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bookishfads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
The second book of the trilogy is better than the first.
Mike drop (not really, I'm sure this is a common opinion).
If you got disappointed by the first book, yet you enjoyed at least a third of it, check out the next one. Cardan gets way more development and gets more likeable, Jude remains the complex protagonist that I love so much, the characters tangle up more in their various plots and feelings. Backstories are expanded, court drama goes on, dragging Jude's family into it. Holly Black writes with so much passion and puts so much poetry and reflection into her work (and quite a bit of silliness and weirdness).
Why four stars? Some parts felt unfinished or undercooked; it's been five months since we've seen our love-hate duo and yet we get so little of their dynamic in their current position before plot kicks in. The romance is improved but I'm still waiting for it to become more than just bare-bones attraction. The book in general could have done so much more and that irks me because the writer hardly used that potential, especially when it comes to expanding this world.
Rating second books in trilogies is complicated, the first book does all the heavy lifting of worldbuilding and exposition, while their endings are rarely satisfying and rely on the third book for resolution. Ironically, this is why they can also be so loved by fans: they treat us with familiarity and create hype. The Wicked King has a very nicely rounded arc, yet the ending still creates more tension, so if you pick up this book, I strongly believe you'll go for the third.
Now for the spoiler part:
The first book didn't build the solid foundation the second book pretends to have with its romance, but I played along for the sake of the story. The ship moments between them were delicious and I'd be lying if I said I disliked them, but they fall flat since they aren't rooted in much.
They crush on each other? That's it?
Cardan made Jude's life miserable from day one. We got something like an apology, when she comes back from the Undersea, but that's so far into the story! Cardan's character offers so little that Jude could fall for. It's a book about fae so some toxicity in the romance is okay, but that doesn't mean Jude should just fall for the pretty fae prince because plot said so.
I've never seen enemies to lovers have such insta-love vibes.
I don't mind if she loves him for being cunning and manipulative - he's fae and she's... Jude. However, she just falls for him because he's pretty and gives her attention (even though her brief relationship with Locke showed how aware she is that attention and love aren't the same, that mature first book Jude evaporated for some reason). I see what the author is trying to do, having Cardan secretly look out for Jude, but Jude doesn't. She needed more to develop so much care for him and more to trust him so much she didn't even make him give safety promises in the end. Banishing her was the least he could do and don't tell me Jude wouldn't have been prepared for it.
Still, I absolutely love the ending, how Cardan used Jude's feelings against her, a parallel to the first book and a great mark of his development. The fact that we can't discern at what point did he decide to betray her: was it during their vows? Or after Balekin's death is discovered? Or maybe during the scene where she tells him to seduce Nicasia? Did Jude plant that idea in his mind by suggesting something he found so repulsive? Either way, perfect setup, I cackled like an evil witch. These traitors so deserve each other. I just wish their affection was more believable, in a book that makes loving your parents' murderer sound plausible.
Madoc was as brilliant as always. I was wondering at what point will the twin trope be used and it did not disappoint. Madoc is just looming in the background, a vague threat to Jude's power and we completely forget about Taryn and what she's capable of. Madoc, Taryn and Jude form this triangle of mixed feelings that keeps expanding.
Locke is an asshole, yet one I expected to be more relevant to the plot for someone so annoying. Waste of character, if you ask me.
Balekin was a creep, seeing Cardan confront him was so satisfying. Another great point to his development. Cardan can be seen as the hero of this arc, trying to escape Jude and manage the power he didn't want.
Solid twist with the Court of Shadows, but I wish we got a proper reason as to why the Ghost betrayed everyone (even before the discovery, my guess was that it was him because he wanted to go back to the human world or something similar).
Nicasia has a somewhat interesting arc, but it didn't go anywhere yet. Orlagh could have been so much more for the story, even though I enjoyed how unlucky she got with Jude's geas.
Overall, this book had so many ways it could have gone. It didn't realize its full potential, which is sad, but the ending is perfect for setting up the last one.
Mike drop (not really, I'm sure this is a common opinion).
If you got disappointed by the first book, yet you enjoyed at least a third of it, check out the next one. Cardan gets way more development and gets more likeable, Jude remains the complex protagonist that I love so much, the characters tangle up more in their various plots and feelings. Backstories are expanded, court drama goes on, dragging Jude's family into it. Holly Black writes with so much passion and puts so much poetry and reflection into her work (and quite a bit of silliness and weirdness).
Why four stars? Some parts felt unfinished or undercooked; it's been five months since we've seen our love-hate duo and yet we get so little of their dynamic in their current position before plot kicks in. The romance is improved but I'm still waiting for it to become more than just bare-bones attraction. The book in general could have done so much more and that irks me because the writer hardly used that potential, especially when it comes to expanding this world.
Rating second books in trilogies is complicated, the first book does all the heavy lifting of worldbuilding and exposition, while their endings are rarely satisfying and rely on the third book for resolution. Ironically, this is why they can also be so loved by fans: they treat us with familiarity and create hype. The Wicked King has a very nicely rounded arc, yet the ending still creates more tension, so if you pick up this book, I strongly believe you'll go for the third.
Now for the spoiler part:
The first book didn't build the solid foundation the second book pretends to have with its romance, but I played along for the sake of the story. The ship moments between them were delicious and I'd be lying if I said I disliked them, but they fall flat since they aren't rooted in much.
They crush on each other? That's it?
Cardan made Jude's life miserable from day one. We got something like an apology, when she comes back from the Undersea, but that's so far into the story! Cardan's character offers so little that Jude could fall for. It's a book about fae so some toxicity in the romance is okay, but that doesn't mean Jude should just fall for the pretty fae prince because plot said so.
I've never seen enemies to lovers have such insta-love vibes.
I don't mind if she loves him for being cunning and manipulative - he's fae and she's... Jude. However, she just falls for him because he's pretty and gives her attention (even though her brief relationship with Locke showed how aware she is that attention and love aren't the same, that mature first book Jude evaporated for some reason). I see what the author is trying to do, having Cardan secretly look out for Jude, but Jude doesn't. She needed more to develop so much care for him and more to trust him so much she didn't even make him give safety promises in the end. Banishing her was the least he could do and don't tell me Jude wouldn't have been prepared for it.
Still, I absolutely love the ending, how Cardan used Jude's feelings against her, a parallel to the first book and a great mark of his development. The fact that we can't discern at what point did he decide to betray her: was it during their vows? Or after Balekin's death is discovered? Or maybe during the scene where she tells him to seduce Nicasia? Did Jude plant that idea in his mind by suggesting something he found so repulsive? Either way, perfect setup, I cackled like an evil witch. These traitors so deserve each other. I just wish their affection was more believable, in a book that makes loving your parents' murderer sound plausible.
Madoc was as brilliant as always. I was wondering at what point will the twin trope be used and it did not disappoint. Madoc is just looming in the background, a vague threat to Jude's power and we completely forget about Taryn and what she's capable of. Madoc, Taryn and Jude form this triangle of mixed feelings that keeps expanding.
Locke is an asshole, yet one I expected to be more relevant to the plot for someone so annoying. Waste of character, if you ask me.
Balekin was a creep, seeing Cardan confront him was so satisfying. Another great point to his development. Cardan can be seen as the hero of this arc, trying to escape Jude and manage the power he didn't want.
Solid twist with the Court of Shadows, but I wish we got a proper reason as to why the Ghost betrayed everyone (even before the discovery, my guess was that it was him because he wanted to go back to the human world or something similar).
Nicasia has a somewhat interesting arc, but it didn't go anywhere yet. Orlagh could have been so much more for the story, even though I enjoyed how unlucky she got with Jude's geas.
Overall, this book had so many ways it could have gone. It didn't realize its full potential, which is sad, but the ending is perfect for setting up the last one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
About the graphic warningsmandarijnen_eten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A sequel that's better than the first book? Very fetch.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
juliesleseecke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Torture, Bullying, Death, War, Blood, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Addiction, and Animal death
annick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Love the pacy plot and the intrigue and the ethically flawed choices of most of the characters. I’m off to read the next book regardless of how late it is already tonight
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Physical abuse
rat_girly's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Holly Black got me good, Taryn still stinks
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, War, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
nefelysian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault
stitchodonovan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A divergence from a human making it in an unfair Faerie world, we have a lot more moving threads and political intrigue compared to the previous entry. We get to know the characters closer and more intimately, and we learn to hate some of them even more than we did before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
ashleybakerwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Honestly, the second was better than the first. The twists always get me. I love a good underdog story. I also love when my fmc gets a little traumatized. The twists at the end boiled me. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, and Physical abuse
elderwoodreads's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Normally I feel like sequels can't help but fall a little flat. This, however, is an exception to that rule. Black did an amazing job keeping the energy and excitement from The Cruel Prince and I was clinging to every page. She does a great job with foreshadowing, where one the last piece clicks into place you realize everything you missed on the journey there. I absolutely cannot recommend this enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Abandonment, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, War, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault
phantastic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Breathtaking.
P.S. I will kill Taryn and Locke with my bare hands if I must.
P.S. I will kill Taryn and Locke with my bare hands if I must.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and War
Minor: Sexual assault