The Wicked King by Holly Black

Release date: January 8, 2019

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I have heard that for mortals, the feeling of falling in love is very like the feeling of fear.

Jude has tricked Cardan onto  the throne, binding him to her for a year and a day. But the new High King does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her. 

Meanwhile, a traitor is scheming against her, Jude must fight for her life and also battle her own complicated feelings for Cardan. Now a year and day seems like no time at all... 

Second Book from The Folk of the Air series. I love my spice, so if you had expectations for spice then you will sadly be disappointed for this book. There is a few scenes which hold the tension between Cardan and Jude and one slightly intimate scene. Other than that, it is more plot driven. 

Rating :⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars 

It is still very much Cutthroat/Enemies to Lovers, however in this book they seem more like they are on the same side instead of on opposite ends of the pole.

The series I read before this was The Twisted Series by Ana Huang so when I read Cardan say "Crawl to me" my mind went straight to that one very spicy scene we all know from Twisted Games. 

Jude's character developed so much from The Cruel Prince. We could see this stronger, more mature version of Jude who has now become so self-aware and learnt that being a mortal has its advantages. 

Taryn, she was a character I did not expect to see much of a change too, but I was wrong. Her betrayal was a surprise but then again she is out for better in life than Jude, even if she needs to fit in to get it. Her jealousy only feeds her power. 

Cardan was full of surprise in this book. He really said ✨independent✨, instead of being the puppet he wanted to do it himself. Ofcourse Jude was worried about this but what is there to worry about when the High King has offered her a promotion. 

"Marry me," he says. "Become the Queen of Elfhame." 

crying 1. Cardan is not on the market and 2. WHAT! All it took was to get to the end of the book 2 in the trilogy for their feelings to be crystal clear. 

As quickly as this excitement came was as quickly as it left. The ending has already got me dropping The Wicked King to pick up the Queen of Nothing.

TW's: Lot's of gory and blood.