A review by mylittlefootnotes
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

The Folk of the Air Trilogy

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.” 

I read The Cruel Prince back in September of 2023, and don’t remember much of anything about it if I’m being honest. I felt like the plot was moving in a bunch of different directions, and for some reason made the book feel like a cozy-fantasy to me at times(I have no idea why people). It was almost like I knew it was supposed to be high stakes, but I didn’t truly feel like the stakes were actually high, if that makes sense? I love a politically focused fantasy book, which made me like TCP a lot more, but something with the pacing was just off for me. I liked Jude as a character in book one, and that fully turned to insane adoration for her immediately when I started book two, The Wicked King. 

“‘Kill him,’ a part of me says, ‘Kill him before he makes you love him.’”

The Wicked King was actually insane. This was when I knew I would become a fellow The Folk of the Air worshiper. When I had read The Cruel Prince, I did not see the hype or truly connect to the characters, despite enjoying them. Then I got to this book and everything shifted. My love for Jude blossomed in this book, and while reading I could 100% begin to see how her character would grow even further. In book one, I found Cardan funny but didn’t love him, but, again, this book changed everything. The tension between Jude and Cardan was unmatched, the banter was incredible, and the hatred that still burned under it all was so. Damn. Good. The politics, plot, and pacing in this book were also tremendously improved and intriguing, but somehow, yet again, the next book was better.

“‘I knew little else, but I always knew you.’”

The Queen of Nothing was like reading a book filled with straight drugs. Jude’s character growth was so beautifully done throughout the whole trilogy, but in this book especially. The way she grows into her title as Queen, the way she thinks about Cardan, despite telling herself she shouldn’t be thinking about him at all. Jurdan absolutely SHONE this book. The Wicked King was longing and tension, but nothing beats the unbridled(help) love, and raw angst carried in these pages. Their love is truly unlike one I have ever read about. The politics got even better, and I honestly had no notes about this book. 

This trilogy really is something special, something I don’t think could ever be outdone or replicated. It is its own beauty and nothing could compare to it. It is revenge and desire, yearning and bloodshed all in one, yet it all melds together into one monstrously beautiful story that will never leave my head.