Let us know what you think about The Wicked King in the comments! No spoilers on this page please! Yet I caution parents about letting their young teens read about the capricious society and the unhealthy relationship highlighted in this series. It’s impossible to not continue reading this series to see where Holly Black takes us. King started out a bit slowly, but the second half was great. Nevertheless, I recommend this book to everyone who enjoyed the first book in this series.

I feel lured to root for the couple, as I’m sure many readers do, yet it’s not something we’d ever want our friends or our loved ones to be caught up in. It’s intriguing, for sure, but I cringe as I think about young teens reading details of this unhealthy pairing. One warning: I can’t help but simultaneously enjoy and despise Jude and Cardan’s love/hate relationship. When I read about the Fae, however, I often reflect on how dangerous it is for a group of people to be blessed with longevity as well as unlimited resources. I never tire of their ruses and duplicity, which are entertaining despite their orneriness. The deception and dealings of the Fae never get boring. And the surprises she drops at the end of book 1 as well as in this installment left me craving more and desperate to see what the implications are!

The twists and turns Black provides constantly keep me guessing. The political intrigue is fascinating, and many of the characters are endearing. Her prose tells the story efficiently without interfering with the tale (if that makes sense), all the while containing the perfect level of description. It’s easy to tell that Black is a seasoned writer. But she’s not sure how Cardan will rule on his own if she can’t extend their bargain or who might try to steal the throne if she’s not careful. She wants to make sure Oak has a normal childhood in the mortal world and gets as much experience outside of the Fae world as possible. Jude constantly worries about this as well as how to extend her hold on Cardan beyond the year and a day to which he’s bound. Enemies from without and within their kingdom surround them, thus Jude and Cardan can’t let their guard down for a minute. No ruler is ever safe in Elfhame, though.

The wicked king holly black