A review by solaris_zip
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

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

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. If you enter with the intention of looking for romance you’re severely mistaken, which I feel it’s an issue that many do. The book is set up to be a trilogy, book one introducing the characters and a bit of the world. The politics of it mostly. It can feel repetitive, perhaps even boring, but I personally found it very enjoyable. I give 4,5 rather than 5 simply because in some parts I truly struggled to understand what was going on and to remember all of the made up names.

Onto the characters. I adore Jude. A misconception of her character that I have seen a lot is people arguing “if she was so scared of the fae world why didn’t she just left?” She was scared, as she should be considering the morally grey beliefs those fairies hold, but the point is you have a girl, who saw her parents brutally pass away, and move to a world where she *doesnt belong*. But at the same time that’s the only place she knows. She has no connection to the human realm anymore. No education, nothing. She was raised to be a fae. It’s only obvious despite everything she keeps trying. And I found that admirable. How despite being scared, despite having people close to her like her twin sister, who constantly told her to stop trying to “rebel” and to just learn to live with it; she truly never gave up. She went on and fought for what she believed was right. 

I liked how we saw a different face for Cardan, and I like how his and Jude’s relationship is already shifting somewhat.
I despite Locke and Taryn, who went out and betrayed Jude, her own twin sister. We can argue that she was doing the same thing as Jude, survive in a world that doesn’t belong to you. But I like to argue she did the cowardly thing, of which betraying the only person who stood by your side, who almost got killed because she only wanted to defend you, the person who almost drown to make sure she was safe and what does Taryn do..? Ah yes, enstablish a relationship with Locke, of whom painted himself to be this nice guy, who helped Jude when the others tormented her and yet… perhaps he hurt her the most. Dating both her and her TWIN sister. And can we just focus on this for a second? You’re telling me, your guy wants to test your loyalty and so he decides to kiss and have a thing with your twin sister? Like Taryn… what the actual fuck? How was she even ok with this is beyond me 😭💀 
Book one is a book about fighting what you want. Learning to never gave up. Learning that even family can betray you, even your own blood. Learning that friends and acquaintances might come from the most unexpected places. Learning that despite not fitting in, it’s ok. It’s ok to be different, it’s ok to fight against it. And it’s ok to feel you belong, despite people telling you otherwise. 
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