#(also Holly Black co-wrote magisterium so that intrigued me too lmao)

[limitless-rose]

Probably just me but I already loved it from the first read!

I first found out about this book through memes and aesthetic annotations, and then I kept seeing fanarts and cosplays and absolutely fell in love with Jurdan. Basically I had kinda spoiled myself a bunch, like I knew Locke and Taryn were disliked/betrayed Jude, or that Cardan wrote letters to Jude, or that he became a snake at some point, but I didn't know why. Which is exactly what made me more curious and excited to find out what led up to these things.

I think the main issue is that some readers suggest this book as an enemies to lovers romantasy, while romance is more of a subplot. If more focus was brought on the aspects of a dynamic fmc, plot twists/betrayals, family drama and spies/scheming, people wouldn't be so thrown off. You have to remember that the story is from Jude's perspective, so she views things in a certain way: she grew up in a world of deception, betrayals and cruelty, and was just doing what she could to survive.

Other than Jurdan, the side characters are so interesting, especially when you go back for a reread, or after checking out posts/sharing thoughts with a fellow reader. For example, I really like Oak, Oriana, Nicasia and Grima Mog. Madoc and Taryn are really intriguing characters too, rereading and trying to understand things from their POV is fun.

Do try rereading the trilogy, there are so many things you might miss the first time, like op said.

The Cruel Prince trilogy is one of those rare type of books where the second and third reread is better than reading it for the first time.

Yeah reading it for the first time is great when you're focused on betrayals and Jurdan. Or you might not even like Jurdan because it's not the typical type of chemistry and progress in the relationship. But then you see people's posts and realize you've missed a whole bunch of stuff and go back to reread it and suddenly see all the signs of how much Cardan wanted to be with Jude, and how everyone was aware of it except Jude, and that faeries feel and express differently from humans. And not even Jude can be held up to the normal human standards. There's also shit ton of political details. And so the second and third rereads just hit different.