Mmmmmmmm..... I liked it, but not for the reasons I expected.

I have seen this series so much on Instagram that it was impossible to keep ignoring it. Almost everytime I open Instagram or Tumblr, I see fanarts of Jude and Cardan. I love enemies to lovers, and these two? They are the most enemy to lovers one could think of, but... Even though it's only the first book, I still found it really toxic. Ironically, even though it's called the "Cruel Prince" I wasn't expecting Cardan to be that cruel, even though we eventually realise he's not as bad as he seems at first. But the amount of hatred and need for dominance between these two makes me a bit wary for the future. They either get a wonderful character development and Holy Moly, they'd become my favourite couple, ooooooor, they'll be cruelly disappointing. I'm keeping my judgement on Jude and Cardan for the end of the series. 😖

On the good aspects though... So many! The writing is great, of all fairy fantasy/YA I've read so far it's the most fairy-like. I was truly captured by the descriptions and the elements of fairy lore that often get overseen by YA/Fantasy writers. But what truly hooked me, besides the worldbuilding, is the amount of political plot that drove this story forward. Going into it, with the massive amount of Jurdan(?) content I had already witnessed I was expecting it to be a romance first, a political subplot next. I was wrong and I was delighted by it! 🤯

I'm really looking forward to the next books, mostly to explore more of than universe. Will Jude and Cardan be as wonderful an enemy-to-lovers OTP as they promise? 👀