Book Review – The Wicked King by Holly Black

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she 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 easy to control. 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 own 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.

My rating:

4.5 stars. Again, I loved the back stabbing and conniving. Jude and Cardan’s relationship is perfection.

I still hate Taryn, and not enough pointy sharp things happened to Madoc and Locke.

I’m honestly not sure what else to say without spoilers lol!!

I did enjoy everything in the undersea, and how Jude continues to use people underestimating her to her advantage.

I both hated and loved the ending. I definitely didn’t see any of it coming. I would have been interested to know what Cardan may have done if Jude hadn’t given him an excuse.

Also I like Vivi but her utter obliviousness was so frustrating. Ditto Madoc’s when Jude challenges him on it. Do they really just not see it?!

I’m dying to see what happens next! Roll on book 3.

Buy The Wicked King from Amazon UK.