30 books that you can totally judge by their covers

The Cruel Prince – Holly Black

Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince made its debut in January, and even now, people are still talking about it. Black is known for crafting beautiful yet eerie stories, and the book’s cover captures her storytelling style well.

The Cruel Prince is the first book in Black’s The Folk of the Air series, which follows Jude, a young girl whose parents were killed by her mother’s ex-lover — who also happens to be a high-up member in the High Court of Faerie. Instead of leaving Jude and her sisters on their own, he takes them to the world of Faerie to live under his wing.

Unfortunately, the other fae aren’t quite as accepting or generous as Madoc. They refuse to accept humans in their realm, viewing them as little more than playthings. Determined to change their perception of her, Jude wishes to win a place at Court by fighting in one of their tournaments. But when the political scheming begins, Jude becomes wrapped up in far more than she bargained for.

With just a few illustrations, the cover art for The Cruel Prince impressively captures Jude’s world. The crown represents the machinations of the Court — and, of course, the fight for the throne that Jude becomes involved in. And the branches embody the world of Faerie, with all its twists and turns. It’s stunning, whether pinned against a black or white background.