the other books in the series. What bothered me is the depiction of love especially paternal love. To me it just screamed of Jude gaslighting herself into believing that her stepfather being violent is his way of showing his love to his children... And even with her saying that elves are different and generally more prone to being cruel especially to humans, it just seemed like domestic abuse to me... also I just hope that Jude doesn't fall in love with Carden because I would find them becomin friends and only that more realistic. Him bullying her and being so cruel to her with his friends and then suddenly her having feelings for him later in the series just wouldn't sit right with me. If that happens I need to see him actually becoming another person and redeeming himself first.

Content Warnings