This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using that link, a small commission is made from the sale. There are no additional costs to you.
The Wicked King by Holly BlackThe Folk of the Air #2
Published by Little Brown Books For Young Readers on January 8, 2019
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Physical
Source: Library
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.
The first lesson is to make yourself that strong.Jude has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne.
Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were biddable. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her, even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a faerie world.
It’s no secret I disliked The Cruel Prince.
And I mean, I disliked The Cruel Prince A LOT. I didn’t give a single fuck for the romances involved, and very much hated the whole Jude/Cardan ship. But I still liked some parts of The Cruel Prince and that’s what got me into The Wicked King. I loved Jude and her stabby, human self, and I really enjoyed the world Holly Black built so.
The Wicked King is amazing.
Okay, I said it. If you’re in the minority like me who didn’t like The Cruel Prince for:
- being slow in pacing
- the main ship
- the other romances
You’ll be happy to know The Wicked King is much, much better than the first book.
The pacing picks up!
I didn’t want to put down the second book in The Folk of the Air trilogy down. I wanted to know what happened next all the way until the last page of the book. There are so many twists and turns throughout and now I want to know what happens in The Queen of Nothing when it comes out. But if there’s any advice I should give anyone who hasn’t read The Wicked King yet, trust no one at all. NO ONE. I’m just saying.
I still don’t care for the main ship in The Wicked King but…
We get more behind the scenes in the court, resulting in more Jude and Cardan together. There’s no avoiding it this time – they kind of have to deal with each other. 🤷♀️ But I’m starting to develop a soft spot for Cardan. Holly Black develops the characters even more in the sequel, and I enjoyed seeing this throughout! Also, Cardan has been through so much and now he’s kind of becoming a Cinnamon Roll™? (Does this make his behavior acceptable? Absolutely not, and I will die on this hill.) Anyways, I’m a little concerned for him, especially after Holly Black’s tweet about how Cardan deserves exactly what’s coming for him in the last book. What’s that supposed to mean?! Is this good or bad???
Okay, maybe that says I care about the main ship a little now. But that doesn’t mean I found the abuse in The Cruel Prince okay, though.
I want to know what happens in book 3.
I know I’ve said it multiple times already throughout the review, but I am invested in finding out what happens. Holly Black has left me at a major (MAJOR!) cliffhanger and I need answers. I’m not going to rest until I find out what happens to one of my favorite stabby humans. Is she alive? Will she live? Does she get all that she deserves??? (Which is obviously the best and not Cardan.)
Sophia started blogging in February 2012 for the hell of it and is surprisingly still around. She has a GIF for nearly everything, probably listens to too much K-Pop and is generally in an existential crisis of sorts (she's trying her best). More of her bookish reviews and K-Pop Roundups can be found at The Arts STL.
If you enjoy her posts or found them helpful, consider tipping on KoFi!