Dear Cruel Prince...

I have lived in the world of fairies, dragons, and talking ponies for most of my life. Any

chance I got to slip away from reality, I took it. I loved watching movies and TV series,

picturing myself in magical realms where the knight would rescue the damsel in distress, but

as I grew older, I realized I never wanted to be the damsel; I wanted to be the dragon slayer,

the one who struck fear into her enemies.

My true romance with books began in Class 8. To the world, they may appear as nothing

more than dried ink etched upon the remains of fallen trees; to me, they became living,

breathing worlds; gateways shimmering with endless possibility. Each page whispered

promises of adventure, each chapter pulled me deeper into unknown realms. They were no

longer mere objects resting on a shelf; they became my reason to get out of bed every day.

The Cruel Prince trilogy by Holly Black was quite popular at the time. It was a

recommendation I heard from nearly everyone I met; I didn’t understand its glamour until I

fell under its hypnotizing spell myself.

It is the story of Jude, a mortal girl whose parents are murdered before her eyes by a faerie.

Taken to the land of Faerie, she must learn to survive among beautiful, immortal creatures

who believe humans are only worthy of slavery. This magical journey follows Jude becoming

one of the most feared in Elfhame, and eventually, its High Queen. It is not only a story of

fantasy, but of politics, schemes, betrayal, and love. Every moment I read felt like a

rollercoaster of emotions. I’ve lived through the characters’ pain and joy, I cried for them,

loved them, and remain forever grateful to them.

This series came to me during a rocky time in 9th grade, my grades were slipping,

friendships were breaking, and life felt unbearable. Through it all, the book reminded me that at least my life wasn’t as terrifying as living in Elfhame, where every move taken is for

survival of the fittest. Their struggles were far greater, yet they persevered. Jude made me

want to be fierce, fearless, and protective of those I love.

This trilogy changed my life. It led me to chess, helped me form new friendships, and taught

me that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. If Jude, a mortal girl, could rise to High

Queen and slay faeries like mosquitoes, then I, too, can conquer my battles.

This book will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am forever indebted to Holly

Black for creating a series that gave me hope, courage, and the strength to keep going.

Love

Sneha Bhattacharjee

Sneha is a student in Grade 10, studying in Mayoor School, Noida.

This love letter was shortlisted as one of the top 10 entries of our 3rd Writing Contest - writing a love letter to a piece of media you adore.