Read and Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (1st blog of 2024!)

Scripture for the day: I will sing the Lord's praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:6

If you're looking for magic, fairies, secret oaths and mythical creatures tied to dark lore, Holly Blacks "The Cruel Prince" is just the book you need! The 1st of a 3 book series, The beautiful and dangerous world of Elfhame unfolds before us, filled with riddle, rhyme, love and betrayal. We follow the lives of two human children forced into the fairy folk world after the death of their parents by one of Elfame's powerful and elite leaders. The story line follows their difficult journey in adjusting to the ways of the folk and all the cruelty they had to endure to be comfortable in their new and strange land.

My thoughts?:

This is what I picture when I hear the word "fairy tale", a beautifully woven and descriptive tale full of the pixie dust mischief that you would expect from a story about a hidden and magical land. It's been awhile since a book has been able to fully enchant me into their world and wouldn't mind reading this again. My personal favorite parts were transitions between the human world and fairy world, how close and intimate it was, yet worlds apart in terms of structure. I found it just as interesting and puzzling as our protagonists to be apart of the human world yet not belonging to it, to feel alienated from both societies and not really knowing where they belong. (although one grows to adjust faster than the other) its quite evident that even in Elfame, there's a classicist hierarchy and even in their misfortune, they were incredibly lucky to be the "adopted" daughters of such a powerful (although dangerous) individual....had they been anywhere else or with someone who's influence were not as great, their fate would have teetered on trials worst than death...to no other fault than that they are human....they are different. (A parallel to what also occurs in the human world.)

Another thing I love are the parties! From the fashion to the feast it just really makes me yearn for a movie (GOOD) movie adaptation that features the golden wine, floating attire and dances described in the book. I see a magical masquerade of sorts with beings so powerful, their existence in the same room emits a glow. (a water down version of the actual description). Every scene is written as if you, the reader were actually there from the eyes of our young human protagonists and had a way of making you feel inadequate compared to the otherworldly nature of it all! Both entertaining and amusing, "The Cruel Prince" invites us on an adventure of whimsy, powdered in classic fairy tale lore.

I give it 10/10 Quills and would highly recommend to fantasy and adventure lovers such as myself.