Holly Black

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.
Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
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.
"I require book two immediately. Holly Black is the Faerie Queen." - Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of the 'Red Queen' series
"Complex, nuanced characters, frank sensuality and thorn-sharp intricate storytelling all conspire to ensnare." - Guardian

The Cruel Prince

rose.

I want to win. I do not yearn to be their equal. In my heart, I yearn to best them.

"Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?"

 Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a compliment.

 I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. 

Come back when returning feels like a hard choice instead of an easy one.

Reshmah

Louise D'haens

"Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?" Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a compliment. "No," I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. "Tell me." "I cannot," 

"Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It's disgusting, and I can't stop."

bella <3

with Vivi, i feel forever doomed to be the little sister, foolish and about to topple over onto my face. 

ivy 

Sometimes I just want to hate her; if can hate her, then I won’t be so bad that I love him.” 

“Being mortal means I have to try harder.” 

“He’s wrong about me. I am going to make my mayfly life count for something; if I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.” 

He seems taken aback, although the sneer doesn’t leave his face.

“Yeah, yeah, sure. I am going to die. And I am a big liar. So what?” 

“I am afraid that If I begin to feel, I won’t be able to bear it. I am afraid that the emotion will be like a wave sucking me under. It’s not the first awful thing I have endured and pushed into the back of my brain. That’s how I’ve been coping, and if there’s another, better way, I do not know it.” 

“Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place,” she reads. “If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!” 

“Our lives are the only real thing we have, our only coin. We get to buy what we want with them.”

Paige Leitner

“Well?” I say, lifting the crossbow again, glad to have a reason to reassert my position as the person in charge. “Tell me!”

He leans in and closes his eyes. “Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”

"Of course, Taryn is right about stories. Bad things happen to those princesses. They are pricked with thorns, poisoned by apples, married to their own fathers. They have their hands cut off and their brothers turned into swans, their lovers chopped up and planted in basil pots. They vomit up diamonds. When they walk, it feels as though they’re walking on knives.

An instant bestseller! By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue. Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. 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.

Cassidy Nolan

“I don’t think I will be a good king. I never wanted to be one, certainly not a good one. You made me your puppet. Very well, Jude, daughter of Madoc, I will 

 your puppet. You rule. You contend with Balekin, with Roiben, with Orlagh of the Undersea. You be my seneschal, do the work, and I will drink wine and make my subjects laugh. I may be the useless shield you put in front of your brother, but don’t expect me to start being useful.”

“Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?” Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a compliment.

“No,” I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. “Tell me.”

“I cannot,” he says, then frowns. “Jude?” I may never be used to the sound of my name on his lips.

“Father, I am what you made me. I’ve become your daughter after all.”

I fix him with a look. “I can be charming. I charmed you, didn’t I?”

He rolls his eyes. “Do not expect others to share my depraved tastes.”

I can feel the moment he gives in and gives up, pulling me to him despite the threat of the knife. He kisses me hard, with a kind of devouring desperation, fingers digging into my hair. Our mouths slide together, teeth over lips over tongues. Desire hits me like a kick to the stomach. It’s like fighting, except what we’re fighting for is to crawl inside each other’s skin.

I lean toward him, close enough for a kiss. His eyes widen. The look in his face is some commingling of panic and desire. It is a heady feeling, having power over someone. Over 

, who I never thought had any feelings at all.

“You really do want me,” I say, close enough to feel the warmth of his breath as it hitches. “And you 

 it.” I change the angle of the knife turning it so it’s against his neck. He doesn’t look nearly as alarmed by that as I might expect.

Not nearly as alarmed as when I bring my mouth to his.

I was looking for a quick and easy fantasy novel and The Cruel Prince proved to be perfect. With high school’esk bullying, the yearning to prove oneself, politics, fighting, and an enemies to lovers trope, what more could you ask for? For the YA fantasy novel it is, the book was charming and managed a few plot twists that I wasnt expecting in the least. If you’re looking for something quick and easy I’d highly recommend.

Anna

This book speaks to me the same way ACOWAR did with the politics except this series does the political nuances justice. Well written. Hard to put down. 

Not going to lie, the book just cured me from reading slump.

Cici Pearson

loved reading this one and can’t wait to continue with the other books in the trilogy! usually the first book of book series are quite slow but this one was definitely intriguing and kept me hooked

micki

rara

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 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. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal 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. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the first book in a stunning new trilogy filled with twists and enchantment, as one girl learns the meaning of true power when she finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue. -- From dust jacket.

Reread of this book and I adored it even more this time around. Oh my god, the story is so gripping even without my adoration for Cardan and Jude ugh, literally want to start again and just read it over and over. 

Eimear O'Connor 

"Lush, dangerous, a dark jewel of a book . . . intoxicating" - Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Six of Crows Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal. As Jude grows older, she realises that she will need to take part in the dangerous deceptions of the fey to ever truly belong. But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan . . . Enter the dramatic and thrilling world of the Folk of the Air, brimful of magic and romance from New York Times bestselling author Holly Black.

The Folk of the Air #1

millena

Okrutny ksiaze

Maja

De nieuwe serie van internationale bestsellerauteur Holly Black, van wie er wereldwijd al miljoenen boeken over de toonbank gingen. Natuurlijk wil ik zijn zoals zij. Ze zijn prachtig, als zwaarden gesmeed in een hemels vuur. Cardan is nog mooier dan de rest. Hem haat ik het allermeest. Ik haat hem zo erg dat soms, als ik naar hem kijk, ik nauwelijks kan ademhalen. Toen Jude zeven was, kwam er een vreemde man langs: een man met gekke kleren, puntige oren en een donderstem. Voor Jude wist wat er gebeurde, haalde hij een zwaard tevoorschijn en vermoordde daarmee haar ouders. Jude en haar zusjes moesten met hem mee, ver weg naar het elfenland Elfhame. Tien jaar later is Jude een opstandige jonge vrouw. Ze heeft het zwaar in Elfhame: ze wordt gediscrimineerd om haar menselijke afkomst en soms zelfs bedreigd. De arrogante prins Cardan is het ergst van allemaal, dus waarom krijgt ze het altijd zo warm als hij in de buurt is? Het tij keert als Jude door Cardans broer, kroonprins Dain, wordt ingeschakeld als spion. Naarmate haar spionnentraining vordert, krijgt ze meer zelfvertrouwen en maakt ze nieuwe vrienden. Eindelijk lijkt ze haar plek te hebben gevonden. Maar in Elfhame is niets wat het lijkt, en wie hoog vliegt, kan diep vallen... De pers over De wrede prins ‘Wat je als lezer ook zoekt – hartkloppingen veroorzakende spanning, dodelijke romance, intrige of morele complexiteit – dit boek heeft het allemaal.’ Booklist ‘De koningin van de duistere fantasy. Holly Blacks razendspannende boek vol intrige en magie is onmisbaar voor de fans van Sarah J. Maas.’ Buzzfeed UK ‘Er zijn veel verhalen over elfen, maar geen zoals deze. Complexe, genuanceerde personages, onderliggende sensualiteit en een fantastische schrijfstijl werken samen om de lezer volledig voor zich te winnen.’ The Guardian

De wrede prins

Laure Decaluwé

Didn´t like it. 
Ploeteren om erdoor te raken.

A good foundation book for the YA fantasy novels, I can see why it’s beloved. I think it was pretty in the middle honestly, a decent book but nothing too grand. This book is either you like a character who’s decent or you have to force yourself to like a character who is pretty shit. idk. locke and taryn made me upset and i still don’t understand why any of that happened,, like there is no logic. cardan is eh, he had some lines where i feel like i’m supposed to go “oOooOoo” but honestly he’s just there. everyone just keeps betraying everything, truly the succession of ya books.

soot

Amina

as a self-proclaimed booktok hater, I am surprised to say that this was the best book/series that god forsaken app has ever recommended to me thus far...and I mean like...im kindaaaa obsessed with this series. it has a real and intriguing plot, characters that actually impress me, and very well written although sometimessss obnoxious. romance in books like these make or break it for me--i have pretty high expectations for those storylines--but JUDE AND CARDAN?????? I dont think ive read a better enemies to lovers. it just adds to the story, not overpower it and surprises you at every corner. yeah this series just has me in a chokehold. dont even get me started on wicked king

Kirsten Kim

vvnmigde

I LOVED IT. Absolutely recommend it to everyone who loves fantasy. But if you're going to read it for the romance you might be disappointed. Like I was already told by many, this book focuses on Jude's journey to find herself rather than on her love life.

riry

I LOVED IT. Absolutely recommend it to everyone who loves fantasy. But if you're going to read it for the romance you might be disappointed. Like I was already told by many, this book focuses on Jude's journey to find herself rather than on her love life.

P.S.: Thanks to everyone for rec me TCP.

I actually really enjoyed this book. I did not like the beginning and had a hard time getting into it. Also, I do not know how Jude became such a good spy all of a sudden. Anyway, the ending was really good and cannot wait for reading the next book.

Chourouk

** spoiler alert **
           i loved this book so much! i enjoyed the plot more than anything and the little character development of jude is so good like i cannot wait for the next two books to arrive. I loved the slow burn of jude and cardan and can also not wait until their relationship blooms more in the next books. i'm obsessed with this book and it's secrets although i also think it's a little overrated by people. But i hope the next books are even better than this one!

the cruel prince when advertised as a political fantasy >>>>

envie,

Kiran Aftab

3/27/23
2nd read and I ATE THIS UP

12/20/20
That was really good... I literally read 236 pages of the book today to finish it because I couldn't stop.

Hope Gamble

First in a series. Took a bit for me to really come to enjoy the story.

The fact that they had tails and shit made it weird, not a fan of fantasy so makes sense. Just can’t get over that she’s falling for a furry. 

The Cruel Prince

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