Uhhhhhh
Hi guys,
I’m not entirely sure how to write a proper composed review for this book, but I promise I’m going to try my best!
Before I start let me just say that there WILL be minor spoilers in the review! Do NOT read if you haven’t read the book! Or do, if you are that reckless!
I also want to be real soppy for a second and say how much these books mean to me! I bought The Cruel Prince on a whim because it was in the sale for £5 and the cover was pretty. And then I read it. I don’t think I’ve ever been SO changed by a book series before! Jude is officially my book girlfriend, I love her and I would do anything for her. Thank you Holly Black for creating such a magical and enticing world for so many people to get lost in. I will be forever grateful.
Ok now that’s done, I guess it’s time to actually talk about the book!
After being pronounced Queen of Faerie and then abruptly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude finds herself unmoored, the queen of nothing. She spends her time with Vivi and Oak, watching reality television, and doing odd jobs, including squaring up to a cannibalistic faerie.
When her twin sister Taryn shows up asking a favour, Jude jumps at the chance to return to the Faerie world, even if it means facing Cardan, who she loves despite his betrayal. When a dark curse is unveiled, Jude must become the first mortal Queen of Faerie and break the curse, or risk upsetting the balance of the whole Faerie world.
I’m in awe. Honestly I don’t know where to start. I love love LOVE the way Holly Black incorporates the faerie word into the mortal world. The introduction and explanation of how far folk survive and live in the human world is so COOL and I’m almost hoping we get a book all about a certain group of people trying to live on the mortal world!
I adore all the new characters, on both sides! I love the new enemies, the old enemies, the new allies and the old allies. There isn’t a character in the book I don’t adore with my whole heart. But what kind of a review would this be if I didn’t mention Cardan at least once?
Cardan. Where do I start? I love that disaster boy, that chaos king. I’m (still) obsessed with his whole character design. Specifically that tail. I’m in love with his tail. I’ve seen some people say that they don’t like how Cardan ‘softened’ in this book but?? Did we read the same book? Personally I haven’t seen Cardan stronger, braver or smarter than in this book. My boy was on the top of his game, he killed it the whole way through and I’m compel they obsessed with him.
JUDE. My wife. I love her. I know some people are sick of seeing her horn hairstyle but I’m so pleased that it was bright back, it was such a lovely homage to the first book and kind of helps to show how much has changed. She is the strongest woman I know and I will stand by Jude no matter what. I relate to her in a lot of ways, so seeing her overcome so much, and doing so well for herself despite how scared she is all the time is so reassuring.
This is the first book series to elicit an actually physical reaction from me. When a certain thing happened near the end of the book I wept so hard it actually gave me a headache. I have shed so many tears of sadness and joy over this series and I couldn’t be happier with the ending. And no doubt I will probably not be able to wait and start rereading the books again by February, so I don’t have to wait long to cry all over again!
I have so much to say about so many things, but I will literally end up writing a whole novel. I’m planning costumes, tattoos, art and lifestyle choices because of these books. Holly Black has truly changed my life with this series, and there aren’t enough stars in the sky to give this book a high enough rating.
But I will sum it up as being about a 10/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m still not over this series and will be re-reading it all at least once a year for the rest of my life.
Do you love this series as much as I do?
Until next time!
Elizabeth
Dainty Beth Blog 