📘 The Cruel Prince 

Words by Holly Black

Genre/Category: This book fulfills the requirement of having a Fantasy book.

Target Age Group: 14+

Format Read: ebook

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🌀 Plot Summary (1–2 Sentences)

​Jude was seven when her parents were murdered, and she and her sisters were taken to live in the dangerous High Court of Faerie. A decade later, Jude longs to belong, even as a mortal among cruel and beautiful fey. But in order to survive, she must become ruthless herself—entangled in court politics, betrayals, and a dangerous attraction to Prince Cardan, the fey who seems to hate her most.​

✅ Why I Chose This Book

I selected this book because a YA patron I helped get her first library card told me about her favorite kinds of books, which matched my taste almost exactly. I mentioned that I needed to read a few books for one of my classes, and when I told her I had just placed a hold on The Cruel Prince, she got really excited and recommended I read it for my book blog. I’m so glad I listened, it turned out to be my favorite read of the list, and I’ll be starting the sequel ASAP!

🔍 Elements

1. Setting 

The world-building in The Cruel Prince is rich, eerie, and mesmerizing. From the goblins to the green-skinned court ladies and bark-skinned boys, the descriptions are incredibly detailed and immersive. I appreciated how the author pulled from mythology and folklore but gave everything a unique twist. One of my favorite descriptive moments was:

“An apple, sweet and rotten at the same time, honeyed juice running over my tongue, tasting of sunlight and pure heady, stupid joy.”
It captures the strange allure of Faerie, the beautiful and the dangerous all at once. These vivid details made the setting feel alive and unpredictable, which is perfect for a fantasy novel.

2. Pace

While I loved the book overall, I did feel the pacing of Jude and Cardan’s relationship could’ve been stronger, especially for a book titled The Cruel Prince. Much of the first half focused on Jude’s struggles with other characters like Locke and Valerian, and her dynamic with Cardan didn’t feel as central until the end. That said, the payoff was worth it—especially during the emotionally charged moment when Cardan says:

“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”
This scene kicked off the enemies-to-lovers tension in a way that made me want to dive into the next book right away!

3. Characters

Jude’s character development was one of the strongest parts of the novel. From a girl struggling to survive among cruel fey to someone who trains herself—physically and emotionally—to rise above them, her journey is empowering. I loved how she drank poison in small doses to build resistance, trained hard to fight, and outsmarted powerful figures in Faerie. By the end, she was making complex political moves and bold decisions, including orchestrating a coup within a single day. Her fierce determination and cleverness make her a standout heroine in YA fantasy. Love me a strong female lead.

📚 Reference
Black, H. (2018). The cruel prince. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.