Book Review: The Wicked King by Holly Black (Book 2 of The Cruel Prince series)

by The Book Pup on January 14, 2026

Blurb for the book (on Goodreads):

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.


When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

My Summary:

Jude Duarte has done the impossible: she's bound Cardan to her service and now controls the throne of Faerie from the shadows. But being the power behind the crown is far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

With enemies on all sides, and Cardan doing everything possible to undermine her authority while also being... complicated, Jude must navigate deadly political schemes and even deadlier feelings. Betrayal lurks around every corner, and trust is a luxury she can't afford.

As the stakes get higher and the danger more personal, Jude discovers that keeping power is even harder than seizing it, and that sometimes the most dangerous enemy is the one you're bound to.

My Review

Content Warning: This book contains significant violence, kidnapping, blood, torture, and dark themes. If you're sensitive to graphic content, this might not be for you! I'm personally fine with it, but definitely something to keep in mind. ⚠️

HOLLY BLACK DID NOT COME TO PLAY. 🔥

After loving The Cruel Prince, I went into The Wicked King lowering my expectations so I won't be disappointed. Turns out I didn't need to do that! With amazing stakes and an even more engaging book, somehow Black managed to exceed every expectation. This book is INTENSE in the best possible way.

Let's talk about what makes this sequel absolutely phenomenal: something is ALWAYS happening. There is not a single dull moment in this entire book. Every chapter has political scheming, dangerous revelations, tense confrontations, or plot twists that made me gasp out loud. The pacing is absolutely perfect, it keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. 📚💨

Jude's character development continues to be incredible. She's not just surviving in Faerie anymore; she's actively controlling it from the shadows. Watching her navigate the deadly politics while trying to keep her brother safe and maintain her power over Cardan was absolutely thrilling. She's ruthless, strategic, and refuses to back down even when everything is falling apart around her.

The power dynamic between Cardan and Jude is so complex, she controls him, but he's constantly pushing back, testing boundaries, and their relationship is this delicious mix of hatred, fascination, and something neither of them wants to acknowledge. The tension is UNREAL.

The political intrigue in this book is masterfully done. Every alliance feels temporary, every friend could be a traitor, and the stakes keep escalating. Black doesn't shy away from the darkness of Faerie, there's violence, betrayal, torture, and genuinely disturbing content throughout. It's dark fantasy done RIGHT.

Now, about that content warning I mentioned: this book gets DARK. We're talking kidnapping, graphic violence, blood, and some genuinely brutal scenes. It's definitely more intense than the first book, so if you're squeamish about violence or dark themes, you might struggle with this one. For me personally? I was completely fine with it and thought it served the story perfectly, but I know not everyone feels the same way about graphic content.

The worldbuilding continues to expand beautifully, with more layers of Faerie politics and magic being revealed, without overwhelming you. What I loved with this especially is that there were never info-dumps, you learn about the world naturally through Jude's experiences.

That ending though... Holly Black knows exactly how to twist the knife in the best, most devastating way possible. (It was a horrible cliffhanger, but then again, you gotta hook the readers.)

This sequel is everything a second book should be: higher stakes, deeper character development, more complex relationships, and a plot that never stops moving. If you loved The Cruel Prince, you NEED to read this. If you haven't started the series yet, what are you waiting for?? 🏃‍♀️💨

5/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

You can find the book on Goodreads here!

Who I think this book is for: Fans of dark fantasy, political intrigue, morally gray protagonists, enemies-to-lovers tension, and anyone who loves books that keep you constantly on edge.

Reading order reminder: Definitely read The Cruel Prince first, this won't work as a standalone! (You can find my review for The Cruel Prince here!)

Content warnings: Violence, kidnapping, blood, torture, psychological manipulation, dark themes

Cheers, and happy reading!

The Book Pup

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