Tag: Holly Black

Book Review – The Wicked King by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult; Fiction; Fantasy

Note: There are NO spoilers in this review. When discussing in the comments, please provide a spoiler warning if needed.

If you haven’t read The Cruel Prince yet, go check out my review. And be warned – there are some spoilers for the first book in this review, so proceed with caution.

Now … onto The Wicked King by Holly Black.

This book really screwed with my emotions. 

After reading The Cruel Prince, the first book in The Folk of the Air Series, I was ready to jump into The Wicked King. The main differences between the two – first, this book was definitely a time for character development. 

You get to know the characters intimately. They make you smile, piss you off, and ultimately make you want to yell and scream. I fell in love with Jude, Cardan, and (some of) the other spies. I developed a deep hatred for Madoc, Locke, and even Taryn at times. 

Second, Holly Black was trying to trigger me with the ending of this one. 

This novel revolves around Jude trying to keep the heir to Faerie safe. In the first novel we learn that Jude’s step-brother Oak isn’t really her brother at all, but the rightful heir to the throne. To accomplish this – she takes control of the one person she (thought) she hated most – Cardan.

As she gains power, things escalate quickly, but we all love to see our Jude rise to the top, despite her constant battle (slash romance) with Cardan. 

“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”

I have never cheered more for a character to be successful in scheming and manipulation than I have for Jude. She is my hero, girl crush, and ultimate idol. Even as we begin to see her weaknesses (ie: Cardan), I am cheering for her to kick some ass and take over the world. 

That’s where we get to the ending. 

Without spoiling the ending – I will just say the end of this book pissed me off so much I refused to pick up the third novel in the series for months. It took some convincing for me to even consider reading The Queen of Nothing (review coming next week). 

One of my favorite elements of this novel is our adventure to the sea and how we begin to learn more about other parts of Faerie outside of Elfhame. Holly Black has built an extraordinary world, equal parts beautiful and terrifying. She captures the essence of Faeries perfectly. I haven’t met another author who does it quite like she does. 

I could not recommend this book and series more. The next chance you get – head to your local bookstore and go ahead and buy the entire series. You won’t regret it.

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What I’m Reading – The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

After reading The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) I was angry. I hated the way it ended and wanted nothing to do with Cardan, Jude, or anyone from this novel. I think the hate was so strong because I loved the rest of the novel. I sped through, unable to put it down (I think I still owe y’all a review).

Then came the end, and it upset me so much – not because it didn’t fit with the plot or because Holly Black did anything wrong – but because I was so invested in these characters. I was angry because of what Holly did to the characters.

I love them all, so why can’t they just live happily ever after?

I guess the answer is, there really is no happily ever after in Faerie.

Fast forward about six months, and we are chatting in my book group about the series and someone brings up the end of The Wicked King. I am immediately triggered. I believe “100% fuck the ending of that book” is what I said.

Queue the group working to convince me to pick up The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3) to quell some of my anger.

That brings us to my current read. I’ve decided to dive back in, and this book group better be right because I don’t know if I can handle any more heartbreak. At least not the level of heartbreak from The Wicked King.

Synopsis

He will be the destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her twin sister, Taryn, whose life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity . . .

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Book Review – The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Note: There are NO spoilers in this review. When discussing in the comments, please provide a spoiler warning if needed.

#BookstagramMadeMeDoIt – And oh boy were they right. 

Before we get into a plot overview, let’s start with – I read this one in 24 hours. I picked it up and COULD NOT STOP. It was the most important week of the year at work, and instead of making sure I was well rested in preparation – I read. 

Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince starts off as all great hero stories, with the death of our main character, Jude’s, parents. Shortly after our characters – Jude along with her two sisters Taryn and Vivienne – arrive in Elfhame and their lives are changed forever. 

Jude battles to prove herself as worthy of the Faerie and their world, defying everyone who stands in her way including her step-father and a Faerie Prince named Cardan. 

In this novel, Holly Black built a memorable, exciting, and terrifying world. Throughout the story, I pictured these young kids – Jude, Taryn, and Vivi – being pulled into this strange world and having to adjust to their surroundings along with the death of their parents. It is the stuff of nightmares but is also somehow gorgeous. 

Layer that on top of being raised by the man who murdered your parents before your eyes and I’d say this book borders on a horror novel. 

But it wouldn’t be the fae without some juxtaposition. While under the surface it’s ugly and gruesome, on the surface and all around us is beauty and the intoxication of being among faeries. This contrast is best seen between twins, Jude and Taryn. 

There’s so much more I want to say and discuss, but I promised no spoilers. Once I’ve finished all three books, I’ll write a discussion post and talk more in depth.

For now, I’ll tell you this book has it all – complicated family relationships; love triangles; unlikely relationships; and OH MAN a plot twist. This book is everything I hope for when I pick up a Young Adult novel. 

If you haven’t read The Cruel Prince and you enjoy Young Adult and High Fantasy – add this one to your TBR. #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt, and now I’m paying it forward. You won’t regret it. 

Buy The Cruel Prince by Holly Black here at Old Town Books (Alexandria, VA) or at your local bookstore!

Have you read The Cruel Prince? Let’s talk about it here in the comments or on Instagram!

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