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  • The Cruel Prince

  • The Folk of the Air, Book 1
  • Written by: Holly Black
  • Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly
  • Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (215 ratings)

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The Cruel Prince cover art

The Cruel Prince

Written by: Holly Black
Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly
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Publisher's Summary

By number-one New York Times best-selling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

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.

©2018 Holly Black (P)2018 Hachette Audio

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What listeners say about The Cruel Prince

Average Customer Ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Couldn't find the flow

The story went quickly but I didn't get drawn in like I have with others. Lots of plotting and intrigue. Don't think I'll continue with the series

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This book is my new guilty pleasure!

Abuse ain't cute! however this book almost makes me believe it is. So I understand how this maybe controversial for some people. But if you like exploring complex emotions in a political world, where the chosen one trope is done amazingly. The main character has no business messing in Fey politics and it is because of this that this book is so amazing.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great read

really good storytelling and honestly loved all of the characters and the attention to detail when describing the Faye was amazing

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Worth the read!

This is the first fantasy book I listened to and was concerned with the world building however this was not the case! The combination of writing and performance was terrific. No the story isn’t perfect, but there were many twists, turns, & loveable moments.
Holly Black merges our world with the fairy one resulting in treason, treachery, and overcoming discrimination.
The listening experience really made this book enjoyable, the second book cannot come sooner.
#Audible1

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wow

twists and turns and crazy stories. very entertaining and good. can't wait for the next book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

thrilling and fun

The reader is pretty good, her man voices are even good. Story was addictive and a good paced thrill. Brutal court intrigue and beautiful settings and characters. Highly recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible! Best story I've read all year.

This one keeps you guessing and has a little of everything. Breath of fresh air from all the predictable unoriginal work out there. Love love love all the characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

good book but

It was a slow start in my oppinion but ended up really liking the book in the end. if I did have one thing that I didnt like is I wish with there being so man character that maybe an addition voice would have been helpful as t was hard at first to differentiate between the characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slow to start buuuuuttt

So the last bit of the book is the reason I’m reading the next. The beginning was painfully slow but it was quite the ride after the first twist. I’m not sure I love the style of writing, or maybe it’s the way the narrator reads but it sounded choppy. Overall decent book. I’m intrigued enough to read the next.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

The book was amazing from start to finish. I love how each character, including the narrator, were not these cookie cutter good or bad characters. Everyone was both good and bad, and I found that made the story so much more interesting. The story and plot was great, interesting,gripping and, easy to follow, and the narrator for this one was wonderful! I got through the whole thing quite quickly, it was hard to put this down! I was so sad for it to end, but I cannot wait till the next book in the series to release!

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4 people found this helpful