A review by egurgens
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Honestly, I’ve been looking for a book with a great villain arc, and I found one! Instead of seeing a hero fight against their worst impulses, Jude embraces them. Sure, Cardan is cruel, but so is her adoptive father, in a way, and so is the society she finds herself in. There are two possible paths Jude could have taken to survive with the Faerie, she just chose the opposite path of her sister, Taryn. 

There are so many political twists, so much betrayal, blood, gore, spies, magic, bullying, and violence, but it is so so so good. 100% recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Classism, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, War, Child death, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Vomit