With each turn of the page, I was transported into a world of faeries and mortals—where every twist and turn kept my jaw dropping. From the complex webs of palace politics to the forbidden charm of star-crossed love, I enjoyed every single word.
I’m not talking about anything else but the Cruel Prince series. As a keen fan of young adult fantasy, I was eager to read this series after listening to my friends whisper about this enchanting saga.
As we read the series, we were all fascinated by the many interesting characters and the beautiful places described in Elfhame. The Cruel Prince series became one of our favorite stories. It’s super romantic, and Holy Black indeed made it one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read.
Series in Order:
The Cruel Prince, the series’ first book, can be read as a standalone book, but the following books are connected to it through a story flow. So, if you want to read all the books one by one, following the order is crucial.Â
- Book 1: The Cruel Prince
- Book 1.5: The Lost Sisters (Novella)
- Book 2: The Wicked King
- Book 3: The Queen of Nothing
- Book 3.5: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (Novella)
You can skip the novellas if you really want to, but reading them would be a better experience and help you understand the series better.
The Stolen Heir Duology, a related series set in the same world of Elfhame, can also be included after The Cruel Prince Series.
- The Stolen Heir
- The Prisoner’s Throne
About The Series:
The story revolves around Jude Duarte, a mortal girl. She finds herself in the faerie world of Elfhame from a young age. Alongside her sisters, Jude must navigate the treacherous faerie court, where humans are often treated with disdain.
Within the series, you’ll discover the twists of power struggles and courtly schemes as Jude becomes involved in the political games of the faeries. It’s a world where cunning and manipulation reign supreme.
Instead of going through a usual fantasy story, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black brings you to Elfhame, a fairy world full of surprises. It’s a place where things aren’t always what they seem, and danger is everywhere. Jude Duarte, a regular girl living among fairies, has to deal with a tricky court full of politics and risky friendships. People who like stories with strong girls and characters who aren’t completely good or bad will love this series. It’s fast-paced, and Jude’s cleverness and bravery matter as much as her magic powers.
One of the central elements of the series is the complex relationship between Jude and Cardan Greenbriar. Carden is a prince known for his mischief and cruelty. Their connection is fraught with tension. This tension keeps the readers guessing about their true feelings and intentions.
Who Should Read:
The series is best for the ones interested in fantasy series. It features a strong female lead, a faerie realm, and an exciting romance. If you are one of them, then The Cruel Prince series, also known as The Folk of the Air, is for you. This series is a journey into a world of magic, intrigue, and complicated romance.
Genre of the Series:
The Cruel Prince Series is a Fictional series with Fantasy and Romance. This Romantasy offers YA Romance and YA fantasy with Magic and Fictional characters. There are also some aspects of Paranormal Romance.
Themes:
The series explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the complexities of love.
Power Struggles:
The series talks about how having power can make people do bad things, like being greedy, tricking others, and hurting them.
Facing Bias:
Jude, a human in a world of fairies, faces unfair treatment because of her identity. This can remind readers of times when they were mistreated because of their identity.
Truth vs. Lies:
In the story, everyone lies to each other, making it difficult to know who to trust.
Identity Crisis:
Jude is trying to understand who she is because she is part human and part fairy. This is a big part of her story.
Seeking Payback:
Jude wants to get back at people who hurt her. The series examines what happens when you try to get revenge and if it makes you feel better.
Age Rating:
Although it is a YA series, it’s clean enough that a 13-14 year old can read. If we talk about the maximum age, there’s no limit. You can read this series as long as you enjoy Fantasy and Romance.
The Cruel Prince Series in Order with Publisher Descriptions:
The Cruel Prince:
I really want to be like them. They are so beautiful, like sharp knives made by a powerful force. They will never die. Cardan is the most beautiful of them all. I hate him more than anyone else. Sometimes, I can hardly breathe when I see him because I hate him so much.
Jude was seven when her parents were killed. She and her sisters were taken to live in the dangerous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, even though she’s human, Jude still wants to fit in there. But many fairies hate humans, especially Prince Cardan, the meanest son of the High King.
To stay at the Court, Jude has to challenge him – and deal with whatever happens next.
| Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publishing Date | First published January 2, 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 370 Pages |
| Series | The Folk of the Air (#1), Elfhame (#1) |
| Literary awards | Locus Award Nominee for Young Adult Book (2019), The Inky Awards for Silver Inky (2019), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2018), Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2021), Lodestar Award Nominee (2019) |
| Characters | Madoc, Taryn Duarte, Jude Duarte, Cardan Greenbriar, Vivienne |
As Jude gets more involved in the palace’s lies and plots, she discovers she can be tricky and violent, too. But when betrayal threatens to bring violence to the Courts of Faerie, Jude must take a significant risk to save her sisters and Faerie itself.
The Lost Sisters:
This story takes place in a magical and dangerous land called Elfhame. It’s filled with betrayal, longing, and revenge.
We follow Taryn’s journey closely. We see her feelings, choices, and what happens because of them. The story shows us how her decisions affect not only her life but also the lives of others.
“The Lost Sisters” gives us a fresh look at the events from “The Cruel Prince.” It helps us understand Taryn better and learn more about the fascinating world of Elfhame. The book explores themes like sisterhood, love, and the consequences of our actions.
| Publisher | Novl |
| Publishing Date | First published October 2, 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 50 Pages |
| Series | The Folk of the Air (#1.5), Elfhame (#1.5) |
| Characters | Taryn Duarte |
| ISBN | 978-0316310444 |
The Wicked King:
It would help if you were powerful. You have to keep hitting again and again without getting tired. The first thing you have to learn is to become strong.
In a surprising twist, Jude discovers that Oak is Faerie’s true heir. Now, Jude has to protect her brother. She’s tied the tricky king, Cardan, to her side and become the one with power. Keeping everything in Faerie under control would be challenging, but Cardan makes it even more demanding. He keeps trying to weaken her, even though he’s still fascinated by her.
When Jude realizes that someone close to her wants to betray her, she puts her life and the lives of those she loves in danger to find out who it is. She also has to deal with her complicated feelings for Cardan while trying to stay in control in a world where she’s just a mortal.
| Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publishing Date | First published January 8, 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 336 Pages |
| Series | The Folk of the Air (#2), Elfhame (#2) |
| Literary awards | Locus Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Book (2020), Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2019), Lodestar Award Nominee (2020) |
| Characters | Madoc, Taryn Duarte, Jude Duarte, Cardan Greenbriar, Vivienne |
| ISBN-10 | 0316310336 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0316310338 |
The Queen of Nothing;
He will destroy the crown and ruin the throne. It’s easier to get power than to keep it. Jude learned this when she let go of control over the bad king, Cardan, to get a lot of energy.
Now, Jude is a mortal queen banished from the land of fairies. She feels weak and hurt because Cardan betrayed her. She waits for the right time to get back what he took. Her chance comes when her tricky twin sister, Taryn, is in danger.
Jude has to return to the dangerous Fairy Court and deal with her feelings for Cardan if she wants to save her sister. But things have changed since she left. War is starting. Jude gets caught up in politics and danger as she goes deep into enemy territory.
| Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publishing Date | First published November 19, 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 300 Pages |
| Series | The Folk of the Air (#3), Elfhame (#3) |
| Literary awards | Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2020) |
| Characters | Madoc, Taryn Duarte, Jude Duarte, Cardan Greenbriar, Vivienne |
| ISBN-10 | 0316310409 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0316310406 |
Then, a strong curse is set free, causing panic everywhere. Jude has to choose between her dreams and her kindness.
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories:
There was a boy who was very clever with his words. Before he became a mean prince or an evil king, he was a fairy child with a heart as hard as a stone. This story takes us deeper into the life of Elfhame’s mysterious high king, Cardan.Â
We’ll learn about his life before “The Cruel Prince,” go on adventures beyond “The Queen of Nothing,” and revisit familiar moments from “The Folk of the Air” trilogy, all from Cardan’s point of view.
| Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publishing Date | First published November 24, 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 200 Pages |
| Series | The Folk of the Air (#3.5), Elfhame (#3.5) |
| Literary awards | Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2021) |
| Characters | Cardan Greenbriar |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0316540827 |
This new book in the series brings back the exciting romance, danger, humor, and drama readers love. Each chapter has beautiful full-color art, making it a great addition to any collection.
Other Masterpieces by the Author:
Holly Black is a very famous American writer. She writes many books for young adults about magic and fantasy, including The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Folk of the Air, and Cursebreakers. People love her books because they excitingly mix scary and magical things. She gets ideas from old stories and myths.
Holly Black’s Writing Style:
Alluring Language:
Holly Black’s writing style is like a beautiful painting. She uses words that flow smoothly and create vivid pictures in your mind. Her stories take you to magical worlds with just her descriptions.
A mix of Dark and Light:
Black’s stories aren’t just about happiness. She mixes darkness and whimsy, making her tales both mysterious and exciting. You’ll always find yourself on an adventure in her books.
Compelling Characters:
Black is great at making characters that feel real. They’re not just good or bad; they’re complex and relatable. Her characters drive the story forward, keeping you hooked until the end.
Exploring Important Ideas:
In her stories, Black discusses things that matter to young people. She examines the struggle between good and bad, growing up, and the power of strong friendships.
Holly Black is famous for her top-of-the-list novels:
- The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
- The Darkest Part of the Forest
- TitheÂ
- The Iron Trial
Conclusion:
To sum up, The Cruel Prince series takes us to a place called Elfhame, where humans and faeries have conflicts. We follow Jude, who shows us a world where people fight for power and fall in love. The stories talk about things like betrayal and love, keeping us interested. Holly Black’s writing is great.
It makes us imagine we’re there. The characters seem real. They make tough choices and change. The series is exciting. It makes us want more from Holly Black. You should read the Cruel Prince series if you enjoy fantasy and romance. You’ll like it!