The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black
Last updated on January 7th, 2024 at 03:32 pm
The Cruel Prince is the first book in the Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black. It is a young adult fantasy novel that follows the story of Jude Duarte, a human girl taken to the Faerie realm along with her twin sister Taryn and her older sister Vivi after their parents are murdered.
The Cruel Prince Book Review
As I was in the mood for something fantasy again and saw some quotes from the book, I thought I’d try it. For some reason, I’m not the biggest fan of Faery stories, but so far, the first book didn’t disappoint me.
The book is beautifully written, vividly describing the Faerie world and its inhabitants. The world-building is rich and immersive, with its own set of rules, politics, and magic that draw the reader into the story.
I enjoy the writing style here, and it’s really simple to read. And the author explains many things, which I am glad for, especially in a fantasy setting.
The themes of power, politics, family, and identity are explored compellingly, making the story thought-provoking and relevant. Holly Black’s writing style is enchanting, with a dark and lush tone that adds to the story’s overall atmosphere.
Jude, in particular, is a strong and determined protagonist who faces numerous challenges and struggles as a human in a world where she is considered inferior. The relationships between the characters, including the complicated dynamics between Jude and the faerie prince Cardan, are well-developed and add depth to the story.
I kinda enjoyed the interactions between those two a lot. Even tho they act as enemies for the most part. But Locke is also quite an interesting character here. Vivi, her oldest sister, and Taryn, her twin, are also nice to hear of. Even though the story gets along, I enjoy Vivi a bit more.
Oak gets increasingly involved in the story and becomes more interesting to me as the reader.
The plot is filled with political intrigue, courtly maneuverings, and betrayals, keeping the reader hooked from beginning to end. The pacing is well-balanced, with a mix of action, suspense, and romance that keeps the story engaging.
So far, I didn’t expect any of the things that happened in the first book to happen. Not the slaughter nor the crowning. It was planned but not like it turned out in the end, but no worries, I won’t tell any spoilers here.
Final Thoughts
It was a great choice for me as a fantasy fan. I’m not much into it, but those who enjoy stories with strong female protagonists and political intrigue might enjoy it here. It also gives a touch of romance. Although the story focuses on so many things, that touch of romance was a bit less for my usual reads. So, I wouldn’t even count that.
But, as I usually avoid faerie stories, I haven’t regretted reading it so far.
I’m quite curious about the second book! The story continues with The Wicked King and ends with The Queen of Nothing as the final book.
Original Fanart drawn by ZeDk4m
What do you think? Have you read The Cruel Prince already? Do you agree or not? Let me know in the comments!
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
