Themes

• Power struggles and political intrigue

• Belonging and identity in a foreign world

• Cruelty and its consequences

• Ambition and the pursuit of power

• Family loyalty versus individual desires

• The corrupting nature of power

• Overcoming prejudice and discrimination

Setting

The story of The Cruel Prince takes place in the magical realm of Faerie, a hidden world existing alongside the human world. Specifically, much of the action occurs in the High Court of Faerie, ruled over by the High King. This fantastical setting blends elements of traditional fairy tales with a darker, more dangerous atmosphere befitting the book's young adult audience.

Within Faerie, the story focuses on several key locations. The royal palace serves as a central hub, where political intrigue and power struggles play out among the fey nobility. The surrounding forests and wilderness of Faerie provide a backdrop of natural beauty tinged with lurking dangers. Human protagonist Jude must navigate both the glittering court and the perilous wilds as she seeks to find her place in this alien world.

Characters

• Jude Duarte: The protagonist and narrator. A mortal girl living in Faerie who aspires to gain power and status in the fey world despite being human. Clever, ambitious, and ruthless, Jude trains in combat and political intrigue to prove herself. She harbors a complicated hatred and attraction towards Prince Cardan.

• Prince Cardan: The youngest son of the High King of Faerie. Cruel, capricious, and beautiful, he torments Jude at school but is also drawn to her. Cardan hides vulnerability and pain beneath his wicked exterior. His relationship with Jude evolves in unexpected ways throughout the story.

• Madoc: Jude's adoptive father and the general of the High King's armies. A ruthless faerie who murdered Jude's parents but raised her as his own. He trained Jude in combat and strategy, shaping her into a warrior.

• Taryn Duarte: Jude's twin sister. Unlike Jude, Taryn aims to assimilate into faerie society through marriage. She becomes engaged to a faerie lord, causing tension with Jude.

• Vivi Duarte: Jude and Taryn's older half-sister. A faerie who prefers the mortal world and struggles to fit in with either realm. She offers Jude an escape from Faerie if needed.

• Locke: A faerie courtier who becomes involved with both Jude and Taryn, playing them against each other. His motives are unclear but he enjoys sowing chaos.

• The Ghost: A spy who works for Jude, helping her gather information on the royal court. His true identity remains a mystery for much of the story.

Quick facts

• The book is the first in Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy, followed by The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing.

• Holly Black was inspired to write the series after reading about changelings in European folklore.

• The main character, Jude, was named after the patron saint of lost causes.

• Black intentionally made the faerie world cruel and dangerous, in contrast to more whimsical portrayals.

• The book debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for young adult hardcover books.

• Black wrote the first draft of the novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

• The audiobook is narrated by Caitlin Kelly, who also voiced the rest of the trilogy.

• Several scenes were inspired by Black's own experiences being bullied as a teenager.

• The book's map of Elfhame was illustrated by Rovina Cai.

• A special edition was released featuring fan art and bonus content from Holly Black.

About the Author

Holly Black is a prolific and acclaimed author of fantasy fiction for young adults and children. She has achieved remarkable commercial success, with over 26 million books sold worldwide and her works translated into more than 30 languages. Black's writing has garnered numerous accolades, including a Nebula Award, a Newbery Honor, and a Mythopoeic Award. She has also been a finalist for prestigious honors like the Eisner Award and Lodestar Award.

Black's most famous works include The Cruel Prince and other novels in the Folk of the Air series. Her writing often explores dark fantasy themes and reimagines faerie folklore for modern young adult audiences. In addition to novels, Black has written short stories and comics, demonstrating her versatility across different formats of speculative fiction. Her ability to craft immersive fantasy worlds and complex characters has earned her a dedicated fanbase.

As a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Black has established herself as one of the leading voices in contemporary young adult fantasy literature. Her work has crossed over into other media, with some of her stories being adapted for film. This speaks to the broad appeal and cinematic quality of her vivid storytelling. Black's commercial and critical success has cemented her influence on the fantasy genre for young readers. Holly Black currently resides in New England with her husband and son. In a charming detail that seems fitting for a fantasy author, their home is said to contain a “secret library.”