The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
The Folk of the Air
Summary
Jude Duarte was seven when the faerie general Madoc murdered her parents and took Jude and her sisters to live in Elfhame. Ten years later, Jude wants a place in the court that raised her, even though its immortal nobles treat humans as entertainment. Prince Cardan is the most visible of her tormentors, but he is only one part of a court built on bargains, succession plots, and carefully worded lies.
The Cruel Prince is political fantasy before it is romance. Jude studies the court, trains with a sword, and keeps choosing power even when a safer life is available. Cardan matters because he understands the same social machinery from the opposite side. Their hostility has chemistry, but the first book spends more time on Jude's ambition and the contest for the throne.
The story includes cruelty, family betrayal, and faerie rules that punish careless language. The pace picks up once Jude enters palace espionage, and the final power shift leads directly into The Wicked King. This is the opening of a trilogy, not a complete standalone story.
Reading order
- 1
- 2 The Wicked King
- 3 The Queen of Nothing
Editions and purchase options
US hardcover
Hardcover · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers · 2018
ISBN 9780316310277
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Themes & motifs
About Holly Black
Holly Black writes fantasy for children, teenagers, and adults, often drawing on dangerous older traditions of faerie folklore. The Cruel Prince begins her Folk of the Air trilogy and shares its world with several earlier and later stories.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
This book features a human girl who is drawn into the dangerous and alluring world of fae courts, mirroring the political intrigue and forbidden romance of The Cruel Prince.
From Blood and Ash
Jennifer L. Armentrout
It offers a similar blend of dark fantasy, a strong female protagonist navigating a treacherous supernatural world, and a captivating enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
Serpent and Dove
Shelby Mahurin
Readers will find a compelling mix of magic, forbidden romance, and a determined heroine trying to survive in a world where she is hunted.
An enchantment of ravens
Margaret Rogerson
This story delves into the dangerous beauty of the fae and a human girl's entanglement with them, featuring a similar lyrical prose and high stakes.
The Folk of the Air Series 3 Books Collection Set By Holly Black
Holly Black
If you enjoyed the first book, this sequel continues Jude's journey through the treacherous fae courts with even more political maneuvering and complex relationships.
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