Looking for books like the cruel prince? Here are the best books like Folk of Air
Enemies-to-lovers, court intrigue and Fae. The Cruel Prince made me obsessed with badass Jude. And the twists in the dark fantasy series had me on the edge of my seat. If you’re anything like me then you probably had the worst book hangover after finishing the series. That’s why I’ve compiled the best fantasy books like the cruel prince that all Prince Carden fans need to read immediately (plus get the free Printable Cruel Prince bookmarks)
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Here are my top picks for books like The Cruel Prince
What books should I read if I like the Cruel Prince?
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
If you’re looking for a retelling with an enemies-to-lovers romance
If you’re a Cruel Prince fan and haven’t read the Court of Thorns and roses series – then you need to immediately.
It’s a beauty and the beast retelling featuring fae. It follows Feyre. She has to hunt to feed her family and survive. But one day she kills something she shouldn’t have. And she is forced to live in a magical kingdom away from her family.
This series is hugely popular online. And for good reason! It has a gripping plot, an excellent enemies-to-lovers romance and fae folk.
The Cruel Prince fans will love the intrigue, faerie folk and excellent romance.
If you’re after books like Folk of Air then I highly recommend checking this series out!
Read the Good Reads Summary
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2. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
If you love magic, an adventure story and magical world building
One of my top reads of 2020. I loved Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone follows Zelie. Zelie is magical but lives in a world where magic is gone
The ruthless king kills all the Maji.Including Zelie’s mother.
Zelie is incredible and very strong-willed. The world-building in this book is stunning, magical and enchanting. It’s one of the elements that made me fall in love with the series.
Tomi Adeyemi wrote this YA Fantasy Book. She is s a bestselling Nigerian-American novelist and creative writing coach.
The Cruel Prince fans will love the strong, badass main character and the action-packed plot. Also, if you’re a fan of the magic in the Folk of Air series, this is a great read.
BuyChildren of Blood and Bonehere
Read theGood Reads Summary
3. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
For fans of Sarah J Maas, YA Urban Fantasy or YA Dystopian fiction
It’s an urban fantasy, with fae, queer main characters and a wlw romance.
A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans. Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.
I love urban fantasy novels- I find the world easy to imagine. Shuttleworth’s writing was perfect. And it really bought the world to life.
But the characters are what makes this book. Nausicaä is a very sarcastic and chaotic lesbian. And I loved her instantly. Many will also find Arlo very relatable.
Buy A Dark and Hollow Star
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4. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
For fans of a retelling or Sarah J Maas
If you love a strong female lead and fantasy romance books you should definitely readA Curse So Dark and Lonely.This incredible YA fantasy book features a badass heroine with Cerebral Palsy
A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Prince Rhen, Heir of Emberfall, needs to make a girl fall in love with him to break the curse.
Harper has cerebral palsy. And she struggles to look after her dying mother. She tries to save a stranger and is pulled into the world of Emberfall.
A Curse so Dark and Lonely includes an adorable romance. And it’s an excellent retelling that puts a modern spin on the original fairytale.
Again, this has a really badass female heroine. And I’m confident Jude fans will love her. It also has an excellent enemies to lovers romance. An excellent choice if you want books like Folk of Air
Read theGood Reads Summaryhere
BuyA Curse So Dark and Lonelyhere
5. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
An Enchantment of Ravens is a recent discovery of mine. And it would also be a great pick for Sarah J Maas fans.
It follows Isobel who creates stunning portraits for the dangerous fair folk. One day she creates a portrait of the Autumn Prince. But she makes a deadly mistake.
I loved the imagery in this. And the focus on art and craft in the book. I instantly really loved Isobel. She’s down to earth, practical and incredibly kind. The world is incredibly beautifully described with whimsical imagery.
I’ve chosen this because I think Jude and Carden fans will love the romance. It has an enemies-to-lovers romance. And I also love how ruthless the fae are.
GetAn Enchantment of Ravens
See theGood Reads Synopsis
6. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
If you’re looking for a YA Dystopian book with amazing plot twists
The plot and the twists in this book left me on the edge of my seat!
In this dystopian novel, blood defines your status. Reds are commoners. But silvers are the elite and have superpowers. The main character is red. But she has superpowers.
The Red Queen has received thousands of five stars reviews and was a #1 New York Times Bestseller.I can see why!
A thrilling read. I think the twists will keep the Cruel Prince fans hooked.
Read theGood Reads Summary here
Buy theRed QueenHere
7. Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
If you’re looking for a long series with fae and assassins
I know this is another Sarah J Maas book. But, I think her books is very similar in style to The Cruel Prince.
It has many similar elements that make The Cruel Prince series so likeable – a badass female protagonist, faerie folk and an enemies to lovers romance.
Celaena Sardothien is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. She is summoned by the Prince to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.
I can truly imagine Celaena and Jude being friends. They have much in common. A tough upbringing, morally grey and a thirst to survive no matter. Also so much sass.
BuyThrone of Glasshere
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8. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
If you are into friendship, magic, unforgettable characters and a great plot then this series is definitely for you.
Each year in the churchyard, Blue watches her psychic mother see those who are going to die that year. Blue never actually sees them herself. Until this year. When she speaks directly to a boy.
He is called Gansey and is a student at Aglionby school. The students there are known locally as Raven Boys.
I had so many recommendations to read this and for good reason. The characters and the relationships are what make this book so special.
If you liked the friendships between Jude, Carden and The Bomb – then you’ll love this series. And it also has an intriguing premise and action-packed plot.
Good Reads summary
BuyThe Raven Boyshere
9. Ash by Malinda Lo
If you’re looking for an LGBTQ+ Cinderella retelling
Ash is a book I’m always torn about. But I had to include it because I love the cottagey world building in this book.
Ash is a lesbian Cinderella retelling. It follows Ash who is dealing with the grief of losing her parents. She falls in love with the king’s huntress.
I loved the descriptions of the world such as the woods and the fae. I instantly really loved the King’s Huntress. But, I wish that the romance had been a little better developed. However, this is a cosy read and offers great escapism. It’s pretty short and you could easily read this in one sitting.
See the Good Reads Page
BuyAshhere
10.Bitter Frostby Kalin Gow
If you love an enemies to Lovers romance or A Court of Thorns and Roses
Bitter Frost is an amazing book featuring memory loss, beautiful forest imagery and of course Fae. It follows Breena. She has always dreamed of fairies as though she lived among them.
In her dreams, there was always a handsome but dangerous Prince named Kian. But when she turns sixteen she starts seeing strange creatures. And her best friend Logan becomes very protective.
There were a few elements I didn’t like about this – Breena seemed a bit ‘not like other girls’. There were a few comments on other ‘popular girls’ appearances that I didn’t appreciate and weren’t necessary.
But, it’s a really captivating fae book. The twists are incredible and the pacing is perfect It was hugely successful – winning awards and selling over 4 million copies.
If you’re a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses you should definitely read this as it references Summer and Winter courts. You can read an ebook version of this on Scribd – they also offer afree 30-day trial.If you prefer a physical book you can also get this convenientlyfrom Amazon.
Good Reads
Buy Bitter Frost on Amazon
11.The Iron Kingby Julie Kagawa
If you’re looking for a coming of age tale with fae
The Iron King is an incredible YA Fantasy book with fae, an enemies to lovers romance and a strong female lead. Fans of Holly Black should definitely read it.
The Iron King follows 16-year-old Meghan Chase. Her father disappeared mysteriously when she was six years old. And ever since, something has been off.
But things start to change drastically. And Meghan will have to learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she truly cares about.
I think The Iron King is a book that will divide readers. Some will really not like it. But personally, I really enjoyed this book. The setting is beautifully described. And Meghan is a great heroine. She’s not perfect but a very realistic 16-year-old.
This book takes many characters from classic literature and myths (such as a Midsommer Night’s Dreame) and modernises it in this coming of age story. Some of the characters are retold in a YA context. If you’re a Shakespeare fan then you might not like this. But if you love YA Fantasy books with fae then you should definitely read this one. You can also read this on Scribd – theyoffer a free trial for 30 days.
Good Reads
Book Depository
12.Silver in the Woodby Emily Tesh
If you’re looking for a queer love story in a magical forest
Silver in the wood is a queer love story and forest fairy tale featuring fae. It references mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries. But the magic is much more subtle compared to other books on this list.
This book follows a forest guardian. He is tasked to look after the forest. A man moves into the house in the forest. And they fall in love.
From the very start, the writing was beautiful. And the imagery in the forest is whimsical and enchanting.
If you like the cottagecore aesthetic you’ll probably really enjoy this book. I listened to the audiobook on Audible. And the duology is only 5 hours so it’s a really quick listen on Audible –check it out here.
Good reads
Listen to Silver in the Woods on Audible
13.The Wild Huntby Ron C. Nieto
If you’re looking for a faerie book about the relationship between a grandmother and her grand daughter
Please don’t let that cover put you off! The book cover really doesn’t do this beautiful book justice! The Wild Hunt is different to many other fae books I’ve read. The central theme was about the love a granddaughter can have for her grandmother. Whereas many books with fae seem to focus on romance.
The Wild Hunt follows Lily Boyd. It starts as a simple story. A girl visiting her grandmother. But her grandmother starts acting strangely. And Lily discovers her grandmother is a faerie doctor. And there is a lot more to her than Lily realised.
The writing style isn’t the best. There are a few issues with the editing. And that might put some readers off. But it’s an engaging story and the plot is excellent. You can buy The Wild Hunt on Book Depository and they have free worldwide shipping –buy it here.It’s also available on Scribd and they have afree 30-day trial.
Good Reads
Buy on Book Depository
Those were my picks for the best books like the cruel prince
I’m off to go and reread The Cruel Prince!
Let me know what you thought of my recommendations and what books like the cruel prince you would recommend.
