The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Review by Sofia C-E., Youth Reviewer
“The Cruel Prince” is the story of how Jude Duarte had to adjust to leaving humans’ land, being stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie when she was 7. She had just watched her parents being murdered with her twin sister Taryn, and half-fey, half-human sister Vivienne, by Vivienne's biological father, Madoc. Madoc came back to steal his daughter back, except Vivienne wouldn't leave without her sisters. Fast forward 10 years, Jude doesn't want anything more than to just fit in with other fey. There is just one tiny issue many fey neglect, humans, primarily Prince Cardan who is the youngest mischievous son of the High King. She wants to excel in being a knight for the High King's court, but every time she is trying to fit in there he makes her life miserable; being enemies with Prince Cardan doesn't make it easier.
This book got me into the fantasy genre. I love Holly Black's writing style because I could picture what was going on, like I was in Jude's eyes. This book is the first out of the trilogy (The Folk Of Air). I wish there was more about how Jude grew up in the high court of Faerie, it would've been interesting to see how she had to adjust to so many different things. I liked how this book had so many plot twists so that you never know what is going to be happening next, even the ending was mind-blowing.
Find “The Cruel Prince” at the Kitchener Public Library!