The Cruel Prince
The Folk of the Air #1
By:
Holly Black
Published:
January 2, 2018
Publisher:
Little Brown Books
Add to: Goodreads
Source:
Purchased
Book Synopsis:
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
The Folk of the Air #1
By:
Holly Black
Published:
January 2, 2018
Publisher:
Little Brown Books
Add to: Goodreads
Source:
Purchased
Book Synopsis:
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
My Thoughts:
Originally, I was drawn to The Cruel Prince by the book cover. However, when I picked it up and started reading, I quickly fell in to the storyline by the the way the author began to weave such a captivating delight inside of my head. I was mesmerized, and turned the pages rapidly. I quickly became fascinated with the characters and pulled in to this dynamic plot.
This is the first book that I've read by author Holly Black. She is a master storyteller, and I felt like I was in Faerie alongside the main character, Jude, and her sisters. The story begins with Jude's parents being murdered by Madoc, a powerful general and the High King's right-hand man. He came to take his child, Vivi, Jude's half-sister back to Faerie alongside Jude and their other sister, Taryn. He had found out that his first wife, the girls mother had faked the her death and their child, Vivi's. She then, remarried and had Jude and Taryn. From this point in the story, Madoc whisks the girls off to Faerie, to raise all three children alongside his wife Orianna, and their young son Oak.
The Cruel Prince is an intricate story filled with intrigue, deceit, manipulation, lies, danger, violence, and the unexpected. It is a colorful tale filled with exotic, beautiful, and terrible creatures. Once Ms. Black pulled me in to her story, I did not want it to come to an end. Jude was an interesting character. She was strong, resilient, brave, and willing to sacrifice whatever she thought was necessary for what she believed to be the greater good. Her sister, Taryn, was weak, disloyal, and without scruples. Her main goals were to fit in to Faerie, and fall in love. Vivi, the oldest sister, and half-faerie wanted nothing more than to return to the human world. She hated her father Madoc, and all that Faerie represented.
The Cruel Prince was a great beginning to The Folk of the Air Series. I can't wait to see what happens next, and love the fact that this story has so many surprises and is unpredictable.
Mostly, I enjoyed Jude and her interactions with Cardin, one of the princes of Faerie. These two had an interesting dynamic. They hated each other, and yet their was an electric pull and attraction that they had towards one another. I can't wait to see how everything ends up playing out between the two of them. If you enjoy stories of fantasy, Faeries, and great imagination, The Cruel Prince needs to be added to your TBR pile!!!
This is the first book that I've read by author Holly Black. She is a master storyteller, and I felt like I was in Faerie alongside the main character, Jude, and her sisters. The story begins with Jude's parents being murdered by Madoc, a powerful general and the High King's right-hand man. He came to take his child, Vivi, Jude's half-sister back to Faerie alongside Jude and their other sister, Taryn. He had found out that his first wife, the girls mother had faked the her death and their child, Vivi's. She then, remarried and had Jude and Taryn. From this point in the story, Madoc whisks the girls off to Faerie, to raise all three children alongside his wife Orianna, and their young son Oak.
The Cruel Prince is an intricate story filled with intrigue, deceit, manipulation, lies, danger, violence, and the unexpected. It is a colorful tale filled with exotic, beautiful, and terrible creatures. Once Ms. Black pulled me in to her story, I did not want it to come to an end. Jude was an interesting character. She was strong, resilient, brave, and willing to sacrifice whatever she thought was necessary for what she believed to be the greater good. Her sister, Taryn, was weak, disloyal, and without scruples. Her main goals were to fit in to Faerie, and fall in love. Vivi, the oldest sister, and half-faerie wanted nothing more than to return to the human world. She hated her father Madoc, and all that Faerie represented.
The Cruel Prince was a great beginning to The Folk of the Air Series. I can't wait to see what happens next, and love the fact that this story has so many surprises and is unpredictable.
Mostly, I enjoyed Jude and her interactions with Cardin, one of the princes of Faerie. These two had an interesting dynamic. They hated each other, and yet their was an electric pull and attraction that they had towards one another. I can't wait to see how everything ends up playing out between the two of them. If you enjoy stories of fantasy, Faeries, and great imagination, The Cruel Prince needs to be added to your TBR pile!!!
About the Author:
Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare) and The Darkest Part of the Forest. She has been a a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door.
I've not read this author, but you sold this on the world-building and storytelling :)
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm glad! You will not regret reading this series! It's so good!!!
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