The Wicked King-Book Review
The Wicked King by Holly Black
Goodreads summary:
The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Timesbestselling novel The Cruel Prince. You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring. The first lesson is to make yourself strong. After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished. When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
Personal Review: 5 delicious coffee cups
Well, damn. Kill him before he makes you love him. I swear reading these books is like living inside a riddle. There are countless moments where I'm asking myself what is happening. But the way it's executed, with political scheming and betrayal, just lends itself to the thrill of keeping the reader on their toes.
Another element that Holly Black really delivers on in this series is the theme of power. What does it mean to attain it and what does it mean to keep it? "Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto." I especially like that Jude (a character that has very little power and title in this world) struggles to learn what it means to have power and how it influences her character.
Overall, I think these books are a real testament to the cleverness that is Holly Black. Also, that ending....so deliciously evil.
Favorite Quote: I have heard that for mortals, the feeling of falling in love is very like the feeling of fear. Your heart beats fast. Your senses are heightened. You grow light-headed, maybe even dizzy. Is that right?
