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

November 26, 2018

40870568

TITLE: The Wicked King
AUTHOR: Holly Black
SERIES: The Folk of the Air, #2
RELEASES: January 8th, 2019; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
GENRE: Fantasy
AGE RANGE: YA

goodreadsbutton

review_graphics_summary

After the shocking turn of events that finished off The Cruel Prince, Jude is fighting with everything she’s got to keep the kingdom of Elfhame from falling to pieces under its new rulers. Unfortunately for Jude, not only is a war brewing in the Undersea, but the court is full of traitors—and a few of them might be in her own home.

twksm.jpg

I loved The Cruel Prince, but I wasn’t one hundred percent sold on certain factors—yet, from the moment I finished reading it, I’ve been saying the same thing: “Everything I struggled with in book 1, I know will be better in book 2.” Was I right? Let me put it this way: you know the “second book slump” people always refer to in trilogies? NOT AN ISSUE HERE. Everything that The Cruel Prince does well, The Wicked King does PERFECTLY.

review_graphics_likes

I’ve wanted this and feared it, and now that it’s happening, I don’t know how I will ever want anything else.

First, without spoiling anything, let’s get this out of the way: the weird, hateful, hot-and-cold relationship between Jude and Cardan progresses flawlessly, and by that I mean I cheered, I raged, I cried, I swooned, I blushed, I raged some more… it’s beautiful. I’ve never seen enemies-to-lovers done quite like this, because at all times, they’re kind of… both? Let me tell you, the phrase “I hate you” has never been this sexy.

My body has acclimated, and now it craves what it should revile.

And Jude, my gods, JUDE. She is a masterpiece. I love her so much. She’s coldhearted, cruel, murderous, backstabbing, and a total antihero in all the best ways. She’s earned herself a permanent place on my favorite “terrifying leading ladies I love” list. She’s also so clever and strong; despite being betrayed at every possible turn, she manages to constantly work things to her favor—or, at the very least, to take someone else down with her as brilliantly as possible.

“The last room Cardan occupied caught fire. Let me rephrase. It caught fire because he lit it on fire.”

Also, Holly Black’s writing is just legitimately so funny, I can’t even describe. It’s incredibly rare that a book makes me laugh out loud, but I cracked up over so many weird and ridiculous moments—usually pertaining to Cardan’s absolute lack of any common decency and/or sense.

Angry was better than being scared. Better than remembering she was a mortal among monsters.

Finally, of course, there’s the world. I adore Holly’s commitment to writing a version of Faerieland that follows legitimate fae lore, and just like in the first book, that authenticity comes through effortlessly. All the world-building and political complexity she offered in the first book paid off so well in this sequel.

review_graphics_dislike

That I like him better than I’ve ever liked anyone and that of all the things he’s ever done to me, making me like him so much is by far the worst.

Literally the only thing I didn’t like about The Wicked King is the fact that I have over a year to wait before finding out what the hell is going on with this terrible, infuriating, priceless cliffhanger ending. I mean, take the way Jude feels about Cardan, and that’s basically me towards Holly Black right now, except replace the “burning carnal desire” with “desperate need to find out how it all ends, right NOW”.

review_graphics_final

In all seriousness, The Wicked King was literal perfection in my eyes and I would not change a single thing. I flew through it, I loved every page, I highlighted so many quotes I can’t even fit a quarter of them in this review, and I don’t know if I have ever felt so simultaneously torn and obsessed with any pairing as I am over Jude and Cardan.

Oh, and one more thing: TARYN STILL AIN’T SHIT.

review_graphics_recs

Everyone. Just… literally everyone.

5stars

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to a very sweet (and unnamed) friend for loaning me their ARC!

graphicssignature

twitter | bookstagram | facebook | goodreads

 

More about Destiny @ Howling Libraries

Just a horror aficionado/geek girl trying to juggle motherhood, reading, blogging, gaming, and everyday life.

Related Posts
29 Comments

    1. insidemylibrarymind

      November 26, 2018

      Amazing review! I am stupid excited to read this book and to hear it’s as good as I’ve built it up in my head is so great. I really love how you structure your reviews, they look as good as they are written ?

      Reply

      1. Destiny @ Howling Libraries

        November 26, 2018

        Thank you! 🙂 You’re so sweet! This new formatting has been really fun to play with. It’s definitely refreshed my love for writing reviews a bit! And The Wicked King was absolutely amazing, so I can’t wait for you to read it!

        Reply

    1. lindseyhabets

      November 26, 2018

      Ahh this is one of (if not the top) my most anticipated releases of 2019 and I am so happy to hear you loved it so much! It sounds like I’ll love it, and definitely become addicted to the Jude-Cardan relationship as well 🙂

      Reply

    1. Kathy @ Books & Munches

      November 27, 2018

      GAAHH.
      I got an ARC of The Cruel Prince last year and now I’m not allowed to read this one up front and it hurts my Black-soul because I really freaking NEED IT. This review worsened my need with.. immeasurable. Ugh. I’ll probably end up buying all the different copies again. I do own three different hardcovers of TCP so why not of TWK as well, right?

      Reply

      1. Destiny @ Howling Libraries

        November 28, 2018

        I seriously almost cried when the friend offered to loan me their copy of this because I knew there was no way I was getting an ARC on my own (they are a librarian and I guess Little Brown gives precedence to librarians and booksellers?). But it is so good and you’re going to love it, I just know it.

        Reply

        1. Kathy @ Books & Munches

          November 29, 2018

          Haha, I can imagine! Having connections is an amazing thing sometimes. 😛
          I know so as well and I haven’t even read it yet! Seriously. I hope it arrives at least a BIT on time. :’)

          Reply

Say hello! ♥

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.