The Wicked King by Holly Black

The Wicked King by Holly Black is a dark young adult fantasy filled with betrayal, political games, dangerous alliances, romance, and the constant struggle for power in Faerie.

Jude Duarte has fought her way into the heart of the royal court.

Now she is more powerful than ever.

But power in Faerie is never safe.

About The Wicked King

The Wicked King is the second book in Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air trilogy.

The story continues after the shocking events of The Cruel Prince.

Jude has placed Cardan on the throne.

But she is secretly controlling much of what happens behind it.

That arrangement is dangerous from the beginning.

Jude Duarte

Jude is human.

That already makes her vulnerable in Faerie.

But she refuses to be weak.

She has learned how to lie.

Manipulate.

Fight.

And survive among creatures far more powerful than she is.

Her greatest strength is ambition.

Her greatest weakness may be believing she can control everything.

Cardan Greenbriar

Cardan is now the High King.

He is cruel.

Clever.

Unpredictable.

And difficult to control.

Jude may have forced him onto the throne, but that does not mean he intends to make things easy for her.

Their relationship becomes even more complicated.

Power and attraction begin to mix.

That makes every conversation dangerous.

7 Dark Reasons to Read The Wicked King

1. Jude Has More Power Than Ever

Jude is no longer simply trying to survive court life.

She is influencing the throne.

That creates new opportunities.

It also creates new enemies.

The higher she rises, the harder the fall could be.

2. Cardan Is Even More Unpredictable

Cardan remains one of the most fascinating characters in the series.

He can be cruel.

Mocking.

Strategic.

And unexpectedly vulnerable.

His relationship with Jude makes the story far more intense.

3. The Political Intrigue Gets Bigger

Faerie politics become more dangerous.

Power shifts constantly.

Alliances change.

People lie without technically lying.

Every conversation can contain a threat.

4. Betrayal Is Everywhere

Jude knows someone close to her may betray her.

The problem is figuring out who.

Trust becomes almost impossible.

That uncertainty creates constant tension.

5. The Romance Gets More Complicated

Jude and Cardan are drawn to each other.

But attraction does not remove hatred.

Or mistrust.

Or political ambition.

Their relationship remains tense because neither wants to become vulnerable.

6. The Stakes Are Higher

Oak’s future is important.

The throne is unstable.

Enemies want control.

Jude must protect herself while also protecting the people she cares about.

Every mistake matters.

7. The Ending Changes Everything

The Wicked King is famous for its dramatic ending.

Without giving away spoilers, the final chapters force readers to reconsider the balance of power.

It sets up the next book perfectly.

Power Behind the Throne

Jude has placed Cardan on the throne.

But she intends to remain the real power.

That arrangement is fragile.

Cardan does not enjoy being controlled.

Jude does not trust him.

This creates a political relationship built on tension.

Faerie Politics

Politics in Faerie are dangerous because appearances matter.

Promises matter.

Words matter.

The fae cannot lie in the same way humans can.

But they can still mislead.

Jude’s ability to lie gives her an advantage.

It also makes others distrust her.

Jude and Cardan

The relationship between Jude and Cardan is central to The Wicked King.

They understand each other in uncomfortable ways.

Both want control.

Both hate weakness.

Both are attracted to something they should probably avoid.

Their relationship is full of tension because emotion can become a political weakness.

Oak

Oak remains important to the future of Faerie.

Jude wants to keep him safe.

That means controlling the throne until he is ready.

But protecting him creates new problems.

Different groups have different ideas about who should rule.

The Undersea

Another major source of conflict comes from the Undersea.

Its involvement makes the political situation even more dangerous.

Jude must manage threats from multiple directions.

That pushes her strategic skills to the limit.

Betrayal

Betrayal is one of the strongest themes in the book.

Jude knows she cannot trust everyone around her.

Friends may have hidden motives.

Family members may have their own plans.

Political allies can change sides.

That makes every relationship uncertain.

Ambition

Jude wants power.

She does not hide that from herself.

But ambition comes with consequences.

The more she gains, the more she has to lose.

The book repeatedly asks how far she is willing to go.

Human in a Faerie World

Jude’s humanity remains important.

She is surrounded by beings who are stronger and longer-lived.

That makes her vulnerable.

But humans also have abilities the fae underestimate.

Adaptability.

Deception.

Persistence.

Jude uses all of them.

The Folk of the Air Reading Order

Read the main trilogy in this order:

1. The Cruel Prince
2. The Wicked King
3. The Queen of Nothing

Holly Black’s official bibliography lists these as the core Folk of the Air trilogy.

A companion title, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, expands Cardan’s story.

Who Should Read This Book?

The Wicked King is ideal for readers who enjoy dark fantasy, faerie courts, enemies-to-lovers tension, political intrigue, morally gray characters, and dangerous romance.

Fans of The Cruel Prince should read this next.

Readers who enjoy clever heroines and complicated antiheroes may especially enjoy Jude and Cardan.

About Holly Black

Holly Black is a bestselling fantasy author known for The Folk of the Air, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book of Night, and other fantasy novels.

Her official biography notes that The Wicked King debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Readers can learn more through the official Holly Black page for The Wicked King.

Product Details

Title: The Wicked King

Author: Holly Black

Series: The Folk of the Air

Series Number: 2

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy / Faerie Fantasy / Romance

Language: English

Common Trade Paperback Edition

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 9780316310321

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 336

Paperback Release: 2020

Little, Brown’s series catalogue lists ISBN 9780316310321 for the trade paperback edition.

Hardcover Edition

ISBN-13: 9780316310352

Pages: 336

Publication Date: January 8, 2019

Hachette confirms these specifications for the hardcover edition.

Important Edition Note

There is also a Collector’s Edition hardcover.

ISBN-13: 9780316585743

Pages: 336

Publication Date: October 14, 2025

This is a different edition from the standard hardcover and paperback.

Always check the barcode on your physical copy before entering final WooCommerce specifications.

Explore More Fantasy Books

The Wicked King takes everything dangerous about The Cruel Prince and raises the stakes.

Jude has power.

Cardan has the crown.

But neither has complete control.

Trust becomes dangerous.

Love becomes dangerous.

And betrayal may be closer than Jude expects.

Readers can explore more Fantasy Books at Bargain Books.

You can also explore Children & Young Adult Books at Bargain Books.

For readers who enjoy faerie politics, dark romance, betrayal, dangerous alliances, and clever power games, The Wicked King is a dark and addictive sequel.