It’s waaaaaay too early to review this one – it doesn’t come out until January! but I HAD to read it after I loaned it to blogger wife Brooke from Brooke Reports and she sent me a flailing, emoji filled DM after she finished.
So, instead of a review, I’m going to do a Friday 5 of my reactions and reasons why you should pre-order this sucker.
Just to give a quick idea of my thoughts though – I liked, but didn’t love, The Cruel Prince and I’m not typical a fan of fae stories. I thought this one was better and twistier than the first. Gone was the immature *mean kids* vibe of TCP. Holly Black leveled up big time and The Wicked King is all about strategy, choices and consequences/shock & awe.
Let’s start with a quick recap of The Cruel Prince – I think this quote sums it up nicely -
“Once upon a time, there was a human girl stolen away by faeries, and because of that, she swore to destroy them.”
1.
JUDE
After the events of The Cruel Prince, Jude is a major player now. She's still badass yet vulnerable and she’s learning that…
“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”
Love, love, love her!
2.
Cardan
In the first book, I didn’t have much of an opinion of Cardan either way. He was petulant brat and I didn’t really see what all the swooning was about.
In TWK – he is…complicated and fascinating.
In book one he was aptly called The Cruel Prince.
In book two I like to think of him as The Master Mind Fucker lol
I still have no idea what he's thinking or wanting or...anything yet I feel like I got to know him better and maybe see another side of him.
Well played.
3.
Jude & Cardan
Relationship status: It’s complicated
Cardan: “ I wondered if it wasn’t you shooting bolts at me.”
Jude: “And what made you decide it wasn’t?”
Cardan: “They missed.”
“Our eyes meet and something dangerous sparks.”
🔥🔥🔥🔥
4.
That ending
5.
I rarely get surprised with books these days but kudos to Black for blindsiding me - repeatedly - with this one!
Now I'm flailing! You're Friday 5 only makes me want to read it MORE. The Queen of Nothing?? Karen, that's so cruel... my heart is fragile, you know. "The Master Mind Fucker" hahahahaha! I didn't have any feelings about him in the first book either. He was just there -- spoiled and arrogant (but that's all fae). I'm glad we get to see a little more of him in the second book, but it seems like you're still undecided. I'm curious to see where their relationship goes after what she did to him in the first book. Eeep!
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?
Yeah - he was typical YA brooding asshole in the first book but he;s different in this one. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing though....lol
DeleteAhhh! I can't wait to read it for myself!
DeleteLol, I love the gifs at the end. Hey, gif reviews tell it all! Oh snap!
ReplyDeleteThey sure do! I'm not that much of a gif gal but these are fitting lol
DeleteAh I am so excited!!!! I listened to the first one and want to listen again. It sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt is!!!
DeleteOkay wow. I promise I will read this book this month. I'm happy there is more strategy and fuckedupness!
ReplyDeleteBeing in Jude's head constantly could be a little boring but there's so much going on and BIG twists that it's all worth it.
DeleteYou'll have to let me know when you start Amber.
GAH!!! You have me crazy excited for this one! And I *love* that exchange between Cardan and Jude (#3). I can’t wait to see how things progress there.
ReplyDeleteIt's intense Tanya. INTENSE.
DeleteOk, damn I love a good blindside. Love this post. It's different and I love it when bloggers give me something different and fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm hardly ever surprised with books anymore so I absolutely love when it happens!
Delete& Thank you Mary!
I haven't read this series yet, but I do love Holly Black's writing. I hope the ending blindsiding was in a good way. Have a great weekend, Karen! :)
ReplyDeleteI've only liked one other of her books - The Darkest Part of the Forest. For soem reason her fae books work for me.
DeleteOoh I need to read this, I love the sound of all the fae elements. She seems to be known for writing dark fae stuff. You've sold me!
ReplyDeleteIt's twisty but in a more layered way than what I typically read. And I just LOVE Jude!
DeleteOh man! I've been putting this off until closer to the pub date but I haven't seen a single bad word said about it. I think I have to pick it up asap!
ReplyDeleteBeing in Jude's head could get a tad tedious because she has to second guess EVERYTHING all the time but I loved this one.
DeleteOoooh I LOVE complicated, fascinating characters! I definitely to read The Cruel Prince already!
ReplyDeleteI hope you give it a try. The first book was just okay for me but intrigued me enough to continue.
DeleteOh syet!!! Sounds like something I would enjoy too. My! You're so lucky to have it read this early Karen. I'll definitely checking out this series
ReplyDeletexx
Vanessa
Blushing Geek
I AM LUCKY!!!!
DeleteI tried to hold out to read it closer to release date but I'm weak lol
LOL The Master Mind Fucker. I'm glad Cardan changes by book two - if he was brat in book one AND two, I don't think I could handle him AT ALL character wise.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing about The Cruel Prince, so MAYBE I should get going? But the second book doesn't come out until JANUARY, which I'm assuming will be NEXT YEAR. Eep. I'll pass for now so I can binge read later, haha.
He was just a petulant brat in the first book but that's all changed here.
DeleteI still don't like *him* but I love him as a character now lol
The downside of reading this so early is I now have to wait over a year for book 3. O_O
I still haven't read book one yet and even though I have a copy on my shelf, I've been trying to wait until the new year to begin any new series novels. I've just got so many review copies still to get through. I know I'm going to absolutely love this series, I've been thirsting for fantasy reads with morally grey characters lately and can't wait to get stuck into it ♡♡♡
ReplyDeleteThat's probably not a bad idea since it's very cliffhangery lol
DeleteThese characters are SO morally grey Kelly!