The Wicked King – Holly Black | A Book Review

Title: The Wicked King

Author: Holly Black

Genre: Fantasy

About the book: It’s the second novel in a series that picks up right where The Cruel Prince left off.

I received a free copy of the book from Hachette in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I read the first novel about a year ago, and I was curious to see what would happen next.

I love the title and cover. Both capture the essence of the story perfectly.

Characters: The main characters, Jude and Cardan, grew on me. They’re both flawed, even morally questionable. Their development made them more likeable.

Black offers additional backstory, especially in regards to Cardan. Even the evil villains have greater depth to them than I expected.

Quote:

“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”

Writing: I’m a huge fan of the dialogue, specifically between Jude and Cardan.

There’s a bit of nearly everything from fantasy to romance to suspense. The scenes aren’t too mature or graphic in nature either.

Final thoughts: The ending is just cruel. I need closure, and Holly Black didn’t give me that.

If you’re interested in reading The Wicked King, I recommend reading The Cruel Prince beforehand. If you enjoyed the first novel, you might love the second novel even more.

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