“GUARD YOUR MORTAL HEART”

                                      – HOLLY BLACK

Guard your mortal heart?  Indeed.  I didn’t know if mine could take any more!  I finished reading The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and I was floored.  I have never read any of her books, even though she typically co-authors books with my favorite author, Cassandra Clare.  I know I know…have you lived under a rock all this time!?  Yes, I think I have when it comes to Holly Black.  First I want to say, being a newbie to to world of faeries I had no idea what to expect.  Faeries?  Eh…not usually my kind of story or setting to get into.  You could say that reading books set in the worlds of vampires, werewolves, angels, and demons all sound the same after a while.  And honestly they do.  It’s what the author does with those worlds that makes a difference.  Example:  I finished reading A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, which is entirely set in a faerie realm, and I loved it.  Mostly because the author humanized them in a way we can relate to (to an extent), and often pointed out the differences between us..which keeps your readers engaged.  No one wants to read a book about characters they can’t relate to.

So back to The Cruel Prince.  I’m going to be honest with you.  The only reason I chose this book was because of the cover.  Start throwing stones now.  It’s not getting any better as I go on.  I am a book cover snob, and I’m not ashamed about it.  I have said it multiple times and I’ll keep saying it:  if the publisher won’t spend money on a gorgeous cover I will keep on walking.  Sounds harsh right?  Well it should be.  Most readers will glance at a book and if it doesn’t catch their eyes within five seconds, the likelihood of them even reading the synopsis is small.

The saving grace here is word-of-mouth, which actually works in my case.  If a friend tells me about an amazing book they read I am more apt to read it as well, no matter what the cover looks like.  So with The Cruel Prince having such a beautiful cover with gold embossing on the inside, plus the publishing world going nuts with marketing and incredible word-of-mouth early reviews?  Yes please.  Artwork makes a huge statement in this book with the use of branches and crowns. Even the font of the title turns the tail of the ‘R’ into a thorn.  Intriguing yet whimsical details make this book special.

Every detail in this book from the landscape, flawed characters, storyline, massive surprises, and a great cliffhanger make it one not to miss!  I won’t go into so much of the book because I don’t want any spoilers for you, but just watch out in Chapter 20.  You’ll be shocked, muttering things under your breath, gasping, and in the end saying, “WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?  WHAT DID I JUST READ!?” = THE BEST BOOKS WRITTEN WILL MAKE YOU EXPERIENCE ALL THESE THINGS.  Mostly because they’re unforgettable and you never saw them coming in the first place.  And that is what Holly Black has done.  She has told a story that it unforgettable in my mind and I cannot wait until the next installment, The Wicked King!  If you would like to read this book, here is the synopsis:

“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.”

– The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

If you are looking for a quick read into a fictional world with bold characters, intrigue, and heart, The Cruel Prince is for you.  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.  If you have read it, what did you think?  Please message me and let me know your thoughts!

Stacey