The Cruel Prince Audiobook Free

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OVERVIEW

The Cruel Prince is the first novel in Holly Black’s young adult fantasy series The Folk of the Air, which was released in 2018. Jude Duarte, a mortal 17-year-old, becomes entangled in the hazardous political schemes of the eternal Faerie world in this story.

The Cruel Prince is a coming-of-age novel that tackles issues of truth, power, and identity. As of 2021, the American author has authored 37 fantasy books, and the series is a New York Times bestseller.

SUMMARY

When a mystery man named Madoc shows up at the door of their house in the American suburbs, Jude and her identical twin sister Taryn are seven, and their elder sister Vivi is nine. Their mother has a stressful meeting with Madoc, who claims to be Vivi’s father as well as a faerie from a mystical place known as Faerie. The girl’s mother, who was previously married to Madoc, fled Faerie with the twins’ father. Now, when Madoc approaches her in her suburban house, he murders her and her husband in retaliation for the shame they gave him years before. He returns to Faerie with all three daughters.

Jude grows up in Faerie, and the narrative picks up when she is seventeen years old. Madoc marries Oriana, with whom he had a son named Oak. Jude and Taryn go to lessons with their peers from the faerie King’s court family. Jude and Taryn are harassed in Faerie by one of the King’s six offspring, the pompous prince Cardan, and his posse. Jude has spent her childhood learning battle and military strategy from Madoc, and she aspires to be a knight in one of the courts.

Jude believes that being a knight will provide her with the security she has always lacked; she and Taryn grew up as humans in a magical realm, and they are despised for their mortality. Their classmates, led by Cardan, bully them regularly. Cardan’s buddy Locke, on the other hand, begins to devote special attention to Jude.

The King of Faerie declares that he will abdicate the throne and will be succeeded by one of his offspring. Jude wants to use an upcoming tournament to announce her candidacy for knighthood, but Madoc doubts she’s ready. Jude settles for just competing in the event, which earns her the wrath of Cardan and his pals, who tried to talk her out of it.

Following the tournament, Dain, the King’s chosen successor, is thrilled by Jude’s performance and invites her to work as a spy for him. Jude believes that even if it isn’t knighthood, it will still help her acquire protection, and she accepts. Jude completes her first assignment and meets Dain’s fellow spies in an underground hideout, where she receives a secret letter outlining poison.

She starts balancing her many responsibilities as a student, spy, and Madoc’s pupil in an exhausting manner. Taryn admits that at the coronation of the new monarch, a faerie, whom she refuses to identify, will seek Madoc for her hand in marriage. Jude separates herself from her twin, hurt by Taryn’s seclusion and fearful that Taryn would marry one of the numerous faeries Jude despises. She and Locke develop a great friendship and start a hidden romantic connection.

As the coronation approaches, Jude’s frustrations escalate. She tries to wrest a charmed mortal girl from Faerie’s clutches, but she drowns. Jude is still being tormented and bullied by Cardan. Liriope, Locke’s mother, was a consort to the present King and was poisoned along with her unborn child for a prohibited dalliance, Jude discovers.

Jude’s angst leads her to murder two beings: Valerian (a faerie friend of Cardan’s who threatens her) and a monster she believes is Dain’s brother Balekin’s spy. She quickly learns, however, that the spy is Madoc’s, implying that Madoc and Balekin are working together.

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Balekin murders his whole family, including Dain, at the coronation, but spares Cardan in a bid for the throne; the crown must be put on the head of a new monarch by a blood-related. To prevent the crowning, Jude kidnaps Cardan and places him in the care of Dain’s other spies. She returns to Madoc’s estate after that. Balekin cannot claim the throne unless he has a blood relative to crown him.

Jude discovers that Taryn’s intention is Locke during the coronation, and she feels deceived by both of them. In a sword duel with Taryn, she is stopped by Vivi and Madoc. Jude is in her stepmother’s chamber the next day when she discovers a mechanical golden acorn that sends her a message, explaining that Oak is the offspring of Dain and Liriope (who was killed for sleeping with Dain).

As a result, aside from Balekin and Cardan, Oak is a member of the royal family and the only one who may lawfully claim the throne. Cardan swears an oath that places him under Jude’s control for a year and a day in return for his freedom. Jude and Cardan collaborate to win the support of other rulers for Oak. Jude informs Cardan that she wants him to crown Oak and then act as regent, while Vivi takes Oak away from Madoc to grow up in the mortal world.

Balekin, who is unaware of Oak’s genealogy, spots Cardan at a feast for Madoc and other supporters and attempts to persuade him to execute the crowning. Jude’s comrades are in arms. Instead of Cardan crowning Oak, Oak crowns Cardan on Jude’s orders, in the hopes that Cardan’s kingship will safeguard Oak.

The novel concludes with Oak living in the mortal world and Jude residing in Cardan’s palace to make use of her brief influence over him. She also wishes to stay in Faerie despite her mortal state to pave the path for Oak’s royal assent.

Character Development

Black’s characters are complex and multi-dimensional. Jude, the protagonist, is not your typical heroine. She is flawed, ambitious, and at times, morally ambiguous. Her determination to prove herself in the faerie world, despite the odds stacked against her, makes her a compelling character.

Cardan, on the other hand, is the epitome of a cruel prince. Yet, as the story unfolds, we see glimpses of vulnerability beneath his harsh exterior, adding layers to his character.

World-Building

The world of Elfhame, where the story is set, is richly detailed and immersive. Black’s vivid descriptions bring the world to life, from the grandeur of the royal palace to the eerie beauty of the Undersea. The social dynamics and political intrigue among the fey add depth to the world-building.

Themes

“The Cruel Prince” explores themes of power, loyalty, and identity. It delves into the question of what one is willing to do for power and how far loyalty can be stretched. Moreover, it examines the struggle of identity in a world where you don’t quite belong.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “The Cruel Prince” is a captivating start to a series that promises more twists and turns. Holly Black weaves a tale that is dark, enchanting, and utterly compelling. It’s a must-read for fans of fantasy and those who enjoy a good, twisted tale of power and survival.

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