The Wicked King (Folk of the Air, #2)

by Holly Black

[littleread1]

Yeah ... saw that coming, kinda. But kinda not too. I love being surprised. Also, I would be TERRIBLE at living with the folk. So many tricks, I would end up a slave for sure.

So, you know things are going to be bad for a character when they try and out-maneuver a master manipulator ... and you would not be wrong thinking that, going into The Wicked King.

Getting power is one thing, keeping it, however, is entirely something else. Jude basically pulled one over on EVERYONE in Cruel Prince, and I think she might regret some of her life choices by the end of this book.

Speaking of the end ... others have said it ends in a cliffhanger, but I would say both it does and it doesn't? There is a pretty big event at the end, but at least Ms. Black doesn't leave any of the characters literally on a cliff, just maybe not knowing what to do next or how to fix things. I won't say who and I won't say what, because OBVIOUSLY SPOILER, but it was a good "gotcha" moment. I enjoy those.

A quick note on the "romance" - I don't think I want Jude and Cardan to end up together in the end? It is a relationship built on manipulation and lies, and I am tired of unhealthy romance being promoted. You can't "fix" someone else, they have to fix themselves, and honestly both Cardan and Jude need someone a bit more stable than they are. BUT that doesn't mean that I can't be convinced otherwise, and Ms. Black is just the person that could convince me. :-)