The Wicked King is a BIG step up from the cruel prince, going in, I already like Cardan and Jude, and other characters and I love seeing how the dynamic changed from book one to book two in what was just a few months for them. From Jude trying to put together all her pieces, from the politics Jude involves herself in and the conflict with the sea folk makes this book far more interesting than the first.

I did dock a star for (Minor Spoilers) Jude has this absolutely weird moment where she talks about pancakes like she doesn't know what pancakes are. You're telling me she spent 7 years, and then a few weeks when she was 9 in the human realm and she doesn't know what a pancake is??? She doesn't know what pepper jack cheese is??? Its such a small thing but it drove me NUTS

Other than that little nitpick, The Wicked King is really cool and honestly, if I went through what Jude does, I too would just watch Yuri! on Ice by the end of the book :)