camiclarkbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is my second time reading “The Wicked King,” but my first time listening to it on audiobook.
The second book in Holly Black’s “Folk of the Air” series is a rich fantasy story that balances the wonder of fairyland with its dark mythology.
The first book in the series, “The Cruel Prince,” took its time to establish the world and let the readers get to know the characters. While the build up was slower than some might expect, it offered more solid ground for Black to be able to further the trilogy’s plot in “The Wicked King.”
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/injury detail
tabbycattwrites's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The first book was hard to get through (my issue, not the story's). The second was much easier. Never a dull moment. Literally. I feel like I need a flowchart for the betrayals and double crosses, but I loved that even though the ultimate betrayal was predictable the motive is unclear! Totally hooked me in for the third book. Too many dangling threads. I must have a resolution!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Murder
Spoiler
Jude is singled out for some vicious, dangerous bullying/hazing because she's human. She kills in self-defense. And her relationship with Cardan is emotionally unhealthy.vaguely_pink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Murder, War, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Bullying, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Vomit, Torture, Classism, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
em1ani's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Gaslighting
catglasses's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As good if not better than the first book in the trilogy. Very exciting, could not put down. the romance does progress much more and it is just as filled with plot twists. although if you are not comfortable with torture in the means of starving and the denial of fresh water then this is not a book for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, Torture, and Gore
braytonaubree's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thoughts:
• this was my absolute favorite of the series, I LOVE this book so much & it makes my heart swollen just thinking about it
• I think the thing that enthralls me so much about this story & especially these characters, is that we are following Jude who is nothing special, she’s just human and that is so much more interesting & empowering to read than someone who is “destined” to be Other or has some special prophecy to fulfill, cuz that’s not who I am, I’m just regular & reading about regular people doing extraordinary things is magical to me
• it’s a SLOW BURN but the nature of their positions and the world they live in make the spice feel justifiably spread throughout even if it’s not a spicy moment (it is YA technically), the tension makes it feel like it is
• it was in the middle of this book that I had the realization this might be one of my favorite fantasy series ever
the dialogue & QUOTES, some of the most beautifully written phrases ever & that beautiful vocabulary carries through the world building, so it’s full of lush imagery
• just as high stakes & intense as the first one, if not more so
• it’s a perfect sequel to the first, in that, the tension only continues to build as we are following morally grey characters who continue to make choices that often conflict with basic morality & perceived loyalty
• the expansion of the world is so well done that even though we learn a lot more about the realms/characters it doesn’t ever feel like an info dump
For folks who like/are interested in:
• fantasy
• enemies to lovers
• Reign (CW)
• strong female main character
• war/stratagem
• tense
• fae/magical creatures
⚠️ Content Warnings:
• violence
• bullying/harassment
• this was my absolute favorite of the series, I LOVE this book so much & it makes my heart swollen just thinking about it
• I think the thing that enthralls me so much about this story & especially these characters, is that we are following Jude who is nothing special, she’s just human and that is so much more interesting & empowering to read than someone who is “destined” to be Other or has some special prophecy to fulfill, cuz that’s not who I am, I’m just regular & reading about regular people doing extraordinary things is magical to me
• it’s a SLOW BURN but the nature of their positions and the world they live in make the spice feel justifiably spread throughout even if it’s not a spicy moment (it is YA technically), the tension makes it feel like it is
• it was in the middle of this book that I had the realization this might be one of my favorite fantasy series ever
the dialogue & QUOTES, some of the most beautifully written phrases ever & that beautiful vocabulary carries through the world building, so it’s full of lush imagery
• just as high stakes & intense as the first one, if not more so
• it’s a perfect sequel to the first, in that, the tension only continues to build as we are following morally grey characters who continue to make choices that often conflict with basic morality & perceived loyalty
• the expansion of the world is so well done that even though we learn a lot more about the realms/characters it doesn’t ever feel like an info dump
For folks who like/are interested in:
• fantasy
• enemies to lovers
• Reign (CW)
• strong female main character
• war/stratagem
• tense
• fae/magical creatures
⚠️ Content Warnings:
• violence
• bullying/harassment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Bullying
readsbyak's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
Brilliant, amazing and enjoyable read .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, and Bullying
lifeonasofa's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
AD PR Product
“For a moment,” he says, “I wondered if it wasn’t you shooting bolts at me.”
I make a face at him. “And what made you decide it wasn’t?”
He grins up at me. “They missed.” - Holly Black 🏹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 Stars
Thank you hotkeysya for sending this copy of The Wicked King as part of the second tandemcollectiveuk The Folk of the Air Readalong! 💝
An applause for Holly Black for making the sequel better than the first! I’m always weary of the second book in a trilogy, they can often be slow but THE DRAMA in this book! 👏🏻
Jude really grew as a character in this, I love her even more! I love that we got to understand the way she thinks before she carried out her plans. I’m glad we got to see more of the spies - still my favs. The scenes between her and Cardan were SO much better too. 💕
Cardan really came into his own by the end of the book and I’m LIVING for it! I was waiting for him to really take his king role seriously. Don’t get me wrong - I’m fuming with that ending but he’s smart right? I feel he has a long term plan. 👀
Loved how we had danger and deceit coming from all sides! I still do not trust ANYONE in this whole damn book - Taryn and Madoc being the worst imo. But it just made it all the more exciting, I had no idea what twists were coming! BOOK 3 READALONG END OF NOV!🤯
“For a moment,” he says, “I wondered if it wasn’t you shooting bolts at me.”
I make a face at him. “And what made you decide it wasn’t?”
He grins up at me. “They missed.” - Holly Black 🏹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 Stars
Thank you hotkeysya for sending this copy of The Wicked King as part of the second tandemcollectiveuk The Folk of the Air Readalong! 💝
An applause for Holly Black for making the sequel better than the first! I’m always weary of the second book in a trilogy, they can often be slow but THE DRAMA in this book! 👏🏻
Jude really grew as a character in this, I love her even more! I love that we got to understand the way she thinks before she carried out her plans. I’m glad we got to see more of the spies - still my favs. The scenes between her and Cardan were SO much better too. 💕
Cardan really came into his own by the end of the book and I’m LIVING for it! I was waiting for him to really take his king role seriously. Don’t get me wrong - I’m fuming with that ending but he’s smart right? I feel he has a long term plan. 👀
Loved how we had danger and deceit coming from all sides! I still do not trust ANYONE in this whole damn book - Taryn and Madoc being the worst imo. But it just made it all the more exciting, I had no idea what twists were coming! BOOK 3 READALONG END OF NOV!🤯
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Blood, War, Death, Bullying, Death of parent, and Alcohol
pattyblom's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Good second book. Not predictable and am now curious to read the third.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, and Self harm
katiareadz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can't even describe how mad I am at the ending...I feel SO betrayed but I loved it regardless. Most of all though,I love jude<3. Not just love,ADORE JUDE. She is so amazingly written and so realistic as well???Cardan has nothing on her,she carried THE WHOLE BOOK. She is honestly the definition of a strong female protagonist and I love that for her. Maybe I'm a little biased because I relate to her to a whole other level...but at the end of the day she still ate and left no crumbs. The writing is excellent,possibly magic itself. The settings are so vividly described,the characters very complex AND multidimensional. So in conclusion..THE BOOK IS PERFECT,even better than the first in the series which is a rare phenomenon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Vomit