3.5 stars

Warning: Thoughts and feelings are subject to change upon further rumination.

JUST finished this book. I AM SO EXCITED THAT I FINALLY GET THE HYPE AROUND A BOOK!!!

For all of the issues, I think that it makes sense given the world that they live in, and the characters are morally questionable enough that it's not one-sided in its reprehensibility.

I wish there was more time with Cardan and Jude speaking with one another, although I did like the progression of their relationship. And wow, what a hook at the end.

My biggest hang-up, once again, is the whole slavery thing... She didn't really mention it in this book. Maybe hoping we'd forget how awful it was in the first one? She does make the slavery of mortals out to be lighter, saying something like in exchange for a night of servitude that humans unwittingly agree to, they wake up in their bed with heaps of money. And then she blames the humans for agreeing anyway even though they don't know anything about fae.

And then Jude tries to free her servant that has like a year left, and the servant has agreed to this indentured servitude and is INSULTED at the mention of it. Sooooo slavery good and just I guess?

And I know it's not the point of this series but I would really love a look inside Taryn's head. She seems so interesting to me.

I had fun reading this! ( )

taryn addicted to never serving ( )

Wicked King was brilliant, fascinating, captivating and wicked YA fantasy filled with bloody politics and amazing twist and turns. The experience of reading a novel like this is something like being surrounded by magic.

I was a little let down by this book. I know this is one of booktube's favorite books but it just wasn't my favorite. I gave the first book a 5 although it probably deserved less considering when I picked this one up I had no idea who any of the characters were anymore. 5 star books are generally ones that I enjoy enough to remember the characters but anyway... I was let down but still wound up enjoying this one.

The beginning was slow. I was bored for the first 50 or so pages but after that, the action didn't really let up. There were a couple of boring passages about the politics and how paranoid Jude is but for the most part I became invested in what was happening. There were also many betrayals that I enjoyed reading about.

Things I loved: betrayals, twists, dark moments, a good cliffhanger

Things I didn't love: Cardan, Jude, Taryn, Locke (most of the characters are just not great people), slow beginning

I will be reading the last book because I have come this far and want to finish the trilogy but I am lowering my expectations. ( )

Lekker door kunnen lezen in dit tweede deel van de Elfhame-serie. Bijna in een dag uitgelezen. Meestal is een tweede deel een beetje een tussen boek, waar niet al te veel in gebeurd, maar dat kun je van dit boek nauwelijks zeggen. Jude heeft Cardan aan zich kunnen binden en voor één jaar en een dag is haar gedwongen door een eed om alles te doen wat Jude hem opdraagt of vraagt. Jude is eigenlijk de werkelijke heerser over het land. Maar het hof blijft alles behalve rustig, de ene intrige volgt de andere snel op en complotten zijn overal. Jude heeft vooral veel aan de spionnen van de vermoorde koning Dain. Ze heeft zich daar eerder bij aangesloten en de drie leden, De Schim, De Kakkerlak en de Bom, helpen waar ze maar kunnen. Haar pleegvader Madoc is ondertussen ook bezig om dichter bij de kroon te komen en moet ze letten op haar tweelingzus, Taryn, die inmiddels getrouwd is met Locke. En Jude begint steeds meer te voelen voor Cardan.

Door in deel 3. ( )