A review by raisingself
The Wicked King by Holly Black

5.0

(Fanart by monica a. borg!)

Cardan is sexy (sexier)— when before I found him to be a problematic douche. Jude is more complex and more self aware. I still hate Taryn. Locke can still go to hell (and burn slow). Elfhame remains as dangerous as legos on the floor at night.

I gave The Cruel Prince 1 ★ the first time I read it. I had the flu and I hated the book. I reread 3 months later, after reading other Holly Black Books (which I loved) and improved the rating to 3 stars. I said what I said— 3 ★ is the best I could give the book. I can’t quite specify why, but something about the original book didn’t do it for me.

Now, The Wicked King. I have no edges y’all. I am shook. I sprinted through the reading of this book much to the detriment of my to-do lists and obligations as a responsible adult. Holly Black did not come with y’all heifers with this book. Cardan sits on a throne and Taryn rules. If you think the cliff hanger at the end of The Cruel Prince was unbearable, I’m sorry for you boo because it is taken to new levels of pearl clutching in The Wicked King. I am willing to volunteer as a maid, cook, or personal court clown to read book 3 as soon as possible. I’m giving this book all the stars, ALL OF THEM! ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”

Its raining plot twists, on plot twists, on plot twists in book 2. Book 2 is about power, having it, keeping it, stealing it and even giving it away. I don’t have all the words to give this book justice. I hated fae stories until Holly Black came for me.

“I’ve wanted this and feared it, and now that it’s happening, I don’t know how I will ever want anything else.”