“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”
After over a year of waiting, here it is at last! And the long anticipated sequel to The Cruel Prince does not disappoint.
Holly Black seamlessly weaves together fantasy, political intrigue and twisted romance, creating a singular world populated with characters both horrifying and fascinating.
Like The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King follows Jude Duarte as she picks her way through the dangers of being a human in the land of Faerie. However, where The Cruel Prince focuses on Jude's ascent to power and the lengths to which she will go to obtain it, The Wicked King sees Jude attempt to navigate the complex web of secrets, alliances and plots which defines the politics of Faerie in order to retain that power.
She must also work around her growing feelings for Cardan, who she cannot decide whether to love or to hate, and who is furious after her betrayal at the end of the previous book. However, I would warn readers not to go into this series expecting a YA romance - although there are many complex and fascinating relationships, they are neither healthy nor stable and should be seen as an exploration of the characters and not as a romance to enjoy.
All that is left to say is that Holly Black has once again outdone herself completely in this exhilarating masterpiece of a book, and that I already long for the next instalment like a mortal who has had a single bite of faerie fruit.
After over a year of waiting, here it is at last! And the long anticipated sequel to The Cruel Prince does not disappoint.
Holly Black seamlessly weaves together fantasy, political intrigue and twisted romance, creating a singular world populated with characters both horrifying and fascinating.
Like The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King follows Jude Duarte as she picks her way through the dangers of being a human in the land of Faerie. However, where The Cruel Prince focuses on Jude's ascent to power and the lengths to which she will go to obtain it, The Wicked King sees Jude attempt to navigate the complex web of secrets, alliances and plots which defines the politics of Faerie in order to retain that power.
She must also work around her growing feelings for Cardan, who she cannot decide whether to love or to hate, and who is furious after her betrayal at the end of the previous book. However, I would warn readers not to go into this series expecting a YA romance - although there are many complex and fascinating relationships, they are neither healthy nor stable and should be seen as an exploration of the characters and not as a romance to enjoy.
All that is left to say is that Holly Black has once again outdone herself completely in this exhilarating masterpiece of a book, and that I already long for the next instalment like a mortal who has had a single bite of faerie fruit.