The Cruel Prince's Epic Song Playlist from Cardan to Jude...As Long As Current Pop Songs Can Be Played By Goats On Lyres
All foundations of great relationships rely on two things: partners with shared interests and specially made mix-tapes presented on anniversaries or all-nighter parties. Meanwhile, if you were in a relationship that resembled the great 80's and 90's classic movies, then the above statement is nothing but an obvious necessity for the relationship to continue.
Although I cannot relate to burning songs to CDs or creating playlists for a significant other, my high school years were spent scouring Spotify and YouTube for the next "it" song. Thus, my time spent on these platforms were in the top 1% as a musical theater nerd and overall shy, hoodie-wearing hermit crab. Consequently, after engulfing Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy within three days and while surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, I immediately began to soak my sorrows with both tissues and sad break-up songs. These sorrows were eventually subdued after re-reading the stories again, leading me to identify all the dramatics, shared smirks, and obvious romance between Cardan and Jude.
Thus and in the spirit of the riddling fey, it only seems fitting for Cardan, if he were to grow up in the mortal world, to establish his relationship status with Jude via a mix-tape. However, instead of spectacular guitar riffs rumbling over the radio or MP3 player speakers, Cardan will have them recited by the lyre at any time Jude wishes...if only she doesn't attempt to kill him due to today's current pop hits.
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Jude may have been exiled from Elfhame in The Wicked King/The Queen of Nothing but definitely not from Cardan's "shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous" heart. Whether it is Jude's mortal ability to lie or Cardan's affinity for cruelty, Jude and Cardan have reasons to not trust each other; however, theses attributes level these morally gray characters and enhance the success of their kingdom. Still, there are moments when Jude's fruitless attempts to protect her ego from further potential heartbreak goes wayward with a classic Cardan smirk or when Cardan needs to pull Jude away from the knight-life.
Carpenter's "Please Please Please" not only reflects Cardan and Jude's emotional rollercoaster of a relationship but can undoubtedly be the theme song of this trilogy.
While Cardan may swap the lyrics to "So Mortal" for Jude's sake, Rodrigo's lyrics and voice are so reminiscent of Cardan's constant reminders of Jude's mortality. It's perfect!
Princes can be cruel year-round, not just in the summer. Still, readers know that even Cardan's "[F]ever dreams high in the quiet of the night" his gaze cannot keep from slipping to Jude...whether she is dancing in darkness or planning her next espionage.
Olivia Rodrigo's "Love Is Embarrassing"
While Cardan and Jude's relationship only heightens throughout the trilogy, we cannot ignore the growing pains both he and Jude experienced in their trials of romance. Cardan cannot help but be disgusted by his own desire for Jude; meanwhile, Jude remains confused and obsessed with besting him. Previously, Cardan was betrayed by Nicasia with his best friend, and Jude was manipulated by Locke while he was in a courtship with her sister.
Rodrigo's ode perfectly captures the embarrassing woes of love, whether its a first or a subsequent one. And, what a better way to describe the imperfect relationship of enemies to lovers?
Coldplay's "Viva La Viva"
Anytime Jude has to sneak into the Court of Shadows' lair, anytime she has to manipulate a situation to her gain, anytime she has to risk everything for the safety of others, Jude should have a "Get Psyched" mix ready. I can fully imagine Jude enacting her schemes of preparing Elfhame her forever home and chessboard while her heart rate rises with the beat of "Viva La Viva."
Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night"
Jude may be busy with the paperwork and daily delegations of ruling a kingdom in The Wicked King; however, Cardan is busy with his endless number of parties overfilled with booze and excitement that trail into the next morning. Cardan may be stepping more into his role as High King near the end of The Wicked King, but that does not mean that Jude cannot forget the pleasantries of Elfhame.
Also, this pop hit would be an exhilarating addition to any coronation or celebration.
Queen's "I Want To Break Free"
Although Cardan's initial indifference in being the High King prevented him from enjoying his royal duties in the beginning, this quality along with his selflessness advanced him from ruler by birthright to a just, beloved leader.
However, before all this pleasantness could resume, Cardan needed to express his trust to Jude and ask for her to remove her command over him. Plus, who would not love a rendition of Queen's "I Want to Break Free" featuring Cardan belting "I've fallen in love"?
If no one else, then I will petition this for the movie when it eventually is made!
Queen's "Killer Queen"
"Seelie and Unseelie, Wild Folk and Shy Folk, I am glad to have you march under my banner, glad of your loyalty, grateful for your honor." [Cardan's] gaze goes to [Jude]. "To you, I offer honey wine and the hospitality of my table. But to traitors and oath breakers, I offer my queen's hospitality instead. The hospitality of knives."
Now they see me as the murderess queen.
With that killer speech from Cardan, readers and Black's characters know not to betray Jude; otherwise, they will get knifed.
Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now"
Cardan did a full 180 degree turn from elfin-eared, magical Nicasia into the mortal Daughter of Clay Jude's arms. As this song was on-repeat while I read The Queen of Nothing, this song commemorates any passive aggression of Cardan's directed toward Nicasia after she betrayed and a subsequent murder/not murder attempt...if otherwise, I will not be able to produce more posts when she finds this playlist.
Imagine Dragon's "Dream"
But life ain’t what it seems"
Both Jude and Cardan could be said to live in a dream land.
Jude's parents were brutally murdered in front of her before she was whisked to Elfhame and forced to live amongst faeries; however, in the time she has lived in Elfhame, she has been raised like any other faerie - participating in academic studies and revelries held by royalty, learning swordsmanship and war strategies from her pseudo-father Madoc, and raised in a stable household (if you ignore the initial demise of her biological parents by Madoc). Yet, she still faces discrimination from other fey due to her mortality to which Jude responds with:
"I am going to keep on defying you. I am going to shame you with my defiance. You remind me that I am a mere mortal and you are a prince of Faerie. Well, let me remind you that means you have much to lose and I have nothing. You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down. I promise you this is the least of what I can do."
Cardan, on the other hand, is the envy of all as a prince of Elfhame. From his expensive clothes to his large friend group to the reverence bestowed to him, there is much to desire from Cardan's life. However nice this may seem, Cardan was the product of two absentee parents, fed food scraps and dressed in tattered clothing as a young infant, and later assaulted by the instruction of his older brother. Add these traumatic childhood experiences to his hunger for a stable, loving family, and the reader is left to wonder whether Elfhame is as superior to the human world as the fey embrace it to be.
Imagine Dragon's song puts into perspective both Jude's and Cardan's struggles, both while they are together and apart.
Imagine Dragon's "Demons"
The majority of the trilogy is focused on the cruelty of Cardan, and this quality lends itself to the titles of The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and the overall environment Jude is in. As Jude has more interactions with Cardan, however, his toxic actions are revealed to be fueled by his spite for Jude and encouraged under Balekin's care and by his family's absence.
I know what it is to say the clever thing because you don't want anyone to know how scared you are.
Cardan's explanations do not excuse his behavior and treatment toward others, but Jude also lacks empathy for others as she attempts to gain power over other fey. Both Jude and Cardan have demons to hide but try their best to grow from their mistakes, particularly as they rule Elfhame in tandem and prepare Oak to become the next High King.
Sia's "Unstoppable"
Lastly, Cardan and Jude have been an unstoppable pair since the beginning of The Cruel Prince. I cannot imagine a better ending of Cardan's playlist to be gifted to Jude, especially when he knows Jude herself is unstoppable.
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As there were spoilers (considering this was a playlist overviewing The Folk of the Air trilogy), which of the books or novellas was your favorite? Furthermore, what quality of Black's intricate world made it so swoonworthy? Additionally, what songs would you have liked to see featured in this playlist? As many of these songs are on-repeat in my mind and Spotify soundtracks, I am incredibly biased but in love with the playlist above. Correspond with me below in the comments or via my social medias.
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