The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

I have never been a reader of books about faeries or other mythological beings from that realm, though I do enjoy books about Greek mythology, faeries never quite did it for me...until now. It took me a while to read this book. It had been sitting on my TBR shelf for a few weeks before I decided to give it a read and I am completely and utterly in love.

The book begins very violently when Viv, Jude and Taryn's parents are brutally murdered in front of them when they were children. Turns out the man who murdered them, Murdoc, was Viv's father and soldier of a place called Faerie. He takes them with him and they grow up as mortals among immortals, except for Viv since her father is not mortal.  Jude wants nothing more than to become...more. I think in some way she hates being human so she sets out on a course that puts her and those around her in danger. She is bullied by Prince Cardan and his band of misfits, except for one who suspiciously has romantic feelings for her. About Cardan, I have never wanted to punch a fictional character in the throat as badly as I wanted to punch him. You'll see what I mean when you start reading. Be prepared for betrayals, dangers and a delicious world magically crafted by the writer. Oh, and there's a couple blindsides as the end that you'll never see coming. I anxiously wait for the second part in the series. I give this book 5 pillars out of 5.

Crystal (Pillar of Salt)