The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black




“The three of you have one solution to every problem. Murder. No key fits every lock.” Cardan gives us all a stern look, holding up a long-fingered hand with my stolen ruby ring still on one finger. “Someone tries to betray the High King, murder. Someone gives you a harsh look, murder. Someone disrespects you, murder. Someone ruins your laundry, murder. 
― Holly Black, The Wicked King



Synopsis


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.



Review

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring. The first lesson is to make yourself that strong.” 
― Holly Black, The Wicked King


So it's been quite some time I am writing a review again. My life has been so hectic these couples of days. And worst of all I am in a reading slump. Which is endless.
Let us pray that it will be over soon. Because I got some good summer read books waiting to be read.
Anyways...I don't even understand why I just didn't want to read The Cruel Prince. Glad I did. And glad I did not delay on reading The Wicked King.



“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.” 
― Holly Black, The Wicked King




The Wicked King, is the second novel in Holly Blacks The Folk of the Air series. As you know the first book had a major cliffhanger. The wicked king does not disappoint you. It is filled with more action and drama and another major cliffhanger.

So this book is all about power. How you control it. How you wield it. Jude has gone from being the weak mortal to the most powerful being in all of Elfhame.
Tricking Cardan into the crown as the High King so she can control him to keep her younger brother safe and free from her manipulative foster father's clutch.

Ruling (secretly) beside Cardan is not an easy task. With him constantly questioning and fighting her every command.

I have a love and hate relationship for Jude's character. Sometimes she does the right thing. The other times you just think she is lost cause.



“Our eyes meet, and something dangerous sparks.


He hates you, I remind myself.

“Kiss me again,” he says, drunk and foolish. “Kiss me until I am sick of it.”

I feel those words, feel them like a kick to the stomach. He sees my expression and laughs, a sound full of mockery. I can’t tell which of us he’s laughing at.

He hates you. Even if he wants you, he hates you.

Maybe he hates you the more for it.

After a moment, his eyes flutter closed. His voice falls to a whisper, as though he’s talking to himself. “If you’re the sickness, I suppose you can’t also be the cure.”

He drifts off to sleep, but I am wide awake.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King  



And then there is Cardan Greenbriar. Cardan, Cardan, Cardan... Now I can write his name like he wrote jude's name on that paper.

I am obsessed with him. I fantasize about him. It's not healthy people. He's probably my second favorite character in the Fantasy genre.

Holly Black gave the best character personality to Cardan. He is witty sassy, laid back and sly. And what I liked most about him was that he was so unpredictable.

The way he flirts with Jude and the sexual tension between them. Ugh! Kill me.





“Your ridiculous family might be surprised to find that not everything is solved by murder,” Locke calls after me.

“We would be surprised to find that,” I call back.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King



So what is the story going to be about?

Its how Jude cannot show any fear or weakness in Elfhame. She must fight the battle of politics, betrayals and any misstep she takes could cost her dearly. It is about how she becomes a murdering badass and struck fear to the faes hearts. The other characters are a bunch of backstabbers and liars. She cannot even trust her own family. But Jude shows how strong she is even when their threats were thrown at her.

This book will get your emotions in a whirlpool. And you will be pulled into their world and get intoxicated by the characters.



Waiting for the third book Queen of Nothing, Is going to be the death of me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves action-packed fantasy novels.



Rating: 5/5



I hope you loved the review



Until next time peeps,



Love,



Zo

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