A review by scottish0reader
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

5.0

F.Y.I this entire review contains spoilers
 

Wow. Wow wow wow wow. 
 

Just, wow. 

 

I’m not even too sure what to say. At the time of writing this, I finished this book last night, hoping sleeping on it would allow the words to come to me, but I am still just as speechless. What an amazing book and an amazing series, I’m slightly annoyed at myself that it took me this long to read them. It is 100% my second favourite books (second to Six of Crows, of course). 

 

I just couldn’t put this book down, to the point where I was raging that I would need to go to work because I just wanted to stay home and finish the book. The only thing I wished was that this book had more after the big battle, just of everyone settling down and Cardan and Jude being back together again, but that’s just because I love them together and want all I can take. 

 

Jude Duarte 

Jude is actually my woman so I hope Cardan is ready to fight (or I’d take them both ;) ). I just love her so much, she can do no wrong in my eyes and Cardan is so real for being proud to be with her, because god knows I would be too. I don’t even know what to say to convey my love for this woman. She is so strong, both physically and mentally, able to best the toughest people with her sword, and overpower the smartest of people on her throne. She is such a powerful Queen, and it honestly surprised me how she managed to get so many people on her side in the three days while Cardan was a snake. She was made to be Queen, made to rule, as was Cardan, and I know they will be the best rulers together. Her anger with herself that she didn’t say that she loves Cardan to him, and she didn’t think she would get to ever again had me in pain, I needed them back together so bad, so I was so happy when he came out of the snake and she ran to him. One thing I don’t get, is when Cardan explained that Jude could have come back from her exile whenever she wanted, Jude acted like she had never thought of that before, even though she literally did, but just didn’t think Cardan would accept her back. I feel like I have so much more to say I just don’t know what. She is so strong and she is actually my wife, sorry Cardan. 

 

I think of his riddle. How do people like us take off our armor? 
One piece at a time. 

 

Cardan Greenbriar 

THE LETTERS!!!!!!!!!! I had to look them up because my copy doesn’t have them, but oh my god my heart physically hurt reading them. At the end of The Wicked King, I was so angry as Cardan for exiling Jude just after he married her, but reading his reasoning in this book, I realised he’s just a fucking idiot. Cardan was so proud of himself he was literally like ‘I’m so smart Jude is going to be so proud of me I’m such a genius’, and then instantly realised what he’d done when she didn’t come back. He’s just a silly little man. But oh my god the heartbreak he must’ve had when he believed that Jude was just ignoring his letters, and the fact that Jude will never be able to read them. But let’s talk about the fact that he turned into a fucking snake??? Like actually what. I was impressed by the whole ‘he will cause the destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne’ being literal, like well-done Holly Black that is very smart, but then the snake part, I was just so lost. I think it was obvious that Jude was going to stab the snake, rather than using the bridle, and although I knew Cardan was going to survive, I was still on the edge of my seat. And then their hug when he came out of the snake, actual butterflies. Their romance is my roman empire. Can we also talk about the fact that when Jude was pretending to be Taryn, he instantly knew who she was, I was sobbing he is so obsessed with her. I also loved how proud Cardan was of being Jude’s husband, I just know he calls her that at least ten times a day and is her biggest supporter. Cardan is the standard, thank you very much. 

 

“Mock me all you like. Whatever I imagined then, now it is I who would beg and grovel for a kind word from your lips." His eyes are black with desire. "By you, I am forever undone.” 

 

Taryn Duarte 

Seeeee, I just don’t knowwww. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I don’t like her. Not because she betrayed Jude with Locke, because I can excuse that to an extent, but when he betrayed her by pretending to be Jude to Cardan to have him put Madoc in power, I was fucking screaming (I did read something that (other than the poison affecting him), the reason he thought it was Jude was because Taryn was wearing the earrings that make you beautiful beyond belief, and Cardan has always seen Jude as more beautiful, I was CRYING). Then, she comes back and is accepted almost like nothing happened??? I understand she knows what she done was wrong, and that she needed help from Jude because she murdered Locke (which thank GOD someone had to), but I just know she wouldn’t have tried to mend her relationship with Jude if she didn’t need something from her. Jude could have used her help countless of times, but Taryn sided with Madoc, and only came running back when she herself was in trouble. It just really rubbed me the wrong way and I don’t like it. So I’ll never truly like her again. 

 

She turns to me. “I thought we were nothing alike, you and I. but it turns out we’re just the same.” 
I don’t think she believes that to be a good thing. 

 

Madoc 

Dickhead. Dick dick dick dick dick. You’re so lucky Jude didn’t kill you. What I find mental is the fact that he was literally battling Jude, but when he stabbed her, he had the nerve to be panicked and want to help her. Like I understand she’s still his daughter and he does care for her to a degree, but if you care that much, then maybe don’t sword fight her??? Just a suggestion. I was howling though when he was exiled to the mortal world, and the way Jude said it made it almost impossible for him to come back (I’m sure he’ll find a way somehow, like die and come back and be like ‘yeah I was in the mortal world till I died so I can come back and ruin your life again now’). 

 

“I will bend my head to you,” Madoc says to me under his breath. “And only you.” 

 

Ghost 

I really liked him, up until he betrayed the crown, but after finding out why, I love him again. He literally couldn’t control himself, and it was actually very heartbreaking to read, so I’m happy that he is back in the Court of Shadows and is with his friends again, and that he won’t be able to be controlled my Madoc anymore. I know quite a lot of people are annoyed that it seems the Ghost has feeling for Taryn, but to be honest I don’t really see a problem with it, good on them I guess. 

 

 “It is no life to be always under someone’s control, subject to their will and whim. I know the geas you asked for from Prince Dain. I know you were willing to murder to receive it. No glamour touches you. Remember when it was otherwise? Remember what it felt like to be powerless?” 

 

Nicasia 

I don’t have much to say about her, other than it was nice to see her come to fight at the end of the book, and even though it was, in the end, for Cardan, she still announced that they were fighting for the High Queen of Elfhame. She was never the villain, she was just a girl who wanted to be loved. 

 

Nicasia is rising with them, seated on the back of a shark. 
“The Undersea honors its treaty with the land and with the queen.” She calls, her voice varying across the field. “Lay down your arms.” 

 

One thing I don’t get about this series, is where is are all the normal people in Elfhame? You have the high people, like the Kings and Queen, Lords and Ladies, Princes and Princesses, and the people in the councils and etc. Then you’ve got the servants (e.g. Tatterfell) and the knights. But is there not any regular people, who just live in a house and mind their own business? Because you never hear of anyone or anything like that (not including mortals like Heather, obviously). 

 

I know for definite that I’m going to reread this series and annotate it someday, I just have to many thoughts and so much love for this series and for the characters in it. I need to read all of the other books in The Folk of Air series pronto.