If your teen has seen this book all over BookTok, you may be wondering whether it’s actually appropriate for younger readers.
Despite being marketed as YA fantasy, this book is darker than many parents would expect. While it doesn’t contain explicit sexual content, it does include bullying, violence, morally gray characters, and mature themes.
Quick Content Snapshot
Overall its a dark fantasy with not as much explicit romance, but plenty of emotional intensity and cruelty.
What is The Cruel Prince About?
The story follows Jude Duarte, a human girl raised in the dangerous world of Faerie after her parents are murdered. Determined to earn power in a place where humans are looked down on, Jude becomes entangled in political schemes, betraylas, and an enemies-to-lovers relationship with the arrogant Prince Cardan.
This is a fantasy focused much more on court politics, deception, ambition, and survival than romance.
Romance & Spice Breakdown
Parents often assume this is a romance-first novel because of its popularity online, but romance actually takes a back seat.
You can expect:
- Romantic tension throughout the story.
- Flirting and kissing.
- No explicit sexual scenes.
- An enemies-to-lovers dynamic that develops over the series.
While there is attraction between the characters, the first book remains relatively mild in terms of physical content.
Violence & Dark Themes
Violence is a much bigger consideration than romance.
Readers will encounter:
- Murders and assassinations.
- Sword fights and physical injuries.
- Cruel bullying and humiliation.
- Manipulation and emotional abuse.
- Political betrayal and revenge.
Most of these scenes aren’t especially graphic, but they are frequent and create a darker overall atmosphere.
Language
Language is generally mild with very little profanity.
Themes Parents Should Know About
- Power and ambition
- Bullying
- Revenge
- Loyalty and betrayal
- Identity and belonging
- Moral ambiguity
Unlike many YA fantasies with clearly defined heroes and villains, many characters in The Cruel Prince make questionable choices. This complexity is one reason older teens often enjoy it.
My Mom Verdict (Spoilers Ahead)
I love this book it has a great storyline and isn’t the traditional good and bad characters. I bought this book for my own 15 year old daughter.
The only few things I would take into consideration with this book is a few of the darker themes.
- The prince and his friends are constantly bullying Jude and her twin sister. At one point they make her eat fairy food (which allows them to control and manipulate her) and they have her crawling around in her bra and underwear.
- Another time one of the princes friends tells her to jump out the tower window to her death. She later kills him.
- One of the princes friends is dating and planning to propose to Jude’s twin sister (which Jude doesn’t know) and then starts dating Jude at the same time. He tells her twin if she wants to be with him and if she loves him she will allow him to do this.
- The princes older brother kills all of his other siblings and his father to get the crown.
Where to buy
If you would like to buy this book you can get it here:
- Amazon
- l
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