The Cruel Prince
By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.
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.
- Pages
- 384
- First published
- January 2, 2018
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Reviews
Finished May 26, 2024
- Anonymous
Finished February 3, 2024
I actually really enjoyed this one. I didn’t think I would, but I definitely did. I love Jude, I kinda love Cardan. I love the world that this is set in. It’s very atmospheric and I’m in love. I love the political aspect of this series too. It’s actually extremely intriguing. I honestly don’t have any other thoughts than that! I give it 4.5/5 stars, and I’m very excited to continue!
Started February 2, 2024 · Finished February 3, 2024
Finished July 22, 2022
Finished December 8, 2025
“Father, I am what you made me. I’ve become your daughter after all.” What I loved: ✿ knife-to-throat ✿ slooooow burn ✿ faerie royal courts ✿ urban fantasy What I disliked: ✿ drawn out beginning Holy crap this book surprised me! I DNFed this last year at like 50% because I was so unsure of it but I decided to give it another go. This time I told myself I would see it through. Even though I was still a bit bored and unsure, around the 65% the domino pieces started falling rapidly and I was hooked. The family dynamics, faerie court politics, and the absolute enemies-to-lovers, slow burn are so damn good. Jude is an absolute badass and she is my new favorite FMC. This series has possibly ruined my December TBR and I'm not even mad about it. Trigger warnings: Murder, Bullying, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Suicide, War [✿ Connect with me on instagram ✿](https://www.instagram.com/literarily_laurynn?igsh=aTh6eTZ6dGwxMXpy&utm_source=qr)
Started July 1, 2025 · Finished July 6, 2025
Started August 20, 2024 · Finished August 29, 2024
Finished February 11, 2024
Finished March 9, 2026
This book is the blueprint for a well-done enemies to lovers story with a truly morally grey main character. It had a slow start, and the writing was simple but clever, and at times, a little repetitive. But it really made Jude’s voice shine through. There were so many twists and turns that kept me on my feet, urging me to read on to discover what happened next. As the first book of a trilogy, it sets up the larger story very well. I am very excited to continue this.
Finished February 12, 2025
Finished July 30, 2023
Finished February 17, 2023
Finished June 19, 2021
Finished June 16, 2022
Finished February 11, 2018