The Cruel Prince by Holly Black follows mortal girl Jude Duarte, taken to the treacherous Faerie realm of Elfhame as a child after her parents' murder by the fae general Madoc, who becomes her guardian. Growing up as an outsider, desperate to belong, Jude navigates deadly political intrigue, betrayal, and violence, clashing with the cruel, youngest prince, Cardan. To gain power and find her place, Jude becomes a spy, eventually becoming embroiled in a dangerous plot to seize the throne, forcing her into an uneasy alliance with the very prince who tormented her.
