A Foray into Faerie Lore
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air series) by Holly Black is my first foray into the world of fae/faerie/fairy. I’ve read YA fantasy and dystopian throughout the years, but never before have I foraged into the fairy stories.
Holly Black’s books have been showing up as recommended all over Bookstagram, so I decided to give it a try.
All in all, it was a fun read! Let’s unpack it!
A Brief Summary
Seventeen-year-old Jude was only seven when her parents were brutally murdered, and she and her sisters were stolen away to live amidst the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, the land of the Fae is home to Jude, although her mortality as a human is a constant reminder of her past and that she’ll never truly belong.
When an opportunity from a prince presents itself, it offers her everything she seeks. But deals with the fae always come with a catch. As Jude becomes embroiled in treacherous plots, intrigues, and deceptions, she learns just what she’s capable of and just how much it costs to live amidst the dangerous world of faerie.
What I Liked about The Cruel Prince
- Fantasy setting: I would not consider myself a fantasy buff, and I know little about the lore surrounding fairies. But I enjoyed exploring that in this book! The way Black wove everything together with nature and pulled in different creatures (like pixies or trolls) was really fun!
- Writing style: I found The Cruel Prince well written and easy to read. It was well-paced (a little slow to start but not enough for me to dock points).
- Overall plot: The narrative was interesting and engaging.
What I Liked Less
- Some worldbuilding aspects: I was a little disappointed to find the fae so full of darkness and revelry. While none of these things were explicit or even glorified, it seemed a little dark.
- Enemies-to-lovers trope: While we’re nowhere near the “lovers” part of the trope, this one is just not my favorite. It seems to be the preferred path to romance in fantasy novels, which is growing old to me. Besides, some serious redemption will be needed for the main male character… Will it be good enough?
- Characters: Jude was likable enough, but most of the characters were pretty intense and rather unpleasant (I think this may have been the point).
Content Concerns for The Cruel Prince?
In terms of content concerns, I wouldn’t say the book is very exemplary for teens (which may need to be taken into consideration depending on the ages and stages of one’s kids), but it’s not problematic either.
Meaning, you won’t find great role models of goodness and strong character in The Cruel Prince. But you will find independence, survival, and fighting for one’s cause.
- Language: there is minor, infrequent swearing.
- Sexual content: non-explicit references to parties and liaisons. Nothing graphic.
- Violence: yes but not graphic
Worth the Read?
If you like:
- YA genre + tropes
- Fantasy genre + tropes
- Fae (fairies) and fairy lore
- Enemies-to-lovers tropes
- Political intrigue
Then I definitely think you might enjoy The Cruel Prince!
It’s absolutely a more teen-friendly tale than Fourth Wing or A Court of Throne and Roses.
If You Like The Cruel Prince…
You may also like my book Shift releasing in the spring! Like The Cruel Prince, it has sibling relationships, an impassable opportunity for the protagonist, political intrigue, and easy-to-understand fantasy.
Learn more about Shift here!
Final Thoughts
I give The Cruel Prince three stars (rounded down from 3.5)! I had no major concerns or qualms with it, and I did read it quickly. However, I didn’t find it a standout in anyway. I definitely plan to continue the series. I’ve heard The Wicked King (book 2) is quite intriguing!
Content Rating: Mild
for non-explicit content, though readers should be aware it is not a lighthearted tale
Copyright Holly Black and Little, Brown Books. Image from Amazon.
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