So You Liked The Cruel Prince

Welcome to another “So You Liked” post focused on The Cruel Prince! One of my goals of these posts is to connect lesser popular books with highly popular books and series. Maybe you’ll find another gem that you didn’t know existed! This also includes authors from diverse backgrounds. One of the things I’ve been trying to be more conscious of in my list creations is to include more diverse authors. It wasn’t something I really paid attention to before, but I’m doing better, I think! This is something that’s going to continue into the new year as well.

Anyway, today’s post is themed around The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. This is one series that I finally got to this year, but it’s also one that was everywhere on the internet. It has faeries, courts, magic, and enemies-to-lovers romance. It’s about a girl who longs to be a part of the faerie world, and the lengths she goes to to get there. Honestly, it seems the perfect series to read during the winter!

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Top Read-a-Likes for The Cruel Prince

Do you like books with faeries?

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Isobel is a talented artists whose clients are dangerous: the fair folk that live in the nearby woods. The faeries cannot do anything artistic without crumbling into dust. When Isobel receives her first royal patron, Rook, she makes a mistake: Rook has sorrow in his eyes. Now, Rook takes her away to his kingdom to stand trial for what she’s done. But their relationship slowly turns into something more–which could be even more dangerous. A unique spin on the faerie myth that will keep you guessing from page to page.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

When Meghan Chase turns sixteen, the age where everyone is supposed to find true love. But Meghan doesn’t think this will happen for her. Ever since her father disappeared when she was six, something has felt off about her life. When Meghan’s brother also disappears, she learns the truth. She’s actually the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in their secret war. Now, she must do whatever she can in order to save the ones that she loves.

Ash by Malinda Lo

After her father dies, Ash is left to live with her stepmother. Completely consumed by grief, re-reading her mother’s fairy tales are her only source of happiness. She dreams of fairies that will take her away. When she meets Sidhean, maybe, just maybe, that dream will come true. But when Ash meets Kaisa, the king’s huntress, her heart goes in another direction. Now, she’s forced to choose between dreams and true love.

Enemies to lovers romance?

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Malik is just trying to escape and start a new life with his sisters–until one of his sisters is abducted by a vengeful spirit. Now, he must assassinate the princess in order to save his sister. Meanwhile, princess Karina’s mother was just assassinated and now she has to rule the country. But there is one spell that could bring her mother back–and she just might need Malik to do it. Fast-paced, full of magic and adventure, a perfect foil to The Cruel Prince.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

After her grandparents are murdered and her brother taken to prison, Laia is desperate to get him back. But the only way she knows how is with the resistance–who ask her to go undercover as a slave in the most dangerous place: the military academy. On the other hand, Elias is one of the top students at the academy, who only wants to be free from the tyranny. When the two of them meet, their choices might just change the Empire forever. Bonus: all the books in this series are finally out!

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Maia Tamarin wants to be the best tailor in her kingdom, but she’s a girl, so she can’t. However, when her father is summoned to a competition that he’s unable to attend, she takes his place. But in court, her secret becomes even more dangerous, especially when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan. Together, they embark on a journey to make three beautiful dresses for the emperor’s bride to be. If she can survive the tasks to get there. And her feelings for Edan don’t start to get in the way.

Maybe you’re attracted to books with royal courts.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Tarisai has had a pretty lonely childhood, growing up in a house where her mother (The Lady) was often absent. Then, the Lady sends Tarisai to be a part of a competition to be a part of the Crown Prince’s Council. In order to assassinate him. But as Tarisai gets to know the people at court, she doesn’t think she wants to go through with the plan her mom created. Maybe she wants to make her own path. Which she can, if she’s willing to make sacrifices to do it.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand

Lady Jane Grey is about to married off to a stranger (Gifford) at the age of sixteen as her cousin, King Edward’s, last ditch effort to provide an heir for the throne. What Jane doesn’t know is that Gifford turns into a horse during the day. What Edward doesn’t know is that there is a conspiracy to steal his crown. A conspiracy that might just put Jane on the throne. In order to save the future of England, the three of them have to get to the bottom of this conspiracy.

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian 

When she was six, Theodosia’s country was invaded and her mother was murdered before her eyes. Theodosia become prisoner and known as the Ash Princess, a shame to bear for life. Ten years later, she’s decided that enough is enough. Using her only weapon, her mind, she’s determined to stop just surviving and strive to get her kingdom back for her people. Her people deserve freedom. And she’s the only one who can win it back.

Or you like magical curses that have to be broken.

Akata Witch Nnedi Okorafor

Sunny was born in New York, but now lives in Nigeria. As an albino with West African features, she longs to play sports but can’t stay long in the sun. But then, she discovers that she has magical powers. Now, she has a lot of catching up to do. Just as she’s finding her place, she’s asked by the authorities to help find a career criminal who also uses magic. Do they know enough to be able to catch him and save the world in the process?

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Breaking the curse once seemed so easy for Prince Rhen. But when he fails year after year to fall in love with someone, it’s clearly not as easy as he once thought. Enter: Harper. Nothing has ever been easy for her, either. Her father is long gone, her mother is dying, and her brother is desperately trying to hold it together. When Harper finds herself in Rhen’s kingdom, all she wants is to go home. But going home won’t happen unless she can help Rhen break the curse.

The House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin A. Craig

One by one, Annaleigh’s sisters have been dying, each death more tragic than the last. But Annaleigh thinks differently: she thinks her family is cursed. However, when she starts investigating the deaths of her family, things start to get darker. Each night, her sisters are dancing away the night with mysterious strangers. Who are they really dancing with? And are they the cause of all the darkness that has haunted Annaleigh’s family?

Perhaps you’re just in it for a magical transformation.

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

Nannerl Mozart is a brilliant musician, but she never can meet the acclaim of her brother. Because she’s a woman. She’ll only be able to keep playing music until she’s able to marry according to her strict father. As her brother’s star becomes brighter, Nanneral gets a visit from a magical stranger. One who promises to help her make her wish come true. But getting her wish might cost her more than she’s willing to pay.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

After the death of her mother, Bree doesn’t want anything to do with her memories or childhood home. Escaping to a program at UNC seems like the perfect solution, until she witness an attack her first night there. It’s here, she learns about a secret magical society protecting the world from demons. When a spell failure sparks Bree’s own magic, Bree starts down a path to find the truth about the society. And decides whether she wants to fight it or join it.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

Sheetal is the daughter of a star and a mortal, so she’s used to keeping secrets. However, when an accidental flare of her star magic puts her father in the hospital, she’s forced to go to her mother’s star family in order to save him. What she doesn’t know is that this means she’ll be entered into a competition. And in order to save him, she must become a full star. If she doesn’t win, then she might not ever be able to return to Earth at all.