Tag Archives: the cruel prince

2019, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] The Wicked King – Holly Black

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Book Title: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #02)
Author:     Holly Black
Number of pages:  336

Synopsis:

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

(re: Goodreads @ The Cruel Prince by Holly Black)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– The stakes in court drama and political intrigue are higher and further developed; shifting powers and old/new players make their move
– Setting showcases new environments but often lacks nuance to support the change in scenery, the magic involved, and vivid imagery
– Romance feels more slow burn now (but the previous love square is now a love triangle.)
– Some continuity issues in the writing from info. established in the first book that may just have not been explored rather than being a discrepancy (e.g. Jude’s lying, use of mithridatism, use of magic)

Initial Thoughts

This review has been a long time coming, and I do apologize because a lot of it is going to be based on my notes I wrote months ago. Spoiler level is low-moderate.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of The Wicked King from Hachette at Book Expo.

Continue reading [Review] The Wicked King – Holly Black →

2018, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] The Cruel Prince – Holly Black

4 Comments 

Book Title: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #01)
Author:     Holly Black
Number of pages:  370

Synopsis:

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.

(re: Goodreads @ The Cruel Prince by Holly Black)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– A story about survival and finding a place of belonging with some underdeveloped subplots that may take away from how the conflict is actualized
– Setting: urban and high fantasy fae world with varying degrees of political intrigue; the imagery in the interior of court life is great but the outside environment could use more substance
– Romance (a la love triangle) can feel forced; one suitor lacks chemistry despite love being spoon-fed to readers
– I still don’t know who the cruel prince is? help.

Initial Thoughts

My rating has been oscillating up-and-down the 3’s for the past few weeks now. I have many thoughts.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of The Cruel prince from Hachette at Book Expo.

Continue reading [Review] The Cruel Prince – Holly Black →