Wicked King is a great sequel to the Cruel Prince. It really explores the relationship between Cardan and Jude even further. You can really see the change and development between them go from enemies to lovers. Jude becomes even more of a badass in this book as well as she deals with all the court issues while Cardan is playing king and family drama. Taryn becomes even more super annoying in this story as she prepares for her wedding to Locke. There were several plot twists that add perfectly to the story as well, like the backstabbing betrayal from one of Jude's spy friends. I love how Cardan was desperate to save her too. It really shows the change in his dynamic, and it shows how much he cares for her. Then the cliffhanger at the end was honestly a little bit expected. Not quite jaw dropping, but enough to make the reader want to know what happens next. I can't wait to read the next book!