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A review by christinaj1021
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A classic case of "Booktok made me do it", unfortunately I think this book is overhyped on social media for what it actually delivered on.
From the point of view of a YA review, my opinion would be that the world-building and fantasy aspects of this book are more aligned with the type that you'd find in an early Harry Potter-esque book than a YA fantasy novel. Though the MC is 17, she acts and thinks more similar to a 13/14/15 year old which I think is what really made me lower my opinion. Also I'm just personally not a fan of bully romance which this 100% is... but truly, even though I'm not a fan, I literally have no idea why the MC and MLI have any attraction to one another. It's never explained.
Why you should read this book:
- you aren't a fan of smut/spice but still want that high fantasy-based feel
- you like faeries/magical worlds that are well developed (if a bit juvenille)
- you want an alternative to the 700+ page fantasy novels that are so popular right now
- you want a read that contains plot twists with no foreshadowing
- you want a read where the MC feels like a real person and not a stereotype (ie., chosen one, not like other girls, woman written by a man syndrome)
From the point of view of a YA review, my opinion would be that the world-building and fantasy aspects of this book are more aligned with the type that you'd find in an early Harry Potter-esque book than a YA fantasy novel. Though the MC is 17, she acts and thinks more similar to a 13/14/15 year old which I think is what really made me lower my opinion. Also I'm just personally not a fan of bully romance which this 100% is... but truly, even though I'm not a fan, I literally have no idea why the MC and MLI have any attraction to one another. It's never explained.
Why you should read this book:
- you aren't a fan of smut/spice but still want that high fantasy-based feel
- you like faeries/magical worlds that are well developed (if a bit juvenille)
- you want an alternative to the 700+ page fantasy novels that are so popular right now
- you want a read that contains plot twists with no foreshadowing
- you want a read where the MC feels like a real person and not a stereotype (ie., chosen one, not like other girls, woman written by a man syndrome)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship