Book Review by Samridhi Kalura
Author: Holly Black
Published: 2018
Genre: Fantasy novel
Pages: 416
The Cruel Prince is the tale of a mortal girl Jude and her two sisters, who live in a place where human life has no worth. Jude was seven-years-old when her parents were murdered. She and her sisters were forcefully taken to live in Elfhame, a faerie land. Madoc, an intriguing character in the novel, protects Jude and her sisters and gives them the privilege to study with the Faerie's children. But Madoc's safeguarding does not protect them from the constant bullying of Cardan, a faerie prince and his friends. Jude is troubled by the atrocities being inflicted on her and is determined to become a knight for the High Court. She wants to live with dignity and power and wishes to take revenge from Prince Cardan for all the torture she has suffered because of him. But the bloodshed for the crown has changed everything in both Jude and Cardan's life.
I liked the plot twist or peripeteia of the story in the end. I was surprised how the author cleverly shifted the power from the hands of a strong character to the naïve one. Jude’s character development is impressive. Her instinct to rebel and desperate desire for power is also notable.
However, I find the book dull in the middle. There is neither suspense nor any interesting love story until the book covers half of its length. As the end approaches, the author astutely builds up the suspense and enthralling secrets are revealed. These plot twists make the book equally gripping and entertaining. This book is a fascinating journey to the world of faeries and acquaints the reader with all the charms and powers of fairyland. The Cruel Prince is the amalgamation of betrayal, assassin, and love that could compel the reader to explore other titles in the series. If you like fantasy fiction and haven’t read any book of fairyland, The Cruel Prince is worth exploring. But if you enjoy suspense and mystery from the start of the book, then this book will disappoint you.
I give fantasy fiction 3.5/5 stars.
