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The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)

Holly Black

Start date: September 1, 2021

Finish date: September 30, 2021

Discussion: ❃Book of the Month (BOTMs)❃

Why we're reading this: Because it’s the September BOTM.
[close] Because it’s the September BOTM.

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❃Book of the Month (BOTMs)❃

* January 2023 - One of Us is Lying
By Alexandria , The Third Book Nerd · 1 post · 18 views

last updated Jan 04, 2023 08:32AM

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December 2022 - Red, White & Royal Blue
By Alexandria , The Third Book Nerd · 3 posts · 20 views

last updated Jan 04, 2023 08:32AM

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What Members Thought

Nov 18, 2021 MadBooks rated it really liked it

Honestly, I thought I wasn't going to like this. I thought it would be predictable and filled with characters that I didn't actually care about but oh boy, was I wrong. I actually found this to be a fun, easy and fast paced read.

Usually when I pick up a YA fantasy book, I'm looking for some escapism and this delivered. I wasn't rolling my eyes at everything the characters did or wanted instead I rooted for Jude, our tough female lead, and was pleased with her hunger for power rather than an obs Honestly, I thought I wasn't going to like this. I thought it would be predictable and filled with characters that I didn't actually care about but oh boy, was I wrong. I actually found this to be a fun, easy and fast paced read.

Usually when I pick up a YA fantasy book, I'm looking for some escapism and this delivered. I wasn't rolling my eyes at everything the characters did or wanted instead I rooted for Jude, our tough female lead, and was pleased with her hunger for power rather than an obsession with hot boys. I liked that her wants and morals change as the story unfolds. I thought her constant questioning of who she is was relatable and understandable. She was a great YA female lead and I really enjoyed her.

I think there is a VERY well known enemies to lovers trope in this book, and even though I was fully aware of this, I was still giddy when the romance finally started to show itself. It was fun! I thought it was going to be cringe but instead I was invested in it. Cardan, the dark haired evil prince, is kind of a stereotype but I did think his ruthless bullying in the beginning half of the book set up his character quite well that by the end I didn't entirely know what to trust. All in all, I enjoyed this and can't wait to see how the relationship develops in the next book!

The whimsical elements are cool with an array of fairy tale and mythical creatures all roaming around. There are so many colorful descriptors whether it be the skin of a fae or the luscious gowns and fabrics that the members of high ranking families wear. I thought this was a fun touch and made everything feel more magical. I only wish there was some more details of the world and all the different Courts. I think sometimes that felt rushed and I'd get confused with all the different names.

Other characters of note include Taryn, Vivi and Locke. I will say that Taryn almost always annoyed me. She was too delicate and had her priorities all wrong. I thought this was made even more frustrating with both of her sisters being super cool badasses. I loved Vivi, she had straight up protective older sister vibes and she actually seemed really kind. I hope I get to see more of her in the next book. Let's not even talk about Locke, he's not worth it lol.

All in all, was this book perfection? no, absolutely not. Did I still like it for what it is? Yes! It was really fun and I'll definitely be reading the next book! ...more

35 likes · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2022 alisha (taylor’s version) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, enemies-to-lovers, best-female-mcs, holy-plottwists

this book was better than i expected, the plot building was amazing and i LOVE jude. i wish we got more romantic tension between cardan and jude earlier on in the book rather than have everything crammed into the end, and the book got pretty confusing at times with all the names and stories, but all in all, i loved it, and the plottwists in the ending were really good.

32 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2023 Sophie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I can not for the life of me figure out if I was supposed to like Taryn or not- but I hate her, and I also can’t pronounce her name, which makes me dislike her even more

Kinda slow in the beginning, and it wasn’t on par with some of my five stars, but it also beats some of my five stars. Rating may change, we’ll see

I think Madoc is such a cool character

Before this book, I didn’t like enemies to lovers. Now it’s all I can think about.

I need The Wicked King immediately

Highly recommended 😏

1st rerea ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2021 camilla(taylor's version) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 2021

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”

Joguei todas as minhas espectativas nesse livro. Ouvi falar muito bem dele então arrisquei com tudo!

No começo foi um pouco díficil gostar porque achei que seria entediante mas me surpreendi, por que a autora simplismente pensou em cada detalhe principalmente em relação aos personagens.

Cada personagem com sua opinião única e determinada, podemos perceber muitas coisas nesse livro que encontramos na vida real como: Justiça,assasinato ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 10, 2022 April rated it really liked it

An intoxicating rush of glittering kingdoms, conniving fairies, and the girls who are mortal by day and monsters by night. Black's writing is effortlessly immersive, bringing the nature-wrought land of Faerie to life with every aspect of culture—scenery, attire, hierarchies, kingdoms, appearances, and of course, my personal favorite, food and drink. Jude was such a well-written protagonist; even though the land of Faerie was so mystical, Jude's desire for validation and revenge were wholly relat ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2023 ݁⋆๋⊹Amber⊹ ݁ ˖ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, own, ya

hmmmmm... i actually really liked this

it took a bit to get into at first, but the last half of the book is absolutely amazing and worth every minute of sitting through the first half - things speed up so much after about the first 150 pages, it's amazing

my favorite chapters were probably 18, 20, 26, and 29, i feel like they were definitely the most action-packed and had me like sitting on the edge of my seat kind of thing like oh no that didn't just happen, did it?

but yeah this was great if you ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 23, 2021 lj ♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, owned, faerie-stuff, romance, young-adult, series-starter, finish-review

I.
AM.
SHOOK.
rtc

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 10, 2021 Mysterious Reading rated it it was amazing

OMG! How should I define how much I enjoyed this book. It was a slow read for me but was absolutely worth it. Jude is so smart so strong she is my absolute favorite. Her determination and her love for her family and even the faerie world which she didn't even belong too and was brought against her will, still she showed that faerie is the place for her.
In the beginning I hated cardan more than anyone in the book. But now my view is totally changed and am curious what will happen in the 2nd book. ...more

1 like · Like · see review