“Of course, I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.” -Jude Duarte (Holly Black)
Family, murder, love, betrayal and faeries. This is the combination of themes author Holly Black used to construct an intricate story of when mortals enter the world of Faerie.
Twins Jude and Tayrn Duarte were just seven years old when they were kidnapped from the mortal world to live in the precarious High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude Duarte is still finding a way to fit in, but there is one problem: Faeries hate humans.
The youngest son of the High King, Prince Cardan, is the one who despises Jude and humans the most. She goes on a quest to defy him and earn her place in the court but soon finds out there are serious consequences she must face. Jude begins to find herself intertwined with the palace’s schemes and deceptions. During the coronation of a new High King, Faerie finds itself in the midst of a civil war. Jude decides it’s up to her to save her family and the land of Faerie itself from betrayal and bloodshed.
This novel is based around the genre of dark fairy tales. It gives insight into how the beautiful and majestic creatures of fey have a cunningly dark side of trickery and deceit. I had not really known much about faeries other than what I had read in author Cassandra Clare’s novels.
Black provides an amazing story of how mortals dared to live side by side with the Fey. They faced many challenges of being glamoured by faeries and being forced to do whatever the faeries told them to do. Mortals had to salt their food in order to not gouge themselves until they died. If they danced, they had to have someone pull them out or they would stop. Prince Cardan knew this and tried with all he had in him to make Jude’s life miserable. He despised her because she was the only one brave enough to defy him and he would not stand for it.
So how is this book different from other fairy tales?
The Cruel Prince is about a young, mortal woman who takes on the task to save her family and the Faerie kingdom from destruction despite not actually belonging. While there is an aspect of romance between Jude and Prince Cardan, that is not the main focus of the story. Black uses the character of Jude to show that women are strong enough to fight battles and that family is the most important part of life.
I recommend this novel to those who, like me, love fairy tales and fantasy but want a new twist on the genre. Holly Black is an amazing storyteller who continually makes you wish for more and more. I have not been disappointed by one of her novels before. If you are looking for something new to read or don’t particularly like to read, I highly suggest The Cruel Prince.
