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A review by remilauren
The Wicked King by Holly Black
5.0
******SPOILERS AHEAD******
Re-Read Review
I remember, just a month ago I was not so impressed by TCP but this one, The Wicked King had charmed me immediately. But something in me felt I didn't appreciate the book well in my hurry to know the full story. That was the main reason behind my stupid decision to re-read the series so soon!
This time around, I felt the emotions much more strongly. During the prologue Jude says, It was good to be hugged, even by a monster, I don't know about other but my heart ached at that despite knowing this is the same girl that managed to trick the Undersea into believing she was glamoured. The shock I felt when I realized that Locke was spying on Jude through the Ghost throughout this book! The hatred I felt for Locke for trying to embarass Jude/Cardan, or the hate I felt all over again for Taryn at her betrayal.
But everything paled at the climax, the sheer contrast in Cardan's behavior between the penultimate chapter and the last one, Jude is really strong mentally to have put up to that. I could feel the shame and fury she felt, the anger and the fear, poor thing just can't seem to be able to trust anyone without them stabbing her in the back.
Original Review
What a wonderful journey this book took me on! How I loved the ending, and how much more this leaves me craving for!
I have often wondered why the first two books were called The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King when we mostly saw Jude in action, but oh how Cardan surprised me here. From being a rotten Prince, to a powerful ruler threatening a Queen, this boy has had the best development arc!
Unlike TCP, Jude is powerful and clever here. She put people in their place with her strength and skill, while tricking the rest and playing them like a pro! When she kept succeeding, I was waiting for a misstep, and it happened. But that's when the story turns, shifting from her to Cardan, that culminates in his act that justifies the title of this book.
Jude and Cardan are an odd couple, what with their initial fetish for I hate you's, what even was that, I don't know. After Cardan rescued her, and made a confession, especially after they were married, I started hoping something good might come out of it after all. But turns out, Jude completely underestimated him! This boy has been scheming and he has managed to turn the situation to 180 from last time, haha.
Jude really needs to be less opaque with her plans, she managed to rile Madoc into renouncing his vow. And she has to be careful with trust, looks like everyone here has plans of their own. Let your guard down and you are doomed. I always wanted Jude to be temporarily back in the mortal world, never imagined how, but I hope Cardan had good reasons in doing so.
I loved this book, just could not put it down. On my way to read Queen of Nothing.
Re-Read Review
I remember, just a month ago I was not so impressed by TCP but this one, The Wicked King had charmed me immediately. But something in me felt I didn't appreciate the book well in my hurry to know the full story. That was the main reason behind my stupid decision to re-read the series so soon!
This time around, I felt the emotions much more strongly. During the prologue Jude says, It was good to be hugged, even by a monster, I don't know about other but my heart ached at that despite knowing this is the same girl that managed to trick the Undersea into believing she was glamoured. The shock I felt when I realized that Locke was spying on Jude through the Ghost throughout this book! The hatred I felt for Locke for trying to embarass Jude/Cardan, or the hate I felt all over again for Taryn at her betrayal.
But everything paled at the climax, the sheer contrast in Cardan's behavior between the penultimate chapter and the last one, Jude is really strong mentally to have put up to that. I could feel the shame and fury she felt, the anger and the fear, poor thing just can't seem to be able to trust anyone without them stabbing her in the back.
Original Review
What a wonderful journey this book took me on! How I loved the ending, and how much more this leaves me craving for!
I have often wondered why the first two books were called The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King when we mostly saw Jude in action, but oh how Cardan surprised me here. From being a rotten Prince, to a powerful ruler threatening a Queen, this boy has had the best development arc!
Unlike TCP, Jude is powerful and clever here. She put people in their place with her strength and skill, while tricking the rest and playing them like a pro! When she kept succeeding, I was waiting for a misstep, and it happened. But that's when the story turns, shifting from her to Cardan, that culminates in his act that justifies the title of this book.
Jude and Cardan are an odd couple, what with their initial fetish for I hate you's, what even was that, I don't know. After Cardan rescued her, and made a confession, especially after they were married, I started hoping something good might come out of it after all. But turns out, Jude completely underestimated him! This boy has been scheming and he has managed to turn the situation to 180 from last time, haha.
Jude really needs to be less opaque with her plans, she managed to rile Madoc into renouncing his vow. And she has to be careful with trust, looks like everyone here has plans of their own. Let your guard down and you are doomed. I always wanted Jude to be temporarily back in the mortal world, never imagined how, but I hope Cardan had good reasons in doing so.
I loved this book, just could not put it down. On my way to read Queen of Nothing.