Quick Overview/Ratings
My overall rating: 
/5
Spice rating: 
/5
On KU: Yes, this book is available on Kindle Unlimited (as of publishing)
POV: Single POV
Audiobook Narration Style: The audiobook has one narrator read using Single POV Narration
Writing Style: First person
Setting: Magical fae world and a modern human realm
Plot Summary: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude Duarte was seven when her parents were murdered, and she and her sisters were whisked away to the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Raised in a world where power and beauty mask cruelty and lies, Jude has spent her life trying to prove that a mortal can thrive in a land ruled by immortals.
But the fae are merciless, and none are more dangerous than Prince Cardan, the youngest and most wicked of the royal family. Arrogant, vicious, and impossible to ignore, Cardan seems to revel in making Jude’s life a living nightmare.
Yet, Jude refuses to back down. She craves power—enough to carve out a place for herself in Faerie, no matter the cost. As she navigates deadly politics, forbidden alliances, and a simmering hatred that feels a lot like something else, she must decide just how far she’s willing to go to claim her place in this glittering and deadly world.
In Faerie, survival isn’t just a game—it’s a battle. And Jude is ready to win.
Book Notes for The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Romantasy (though Romance is a subplot, not the focal point of this story).
- Enemies to lovers
- Court intrigue and political scheming
- Slow burn (spread over all 3 books)
- Morally grey MMC
- Morally grey FMC
- He falls first
- Feminine rage
- YA (no spice)
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