The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The novel, “The Cruel Prince” written by Holly Black is the first book of the Folk of the Air series. The Cruel Prince is about a mortal by the name of Jude. Her parents were killed when she was young and she was taken to the Faerie world by her step sister’s (Vivienne) legitimate father. Jude also has a twin sister named Taryn. All three of these siblings cried for their losses but soon came to love the Faerie world except Vivienne. But for Taryn and Jude, Madoc, their parents’ murderer became their foster father. Although he killed his ex-wife and her husband, he still treated Taryn and Jude like his own. He taught them how to fight as he was the High King’s general. But in a world of folk, as much as Jude wants to belong there, she can’t. This is because the fey hate mortals, they think that they are weak and they use their powers to their advantage; to control mortals, to make them look and feel and act like fools. Due to Madoc’s status, Jude is able to go to lessons (which is like going to school) with Prince Cardan (the High King’s youngest and most vicious son), Locke, Nicasia, and Valerian (Prince Cardan’s friends – Jude’s tormentors). But with her ambitions to gain a seat on the Court, she defies him, riles him up, and makes him angry as she is a mere mortal, nothing to lose. Though as she continues these palace schemes, Jude finds her own propensity for deception and bloodshed. But, betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in bloodshed, and Jude will be forced to put her life on the line in a perilous situation to make her seemingly impossible choice. 

To be honest when I first started this book I was so bored, I didn’t understand the hype but you just have to get into it. As you read more, mid-way through the book that’s when things start to get interesting and after that you just can’t put this book down. This book contains an enemies-to-lovers element as well as fantasy, romance, a lot of goblins, fairies, mermaids – basically characters that come out of a fairytale story. I would recommend this book to ages 14 and up, most likely young adults.

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

The novel, “The Queen of Nothing” written by Holly Black is the third and last book of the Folk of the Air series. Previously we learned that Jude and Cardan marry and in return Jude relinquishes her power, thinking that she can trust Cardan but he betrays her by banishing Jude to the mortal world even though she is technically High Queen alongside Cardan who is High King. Now in the mortal world with Oak and Vivi, Jude is powerless and hurting from Cardan’s malice as the banished mortal Queen of Faerie. Taryn, her twin sister, whose life is in jeopardy, presents an opportunity to Jude, which Jude automatically takes. She risks everything by returning to the Faerie Court to save her sister. During her time there she confronts her lingering affections for Cardan and extends her time at Elfhame as it is not the same as she left it. As Jude infiltrates enemy territory, she becomes entangled in the conflict’s brutal dynamics. She has to step up as Queen and take charge. Using the information gathered, she and the Court start planning for war. Along with this, another conflict appears regarding the dormant curse in the crown.

I think the final book was the best out of the three just because it showed Jude at her best, when she is a powerful queen commanding, a warrior fighting, establishing her relationship with Cardan and finding success in her battles. I would recommend this trilogy to teens and young adults who enjoy a fantasy filled adventure, especially during the summer just because I feel as though students have the most time during this period and it is quite relaxing to read without any obligations coming in the way.

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

The Wicked King by Holly Black

The novel, “The Wicked King” written by Holly Black is the second book of the Folk of the Air series. Previously we find that Prince Balekin kills all of his family members besides Cardan before Dain can ascend and take his place as the new High King. To become High King a blood relative must crown the other. Balkin needs Cardan in order to become High King. Another revelation is that Oak, Jude’s brother, is also the heir to Faerie and Jude must keep her brother safe from this bloodshed and the weight of politics, as Oak is a little boy that should have normalcy in his life before he has to command. To accomplish this she has enslaved Cardan and made him the king even though he didn’t want it and Jude successfully turned herself into the power behind the throne. Even if Cardan were easy to govern, which he isn’t, navigating Faerie’s constantly shifting political relationships is challenging. Not to mention the fact that Cardan does everything he can to humiliate and discredit her. On top of this, Jude must find the traitor that is in her circle and she has to fight her own conflicted feelings for Cardan to keep control as a mortal in a realm like this because it becomes evident that someone close to her is planning to betray her, endangering her own life and the lives of everyone she loves.

I definitely recommend this book because it shows Jude in a different light. It exposes her cunningness, her role as a woman commanding a man, her plans which are jaw-dropping because you would never guess that she would deceive someone she has romantic feelings for, or even the way she did it which just makes her so much more powerful. This is a novel for teens and young adults, although anyone interested in fantasy would love this series. 

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

In The Cruel Prince, written by Holly Black, the main character, Jude, lives in Elfhame, a world populated by faeries, although she was born in the mortal world. When Jude was a child, she and her sisters witnessed their parents’ brutal deaths, and were forced to leave the world they knew. They were then raised by their parents’ murderer, who is also the father if Jude’s oldest sister.. Due to Jude’s mortal state, she received hate from the faeries and could be controlled by others. Also, as a result of Jude’s upbringing, she was affected by the cruelty around her. Although Jude faced many struggles, she always had determination.

In the book, Jude has to overcome many challenges. She gets caught in the middle of many secrets in the fae royal family when it is time for a new prince to be crowned. She must learn to recognize that people are not always who they seem to be, and that experiences can change personalities. For example, many characters, including Jude, were affected by the malice embedded into their lives. Throughout the novel, Jude perseveres through the tough times to protect others and prove her worth. The determination Jude possesses has inspired me to act in ways that reflect her courageousness. I enjoyed reading this book due to the message it revealed. Determination is an essential key to achieving any feat in life. This book opened my eyes so that I could understand how much of an impact motivation can have on a situation.

I would recommend this book for middle school through college aged students. There is such a wide range for the age group because this theme can change any person’s way of thinking for their future experiences in life.

Written by Arianna, Teen Volunteer