Was soll man sagen? Ich liebs :D Langsam aber sehr sicher bin ich richtig invested. Das Buch ist ein totales auf und ab der Gefühle. Ich liebe Jude als Charakter und hoffe dass Sie im dritten Band etwas weniger scheiße durchleben muss. Ich kleiner hopeless Romantiker kann auch nie anders als Enemy to Lovers Liebesgeschichten zu feiern und hoffe dementsprechend, dass das alles wieder wird. Jedoch finde ich es extrem hart Cardan zu durchschauen und hoffe, dass die beiden zueinander finden.. Wem kann die arme Seele Jude denn vertrauen?

- dangerous romance - 2. book - cliffhanger - ya romantasy ………………………………………………………………………… Inhalt: Jude hat nur ein Ziel – als geheime Macht hinter dem Thron ihren Ziehbruder Oak, den wahren Erben des Elfenreichs, zu beschützen. Dafür hat sie Cardan, den neuen König der Elfen, an sich gebunden und zieht im Geheimen die Fäden. Die Geschicke von Faerie zu lenken, wäre schon schwierig genug. Doch Cardan tut alles, um Jude zu unterlaufen, selbst wenn die Faszination, die Jude auf ihn ausübt, ungebrochen ist. Als jemand Unbekanntes in Judes Umfeld offenbar Verrat plant, muss sie nicht nur den Verräter stellen, sondern auch ihre widersprüchlichen Gefühle gegenüber Cardan in den Griff bekommen, wenn sie nicht die Kontrolle über das Elfenreich verlieren möchte … Rezension: Am Anfang kam ich nicht so richtig rein, aber irgendwann wurde es so spannend, dass ich es kaum noch weglegen konnte. Ich fand den Band sogar ein kleines bisschen besser als den ersten. Viele sagen ja, dass er der beste ist – das fand ich jetzt nicht unbedingt, also ein bisschen overhyped vielleicht. Trotzdem mochte ich ihn echt gern, vor allem, weil die Beziehung sich weiterentwickelt hat und nicht mehr so ganz Enemies to Lovers war – das hat man richtig gespürt.

Welcome back to the sequel of: I hate Taryn! (Seriously, can someone please stab this wanna-be Mary Sue in the ribs or something?) I have so many thoughts fluttering through my mind right now but I try to condense them to a three key points: While Jude was a pretty stuborn character in the first book, we could now see her grow and deeply care for her surroundings. That was extremely pleasant, since in the first book her constant "doing things out of spite"-character trait got a little annoying sometimes. She now acted because of reason and thought. I love, love, LOVE that this book makes you as a reader question if you can truly believe what the characters say or do! I always found myself questioning the characters dialogues! And it was awesome, because it connects you more with Jude and her careful mindset! Now to the thing that still makes me scream out of anger since book 1: TARYN DUARTE. Why does Jude, the always-strategizing and everything-questioning Jude, still trust her that easily after everything she has done. Sure she is her sister, but TRUST IS EARNED NOT FOR GRANTED. And I don't think Taryn is already worthy of her trust just because she brought her some stuffed animals and pretty dresses. Other than that it was a solid 5-star read! And as I already said after The Cruel Prince: This book just feels like coming home.

i think i liked this even better than the first one because it had slightly more carden. the pacing was nice, always something going on, nice twists and i was scared haha again i love the writing style! i could possibly be heavier on the romance line. but well the story is good enough to make up for it. the end was .... something... need book 3 asap - spoiler - i looooved balekin as the villain. those "kiss me like i were carden" and "tell me you are mine" lines.. omg !! I still hate taryn tho........... make her disappear i loved how carden was telling her he trusts her but somehow the ending confused me because i don't believe he didn't mean what he said and he can't lie so he was genuine to some degree and he couldn't possibly plot exiling her at that point already? i hope he didn't.. i want to believe he betrayed her by chance and not super calculated. he was being a bit annoying but i liked him more when he opened up more so i don't want it all to be a scheme.. ig i will find out in book 3... i also didn't understand did they sleep with each other or not ? that was a bit odd

I am amazed on how this series keeps me hooked. I very much enjoy the world and character building. I am at loss for words. The first two books didn't spark strong emotions, but that was not why I kept starting the series in the first place. For me the series is very likable and aproachable fantasy and I am looking forward to the third book.

Ich bin richtig überrascht wie schnell ich jetzt doch in die Reihe herein gefunden habe. Nach Teil 1 habe ich direkt den zweiten bestellt und als er gestern Abend angekommen ist musste ich direkt anfangen und habe das Buch nicht mal 24 Stunden später fertig. Ich liebe Jude so sehr sie ist eine der besten Hauptcharaktere über die ich gelesen habe und ich liebe Cardan auch so sehr eigentlich ( ABER WAS WAR DIESES ENDE). Ich bin echt gespannt wie es mit der Geschichte weiter geht besonders mit Cardan und Jude, Taryn und Jude und Oak. P.S dieses Buch ist mal wirklich enemies to lovers und ich liebe es

I absolutely loved The Wicked King! The political intrigue, tension, and the dynamic between Jude and Cardan kept me hooked from start to finish. Holly Black’s writing is mesmerizing, and the twists were incredible. The ending completely shocked me- I need to read the next book immediately!

Wirklich auf jeder Seite passiert was neues, es reißt einen so mit, das ist Wahnsinn. Buch eins war langsam und ruhig, das hier ist, wie sich einen Fluss runter zu stürzen. Ich kann mir vorstellen, Buch 3 wird ein Wirbelsturm. Was mich an mancher Stelle triggert, ist Judes Bedürfnis nach Macht, und dass sich das als Motiv so durchzieht. Aber irgendwie muss man es ja begründen, und im Gesamtkonzept macht es schon Sinn. Aber das steht ihrer finalen Charakterentwicklung noch im Wege. Maybe Spoiler: Ich hab nicht wirklich verstanden, wieso sie sich nicht selbst begnadigt. Das macht ja gar keinen Sinn, dass sie das einfach so hinnimmt. Und von Taryn muss ich gar nicht anfangen, was sollte denn der Scheiß!! Bin ja sowas von aus allen Wolken gefallen

WARNING: May contain spoilers! If “The Cruel Prince” was a game of strategy, “The Wicked King” is the moment the stakes skyrocket, and every move could mean life or death. Holly Black once again delivers a stunningly ruthless world of fae, power struggles, and betrayal—only this time, Jude is no longer fighting just to survive. She’s fighting to rule. Jude Duarte is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite characters. She is messy, morally grey, and absolutely relentless in her pursuit of power. Her desperation to hold onto what little control she has is palpable, and I loved every second of it. She’s not the typical YA heroine—she's conniving, ruthless, and completely unapologetic. Yet, even in her darkest moments, you can’t help but root for her. The side characters shine just as much as Jude and Cardan. The Bomb and the Roach got some incredible backstory that made me love them even more. Vivi remains a fascinating character, especially as her view of power and Faerie is so drastically different from Jude’s. As for the villains? Locke and Nicasia continue to be infuriating, Taryn is as unpredictable as ever, and Madoc remains one of the best-written antagonists in YA fantasy. But the real threats in “The Wicked King” come from Prince Balekin and Queen Orlagh of the Undersea. Balekin may be imprisoned, but his ambition hasn’t dimmed—he remains a master manipulator, weaving his influence even from a cell, always scheming for a way back to power. He is the embodiment of Faerie’s worst traits: cruel, entitled, and obsessed with control. Meanwhile, Queen Orlagh is an entirely different kind of danger—cold, calculating, and patient. She plays the long game, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike, using fear and psychological warfare rather than brute force. Her alliance with Balekin is one of convenience, but she is no one’s pawn. With Balekin’s thirst for power and Orlagh’s command over the deadly forces of the Undersea, Jude faces more than just court politics—she’s up against enemies who will stop at nothing to see her fall. And then there’s Cardan—oh, Cardan. Cardan Greenbriar remains one of the most fascinating and unpredictable characters in “The Wicked King”. As the High King of Elfhame, he is both more powerful and more vulnerable than ever, walking the precarious line between being a puppet and a ruler in his own right. In “The Cruel Prince”, Cardan was the arrogant, cruel prince who delighted in Jude’s suffering—but here, he becomes something far more complex. He is cunning yet careless, indulgent yet observant, and, despite his outward laziness, far from foolish. He drinks, he smirks, he lets others believe he is weak—but beneath that façade is a mind sharper than anyone gives him credit for. Jude may be the one pulling the strings, but Cardan is no longer content to be controlled. His relationship with Jude is the epitome of complicated. The two of them are constantly circling each other, tangled in a web of power, attraction, and mistrust. There is undeniable tension between them—Jude refuses to let her guard down, and Cardan refuses to let her fully control him. Their dynamic is a masterclass in enemies-to-lovers, filled with lingering glances, sharp words, and moments so charged they practically spark off the page. There’s no softness between them, no easy confessions or whispered declarations—only power plays, hidden vulnerabilities, and an unspoken desire that neither of them wants to acknowledge. Jude is desperate to hold onto her power, but Cardan is slowly proving that he is not just a pawn in her game. One of the most fascinating aspects of their relationship is the shifting power balance. In “The Cruel Prince”, Cardan was the tormentor, and Jude was the underdog fighting for survival. Now, Jude has the upper hand—she rules through him, commanding his every move. But Cardan is not a man who will stay leashed forever. He plays along with her games, but there is always a sense that he is waiting, watching, biding his time. And then, of course, there’s that ending—where Cardan finally shows his hand, proving that he has been playing a long game of his own all along. It is a breathtaking moment of betrayal, one that leaves Jude (and the reader) utterly stunned. Their relationship is built on equal parts desire and distrust, and that’s what makes it so intoxicating. There is an undeniable pull between them, but neither of them can afford to let their guard down. Every touch, every look, every exchange is laced with hidden motives and suppressed longing. It’s slow-burn, it’s messy, it’s painful—and it’s absolutely perfect. The court intrigue and scheming in this book are next level. Jude isn’t just trying to survive among the fae anymore—she’s trying to outplay them, and it’s exhilarating. The politics, the deception, the power plays—it’s all woven together so seamlessly. And the plot twists? Absolutely brutal. I screamed a concerning amount of times while reading. And don’t even get me started on that ending. The final 25% of this book was a rollercoaster of emotions, betrayals, and jaw-dropping revelations. If you thought “The Cruel Prince” had a painful ending, “The Wicked King” will absolutely destroy you. Holly Black’s writing is as immersive and gripping as ever. The world of Elfhame is lush, dark, and filled with danger at every turn. The pacing starts slow, but it all builds up to an explosive and heart-wrenching conclusion that will leave you gasping for breath. Final thoughts? “The Wicked King” takes everything I loved about “The Cruel Prince” and amplifies it. The political games are sharper, the betrayals cut deeper, and the romance burns even hotter. This book was deliciously wicked, and I am both terrified and desperate to see how it all ends in “The Queen of Nothing”.

I liked it better than the first book. The story has a red line going through from beginning to end (which was not the case for the first book) and the characters are entertaining. Still, and I never thought I would say something like that, but this is a fantasy world that I would have absolutely no interest in visiting. The characters (no matter if human or faerie) are all irresponsible, careless, find pleasure in hurting humans as well as faeries. Sometimes it feels like Jude is the only sane person and it gets a bit tiring after some time. Quite often people do horrible things to Jude, and when she addresses it, everyone is like „ah, but I don’t understand why are you mad though? Let‘s just be chill about it, I hurt you but let‘s not make it a big thing.“ And she‘s accepting it. Even her own sisters are behaving completely irrational and are absolutely deaf towards everything Jude tries to explain to them to a point, where I wonder why Jude is talking to anyone in the first place since nobody ever listens or is interested in a different point of view then their own. It makes a lot of conversations irrelevant since there is no outcome.

Jude has taken over the kingdom and uses King Cardan to lead it. She wants to keep it up for her brother Oak. There are some plot twists in the book and Jude is betrayed by a close person... At the end of this book, Jude dissolves her power over the king... but why? Find out for yourself.

Genau wie Teil 1 fehlt mit irgendwie das gewisse Etwas. Die Spannungsmomente sind schnell vorbei und könnten durchaus mehr herausgezögert werden. Es ist nicht viel Character Developement vorhanden und im Großen und Ganzen mangelt es einfach an etwas. Nichts destotrotz werde ich auch noch Teil 3 lesen, um herauszufinden wie es endet, auch wenn ich tbh keine großen Erwartungen habe.

Nach vier Monaten hab ich es auch mal geschafft band 2 der The Folk of the Air Series zu lesen und what the fuck happened!? Erstmal muss ich sagen das ich echt wieder zeit brauchte um ein bisschen reinzukommen aber ich hab das buch verschlungen! Wer also gerne Fantasy liest, ist bei dieser Reihe genau richtig. 🫶🏼 Werde mich jetzt direkt, nach dem so heartbreaking ende, Band 3 antun! In all good means!

I just enjoyed reading this book so much. After the ending of the cruel prince, I needed to read this book ASAP, and I loved it. It was not lacking at all. I do like Jude so much she such a strong character. And Carden 😶 I shouldn't like him, but I do~ And the end here again damn! I was like, something needs to happen since we gonna get a 3rd book. And Dang!

3,75⭐ Allora ho sempre sentito un distacco nella storia e verso i personaggi principali. Jude l'ho trovata troppo sprovveduta, troppo pronta a credere a tutto e a tutti. Al contrario Cardan si è mostrato qualcosa di più troppo in fretta. Amo follemente com'è finito. Non tanto l'esecuzione ma DANNAZIONE questi sono colpi di scena assurdi.

Der erste Teil der Reihe hatte mich nicht sofort abgeholt, da ich mir relativ schwer getan habe in die Welt (auf Englisch) zu finden. Spätestens in diesem Teil war ich aber Feuer und Flamme für die Geschichte! Ich finde die Story unglaublich spannend, unvorhersehbar und die Charakterentwicklungen unglaublich!

Giving it a pause for a few weeks after reading the cruel prince, I gave this another chance. And I have to say I’m glad I did. Is it my favorite fantasy saga of all time? No Did I still enjoy it. Yes! I started the cruel prince to close after TOG, which lead me to insane expectations, that of course couldn’t be matched. I liked the development of Judes and Cardans story. Jude is badass I’m glad to dive into this world again.

Ich habe noch nie ein Buch gelesen welches so viele unvorhersehbare Plotwists hatte. Das Ende war unerwartet. Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm und es war leicht zu lesen. Ich habe mit gefiebert. Die Beziehung zwischen Jude und Cardan hat mich gefesselt. Das unerwartete Ende bringt einem dazu den 3ten Teil sofort lesen zu wollen. Teilweise war etwas zu viel Politik enthalten aber das hat mich nicht wirklich gestört. 5 Sterne von 5 Sternen ⭐

4.5/5!!! Tbh my girl Jude needs a break I really loved this one hihi I just love the world building. The political aspects are great (I love it) without being boring. Though there were a few slow parts, I didn't find them bothersome anyways. Jude is the best main character and no one can change my opinion AND THAT ENDING?!?!

Win grandioser zweiter Teil. Ich hatte etwas längere Pause zwischen the cruel prince und the wicked king, jedoch kam ich sehr gut in das Buch rein. Der spannende Schreibstil verleitet einen dazu immer weiter lesen zu wollen und durch die relativ kurzen Kapitel kommt man sehr schnell vorran. Jude ist eine der besten weiblichen Protagonist die ich bis jetzt im fantasy Bereich gesehen habe. Der dritte Teil wird zügig einziehen und gelesen.

Auch wenn ich mir nicht sicher bin ob ich die Protagonistin mag, finde ich ihr Motiv spannend. Die Helden der meisten Geschichten sind die Underdogs, die irgendeine spezielle Superkraft haben und dann ohne dass sie es wollen an die Macht kommen. Die üblichen Helden treffen zwar manchmal fragwürdige Entscheidungen, aber immer nur aus edlen Motiven, und schon gar nicht fallen sie ihrer eigenen Familie in den Rücken weil sie machthungrig sind. Doch genau so ist die Protagonistin dieser Reihe und ich finde es gut, es ist mal etwas anderes. Wobei Jude diesmal etwas übernommen hat. Sie hat Feinde auf allen Seiten und traut niemandem. Wovon ich jedoch gar kein Fan bin ist dieser "er behandelt dich schlecht aber vielleicht mag er mich ja doch daher find ich ihn sooooo toll"-Trope. Nope Mädels, wenn euch jemand so behandelt, lasst euch nicht drauf ein und lauft so schnell ihr könnt in die andere Richtung. Auch wenn ich mich ein paar mal beim Lesen fremd schämen musste - unterhaltsam ist es trotzdem. Bin gespannt wie die Buchreihe ausgeht.