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 years old 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.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war 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.

Stacys Review:

”I stand in front of my window and imagine myself a fearless knight, imagine myself a witch who hid her heart in her finger and then chopped her finger off.”

I’m at a loss for words! Holly Black is a badass Faerie Queen and no one can stand in her way!

I’ve had this book since June and I’m severely beating myself up because I didn’t read this sooner. What is wrong with me!? (Please don’t answer that!)

Imagine being taken away to an enchanted Isle full of Faeries after your parents are brutally slaughtered. It feels magical and depressing all at once. And then living the rest of your life being thought lesser of because you’re human. This is the life Jude and her siblings now must endure.

I’ve read some reviews where they claim that it starts off slow. That is really not the case here. It starts off with a grab to the throat and never lets up. It really is that damn good and if it’s not on your tbr, you need to change that asap.

Let us talk about my new Prince book boyfriend….. Prince Cardan. He loves to drink, has a sassy ass mouth, has an adorable tail, and has a jawline for days! Swoon!

While I loved most of this enchanting story, there was one little thing that bothered me. That twist at the end. Way before I decided to pick this up, people have been bragging about the twist towards the end. That they can’t get over that twist. Well, that part didn’t live up to that expectation and I was waiting for something more throat-grabbingly (I’m obsessed with throats apparently) shocking. Alas, my dears it wasn’t. But it was still a read that I’m going to rave about.

I’m going to need book two. I offer my husband who will cook, clean, and give foot rubs!!

Nikole’s Review:

Oh my Lord! What has Holly Block done to my once precious soul? She has ripped my soul from my body and placed it inside her book. And took my heart, too. Okay, figuratively speaking. Holly Black blew me away with The Cruel Prince. There was intrigue, spunk, emotion, fighting, romance, and, of course, blood. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotions while reading The Cruel Prince. This book, like Stacy says, is gripping and grabs a hold of you from the first page and refuses to let you go, even after book one comes to a close. And that ending, though I was not overly shocked, is one that will leave you wanting more.

While many people will probably not take a liking to the cruelty that is this book, I loved it. Not saying I am cruel person (I promise!), but this book was different from anything I’ve read. I’ve read plenty of books with cruel characters and deadly escapades, but never a book that solely revolved around the cruelty that is Faerie. And Prince Cardan. And Jude. But the cruelty is to be expected, hence the book name; but it is so beautifully written and executed that it makes it difficult for you to loathe the main characters.

Holly Black certainly has a way with words, and it’s no surprise that she is deemed the Faerie Queen by many. Her writing is beautiful; she weaves an intriguing story with complicated yet breathtaking characters. I am telling you, this is a book you are not going to want to miss. Add The Cruel Prince to your TBR pile now! Actually, I’d recommend reading The Cruel Prince now but I also honor the TBR pile. So, just place The Cruel Prince at the top of your TBR pile. 🙂