The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal. 
As Jude grows older, she realises that she will need to take part in the dangerous deceptions of the fey to ever truly belong.
But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan . . .

Author Holly Black

Holly Black is an American author, probably best known for "The Spiderwick Chronicles" which she writes with author Tony DiTerlizzi. Here she begins a new Young Adult Fantasy trilogy - set to continue with a second book in 2019 and a third in 2020. However, worlds full of faerie's, intrigue and strong female characters are ten a penny at the moment, so does "The Cruel Prince" have the staying power to hook audiences in for the long run?

In short - it's a yes. Holly Black isn't messing around here - she pulls the audience into her story with a brutal attack, before delving into a complicated and cleverly built fantasy world that the reader can't help but be pulled into. 
This isn't for young audiences - the plot is violent, adult and impressively complex - leading the reader into directions that are utterly unexpected - not least the fantastic ending that leads things wonderfully open-ended for the sequel. 
It's in character that Black excels here - every single one encountered in "The Cruel Prince" is layered and complex - no stereotypes here but three-dimensional characters who breathe life into the pages of this novel. Jude especially is deliciously complex - not always likeable and not always understandable, but always hugely readable and a strong, compelling and driven lead who I'm sure readers everywhere will be loving. 
With brave world building, complex characters and an intriguing plot all piled into one novel, this is a huge success - "The Cruel Prince" is sure to fly off the shelves upon its release, and I for one cannot wait for the sequel. Many thanks to the publishers for the copy.