The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black

Jude Duarte was seven when a man broke into her house and murdered her parents. He, identifying himself as someone named Madoc, takes Jude and her two sisters to a realm known as the High Court of Faerie. There, they are raised in aristocracy, albeit discriminated against for being human. Years pass but all Jude wants is to be accepted there. Fae hate humans, so when she is forced to attend school there, all of her fellow classmates harass her. The worst of all of them is the King's youngest son, Cardan Greenbriar. He and his vigilantes try to drown her, beat her up, and humiliate her. Cardan’s older sibling Dain presents Jude with the opportunity to be his spy in exchange for protection. As Jude fights her way through the world of Fae, she unveils a sinister plot that could end in utter chaos.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black. A strong and empowering female protagonist is always appreciated, plus throughout the book, she felt relatable without playing on stereotypes. This book was very unpredictable, holding your attention all the way to the end. Trigger warnings include body-shaming, slut-shaming, slavery, physical & psychological child abuse, cheating, disownment, suicide and coerced self-harm, alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse, drug use and non-consensual drugging, mithridatism, pregnancy, attempted abortion via poison, blood and gore depiction, dead bodies, graphic physical injuries, decapitation, dismemberment, emesis, death of parents, death of friends, death of siblings, death by falling, drowning, murder and attempted murder, knife violence, stabbing, strangulation, torture, kidnapping, war, and bullying. 

Reviewed by Anon, Grade 9

Glendale Central Library