Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Wicked King

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The Wicked King by Holly Black

287 reviews

pgmoon's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was so excited to get to the next book, and it has me truly on the edge of my seat!

Here’s some of my favorite parts:

The character development of Jude is stellar; we truly see her come into her own as she navigates the treacherous waters of Faerie and beyond. Although this isn’t her ideal situation, Jude excels and proves her capabilities. I love the duality of Jude, and she is a really fun MC.

One of the standout elements of the book is the character interactions, particularly between Jude, Madoc, and Cardan. The relationship between Jude and Madoc has always been complex, and this story drives them further apart, adding depth to their dynamic. Meanwhile, Cardan undergoes significant development. While he has done reprehensible things, the layers to his character make it hard not to sympathize with him, which adds an intriguing twist to the narrative.

Additionally, The palpable tension between Jude and Cardan makes them such a compelling pair to follow. Their witty exchanges not only highlight their chemistry but also keep the reader engaged. This tension is further intensified by the introduction of the sea folk, who serve as formidable antagonists. I found them fascinating, can’t wait for more Nicasia honestly~

As for Taryn, I know many readers have mixed feelings about her, but I still found myself on her side. I feel genuinely sorry for her in so many ways - at least until the end, lol. How she came to

where she did, especially in relation to Madoc, add another layer of complexity to the story. I need to know what happened there

! Even the smaller characters, like Vivi and Heather, left an impression, and I hope to see more of Heather in the future.

COME BACK QUEEN PLS!

On the other hand, Locke and
The Ghost?
They can catch these hands, I said what I said

As for the writing, Holly Black’s prose remains addictive and poetic yet straightforward, making the reading experience immersive and enjoyable. The political intrigue throughout the novel is exactly what I love in fantasy, expertly keeping me hooked from start to finish and the dialogue between characters is fresh and snappy.

And then there’s the ending. 🤯 I saw it coming but somehow didn’t at the same time, which made it all the more satisfying. I don’t want to reveal too much more because going in with no idea truly amps the experience. Overall, The Wicked King was a triumph. I already knew I liked the first book more than most readers, and I was curious to see if the sequel could maintain that momentum. It absolutely did, and I can’t wait to dive into the next book! I don’t hand out too many of these, but for me, this is a five star book.

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robin_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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kittykels's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

3.75

I enjoyed this book, but the first half was incredibly boring to me. I had a very hard time getting through it. I didn't necessarily hate it, but it was just so boring. Luckily the latter half was a lot more interesting.

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seastheday's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I couldn’t put this book down. Okay, I only did because I have young children. But, otherwise I wouldn’t have put this book down! Listening to Jude slowly talk herself into paranoid madness was so fun to watch. I love and hate Carden’s incongruous ways. He was foolish but learned to play the game. He is akin to Sansa Stark in that way. I love the push and pull of power between Cardan and Jude. Most of the time I’m not even sure who I want to have the power. As a side note, I fucking hate Locke. STILL. And now

Ghost AND Taryn’s

are on my list with their names underlined! I don’t think any of them can really be redeemed. And I don’t think they’re meant to be. I want to pick up Queen of Nothing RIGHT NOW. But alas, I cannot as I have not bought it. I want to know what happens next and steam roll through it this weekend. But I must wait on the library.

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suerte_encantada's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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spatterson7's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

alexjoneswrites's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Blown away, such a gripping and captivating read. Each page always leaves me on me on the edge of my seat

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ameliabiblio's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

That ending has left me both incandescent with rage and completely numb because

I just want Cardan and Jude to be fully in love and understand that they can trust each other! I actually just had a thought that maybe he did that to protect her because he knows it's going to get dangerous for her to be in faerie? I hope that's why and not some other stupid reason.

Okay, anyway. Like the first book, this started off a little slow. I actually don't remember a lot of the beginning, but once things got hopping, they got hopping.

I'm referring to when Jude was kidnapped. Everything after that was thoroughly engaging.

As far as sequels go, I think this was a good one. It continued the story, changed the dynamics enough to keep things interesting, and set up a really spectacular ending. So now the question is: can Queen of Nothing live up to my expectations?

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rachelr_reads309's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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