Cruel Prince + The Lost Sisters|| Book Review

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

SUMMARY:

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 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.

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. 

MY THOUGHTS:

I cannot believe it took me this long to finally read this book. The Cruel Prince has been on my tbr for so long. I was honestly terrified that it would not live up to the hype, but I really enjoyed it. I don’t think anything I say can really add up to the numerous reviews this book has.

Here’s why I don’t like these stories: They highlight that I am vulnerable. No matter how careful I am, eventually, I’ll make another misstep. I am weak. I am fragile. I am mortal. I hate that most of all. Even if, by some miracle, I could be better than them, I will never be one of them.

I really liked the characters. Cardan is probably my favourite character from the book, followed by Vivienne; that girl is a menace. I really liked Jude too. I won’t lie, there were a lot of characters in this book – way too many methinks. I was sometimes confused as to who was who and what role they played. I think I searched up names a couple of times because I was just confused.

“I don’t know whose father you’re talking about, because he’s sure not mine,” I call after her. Taryn’s eyes go saucer-wide. Vivienne has a small smile on her face. She takes a minute sip of tea, and then she raises the cup in my direction in salute.

The world-building was okay. I liked that it was not so “info-dumpy”. It’s like we were supposed to know about this world already, which I thought was cool.

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.”

The banter between Jude and Cardan *screaming*. I love them. Overall I think what I loved about this book was the writing. The entire time, I kept wishing I had a physical copy so that I could annotate. I love this world and I am really excited to read on in the series.

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 gave this 4 stars. The audiobook was also really good.

The Lost Sisters by Holly Black

SUMMARY:

Sometimes the difference between a love story and a horror story is where the ending comes…

While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke.

Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.

MY THOUGHTS:

I knew I wouldn’t or couldn’t write a full review of this so I’m adding it on to this. I actually went into this without reading the summary. I was surprised to find that it was from Tarryn’s POV.

Tarryn was a character I couldn’t really care for, much like Oak (oop – ), but yeah. Her story just never intrigued me. I did like this book though. I will say it is not a necessary read especially if you just finished The Cruel Prince, but if you need a kind of reminder of what went down in the first book, then read this.

The audiobook was super short and very quick to listen to. I gave this 3.5 stars.

I know this series is well beloved, but if you haven’t read it give it a try. If you have read it, what are some of your favourite quotes and scenes? There are just so many that I loved.

Till next time…

xo,

Elle.