Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

“I thought I was supposed to be good and follow the rules,” I say. “But I am done with being weak. I am done with being good. I think I am going to be something else."

I couldn't answer the question what my favorite book of this year was all month and now I know why: I hadn't read The Cruel Prince yet.

This book was everything I want from a five-star read and SO MUCH MORE. The Cruel Prince is a story filled with political intrigue, scheming characters, wicked plot twists and just the tiniest hint at a possible dark romance unfolding in the sequels.
Let me be clear that this is not a pretty read. The Cruel Prince invites the reader into a world with nothing entirely friendly about it and I absolutely loved it.

“Because you’re like a story that hasn’t happened yet. Because I want to see what you will do. I want to be part of the unfolding of the tale."

The story: 

The pacing of this book was something completely different and took some time getting used to, but nevertheless, it was a breath of fresh air in YA. After a badass, bloody opening in which Jude's and her sisters' parents are brutally murdered by the fae they're going to stay with in Faerie, the story continues to build up slowly for the next 200 or so pages. We get to know the wicked characters, the Faerie world, and the political alliances. Though this part is slower than the rest of the book, it keeps you on the edge of your seat with its rising tension between the characters and numerous secrets piling up. I'm thinking that this is a talent of Black, to continuously add more tension to have the biggest combustions possible later on instead of banking on one single climax.
The funny thing about this book is that for every time I guessed a plot twist, another, bigger one would sneak up on me ten pages later and that is a talent I have always admired in writers; to make you believe you have figured out the story, just to have your expectations turned upside down.

The characters: 

What makes this story what it is, though, is our fierce narrator Jude. Jude may not be the only morally grey character, but she is by far my favorite. After years of keeping her head down to save her twin Taryn and herself from ridicule to no avail, Jude decides to fight back. And boy, does she know how to enthrall the reader with her ambiguity and her slow descent into darkness. Continuously telling herself she does not want to be one of the faeries, yet yearning for it in the darkest parts of her heart. Realizing that if she cannot be better than them, she will be so much worse.

"You’ve gone out of your way to make me feel like I’m less than you. And to coddle your ego, I have made myself less. I have made myself small, I have kept my head down. But it wasn’t enough to make you leave Taryn and me alone, so I’m not going to do that anymore. I am going to keep on defying you. I am going to shame you with my defiance. You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing. You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down."

If that doesn't make your heart pound just a little, I don't know what will. 
Watching Jude stand up to her oppressors is like watching a horror movie - you're equal parts shouting at the character to not be so stupid investigating the weird noise in the basement while at the same time needing to see what's going to happen next. Jude's thirst for power, for revenge, for belonging drive the narrative from one tense moment to the next until the inevitable combustion. 

Cardan, the cruel prince (one of three who could have earned the title to be frank) is an asshole. He bullies and shames and ridicules Jude and for most of the novel I want to strangle him. And yet I found myself looking forward to his and Jude's scenes because they either made me boil with rage or question my entire morals in the best way possible.
Another set of characters I need to highlight without any spoilers: Prince Cardan's friend group who self-proclaimedly love "dramatics, violence, and power". Holy shit. You think you know who is the worst and then another scene rolls around and you just want to bury them all and yet...
Black knows how to create characters you simultaneously hate and root for. Not one of the fae nor the humans in this book was entirely likable. They all have their flaws, their dark moments of deceit, they do horrible things (Jude included) and yet they find ways to live with them. They do not beg forgiveness, they do not fall apart. They move on to the next wicked deed, which was just incredibly refreshing and intoxicating to be a part of.

Little things that made this story even better:
- Viv, Jude's sister is gay and in a committed relationship with a girl. This obviously isn't the focus of the story, but I'm here for casual LGTBQIA+ rep in fantasy. We need more of that.
- The Court of Shadows. They're the new YA gang to be envious of.
- The romance aspect. There were two romances in this novel and while I loathed the first, I find myself rooting for the second.
- The magic. It was glorious and horrifying and entirely too compelling at times.

The cataclysmic cliffhanger at the end does not disappoint and makes me eagerly await the second book in what is sure to be one of the biggest YA fantasy series of the next years.
5/5 stars for The Cruel Prince.

*I received a free ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, so thank you so much to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley!*