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“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.��

Holly Black is an author that never truly did anything for me. I liked the Curse Workers trilogy, but it wasn't amazing either. I tried to read Tithe and it was honestly so bad I couldn't. As for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and The Darkest Part of the Forest, it wasn't as bad as Tithe, but it wasn't good either for me.

The Cruel Prince is definitely the best book Holly Black has ever written so far and from my previous statement, you can imagine that I honestly wasn't expecting to love it. First, because like I said this author's writing was never truly my cup of tea, second because faeries books aren't my favorite thing either. In terms of magical creatures, I've always been more interested by witches and vampires more than the Fae World.

I was also scared as soon as I read the summary because it was obvious there was going to be a romance between Jude and Cardan. Too obvious. The big YA trope that makes me want to bang my head against a wall because it's so boring and predictable. Except that this book handles it very well and differently than what I feared - and it works.

The author's writing also definitely improved from her debuts because this book is a real page-turner. The world-building was great and everyone who loves fae books will enjoy it, but what worked the most for me was the characters. Jude isn't a typical heroine and I love her. I love her strength and her flaws equally, her complexity. Jude has two sisters who are also essential to this story: her twin Taryn and Vivi, the oldest sister who is part fae and also gives bi rep. The siblings relationship is complex and interesting, but so is the one between Jude and her... let's say foster father (how do you call the man who murdered your parents and take you and your siblings?), Madoc. It might even be the most complex and interesting relationship in my opinion. The lines between good and bad are really blurred both when it comes to characters and relationships and I really liked that.

This was a great book and I have high expectations for The Wicked King, hopefully I will finally love a series from Holly Black and join the Fae World with my others ŷ������ friends :)