Holly Black’s phenomenal new novel, The Cruel Prince, is perfect for long time fans of the author as well as new fans who enjoy brutal and beautiful fairy tales.
Greatest Hits:
As with previous books by Holly Black, the characters are well rounded, morally grey, and witty to boot. The pose is skillfully woven, drawing the reader in to root for the characters even when they cross from morally grey areas to flat out scheming. Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows will likely enjoy the collection of antiheroes in this novel.
With beautifully written and complex relationships rife with tension, it’s easy to become engrossed in the world of the characters. If you’re a fan of the kind of sexual tension that keeps you wondering if the characters are about to kiss or murder each other, this is absolutely the book for you.
If you embark on reading this book, be forewarned: it’s a bloody journey. I’ve read a few of Holly Black’s other books, and they’re violent, but nothing quite prepared me for the level of intensity in this novel, especially the first few pages. It’s a fantastic book by all counts, just be prepared for some Game of Thrones violence. (Okay, maybe not that bad, but somewhere on the spectrum between Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.) In any case, the intensity is spread throughout the book in a way that keeps the pacing excellent. There are hills and valleys and the gruesome things are juxtaposed with beautiful things.
My conclusion:
This book is definitely not a light read, but if you can handle the darkness you will not be disappointed. If you’re looking for a tale fraught with betrayal and blood, this is the story for you. It is fast paced, impossible to put down, and the world is memorable. Holly Black has once again raised the bar for modern fairy tales. Happy reading!
Kat Pollock 