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

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. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

The beginning of this read was pretty slow, but quickly picks up and builds into a crescendo of Jude attempting to take back space in the world that she’s been thrust into.  I think normally I would have enjoyed the read more, but may have read it in a cynical mood.  The rebellion felt predictable and Jude’s attempts at being badass just seemed like she was having an angsty teenage moment while reading it.  She is patently unprepared for the challenges that she throws herself into, the tournament, the political chaos and the romance.  I didn’t see the development of characters to a degree that made me feel invested into the characters and interactions.

All that being said, I liked that Black doesn’t create fluffy fairies that are all rainbows and sunshine.  She makes them cruel and unpredictable, which is a solid start.  I think, however, you should read “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and then if you still need a fairy kick, give “The Cruel Prince” a go.

Warning: Contains repeated violence and sexual content.

Rating: 3 stars!

Who should read it? Fans of fairy-land, but otherwise I think it’s not something to put at the top of the TBR pile.

Want to read the whole series?

• The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5)

• The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2)

• The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3)