larijuni's reviews
102 reviews

What can I say. Holly Black can stick a landing.

This book was a beautiful conclusion to the trilogy, and although I did get nervous at the end there, with a frankly insane third-act-breakdown, the end was hard won and deserved.

Jude in this book is clearly a different person, not just with her decisions, but with how she holds herself in everything she does. It was always clear that Jude is an unreliable narrator, but it is more and more clear with each book, and most clear now. With how she will describe herself as nervous but others will react to her as if she is confident (she is), and how often her (and our) interpretation of other characters shift as she interprets events and actions differently. It all shows just how much we are stuck in her head and how big the difference between her thoughts and reality is, while still showing us what the reality is. Jude has grown to be powerful, confident, and loved. And it was wonderful to watch happen. Even with all the trauma along the way.

It's hard to say I have any complaints about this book, with how wonderfully and masterfully made it is, but I can with confidence say: by God I wish we could see inside Cardan's -- and perhaps others' too -- head. But really that's just asking for more books, which, there is. So, what's to complain about??

This book, and whole series, was an absolute ride, and I do not regret a single second spent with it at all.

The Wicked King by Holly Black

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

4.75

So. Book two.

If I had to describe this book I’d say it’s like the first one, but as if the in-book universe decided to start taking drugs about half way through (as opposed to just at the last few chapters like in book one). And I loved it.

This book is definitely better than the first in my opinion. Except, not because the author was worse in the first or anything, but purely because the labor the characters put into the first is now beginning to bear its first fruits. Some of the fruits are a little fucked up, don’t get me wrong. But fruits nonetheless!

Most characters here have grown subtly, while some have grown immensely in very obvious ways. Personally I still love and praise The Roach, the best guy of all guys, but a new character forced their way into my favorites this book; Cardan Greenbriar, I want to gnaw on you like a no. 2 pencil. He is such a wet cat of a man and yeah he was a complete dick during the last book and some of this one, but his improvement in this book was so fascinating to watch -- I’ve been entirely hooked. I need to observe him under a microscope ASAP.

Speaking of which, Jude and Cardan as a couple reeeaaally grew on me this book. I can’t lie, Holly Black did in fact somehow manage to make me, a enemies-to-lovers trope skeptic, genuinely enjoy these two. And that’s not forgetting the awful shit Cardan does in the first book -- because I had my goddamn doubts when I read book one. But boy do I like them now.

I think really what got me hooked on them was their imagery and dynamic this book. Personally at least, I read them as version of the monster x beauty trope. The twist with them being that Jude, a woman and a human, is the monster, and Cardan, a man and a fantastical in-human creature, is the beauty. Jude is a ruthless murderer and her fighting skills grow by the second, frankly, while Cardan is a pretty boy who’s canonically physically weaker than Jude and has sworn off any kind of killing entirely. I was gnawing at the bars of my enclosure every time they had a scene together by the end of the book, not gonna lie.

Actually, at one point in the book there’s a scene in the throne room, where Holly describes Cardan's earring catching the light and Jude in the shadows beside him... I nearly lost my marbles. It was SUCH a beautiful visual. Holly Black knows how to work magic IRL and she cast some on me.

Plot in this book as well, was absolutely plotting. The twists and turns were twisty and just surprising enough to keep me on my toes, and the breakneck pace of the second half was wholly captivating. Now looking back, the first book feels more and more like child’s play compared to this one. The Wicked King did not come to play. This book came to knock your goddamn inside-out stockings off.

Overall obviously, this book was an absolute banger and by the end I was bothering everyone who would listen with the fact that it was all I could think about. In fact, funnily enough, I finished this book on vacation in a very sunny place, and in my last review I said that the ideal way to consume this series/the previous book was by having a piña colada in one hand. I did in fact, consume this book in my own ideal way. What an experience.

Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 7 by Ryoko Kui

Go to review page

4.0

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

Best way to describe this book is that at first it feels like a walk in the park without shoes, mostly pleasant but slightly uncomfortable if you think about it for too long. Then, about two thirds of the way through, you get a bucket of ice water dropped on your head. This continuously pours until the book is over. Also you enjoy all of it.

I buddy read this book with two and a half other people. Which is to say, I buddy read this book with one person mostly, and a second who I lovingly admit didn’t have much time for the book before the rest of us read further and further along (keep taking your time bud, I’ll probably always be down to talk about this crazy book). The “half” I mention only because a third friend was asked to join the buddy read and then proceeded to read the whole thing within three days (a good example of the quality of this book). I also, if it counts, forcefully shared my reading of this book with another lovely friend of mine, who did not read the book, but put up with my unending midnight ramblings by my conspiracy corkboard all the way through to the end.

Yes I made a conspiracy corkboard.

Perchance… I am a bit unhinged about this. Honestly, this is just one of those books that are really easy to be unhinged about. But really, I don’t say that entirely jokingly. In my humble opinion, this book is best read as something that you are just “along for the ride” on, and not necessarily like, a good place for life lessons. In fact, this is an awful book for life lessons. Unless you’re planning on always doing the exact opposite of what the main characters of this book do, in which case, proceed.

In terms of book content, I have to admit I was personally a liiiiiittle bit disappointed by the romance front. NOT due to any lack, but purely because

all the romantic relationships in this book are at least some level of toxic.

Yes, even Vivi and Heather, a ship which hurts my heart to say is still soured by the fact that it is built on at least a few lies.

Now, I fully admit that after reading this book I don’t actually think this is a flaw. This book makes no attempt to pretend it’s gonna be a cute little romp, I mean, look at the fucking title. The

toxicity

of all the relationships is definitely intentional, and actually feels like a worldbuilding choice made to show how differently faeries view romantic relationships from us – they’re literally a different species, after all.

Speaking of romantic relationships:

FUCK. LOCKE. I want to blow up his house. Would that be a good enough “story” for you??? Dick

Anyways. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

Jude and Cardan, huh? So… we all agree Cardan is a complete bottom right? Like this man was already doing everything Jude commanded before he swore himself to her, and dude was DEFINITELY bricked up everytime Jude held a knife to his neck. Homie literally has self-proclaimed “depraved tastes” (it's ok, having a femdom kink is perfectly healthy and makes you no less of a man, Cardan!! 😌). No but in full seriousness, as much as I've yet to be fully convinced to become a Jurdan shipper, I must admit it. They may not be healthy, but by God they sure are compelling. Which frankly, is more important if you ask me.

Now, the truly most important thing for a book: sticking the landing. I'm always kinda worried by books/stories with big sprawling plots that the ending won't feel appropriate (whether that's because it isn't badass ENOUGH or is TOO out-of-the-blue dramatic to match the tone of the story), and I guess this book isn't exactly the END of this whole story, but I felt like this was just such a good tying up of loose ends tonally that I'm really happy with it. Sure we have tons of questions and so much can go wrong, but that's why there's two more books in this series, right?

Really, this book was so much fun to read. It may not be the most emotional story, or have the most wholesome relationships (romantic or platonic), but it was never trying to do any of that. It’s a high fantasy book with political machinations at the center. What it’s trying to do is tell a fascinating story with interesting characters. You’ll like these characters not because they’re likable, but because they’re well written and, above all, fascinating to watch.

If watching a billionaire’s gilded dumpster fire sounds like your thing, then this book is 100% up your alley. If it’s not, then perhaps try reading something more, or less, thought-provoking. Because you will find no reflective life lessons or fun-quirky-and-loveable ships here. You read this book with a piña colada in one hand and your fantasy-gossip bestie on your other side.

More...

larijuni's reviews 102 reviews

larijuni's reviews
102 reviews