ANTECEDENT.

ASH or ANTE. SHE/THEY, QUEER. currently revising brc 1st draft and editing fics for familiar fandoms #userante🪦★ˎ-

﹠. NEED YOUR WRITING EDITED? INFO. ★ OPEN!

ohhh i loved it. i wish i'd read it years ago, but i put it off bc i incorrectly assumed it would be acotar-adjacent (not a diss!)... but the spiderwick chronicles is one of my fav childhood series, so i picked up the book secondhand when i randomly came across it. I LOVED IT!!!!!!! i love holly black's portrayal of all that is fae. she seems very passionate and educated about it all (i'm just assuming this as a reader of fantasy).

i love her characters and their relationships. they're complex and entertaining but easy to understand. i loved how cardan and jude's relationship developed, and honestly didn't expect any romance in the first book with how the story was going!! for a while i didn't understand how this prince could be redeemed enough to meet love interest material. and i was happy that the romance didn't take over the plot (bc it was so interesting!!!!)

i have to say, though, my fav relationship in the book is that of jude and madoc. it reminded me so much of my own relationship with my father. it was just so well-written and really hit home for me, and i think that'll stay with me for a while :)

i just love the darkness of holly black's worlds (i think that comes from a more accurate portrayal of the fae?), and the cruel prince absolutely delivered in that regard as well. the fae are so perfect and humans are just rot. it was just a phenomenal read.

i hope to find the next 2 books soon!!! i'm truly obsessed. this was the first time in a while i stayed up wayy too late bc i wanted to keep reading "one more chapter" lol