The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
The Folk of the Air
Mortal Jude Duarte was stolen away to the High Court of Faerie as a child and wants to belong. Her greatest obstacle is Prince Cardan, the cruelest of the fae. A YA fantasy.
About This Book
The Cruel Prince is a fantasy romance novel by Holly Black, first published in 2018 by Little, Brown and Company. It is part of the The Folk of the Air series and runs 370 pages. Readers can expect enemies to lovers.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Trope
- Enemies to Lovers
- Published
- 2018
- Length
- 370 pages
- Format
- Hardcover
Where to read or listen
Get The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A mortal girl struggles to find her place in a dangerous faerie court while clashing with its cruelest prince.
- Features Enemies to Lovers
- Antagonistic dynamics
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: unknown
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: unknown
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Recommended audience: Young Adult readers interested in fantasy and political intrigue.
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Jude Duarte was a child when she was taken to the magical High Court of Faerie. To survive among the immortal, treacherous fae, she must navigate complex political machinations and face her greatest obstacle: the cruel Prince Cardan.
Central Conflict
Jude's desire to belong in the High Court of Faerie versus the hostility and cruelty of Prince Cardan.
Setting
High Court of Faerie
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Holly Black
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Little, Brown and Company
- Published
- 2018
- Format
- Hardcover
- Length
- 370 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780316310277
The Cruel Prince: quick answers
- Who wrote The Cruel Prince?
- The Cruel Prince was written by Holly Black.
- When was The Cruel Prince published?
- The Cruel Prince was first published in 2018 by Little, Brown and Company.
- What genre is The Cruel Prince?
- The Cruel Prince is a fantasy romance novel, with enemies to lovers.
- How many pages is The Cruel Prince?
- The Cruel Prince is 370 pages long (Hardcover).
- Is The Cruel Prince part of a series?
- Yes — it is part of the The Folk of the Air series.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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