The Folk of the Air World

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”

Jude Duarte is having a day like any other, but when the doorbell rings, her world is changed forever. Her parents are murdered in front of her eyes and Madoc, their killer, forces her and her sisters, Vivienne and Taryn, to follow him to Fairie—his home. Faerie does not welcome the weak, especially mortals, and Jude quickly learns that to survive, she must be as cunning and ruthless as the faeries themselves.

Hatred and cruelty are what magical creatures excel at, and Cardan Greenbriar is best at both of them. The youngest prince of Fairie is Jude’s nemesis, and even when she tries to stay away from him, he always finds a way to torment her. This only fuels her ambition and hatred, and she desires power more than anything. But when an evil and dangerous scheme unfolds, she realizes there are too many things she still has to learn. 

She must think like a strategist and strike like a viper. Teaming up with her unlikely ally, Prince Cardan, she confronts a chessboard of shifting alliances and backstabbing courtiers. Unearthed secrets, hurtful betrayals, and lethal consequences are in store for anyone who tries to interfere, but Jude’s resolve does not falter. 

Holly Black's "The Cruel Prince" is a thrilling dive into dark, young adult fantasy, rich with complex characters and a gripping plot filled with twists. This tale of resilience and ambition set against a backdrop of enchantment and danger was a nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2018 on Goodreads. The Folk of the Air series promises to captivate, thrill, and haunt its readers.