The Cruel Prince / The Lost Sisters / The Wicked King / The Queen of Nothing

by Holly Black

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Fae, Magic

1104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2020

About the author

Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.

Reviews

[hailey🥀🦢✮˖°. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

i’m using this as a placeholder for the lost sisters bc this is the version i read from libby and want to be able to easily access my highlights👍

do i love taryn after this? no. still despise her. but it was well written and interesting to see what was happening on her side of things in the cruel prince. cardan making her cry was the highlight 🙂‍↕️

[Sezzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was stunning. STUNNING.
I had no idea I would love it as much as I did.
It was such a joy to read. It kept me completely on the edge of my seat throughout every book. Just when I thought I knew someone’s intentions or how a situation was going to pan out, I was proved very, very wrong.
This series deserves as much hype as ACOTAR and this is coming from an ACOTAR girly.
I’ve grown deeply connected to the characters and I’ve continually had to remind myself that they aren’t in fact real 😂
***SPOILERS***
This was a true enemies to lovers series for me. I already knew going into this that it was an enemies to lovers story, I’d seen some fan art of Cardan and Jude so I knew before I even picked this up that they were going to end up together but I absolutely could not FOR THE LIFE OF ME see how they were going to fall in love. I mean, the guy tried to drown her and kicked dirt into her food 😂
It was such an excellent read. It’s the kind of adventure that you hope for when starting a new book.
I’m in a state of mourning now that it’s over and I’ll need 5-7 business days before I feel okay again.
I will be buying the hardcovers. That’s when you know a series was dear to me 😂
Honestly 10/10.
I see a reread for me in the future.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not gonna lie, I read the sample and was like what’s all the hype? I only kept reading bc of all the reviews and I am so glad I did!! I cannot believe the turn around. It’s not that it was bad, just that it was slow compared to everything else. I love the complexity of the characters. I personally believe that taryn is worse than madoc. Thru his conquests he still tried to protect her (multiple murder attempts aside) while taryn didn’t care as long as she got what she wanted. 🙄 bad twin tactics there. Don’t even get me started on the relationship between Jude and Cardan 😍😍😍. Epic slow burn even if it annoyed me a bit that EVERYONE KNEW BUT THEM. TG they were vulnerable enough w each other in the end to be honest and make it a real relationship.

LOCKE AND VALERIAN GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED!!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has the most enchanting world and characters that still has me under the biggest book hangover, and I'm struggling to move on after finishing it (and may instead dive into an immediate re-read of the series lol).

The research and care Holly Black put into her world-building is evident, and delivered tastefully (I never felt I was being spoon fed blocks of unbearable expositon--rather everything flowed through the story naturally).

The weaving of several plots and character development had me at the edge of my seat, and I enjoyed that the author kept several mysteries to be discovered throughout, but didn't force them to be more complicated than they needed to be. Pieces of the puzzle came together reasonably, and anything that the reader could guess before Jude made sense for where the story was at and did not leave me with frustration, but instead anticipation for when the pieces would all fit for her. Or wondering if perhaps I was guessing incorrectly and excited to see what happened next.

The romance being a sub-plot is often criticized (from what I've seen, along with the slow burn), but as someone who is a sucker for a good romance but picky with writing style (i.e. I am not a fan of Fourth Wing), I'd say this series nails the enemies-to-lovers slow burn, and creates an amazing dynamic between characters that has me searching for crumbs of them in the spin-off series.

After finishing the series, it's hard for me to imagine having this critique on the romance because it very much exists--it just also exists along with the building of the plot. Since it's YA, the spice is not explicit like you'd expect from your Adult fantasy books--but imo the quality of writing, established tension, and desire between characters feels far more satisfying and mature than most of the explicit scenes I've read in other romantic fantasies. Fine dining over fast food.

I'll have this series on my mind for a long time, and it'll be hard not to compare it to my future reads.

[Lyndsy Haenze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series made me feel like I had been living under a rock! I wish I had started it sooner to obsess over the characters and fan art earlier. All that to say, this series was amazing. The beginning of the first book was a little difficult to grasp the world building; however, once I hit the second half of the book- I got the general grasp. These books were a non stop story progression of chaos, political navigation, betrayals, love, and wit! My only con truly was that I was always left wanting more. The books are very succinct in every way, I even caught myself wondering how everything would get wrapped up in some way with only a few chapters left. Such a great series that I will be happily reading again and again!

[Sammy Jasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

love

I love these books! I’ll admit that I feel like the ending came fast and furious and kinda just ended. I’m content in the fact that the author gave the the happy ending I was craving though.

These books had me at the edge of every page spending way to much time reading. Frustration rising at every curveball thrown our way. The Faeire are so tricky and dishonest for beings who can’t lie. It had my emotions all over the place.

The writing was great the image I have of this world in my head is amazing. I’m sad there aren’t anymore. I want more of Jude and Candans adventures as High king and queen.

[Gabriela.Zuñiga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much, unique and wonderful!

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I am partly lazy and partly too busy to write a separate review for each book of this trilogy so what better than rating them all as one? Considering how short the books were (for fantasy standards), this trilogy could've worked well as a one-piece quite frankly.

Maybe I have started this trilogy with way more enthusiasm than I should've considering how well-rated it is and how it's almost a modern classic for YA fantasy but I definitely finished it more confused on how that even came to be than anything. I haven't found anyone in this trilogy particularly likeable, from the main characters to the supporting ones, and so maybe that was what ended up being the biggest problem for me - I didn't really root for anyone nor did I even trust anyone and their often bizarre plans. It left me feeling a bit indifferent towards everything but I did enjoy the third book the most out of all because, like I said earlier, this worked as a one-piece for me with the third book just being the actual finale of it.

Another thing that I didn't really connect with was the romance, as well as the politics. It often felt like I needed to remind myself half of these characters are so young and then it seemed like they were playing house, well, some weird rendition of it. Jokes aside, I see the vision behind the romance aspect of the book but the author does so very little to actually develop it before it goes to love that it left me disappointed. Hate-to-love has that -to- in between for a reason - here, it felt like one day it was one, the next one it was the other, without much growth in between it. Maybe that's just me considering this is all an unpopular opinion but I do wish more was done on this aspect. I think I would've felt drawn to the characters more like that, too.

All in all, better than the average, but more disappointing than others made it out to be.

[Ashe Monday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be my favorite series. Right now, I am reading The Prisoner's Throne with Prince Oak🩷

[McKayli · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing trilogy throughout, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions reading them and going through all of the plot twists. There were highs and lows, by no means is this trilogy perfect but it has that fairytale essence to it that just draws you in and makes you never want to let go. I had a hard time finishing this book, in the way that you have a hard time saying goodbye to your friends and loved ones. I procrastinated over and over because I did not want the story to come to its end yet but alas I finally finished it and I am going to miss learning new things about the characters, hearing Jude and Cardan banter and never getting to see Oak become King. I will hold this book near and dear and recommend it to anyone who loves fairytales and especially enemies to lovers romance. Wonderful!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay hi, this series has my entire heart. I read this series once and was like "this is the weirdest thing I've ever read." Because, it is. Then I did a reread AND I listened to it on audible and I connected to it so much. Is it non-traditional? But it's SUPPOSED to be! This series is much more about the fae stories you hear in folklore and less the 500 year old shadow daddies. (I love both, just so we're clear). But I think once you understand that, this series really grabs your heart.
Cardan "have I told you how hideous you look tonight? I can't" Greenbriar is my baby. I am obsessed with him. His progression throughout the books is amazing and i find myself often so annoyed with Jude, even though by the end I love her as well.
Can we also talk about how devastated I am that she'll never read his letters???

[Virgo.Daddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I give this series a 3.5 ⭐️. First book was fun and easy to devour, second book was grueling and did not provide good character progression in my opinion, but the third was able to bring it back around with at least some likability and actual communication that the first two books lacked in a way that was just unrealistic. Cardan got better *i guess* but he is by far at the bottom of the “book boyfriend” list in the fantasy romance world (at least for me). Having a shit childhood doesn’t make it okay to be a shit person, turns out tons of people choose not to inflict cruelty onto others as they have had inflicted upon themselves. I just really hate that excuse for being a douche bag of the highest degree in the first two books.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series THREW ME OFF to no end. I don’t know how she can put so many plot twists in her books, and never make them obvious. Like how the hell does she do that. I only have two complaints about the series. 1) I wish she made Jude a LITTLE more likable. There were redeeming moments for her, and I liked her as a character, but I wish she wasn’t QUITE as awful as she was like 90% of the time. Complaint 2) is I really wish Cardan had a little more “screen time.” He is everything I LOVE in a MMC and I loved him without even being a focal point of the book. I only wish he had a few more “redeeming” scenes or moments.
Other than that I seriously loved this series, I would recommend it 100% and would definitely reread.

[Katherine L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am surprised how much I loved reading all three of these books. The writing kept me sucked in and I found myself deeply entranced with the characters and story. I enjoyed that the book was set in current time so the juxtaposition of the magic world with the normal every day world really was stunning. I read the three stories one right after another and even a couple of weeks later still feel nostalgic for the characters I came to care for so much as well as the vivid beauty and harshness of their magical world.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, not bad.

Overall I would say I liked these books. I still say that Maas is a better writer, but these aren't bad. The last book felt both rushed and a little all over the place. I didn't think I would like Cardan, but he turned out ok in the end.
Mostly the characters felt a little flat. Jude is definitely interesting, and Cardan has some growth, but even after reading all three books and short stories, they didn't feel fully fleshed out.

Like I said, not bad, but definitely not as good as ACOTAR. 😊

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Fantasy Trilogy

Reading the entire trilogy at once made it more obvious how the plot was portioned out, and Holly Black did a great job of it. The world was well developed, and even though the relationships did not work at all at first glance, their messiness somehow added to their authenticity.

Holly somehow made you understand, accept, and even love characters who were on the dark side of morally gray. But really, who in our lives is fully pure and good? And admit it, they would be boring if they were.

[Meagan Mcquigge-Derkacz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the first book, and halfway through the second and stopped, I couldn't get into it. I am giving 5 stars because the first book was amazing, hands down. I will try for the second one again. I am one of those readers who just gets bored with long books that are not gripping me to my seat even though their good. So, I will come back and adjust this comment as I continue to read through the rest of the series.

[Bee Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world building in this was great. I thought it had really interesting and more reminiscent to faerie lore and the darker side of how they interact. I think otherwise, the main relationship didn't have a lot of interactions for how long this series was. It took me a while to get through these, but overall I think they're a good read.

[Lauren Monahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this series, but I was obsessed by the end! It is well-written and invokes all sorts of emotions. Unlike some series, the author does a great job of wrapping things up neatly while leaving room for another series to branch off. I wasn't left frustrated by unanswered questions.

[Natalie Chirkoff · Rating 1 out of 5]

I mean this when I say it.
These.
Books.
Suck.
I found nothing compelling or interesting. The characters are 2D at best and I found no chemistry between any of them. I also didn’t like any of the characters remotely. Reading “the ghost” and “the bomb” over and over and over made me so irritated. Drop the “the” please I’m begging you.

[Shannon Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried at first that the prince would be irredeemable, but Holly Black masterfully pulled me into The Folk of the Air world and I fell in love with Jude and Carden. I loved the combination of the human and the fairie realms in the story. It is a true YA read. Highly recommend.

[Kara Bayliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story and kept my interest the entire way through. I would get SOOOO annoyed with characters and then the story would shift and I'd be right back where I started. It was a great read.

[Amber Lagana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping and expecting so much more from this series. It was such a slow book and the conflict was resolved so quickly in the end. I really wanted to love it, but I just did not... Unfortunately this is my least favorite series I’ve read this year.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Ok’

Still nothing comes close to Sarah J Maas but this was a fun read. I found the character development to be pretty lacking...but it was fun enough and a quick read.

[Clare Settle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

Filled with creative adventures, interesting and sometimes strange characters, strong women, and the requisite amount romance. This series is well worth the time.

[Hadar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 & 2 was slow and I didn't like the speed, the plot line was nice but I didn't get thrilled
Book 3 made it all better

[Lake Dodson · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was just… okay

It was just okay.. not comparable to Sarah J Maas or Other folk fantasy. Was kind of disappointed with the hype it had

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

Great weekend read. Kept me submersed in the storyline. Great characters and flow. Never lost interest.
Can’t wait for more books about The folk of the air.

[elena kim]

WHOLE BOOK= LOVE 10/10 DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE.

[Nina Pelias · Rating 5 out of 5]

📢 READ 📢 THIS 📢 SERIES 📢 AND 📢 CHAT 📢 ME 📢 SO 📢 WE 📢 CAN 📢 FANGIRL 📢 TOGETHER 📢