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paragraphsandpages 's review for:
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”
Stars (Out of 10): 10/10 Stars
Favorite Character: This bounced around the entire book, but by the end, Jude
Spoiler Free: To start, I’m going to admit I really did not care for the Tithe series at all. I don’t remember the why behind it, but it just didn't click with me. So fair enough, I was quite worried and cautious about starting this book, and as the hype rose around this book more and more, my excitement for it did not.
In the end, it was chosen as the book club book in the discord server I am in, and it was the Fairyloot January book. Without these two reasons, I may have skipped this book entirely. I am SO glad I did not!
It blew away any expectations I did have, and I didn’t see any connection between this book and my feelings for Tithe. It snatched my interest and kept it, through every twist and turn, every betrayal and backstab. It felt true to the world of Faerie, but still created characters to cheer for and love.
From the main character to all the small side characters, each felt fairly developed, and fairly realistic. We have Jude, a mortal grown in a cruel world by a cruel “father,” and admittedly this affected how she grew up as well. But we also have her twin, someone who accepted Faerie in a different way. In addition, all of the Fae live up to this cruel idea while still having a personality around that. They have their flaws, and this book shows them sticking to them regardless of how much we hope they’ll be “good.”
Additionally, while the world is a bit confusing in the beginning, it clears up quickly, and the fact you don’t remember the names and relations right off the bat is totally okay, as you’re often reminded of them in a way that is helpful, not repetitive or overbearing.
Lastly, the plot is absolutely fantastic, and is constantly packed with action and intrigue. There’s never a lull where I wanted to put the book down and take a break, and the pacing overall was much better than some of the other books I’ve read recently.
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: I think my mind is still blown from all the twists and turns this book took. I’m also super glad it didn’t shove them all at the end, and rather spaced them periodically so we actually got to see how characters understood and dealt with them.
To be honest, this installment could’ve been an entire trilogy, but I’m super curious to see where this continues from. Will we see all seven years and how the transition later comes, or just the year and a day Jude was promised to have power over Cardan?
Also, lemme just say I am on board for that complicated relationship, and I am glad that it is not all resolved between them just because they kissed once. There’s so many complex feelings there, and I’m happy it seems like Black is taking time to explore them!
Reread review!
I loved this book just as much, if not more, the second time around! I have a lot more distance from Tithe (the only Holly Black I haven't loved), and even read [b:The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|12813630|The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1367312471l/12813630._SY75_.jpg|17962903] and [b:The Darkest Part of the Forest|20958632|The Darkest Part of the Forest|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397755014l/20958632._SX50_.jpg|40214184] last month, so I'm very much into Black's writing style right now. It just heightened my appreciation for this series even more, because Black's prose is just fantastic. I also love how she depicts the fae and deals with family relationships. It's overall just a super intersting book to read. I also feel like I have a deeper appreciation for all the characters now, from seeing their beginning again after knowing how it later develops. The audiobook was also just fantastic, as Black's audiobooks seem to frequently be, and I'm having the best time listening to them!
I also am seeing a looot of loose threads the second time around and cannot wait to see how those are tied up in Queen of Nothing.
Stars (Out of 10): 10/10 Stars
Favorite Character: This bounced around the entire book, but by the end, Jude
Spoiler Free: To start, I’m going to admit I really did not care for the Tithe series at all. I don’t remember the why behind it, but it just didn't click with me. So fair enough, I was quite worried and cautious about starting this book, and as the hype rose around this book more and more, my excitement for it did not.
In the end, it was chosen as the book club book in the discord server I am in, and it was the Fairyloot January book. Without these two reasons, I may have skipped this book entirely. I am SO glad I did not!
It blew away any expectations I did have, and I didn’t see any connection between this book and my feelings for Tithe. It snatched my interest and kept it, through every twist and turn, every betrayal and backstab. It felt true to the world of Faerie, but still created characters to cheer for and love.
From the main character to all the small side characters, each felt fairly developed, and fairly realistic. We have Jude, a mortal grown in a cruel world by a cruel “father,” and admittedly this affected how she grew up as well. But we also have her twin, someone who accepted Faerie in a different way. In addition, all of the Fae live up to this cruel idea while still having a personality around that. They have their flaws, and this book shows them sticking to them regardless of how much we hope they’ll be “good.”
Additionally, while the world is a bit confusing in the beginning, it clears up quickly, and the fact you don’t remember the names and relations right off the bat is totally okay, as you’re often reminded of them in a way that is helpful, not repetitive or overbearing.
Lastly, the plot is absolutely fantastic, and is constantly packed with action and intrigue. There’s never a lull where I wanted to put the book down and take a break, and the pacing overall was much better than some of the other books I’ve read recently.
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: I think my mind is still blown from all the twists and turns this book took. I’m also super glad it didn’t shove them all at the end, and rather spaced them periodically so we actually got to see how characters understood and dealt with them.
To be honest, this installment could’ve been an entire trilogy, but I’m super curious to see where this continues from. Will we see all seven years and how the transition later comes, or just the year and a day Jude was promised to have power over Cardan?
Also, lemme just say I am on board for that complicated relationship, and I am glad that it is not all resolved between them just because they kissed once. There’s so many complex feelings there, and I’m happy it seems like Black is taking time to explore them!
Reread review!
I loved this book just as much, if not more, the second time around! I have a lot more distance from Tithe (the only Holly Black I haven't loved), and even read [b:The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|12813630|The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1367312471l/12813630._SY75_.jpg|17962903] and [b:The Darkest Part of the Forest|20958632|The Darkest Part of the Forest|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397755014l/20958632._SX50_.jpg|40214184] last month, so I'm very much into Black's writing style right now. It just heightened my appreciation for this series even more, because Black's prose is just fantastic. I also love how she depicts the fae and deals with family relationships. It's overall just a super intersting book to read. I also feel like I have a deeper appreciation for all the characters now, from seeing their beginning again after knowing how it later develops. The audiobook was also just fantastic, as Black's audiobooks seem to frequently be, and I'm having the best time listening to them!
I also am seeing a looot of loose threads the second time around and cannot wait to see how those are tied up in Queen of Nothing.