The Cruel Prince: The Folk of the Air, Book 1

Book review by Michael Berry, Common Sense Media
The Cruel Prince: The Folk of the Air, Book 1 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Tricky fantasy will keep readers guessing until the end.

Holly Black Fantasy 2018
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 8 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 91 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Cruel Prince is the initial volume of a new fantasy series by Holly Black, author of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and many other books. Based on Celtic folklore, it presents an original new take on Faerie and its inhabitants, the fey. The threat of violence permeates the plot, which includes stabbings (fatal and otherwise), poisonings, and deadly magical spells. Swearing is infrequent, with a handful of "hell" and "damn." Sexual content is limited to some flirting and a handful of scenes featuring passionate kissing.

Community Reviews

madison_paige
madison_paige Adult
June 4, 2019
age 15+

Fantastic story; some violence, bullying, and anti-heros

This series is one of my most favorite book series of all time. I am a huge fan of darker fantasy and so this book blessed my life with its gothic vibes. It was very clean, which is actually quite hard to find in a Young Adult fantasy book these days. This book is full of faeries, but these are not your typical sing-song happy-go-lucky faeries with pixie wings and a little magic. The faeries in this book are manipulative, greedy, deceiving, and some are straight up murderers. Even the main protagonist, Jude, is not necessarily "good". Yet, she is beautifully human. She is extremely strong and fierce. I love her in every way. This book has some great romance, no sex, just some passionate kisses. There are very few swear words. The violence is a lot, but I wouldn't describe it as "graphic" or "frightening", especially for older teens. Violence is typical in fantasy novels; a few stabbings are the main violence in this book. The one thing that bothered me just a bit was the bullying. The main character, Jude, is bullied by a group of faeries at school, which includes Prince Cardan (who is another main character in this series). The bullying almost crosses a line when this group of faeries try to drown Jude in a river and later on, they almost kill her by forcing her to eat a fruit that can be fatal to humans like herself. When bullying causes almost death, I see a serious red flag. Yet, I think older teens would have the maturity to see this red flag and address the issue correctly. Overall, I am in love with this series and I cannot wait to for the final book to come out later this year.

This title has:

Too much violence
7 people found this helpful.
Julie P.
Julie P. Adult
May 1, 2020
age 11+

Loved It!

The content in The Cruel Prince does include some light, clothes on kissing (some other implied things, but your kid might not understand), rare swearing (ass, hell damn, around 2 uses of bullsh*t) but trust me, this is nothing most tweens haven't seen in movies or read about already. Honestly, I just think it's up to your child. If they can deal with these things and you know they've encountered it, it shouldn't be a problem. This is a great book and I do recommend.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
6 people found this helpful.
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As THE CRUEL PRINCE opens, mortal twin sisters Jude and Taryn have spent much of their lives in Faerie, but they are not accepted by the magical denizens of the land. Jude wants a position in the High Court, but it seems as if her every move toward that goal is thwarted by Prince Cardan and his dangerously annoying fey friends. When Jude is hired as a spy for one of the top contenders for the crown, she's put on a collision course with Cardan -- one that might prove deadly. Nothing, however, prepares either of them for a stunning act of betrayal that changes everything in the Royal Court.

Is It Any Good?

Some stories downplay the ruthlessness of Faerie, but this action-packed, twisty tale of magical intrigue makes it clear that members of the fey can be ferociously deadly. The Cruel Prince quickly sets up the conflict between Jude and Cardan, and author Holly Black finds numerous ways to keep the narrative exciting and unpredictable. Readers may foresee that presence of a cliffhanger ending, but most will be caught off guard by other surprises scattered throughout the book. The dialogue is droll, the characters vibrant, and the action near-constant. Only the first volume of a new series, The Cruel Prince is already a solid winner.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Cruel Prince uses Celtic folklore and mythology. What is it about these ancient stories that resonates with modern readers?

  • Fairies cannot tell lies. Would such a prohibition be a good thing in real life? Are lies ever preferable to the truth?

  • Prince Cardan and other members of the fey harass Jude and Taryn. What are good strategies for dealing with bullies? Which strategies make things worse?

Book Details

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