Review: Ravensong by TJ Klune

Ravensong

by TJ Klune

Series: Green Creek #2

Pub: July 31, 2018

Genre(s): fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, lgbt/queer, m/m romance, shapeshifters/werewolves, adult fiction

4.5 stars

GOODREADS

The Bennett family has a secret: They're not just a family, they're a pack. Ravensong is Gordo Livingstone's story.

Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack that left him behind, he sought solace in the garage in his tiny mountain town, vowing never again to involve himself in the affairs of wolves.

It should have been enough.

It was, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. And when his town is caught in the jaws of a beast, Gordo is summoned back into the life that left him.

“Gordo, you must rise. For your pack. For us. I must ask you to become the witch to the wolves.”

Now, a year later, Gordo has once again found himself the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the song that howls between them.

But time is running out. Something is coming. And this time, it’s coming from within.

The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.

________________________________________________________________

Wolfsong, the first book in the Green Creek series, was an unforgettable reading experience. Because of that, I went into Ravensong with such high expectations, but most of all I was just happy to be returning to the Bennett pack (packpackpack). It felt like coming home (homehomehome). #IYKYK

 

Gordo was still a child when his father began adding the tattooed runes to his arms and teaching him what it meant to be the witch for a powerful werewolf pack. His mother told him things, too – you can’t trust a wolf, they don’t love you, they need you, they use you. But the Bennett pack was like family – especially Mark. While he may have once been strange and annoying, shadowing Gordo everywhere he went, they became friends – with the promise of more.

 

“I’m making sure you’re safe.”

I took a step back. “From what?”

He shrugged, looking more awkward than I’d ever seen him. “From… like. You know. Bad guys. And stuff.”

 

Tragedy struck, leaving Gordo without both mother and father, but the Bennett’s were there. Taking him in, providing home and family, love and support. But even that did not last. The Bennett’s left Green Creek, and Gordo. There were promises that they would come back for him, that he was loved, that he was still theirs. But all Gordo knew was that he was being left, he wasn’t enough, and he was being betrayed by the one person he never thought was capable of such a thing.

 

“They don’t trust me. And since they don’t trust me, you are leaving me here. You chose them over me.”

“No, Gordo. Never that. I would never –“

“Then stay here.”

 

Over the years, Gordo’s hurt and feelings of betrayal turned to anger. It was easier to be angry than deal with the pain of abandonment. And when the Bennett pack finally returned to Green Creek, he kept his distance, his anger creating a wall between them. When circumstances pulled him back into the Bennett pack, he had to question what he knew of the past and how it had shaped his life. And when danger encroached the bounds of Green Creek, Gordo was tested in ways he could never have imagined.

 

Ravensong delved deep into Gordo’s past and covered the years during the pack’s absence, especially his complicated relationship with Mark Bennett. Gordo, a man who begged to be chosen, wanted (“Right now. Here. Choose me. Mark, I’m asking you, for once in your life, to choose me.”) and Mark, a man who had to make an impossible choice that had lasting consequences. Gordo and Mark were characters who both made great sacrifices for those they loved and those sacrifices changed them. But despite time and distance and anger and hurt, their bond was always there.

 

I thought of a boy with eyes of ice telling me that he loved me, that he didn’t want to leave again but he had to, his Alpha was demanding it, and he would come back for me, Gordo, you have to believe I’ll come back for you. You are my mate, I love you, I love you, I love you.

 

As compelling as the plot was (intrigue, adventure, betrayal, suspense), it was the characters that kept me turning the pages. This cast of characters embodied the spirit of family and friendship and loyalty, even when tested under the most extreme circumstances. When war was brought to their doorstep, all differences were set aside and they came together as a united front.

 

“You are not alone, Gordo. And I promise you that you never will be.”

 

It is impossible for me not to compare Ravensong and Wolfsong. And while Gordo’s stranglehold on his anger over the years sometimes made me yearn for the sweetness and softness of Joe and Ox (from Wolfsong), I understood it came from a place of hurt. And let’s not forget that Gordo was also a total badass (“You done f*cked up. You would do well to start running now. Because the last time someone came for our pack, he ended up getting his head torn off.”). All in all, Ravensong delivered an incredible tale of family in all its forms, the lengths some will go to to protect them, and a love that can overcome it all. I will return to the Bennett family again and again. 4.5 stars

Art credit: unknown

Have you read Ravensong?

Review: Wolfsong by TJ Klune

 

Wolfsong

by TJ Klune

Series: Green Creek #1

Pub: June 20, 2016

Genre(s): fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, lgbt/queer, m/m romance, shapeshifters/werewolves, adult fiction

5 stars

GOODREADS

The Bennett family has a secret: They're not just a family, they're a pack. Wolfsong is Ox Matheson's story.

Oxnard Matheson was twelve when his father taught him that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then his father left.

Ox was sixteen when the energetic Bennett family moved in next door, harboring a secret that would change him forever. The Bennetts are shapeshifters. They can transform into wolves at will. Drawn to their magic, loyalty, and enduring friendships, Ox feels a gulf between this extraordinary new world and the quiet life he’s known, but he finds an ally in Joe, the youngest Bennett boy.

Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his heart. Violence flared, tragedy split the pack, and Joe left town, leaving Ox behind. Three years later, the boy is back. Except now he’s a man – charming, handsome, but haunted – and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.

The beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and family.

The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.

________________________________________________________________

Wolfsong languished on my Kindle for years before I finally read it. Big mistake. Because by page three I knew I had just been introduced to a special snowflake of a character (and I mean that in the very best way) that would be unforgettable.

Ox was only twelve when his father left, leaving him and his mother to fend for themselves. When he started working at the nearby garage, he found friendship among the other mechanics, and a steady and supportive figure in Gordo, the owner of the garage. But it wasn’t until he met the Bennett family that he found true acceptance and a feeling of belonging. Ox was sixteen when he met Joe Bennett on the dirt road that led to his small house. And that’s when everything changed.

 

“Mom! Mom. You have to smell him! It’s like… I don’t even know what it’s like! You gotta smell him and then tell me why it’s all candy canes and pinecones and epic and awesome.” – Joe Bennett

 

As the years passed, Ox was drawn more and more into the lives of the Bennett family. Or rather, as he came to learn, the Bennett pack. Because his new-found friends could shift into wolves and their pack was strong, with deep ties to the town of Green Creek and the land around them. Despite their strength, the pack was devastated by loss when they were betrayed by a friend and former pack member. Then Joe was gone, overwhelmed with grief, but hell bent on vengeance. In Joe’s absence, Ox becomes more than he ever thought possible, his ties with the Bennett pack strengthened in ways that defy logic and reason. Joe returns to find much has changes, himself included. Ox and Joe must find their way back to one another – and face an enemy from the past that threatens them all.

 

“Am I part of your pack?”

He said, “What do you think pack means?”

“Family,” I said promptly.

Thomas smiled. “Yes, Ox. You are part of my pack.”

 

There wasn’t a single thing that I did not love about Wolfsong. I loved Ox, who was so precious and so pure, and made my heart hurt every time he was misunderstood and simply not seen. But he also filled my heart with joy for the sweet soul that he was. Then there was Joe, whose joyful exuberance as a child was tempered by loss, but his unwavering love for Ox never diminished. The Bennett family were so loving and devoted – Thomas and Elizabeth, Carter and Kelly, and Mark – and I wished I could be invited to Sunday dinner (“because it’s tradition”). There was Gordo and the guys at the garage – Rico and Chris and Tanner – who provided so much comic relief and had me giggling at their banter.

 

“I’m a witch,” he said.

And I said, “You’re a wizard, Harry,” because I thought there was a very real chance I was caught in a dream.

 

The relationships in Wolfsong captured my heart. The friendships, the family, the love… each felt so genuine and so multi-layered and complex. Klune has a gift at creating such special characters and weaving their bonds together to create a sense of family, whether that be biological or chosen. The entire book had a strong underlying theme of family and loyalty, and I loved the way Klune portrayed that in every interaction and conversation. Wolfsong was also a love story and oh what a love story! From the early bonds of friendship, to the slow awakening of more, to the pining – the evolution of Ox and Joe’s relationship had epic love story written all over it.

 

“I knew the day I met you that I would do anything for you. I would do anything to make you happy because no one had ever smelled like you did. It was candy canes and pinecones. It was epic and awesome. And it was home. You smelled like my home, Ox.”

 

Wolfsong was filled with heart aching sweetness, heartbreaking sadness, and laughter. With its truly unforgettable characters, Wolfsong delivered an extraordinary story that became an instant favorite. 5 stars

Art credit: unknown

Have you read Wolfsong?

Review: Iron Flame | Rebecca Yarros

IRON FLAME

by Rebecca Yarros

The Empyrean #2

Pub: 11/7/2023

Entangled: Red Tower Books

884 pg. (Kindle version)

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

Amazon | GoodReads

REVIEW:

I imagine the question on every reader’s mind when they pick up Iron Flame is: can it possibly live up to Fourth Wing? For me the answer is a resounding yes.

After the jaw dropping ending of Fourth Wing (hello cliffhanger), I was excited to find that Iron Flame wasted no time in throwing me right back into the action. The plot of Iron Flame expanded far beyond the walls of Basgiath, and Violet’s previous goal of simply surviving her first year at the war college paled in comparison to the even higher stakes she now faced. Violet was attempting to come to terms with her new reality and it’s fair to say that her confidence was shaken. Now plagued by nightmares, and still reeling from a heartbreaking loss, she felt unable to lean on her friends for support, and instead kept them at arm’s length to protect them. The lack of support and the fragile state of her relationship with Xaden made for a very angsty Violet.

Friendships that were formed in Fourth Wing only strengthened in Iron Flame and I loved seeing those secondary characters play important roles in the expanding plot, utilizing their own unique gifts in times of need. But, as in Fourth Wing, Tairn and Andarna were the shining stars and the highlight of every scene they were in. Someone please explain how this (almost) strictly contemporary reader became so emotionally attached to two dragons, because that is my new reality.

As much as I loved the journey, there were some bumps along the way. Violet and Xaden’s relationship (a highlight for me in Fourth Wing) floundered here and trust issues were the common theme. Violet’s insistence on “full disclosure” from Xaden smacked of hypocrisy and their push and pull throughout the book started to feel a bit repetitive. However, Violet’s push for answers has led to more background on Xaden.

Yarros delivered another thrilling, action-packed ride and there were scenes where it felt like I was hanging on for dear life. As the tension amped up to off-the-charts levels, I alternated between my heart stopping and feeling like it was about to beat right out of my chest. Yet again, another ending that had me gasping with shock and desperately wishing I knew when to expect the next installment. While I wait, you can find me online soaking up fan art and theories galore. 4.75 ★

Have you read Iron Flame?

Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

FOURTH WING

by Rebecca Yarros
Series: The Empyrean #1
Pub: 5/2/2023
Format: Kindle/Audio

4.75★

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away... because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. down once again.

 Unless you’ve been in a cave, trapped under something heavy, or otherwise completely out of touch with the world around you, you are well aware of the phenomenon that is Fourth Wing. And based on the 98,000+ reviews on Goodreads, I doubt there’s anything new that can be said about it. But that won’t stop me from gushing about my own reading experience because after finishing Fourth Wing… I have all the feelings and I need to share and commiserate and flail along with everyone else.

 

I will not run. I wouldn’t be standing here if I’d quit every time something seemed impossible to overcome. I will not die today. - Violet Sorrengail

 

Violet Sorrengail wants nothing more than to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a Scribe, devoted to capturing and maintaining the history of Navarre. She’s dealt a cruel blow when her mother, a general in the kingdom of Navarre, forces Violet to instead enter Basgiath. A war college for dragon riders, Basgiath is brutal for even the strongest candidates but even more so for Violent whose chronic illness manifests joint pain and unstable joints that dislocate easily (a disorder that closely mirrors Yarros’s own struggle with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). Day after day, Violet faces almost insurmountable challenges that push her to her limits both physically and mentally.

 

The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity. - Xaden Riorson

 

Fourth Wing started with a bang – with Violet thrown into a dangerous and tension-filled challenge in the first chapter – and never let up. As invested as I was, it was when the dragons showed up and sunk their claws in me that I become low-key obsessed and could hardly bear to set the book down. The dragons – with their fierce, unpredictable natures, their wisdom, and their unique personalities – were something to behold. And I – who in no way considers myself a fantasy reader – was astounded at the connection I felt with the magnificent beasts. I cheered for them, I laughed at their dry humor, and I shed tears at their heartache. I credit that wholly to Yarros and her proven skill at creating characters (yes, even dragons) that always evoke an emotional response.

 

“Did you ever once stop to think that sometimes you can start out on the right side of a war and end up on the wrong one?”

 

The worldbuilding was detailed without being overwhelming (this non-fantasy reader thanks Yarros for that). And the building tension as the stakes rose higher and higher was delicious torture. The plotting was exquisite, the twists and turns so satisfying, and the push and pull of the romance was the perfect balance to the brutal competition and behind the scenes machinations. And then there was that jaw-dropping final scene that had everyone (me included!) desperate for the next book. I’m actually glad I didn’t read Fourth Wing when it released back in May. I’d hate to think I had to wait six months for answers. As it is, the four or five weeks until Iron Flame is in my hands feels like an eternity.

 

We can live as cowards or die as riders.

 

As if it wasn’t apparent, there was so much I loved about Fourth Wing. Violet’s resilience every time she pushed past her own fears and perceived weaknesses, the friendships, the intrigue, the danger, Xaden (I admit, every time he called Violet ‘Violence’ I practically squealed with delight), the plot twists, the dragons (my love for Tairn and Andarna knows no bounds), and so much more. Fourth Wing took me by surprise. It was only because of my love and appreciation for Yarros’s contemporary novels that I took a chance on it, and it paid off in the best of ways. Fourth Wing will without a doubt be one of my top reads of 2023. 4.75★

Short Take Reviews: The Awakening, Love at First, Undeniable

 

THE AWAKENING - Nora Roberts

4 stars

Breen was living a truly unfulfilling life and, after the discovery of money set aside for her by her long-lost father, traveled to his home in Ireland for the summer. That set into motion events that would lead her into another world and a destiny she could never have imagined. Discovering a portal that transported her to a land she had dreamed of, Breen found herself among people who had been waiting for her arrival and were anxious for her to fulfill her fated role.

It's been years since I read anything by Nora Roberts, but the premise of The Awakening appealed to me. It was easy to get sucked right into the story as Breen ventured to Ireland and found much more than she anticipated. A magical land, fae, dragons, and a loving grandmother – as well as darker force intent on doing harm and bringing ruin to the land and its people. The Chosen One trope is alive and well here and I totally enjoyed the cast of characters, Breen finding her way in such unfamiliar surroundings, and the choices she was faced with. This is what I consider “fantasy lite” and it was a fun reading experience. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.

LOVE AT FIRST - Kate Clayborn

3.25 stars

Love at First was a mostly entertaining tale of two sort-of lost souls who (finally) came together. Nora had a strong connection with the other residents in her apartment building. A place where she’d spent summers as a child and where she had stability and felt loved and understood. Since the death of her beloved grandmother, Nora had moved back and was determined to protect the building and all who lived there from an outsider (Will).

While I enjoyed the found family aspect and all the quirky side characters that formed Nora’s support system and social circle, the two main characters left me wanting more. Nora and Will were pleasant enough but overall pretty bland. I never felt like I had a good understanding of who they were and what their motivations were, and that meant I wasn’t particularly invested in their outcome. However, the story was sweet and I’m a sucker for a grand gesture, so the ending was satisfying and left a smile on my face.

UNDENIABLE - Melanie Harlow

3 stars 

I read the first book in the Cloverleigh Farm companion series, Irresistible, a couple months ago and enjoyed it so much. So I was excited to dive into this one and meet another of the Sawyer sisters. Unfortunately, Undeniable used a trope I really dislike and focused on two main characters that I just couldn’t get behind.

Chloe and Oliver were childhood friends turned frenemies. After four years of not speaking, Oliver shows up with a business proposition that Chloe feels pressured to accept, in part because their parents are lifelong friends. Part of the agreement is that Chloe will spend the next week with Oliver, before she fully commits, giving him time to make his pitch, and also to talk out the past and hopefully re-establish some trust. What ensued was a whole lot of lies by omission on Oliver’s part and a lot of doormat behavior on Chloe’s part. I really, really wanted to like these two because Melanie Harlow is so great with dialogue and humor and swoony goodness, but it just wasn’t happening. I couldn’t get past Oliver’s actions and the fact that he only came clean when forced into a corner, and that Chloe was let down by Oliver again and again but kept coming back for more. 

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?

Short Take Reviews: The Queen of Nothing, We Own Tonight, Malice

I'm covering all bases today with a contemporary romance, a YA fantasy, and a YA contemporary with a sci-fi twist. While one missed the mark, the other two were big hits. 

    

WE OWN TONIGHT by Corinne Michaels | 4.5 STARS

Corinne Michaels was one of those authors that I’d been meaning to read for years. And after I finished We Own Tonight all I could think was, What took me so long?” Because I fell hard for this sexy/swoony story. Heather had a mind-blowing encounter with Eli, her teenage crush, after his concert. Her life was complicated and she had no room for a relationship but apparently Eli didn’t get the memo. I loved the way Eli pursued Heather – not in an overbearing, creepy way but with persistent charm and humor. What started as attraction and infatuation turned into something deeper and I loved watching these two get to know each other, trust each other, and make room for each other in their lives. I appreciated Heather’s selflessness and her devotion to her sister and Eli was an absolute sweetheart who understood Heather’s situation and did everything he could to make her life easier. Both of them were dealing with serious matters in their personal lives and those led to some truly emotional moments that had me tearing up more than once. There’s no doubt I’ll be reading more from Corinne Michaels after this gem.

THE QUEEN OF NOTHING (The Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black | 4.25 STARS

The Queen of Nothing gave me more of what I loved about The Folk of the Air trilogy – the scheming, the plotting, the machinations – and then amped it up a notch by delivering more of what I wanted: more Jude + Cardan. The changes in them both over the course of the series were so subtle and so well done. These two had danced around each other for so long and the payoff here of finally – finally! – seeing them open up to one another and come together was epic. They truly came into their own here. But it’s not like Holly Black dropped the action in order to focus on the characters. There was still all the danger, the trickery, the twists, the situations I thought for sure there was no way out of. The pacing was nonstop and I enjoyed every minute of the ride. (Side note: Kudos to Black for creating some of the best morally gray (and downright villainous) characters ever and not feel the need to redeem them. *fist bump to Holly*) 

MALICE by Pintip Dunn | 2.75-3 STARS

I’ll start by saying that Malice wasn’t a good fit for me from the start. But Entangled sent me a shiny, new hardcover in a pretty PR box so I felt obligated to read it. So there’s that. While the premise is interesting – girl hears voice of her older self, telling her that a classmate will wipe out two-thirds of a population with a virus and enlists her help to stop him – the execution left me wanting. Main character Alice was way too willing to believe the voice in her head and was prepared to go to extreme lengths without ever really exploring other options. Plus, there were just too many events that were so unrealistic (even outside the time travel aspect) and outlandish that it lost any shred of believability. The reveal of the virus maker was a dud since it was glaringly obvious from early on. Side character Bandit was the bright spot. 

Have you read any of these books?

Review: The Wicked King by Holly Black

The Wicked King
K.A. Tucker
Series: The Folk of the Air #2
Publication date: January 8, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: a combination of hardcover (library) and audio (Audible)

It’s not often you can say a sequel was worth a year’s wait, but in this case? Oh yeah, totally worth the wait. Holly Black delivered big time in this follow-up to last year’s The Cruel Prince. Everything here is just… more. It’s more intense, it’s darker, and the stakes are higher. So buckle up, buttercup, and prepare yourself for The Wicked King.

I feel like a lot of what I want to say could be spoilery and I want to avoid that at all costs (I’m not even including the synopsis because it gives spoilers for the first book). So, sorry if I’m vague but no way am I going to ruin any part of the experience.

Once upon a time, there was a human girl stolen away by faeries, 

and because of that, she swore to destroy them.

The Wicked King picks up five months after the jaw-dropping ending of The Cruel Prince. Jude and Cardan have an uneasy alliance and the balance of power seems to shift like sand being moved by the tide. Jude’s position as Cardan’s seneschal is tenuous and she knows it. Surrounded by those who would do anything to unseat the king and remove her from her position, she plays a constant game of cat and mouse (often playing both roles). Every player has their own agenda and the political machinations, bargains and threats were aplenty.

Jude proved again and again that she is a total badass. This girl held her own against the Folk with her own cunning, intelligence and sheer force of will. Even in the direst of situations (and there were many!), she never gave up and I was in awe of her grit and determination. She managed to always keep the big picture in mind and juggle every possible move in this grand game of strategy being played.

“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”

Then there’s Cardan. The Cruel Prince left me desperate for more of its eponymous character.  And OMG did The Wicked King deliver. More of the tortured royal, more biting insults and compliments that sound like slights, more self-deprecating humor. Cardan is more complex than ever and peeling back the prickly, beautiful layers was exquisite. And Jude + Cardan together? That’s a beautiful toxic mess of a relationship. There’s mutual mistrust, there’s hatred and there’s also respect and desire and attraction. Believe me when I say “I hate you” has never been sexier.

“And the single last thing in my head: that I like him 

better than I've ever liked anyone and that of all the things 

he's ever done to me, making me like him so much is by far the worst.” 

I love the way Black continued to build the magical and dangerous world of Faerie. I love the elegantly formal speech of the Folk. I love the twists, the betrayals, and the delicious drama of it all. 

And. That. Ending. 

I am so invested. The Wicked King was even more than I hoped for and I am so ready for The Queen of Nothing. 

4.5/5 STARS

Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Series: The Folk of the Air #1

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

Release Date: January 2, 2018

Format: Hardcover & Audio

Source: Library & Audible

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

While fantasy is not typically my genre of choice, I have found that stories centering on the Fae do catch my attention and the synopsis of The Cruel Prince definitely piqued my interest. Adding to that is the fact that I loved Black’s take on vampires in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown (one of the few stand-alone novels that I wished was a series). So I had high hopes going into The Cruel Prince and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint.

Jude is taken from her home to the land of Faerie, along with her two sisters, by the man who murdered her parents. Flash forward 10 years and we learn through Jude that the Fae can be a mean-spirited bunch. Clever, conniving, and sometimes brutal. And that’s just among themselves. When it comes to mortals like Jude, their attitudes range from contempt to outright loathing and cruelty. The high king of Faerie will soon step aside and has several sons who are vying for the throne. Jude, determined to obtain some measure of power, seeks to have a position at Court as a knight to the new king. It’s that desire than leads to her involvement in the political intrigue and behind the scenes scheming and plotting. And that’s where the story really takes off.

“What they don’t realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. I was raised by the man who murdered my parents, reared in a land of monsters. I live with that fear, let it settle into my bones, and ignore it. If I didn’t pretend not to be scared, I would hide under my owl-down coverlets in Madoc’s estate forever. I would lie there and scream until there was nothing left of me.”

Layered and Complex Characters.

Black created a large and varied cast of characters with attention paid to developing not just main character Jude but those around her as well. There wasn’t a single under-utilized or cookie cutter character in sight. Each had a story, a personality, a purpose. And more importantly, each had their own motivations and could be self-serving. My favorite aspect of these characters is the fact that there were no obvious heroes or villains. The Cruel Prince is filled with morally grey characters who are driven by their individual wants and desires. Simply put, they all do bad things. 

“What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong? Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.” 

Sister/Familial Relationships.

It’s interesting to see the differences in Jude and sisters Taryn and Vivi and how they become more pronounced once in Faerie. There is Jude’s desire for power and a feeling over control, Taryn’s willingness to fit in and play by the rules, and Vivi’s wish to return to the mortal world. Jude is the most conflicted, torn between her wish to fit in and be accepted and her desire for power over those who would do her harm, and this is the catalyst for conflict with each of her sisters at times. 

“If I cannot be better than them, 

I will become so much worse.”

Jude’s relationship with Madoc was one of the most interesting to me. He is the one who stole her away to this land and, while not her father, acted as such and raised her under his protection. He taught her the ways of Faerie, trained her in swordsmanship and strategy, and generally treated her as his daughter. But Jude never forgot his history or his nature and her love for him was always tempered with a measure of fear.

And then there’s Cardan, the eponymous prince. I spent much of the book wanting to claw his eyes out or do other bodily harm, pretty much echoing Jude’s feelings when it came to Cardan. He was condescending, spiteful, and, yes, cruel. But before you start assuming that underneath the hateful exterior that there’s a heart of gold just waiting to be set free, and then unicorns and rainbows abound… yeah, not so fast. Is there more to Cardan than meets the eye? Absolutely. But remember what I said about morally grey characters and no obvious heroes and villains. Just because he may have his own secrets and his own demons, doesn’t mean there’s a swoony nice guy hidden away. Cardan is flawed, acerbic, cynical, and would rather spend his time drinking wine than involving himself in court politics. And yet… well, let’s just say I want to know more.

“I am going to keep on defying you. I am going to shame you with my defiance. You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing. You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down. I promise you this is the least of what I can do.” 

Political/Palace Intrigue.

Get ready for your head to spin with the ins and outs of Court politics. There are political alliances – and treasons. There are secrets and treachery. There are the dynamics among the various Courts. At any given time I was unsure of who to trust, and how much they could be trusted, until I was finally suspicious of nearly everyone. And with good cause – because they all have their own agendas and there are so many machinations taking place that it feels impossible for Jude to stay one step ahead of the game.

“No matter how careful I am, 

eventually I’ll make another misstep. 

I am weak. 

I am fragile. 

I am mortal.”

Final Thoughts.

I do think The Cruel Prince got off to a slow start and it took a while for it to gather steam. I started off reading a physical copy but, because I was struggling with the pacing, I switched to the audio version. Great decision. The narration is done well and went a long way in helping me get further invested in the plot. Caitlyn Kelly voices each character uniquely and it was always obvious who was speaking. She was able to impart emotion well with Jude and it added a lot to particularly dramatic or emotional scenes.

The Cruel Prince is compelling and quickly drew me in to the story. Even at the start, when I felt the pacing was slow, I was still intrigued by the rich world Holly Black created. Drama and action, politics and intrigue, all of it leading to a thrilling climax that had me on the edge of my seat, totally surprised by the turn of events. If you love tales of the Fae, if you love fantasy, if you love great story telling – pick up The Cruel Prince. You won’t be disappointed.

4.25/5 STARS

Do you plan to read The Cruel Prince?