I picked up this book immediately after finishing the first one. Now that Cardan is High King with Jude pulling the strings in the background, it might have seemed like not much else could happen. However, it seems in the world of Elfhame there is always new conflict arising among the different courts of faerie. I’ll admit, this book had a bit of a slower start compared to the first one, but the plot picked up nicely once new threats revealed themselves. Holly Black continues to intrigue me with the way she has built this world and all the court dynamics, which the reader gets an even closer look at now that Jude is a crucial part of them. I really came to love more of the characters in this sequel, especially Cardan. Even though there is still so much that we do not know about him, those mysteries almost make him more intriguing. Especially when he is interacting with Jude and making the choices he does when it comes to her. Their wedding was a surprise at first, and I wish Jude could finally get a real answer on how he feels about her, as well as her feelings for him. Madoc also grew on me a bit during this story as well. I still don’t fully trust him, but I also don’t fully hate him. He is such a well written antagonist that his reasonings for his actions are understandable. However, you also want to root for Jude and all the hard work she has put in behind the scenes with no credit being rewarded. One character this book made me dislike even more though, was Taryn. In the first book she was already annoying to me. Her choices seem very selfish and just cruel at times. However, her betrayal of Jude at the end was what has solidified my hate for her. Overall, this second book was great! There didn’t feel like as much going on as in the first, but it still kept me reading for more. I cannot wait to see what happens with our Queen of Elfhame, Jude, now that she is in exile.
The Wicked King
