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

by Holly Black

[ladygrey]

This is a clever book. And as far as second books go there’s only the barest repetition (yes when you did the thing... earlier in the book... that I’m reading right now. I haven’t forgotten). There’s a lot of description of the land and the creatures which some people might enjoy but I’d rather get to the character interactions. But the whole of this book boils down to two things.

1 - Jude and Carden would work well together. And the story, despite whatever conflict Black is intent on conjuring, would be more interesting with them working together. At least to me. They’re both smart and even though they spend a lot of this book not interacting, when they do their interplay is the most interesting thing in the story. Having them at odds serves it’s purpose but it leaves a whole lot of book that’s not as much fun to read as the moments when they’re bickering or plotting.

2 books with sucky endings suck. Yeah there’s that moment of, well isn’t Cardan clever to have worked this all out. But what it boils down to is an emotional low with Jude defeated and exiled and stupid Nicasia gallivanting with Cardan in her absence. And if you take into account point 1 that the book is more interesting when Cardan and Jude are interacting then having them separated by so much just ruins the whole thing.. Ending a book on a low note like this tarnishes my impression of the entire book.

And the romance, ugh! Everyone is all swooney with the quotes on mugs and pillows and all over Instagram and now that I’ve read the context i am so wildly unimpressed. There’s no affection in it, no admiration or adoration. It’s all lust covering over deceptions and disdain. Which might be forgivable if they spent time in the story together scheming or building a begrudging, veiled respect, or any sort of growth in their relationship. But no, none of that. The only progress in their relationship is the depth of their lust and the convolution of their lies. That isn’t romance and it isn’t appealing.

I don’t like it, but I have the third book and I’m this far in so I’ll finish it. But I guess indulging in things you dislike is a theme for the series so it’s fitting.