The Lost Sisters

It has been some time since I read these first books in The Folk of the Air series, but I wanted to read this because it's Taryn's POV. I was a little curious to know where she got her motivation to do all the things she did and why she was so awful. Yes, it does give perspective, but Jude went through all the crap, (and more) so it doesn't really excuse Taryn. Anyway, I'm just checking off another piece of this series. I would recommend reading this if you're reading the Folk of the Air books, but it's not required. It would have been nice if this had been added as an epilogue within the Queen of Nothing eBook.

It's nice to see Taryn's perspective on the events in [b:The Cruel Prince 26032825 The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) Holly Black https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493047153l/26032825.SY75.jpg 45959123], as it definitely helps me understand her better. The thing is I absolutely loathe Taryn as she is the exact embodiment of all the aspects of humanity that I despise, and reading this half-assed self-justification makes me hate her even more. I do think Taryn and Locke deserve each other in that sense, as Locke is a real piece of shit and not in the endearing way that Cardan is. If they could just fuck each other over, then it'd be perfect.

This a deep dive into Taryn's perspective, but far from redeeming her, it often amplifies readers' frustrations with her character. Framed as an apology to her twin, Jude, Taryn's narrative comes across more as a self-justifying and weak explanation for her betrayals. The story provides insight into her motivations, yet fails to elicit the sympathy it seems to aim for. Instead of offering a nuanced view, Taryn's actions and reasoning often feel shallow and selfish, making it challenging to empathize with her. This novella, while offering a different angle on the events of The Cruel Prince may leave readers feeling more irked with Taryn's character. Black's writing remains compelling, but this particular exploration feels like a missed opportunity to add complexity to a divisive character.