something to fear."   So, let's move on to the Issues that I have.   First, the plot. It sooo slow and draggy on the first seventy chapters! No action. Towards the 1/3 left of the book is where the action is full-packed. I love the plot twist tho, didn't see it coming! And then there is one particular scene that makes me feel like it's too much I almost can't handle it, not in a bad-bad way, but in a good-bad way.   Second, telling not showing. Ugh, this annoys me so much.   Now on to the third issue I have, the characters.   Let's be clear about this one. Jude watched her parents killed brutally in front of her with her own eyes, then she is forced to go with the killer to a place that she knows nothing of, and everyone there hates humans, treat humans like trash and unfairly but she feels gratitude for her captor- for the person who coldly killed her parents. She even said that she could love him. She tried to belong with the killer and the killer's world. And she excused that with her being a child at that time. Which is downright ridiculous. Jude goes on saying how she would love to hate her mother for that. That's stupid, illogical and selfish. Here's the exact words that she said.   "Sometimes I just want to hate her; If I can hate her, then it won't be so bad that I love him."   Tell me that this isn't problematic. Please.   Jude Duarte is just like every other heroine in YA books *cough* Celaena Sardothien *cough*, and I don't feel anything special within her. She just makes me mad. But there are some scenes where I actually could like her- when she's not weak, and brave enough to stand up for herself. But that's it.   And don't even make me start with Taryn. Her character has no significant role in the book other than being a whiny, crybaby, pathetic, weak, and annoyingly stupid sister. Just like Jude, she feels gratitude for Madoc. But, instead of wanting to earn her place in the court- like Jude- she wants to belong in the court by marrying some fey. She wants to belong in the fey world by being powerless and submissive. She has no single backbone in her. And she betrayed and hurt her own blood for a boy. I feel like i want to smack her head so hard so she can realize how dumb she is.    And Cardan, he's a real character for me. I like him. Even though there are some scenes that riled me up.   For the other characters, I have no issues.   Maybe you think I hate this book from my review you just read, but I don't. I love it. I hate to love The Cruel Prince :) We all have that kind of book, don't we?   Over all, give this book a chance! You might love it or hate it, or ended up on the inbetween! You might be surprised! Oh and one more thing, the artwork on the hardcover when you open the dust jacket is beautiful <3