Book's in Review

Warning: Post May Contain Spoilers

Okay… there is a lot to unpack here so buckle up! The Wicked King picks up five months after the events of The Cruel Prince. Cardan has been presiding as High King while Jude has been serving as the true ruler of Faerieland, at the cost of her family. She hasn’t spoken to Taryn (her pride refuses to allow her to make the first move as it wasn’t she who betrayed her twin), she’s only seen Vivi and Oak twice due to them living in the mortal world, so Oak is safe, and she has been cordial to Madoc as he is still serving at the General of the royal army. The book picks up just weeks before Taryn and Locke’s wedding, and Locke asks to be Cardan’s Master of Revels. Jude thinks it’s a terrible idea, but she cannot give Cardan a command in front of other people, so they do not know who is truly running things.

Balekin is locked away in the Tower of Forgetting, which is a prison, for his crimes. He has tried to book an audience with Cardan for some time, but Jude and the rest of the spies have been able to intercept the messages. This time, Jude decides to pay him a visit. Of course, he doesn’t want to tell Jude what he wants with his brother. While leaving getting ready to leave the Forgetting Tower, Jude as a chance encounter with another prisoner. That prisoner, who we later find out, is Cardan’s mother. We find out more about Cardan’s background in this book. Mostly rumors that are pretty much confirmed in the third book. I already started the book, but we learn just how rough Cardan’s background and childhood was and why he became the person he became. I’ll cover that once I finish the book, as it is only rumors and stories in The Wicked King. Anyway, this woman — who we later find out is named Lady Asha — stops Jude and tells her she knew her mother and had all kinds of stories about her. For obvious reasons, this intrigues Jude, having lost her mother as a young age.

Afterwards, Jude drugs one of the guards of the Forgetting Tower and brings him to the underground spy network. She learns that Balekin has been having secret meetings with people from the Court of the Undersea, who work as representatives for Queen Orlagh (Nicasia’s mother). Jude suspects Balekin and Queen Orlagh are up to no good and vows to figure out what they are up to. When Jude returns to her room, she is surprised to see Taryn waiting for her. The encounter is awkward as Taryn doesn’t feel the need to apologize. Instead, she wants to act as though nothing happened. She asks Jude to attend her wedding and Jude, missing her twin relents. To try to make things right with Jude, Taryn offers to bring her clothes from Madoc’s stronghold as it appears as though Jude only has three outfits. Jude accepts the peace offering. Meanwhile, Cardan is a reckless king. He spends most of his days drunk and with all sorts of different people. Locke, being his right-hand man, is encouraging and all his foolishness. During such gatherings, a woman was shot in the leg by a crossbow and the room that the King was occupying set on fire. Jude was called to assess the situation and realized there was a secret tunnel to his bedroom that wasn’t on any of the castle maps.

Jude, not interested in being left alone with Cardan, decided to find where the tunnel lead. Turns out, it’s another secret entrance to the Royal chambers — where King Eldred occupied. She found the culprit behind the attack. Nicasia was visibly upset and clutching a robe tightly around her body. It doesn’t take rocket scientist to figure out she was planning to surprise Cardan in his bed but got jealous when she saw another woman next to his side. She meant to shoot at Cardan, but she has bad aim and got his acquaintance instead. Jude promised not to tell Cardan who was behind his attack but only if Nicasia confessed her mother’s plans. Nicasia admitted she knew very little but also admitted that her mother wanted to further the appliance between the Folk of the land and her people in the Undersea. Nicasia said her mother wants Cardan to marry her. Nicasia and Cardan once had a relationship, and Cardan even admitting to Jude that he once loved her. However, Nicasia left him for Locke. But it is clear Nicasia wants to get back with Cardan and Jude isn’t sure how to feel about this.

Exhausted, Jude keeps her promise with Nicasia and doesn’t reveal who was behind the attack. Cardan, too drunk and tired himself, doesn’t press the issue when Jude announces that the attacker has vanished. Instead, she moves Cardan to her rooms until she is rested and able to secure the Royal chambers. Cardan, obviously intoxicated, begs Jude to kiss him again and says, “kiss me until I am sick of it.” This makes her think of their past kiss and how much he wanted her and how much he hated that he wanted her. Jude then goes to a council meeting in Cardan’s stead as he has never attended a meeting in the five months since he was crowned. Madoc is still the crowns General, so he also attends the meeting. Jude tries to warn the council that Orlagh is planning something, but nobody listens to her. At the end of the meeting, Madoc pulls her aside and tells her that, though she poisoned him, he still cares about her and is still willing to accept her back to the family. A proposition that Jude refuses, again. Despite this, Madoc makes it known that he is glad she and Taryn are speaking again.

The next day, Jude and the Bomb are searching the High King’s Royal chambers to ensure it is safe for Cardan to move into. There, she finds orbs of what appears to be memories of all of the former High King’s children. Including Cardan. Later, that night, Nicasia catches Jude looking at Cardan. Nicasia is desperate to know what Jude has over him, why he granted her such power. Instead, Jude asks her about his mother. Nicasia tells her she was a girl from the lower courts, and the king never made her into one of his consorts. When she returned to her room, she finds Taryn inside. Taryn confesses she posed as Jude to obtain a key. Taryn brings all of Jude’s old outfits and accessories as well as sketches for new outfits. Jude becomes suspicious and asks her sister what she wants in return. Taryn admits she wants her sister to make sure Locke isn’t Master of Revels. Jude lies and tells her she will talk to Cardan. She knows if she did actually tell Cardan not to allow Locke to be his Master of Revels, Locke will become suspicious and it might lead to the truth behind her hold over the High King.

At the first Revel that Locke coordinates, Cardan encourages Jude to leave. He suspects what is to come and wants to spare Jude of anything embarrassing. However, she does not heave his advice. Instead, Locke announces they will play a game called Queen of Mirth, a ritual meant to embarrass mortals. Since Jude is the only mortal at the Revel, the honor befalls to her. However, Locke has an ulterior motive. He suspects Cardan’s feeling towards Jude and uses that to his advantage. The two dance with each other and both clearly hate how much they affect each other. Cardan gives her permission to leave, and she steps away to catch some much-needed breaths. While on the outskirt of the party, she notices some representatives from the Court of the Undersea are approaching the party so Jude rushes back to make sure everyone protects the King. The Undersea representatives announce that Queen Orlagh would be willing to continue on with an arrangement but only if the High King agrees to marry her daughter.

This is the first that Cardan has heard of this and immediately calls on a council meeting. This is the first meeting he has attended, his fury evident. The council members all through ideas out there, including Madoc, who wants to use Oak as bait. Jude refuses that idea. Cardan calls on Nicasia and, in his fury, tells her that if her mother ever threatens him like this again, her daughter will be his prisoner. Nicasia doesn’t agree with how her mother presented the idea but agrees it is a good one. It will bind both of their peoples, and despite it being a marriage that isn’t happy, she still encourages it.

Jude is worried about Oak attending Taryn’s upcoming wedding, as he is the future of their world. She decides it’s time to use Cardan’s mother to send messages to Balekin. Lady Asha is brought before Jude and she asks about her mother. Lady Asha tells her small things, but Jude says it is not enough. Asha wants to make a bargain for her release from the Tower of Forgetting, but Jude says she needs more. Much more than what Asha has already said. At another council meeting, they discuss the best approach with Madoc suggesting using Oak as bait again. Jude refuses. Afterwards, Cardan summons Jude to the throne room. He leads her to a small room that she’s never seen before for a private meeting. Cardan reveals that Balekin sent word that he is requesting an audience. Jude is silently pleased that Asha delivered her message.

Jude admits that this wasn’t the first missive that Balekin delivered and she didn’t intercept it this time because she gave him information so he would reach out again. After Jude admitted that she knew Orlagh wanted her to marry Nicasia and now this, Cardan begins to wonder just what Jude is keeping from him. Cardan asks Jude how to handle the Nicasia problem. Jude tells him to seduce Nicasia. She admits that Nicasia has feelings for him because she got jealous and was the only who shot his female companion in his bed. At first, Cardan can’t believe Jude is asking him to do this. Then he decides to practice the art of seduction on Jude, much to her dismay, because she enjoys it. She hates how much she enjoys it. She hates how much she likes him and thinks that is the worst thing he could have done to her.

Despite urging Cardan to seduce Nicasia, she is overcome with jealousy when she sees that he actually does it and her reaction towards it. She finally relents to Madoc’s method of using Oak as bait but under her terms. Especially after she learns that Queen Orlagh plans to attack during the upcoming wedding. In which Cardan learned of her plans after a few kisses with Nicasia. Before Cardan leaves, he tries to bring up the other night and the kisses they shared. Jude, not willing to relive it, shuts him down and said they were both just blowing off steam. Cardan looked as though he was going to say something in protest but just nodded his head in agreement. Beforehand, however, she pays a visit to Grimsen. The one who is behind many objects in their realm. She wants to purchase a wedding gift for Taryn. Grimsen tells her he knew of her father and his metalwork. He also suggested that he may have taught him a thing or two but will not confirm. He says there is nothing she can purchase but she can make a trade. For one single tear drop, he gave her a pair of earrings that are enchanted to enhance the wearer’s beauty.

Jude then goes to Madoc and agrees to work with him to ensure Oak’s safety. Madoc is suspicious of her intentions, but she tells him about the Queen’s plan to strike at the wedding. She also confines that she has a messenger and is able to give Balekin a message. She works with the rest of her spies to ensure he will be safe at Taryn’s wedding. She then sends a message to Asha, that is scheduled to arrive just as Balekin is set to appear in front of Cardan. In the note, Jude agrees to get Asha out of prison and off the island. Balekin wants to become Cardan’s regent despite the fact that he is of age. Cardan refuses and turns him away, but not before Jude noticed the hate in his eyes.

The night before Taryn’s wedding, she wants to have a night with her sisters, so Jude loads up a horse and the earrings she planned to present to her sister. On the way, she was attacked by riders who tried to kill her. While she was able to fend off the attack, she is gravely injured and she lost the earrings. She doesn’t want her family to worry so she sneaks into her old room to fix herself up, but Vivi comes in anyway. She begs Jude to come back to the mortal world with her after the wedding, so she doesn’t face all of this danger, but she refuses. She feels like she cannot return. Due to the attack, Jude lost the clothes that she packs so Oriana offers her one of her own dresses. While it is beautiful, it is way more revealing than she is used to wearing. When Jude arrives at the wedding, she and Cardan share a moment, and she orders him not to be alone tonight as the Queen will strike. Madoc overhears her and figures out how she became into power.

The Court of Shadows calls Jude away because there’s word that Orlagh has made her move at the prison. Jude first checks on Asha, but she’s safe. She sets her free and tells her it’s on account of Cardan that she does so. Jude goes to Balekin’s cell next. He’s gone. The Ghost joins Orlagh’s party before they depart. He’s betrayed her. He’s been the one she was warned who was working against her from within her ranks. Jude is mad and sad. She’s hit from behind and blacks out. Jude wakes at the bottom of the sea. She is held captive in a cell, and Nicasia comes to punch and pester her and eventually knocks Jude out. When Jude wakes again, someone is there to dress her and take her to dinner with Orlagh. Since she isn’t wearing any charms or other protectors, Orlagh believes Jude can be persuaded to do whatever she glamours her. Jude has to act like she is under their spell even though Dain’s geas makes it impossible for faeries to control her. Orlagh tells Jude that nothing that is said or done can be spoken about to anyone besides those in this room. Jude will need to be a very good actress to convince them she’s obedient to their every command.

Jude is questioned by Orlagh, and then she gets to overhear some of their schemes as she sits quietly. One of the most important things mentioned is that Grimsen is making a new crown. If it‘s not a blood crown like the current one, then a relative might not need to place it on Balekin’s head to make him ruler. If Jude can escape, she now knows how to foul their plan: to stop Grimsen’s forging of the new crown. Balekin quizzes Jude about why someone who seemed to live only for pleasure like Cardan ever wanted to be king. Jude must scramble for an answer because her mind and body are exhausted. She finally says that maybe he did it to spite his father. Balekin considers this answer as something that might be true. He asks Jude whether she would stab Cardan in his bed if they ask her to do so. She says she would do it with pleasure. He orders her to kiss him. It’s a cold kiss. He then says to kiss him like she would kiss Cardan. Cardan has offered to pay a ransom to get Jude back.

Balekin‘s freedom is part of the price of Jude‘s release. He says she’s to come to him in Hollow Hall whenever she can. If he ever drops a red cloth in her path, that’s her signal to come to him immediately. Before she leaves Balekin, Jude asks him whether he has the new crown. She holds her breath and awaits his answer. He says it’s very nearly ready. He orders her to avoid all charms to make sure she stays under their influence. Balekin has a plan to poison Cardan and wants to use Jude to do it. However, he gets his brother beforehand and poisoned him to try to set Jude up. He is acting like he is drunk, but Jude can taste the poison on his tongue when he kisses her. It is at this time where he realizes she was never glammoured at all. She immediately escorts him out of public and into her private rooms. She receives notice that Balekin has the antidote and wants to bargain for it. She tricks him into thinking she took the poison that he gave her. She ended up pouring the poison out and filling it with water. Balekin gives her a drop of the antidote after thinking she took the poison. However, she spit it back into the vial to give to the Bomb to bring to the King. Then a duel outbroke and Jude ended up killing Balekin.

When Jude went to check on Cardan after the Bomb brought him the antidote, he was a tad delirious. Cardan said she came to him to ask him to release Madoc and half of his army. It was then that Jude realized she was betrayed by her sister once again. After Cardan recovered, he sent for Jude. He was a proposition for her. He asked her to marry him and in return, give him back his free will. He says she will be able to give out all the orders she wants and that they don’t have to stay married forever. Just until Oak comes of age and is ready to take the throne. She agrees.

In the morning, the Queen of the Undersea wants to talk to Cardan about Balekin’s death since he was her ambassador. Jude failed to inform Cardan that she killed his brother or that his brother was even dead. The Queen demands justice. Cardan exiles Jude to the mortal world to protect her. She tries to protest that he can’t do this to the High Queen. But everyone just laughs and doesn’t believe her. She’s led away.

So… I know this is a lot. So, if you made it this far, thank you. It was a lot to unpack. I really did like this book, probably more than the first one. Throughout it, Jude is clearly falling in love with Cardan but doesn’t want to admit it to anyone, most of all herself. I would have love to see some Cardan POV chapters to hear his thoughts on Jude because it is clear he is also falling in love. I would love to hear his thoughts on Jude wearing Oriana’s dress at Taryn’s wedding or when they have their make out session.