I would not be the first to mention that author, Holly Black is the queen of Faerie! Holly’s stories about the faerie world dive deep and are so intricately woven that you will never want to put them down. Her novel, The Darkest Part of the Forest was quite literally glued to my hands for the 6 or 7 hours it took me to read it. Her new novel, The Cruel Prince, the first book in The Folk of the Air trilogy, was no different. The Cruel Prince takes you on a rollercoaster of deception. Twist and turns fuel this story and you never know what is going to happen next.
The main character, Jude, a mortal girl, wants to be accepted by the Faerie world. A world in which she has grown up, but has never truly belonged. Jude shows great strength and courage throughout the novel. The decisions she makes have consequences. Whether right or wrong she will do what she needs to in order to accomplish the tasks before her. These moments of precise decision and occasional impulse seamlessly move the plot along its twisting path.
The book also provides us with a stunning cast of characters, where even the smallest role is given a name and a purpose. The light air of romance that fills the pages is subtle it adds mystery to the story. Most of all, I loved the descriptions of the faerie realm. Holly Black adds color, glamour, and intrigue with her beautiful depictions of buildings, clothing, and people who you encounter throughout the novel, that you see them so vividly in you mind’s eye. I love that I can truly envision what I am reading.
I highly suggest picking up this book on your next trip to the bookstore! It’s a wonderful start to what I’m sure will be a deliciously dark and beautiful trilogy!
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed my review of The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black. Our first review of 2018 is in the books!
P.S. I enjoyed attending Holly Black’s book signing when she stopped in Atlanta on Wednesday! It was a fantastic experience and I had a blast listening to her talk about faerie. If she has a tour stop near you, I highly suggest going.