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The Wicked King
- The Folk of the Air, Book 2
- Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly
- Series: The Folk of the Air, Book 2
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
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Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power. Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan's betrayal. She bides her time, determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.
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Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal.
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While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister, Taryn, began to fall in love with the trickster Locke. Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.
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Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue. Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. Number one New York Times best-selling author Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame's enigmatic high king, Cardan.
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Brilliant!
- By Booknerd70 on 2021-01-03
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Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.
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HOLY BURNING HELL
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Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power. Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan's betrayal. She bides her time, determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.
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Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal.
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Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.
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A Court of Mist and Fury
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AMAZING! BUT, Not a teen friendly book!
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Publisher's Summary
The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times best-selling novel The Cruel Prince.
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 younger 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.
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What listeners say about The Wicked King
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Lisa Martins
- 2019-01-11
My Absolute Favourite Book!
What a sequel! Completely unexpected and amazing. I enjoyed it even more than the first book. Work of art and I will reread this many times over. The audio performance was also amazing and a perfect company to the story.
2 people found this helpful
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- Liz
- 2019-01-11
Yesss! Very good!
This second novel in the series was much better than the first. How am I going to wait until the next one?!?!?!
Holly Black has the perfect amount of action, love, twists and turns! Woven into an exciting novel.
The narrator is also perfect!
Love it!
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2021-03-01
100% Recommend
I really enjoy Holly Black's writing style, it's easy to read but also interesting. I love seeing the slow progression of Jude and Cardan's relationship. And I LOVE morally gray characters, so I super love Jude's character. Overall I love the plot. It was a little dull beginning but once I got into it the rest of the book was amazing.
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- Anonymous User
- 2021-01-10
Caused me to turn even more antisocial
I sequestered myself away in different parts of the house, sometimes pretending to do chores, so I could listen to this book in piece. I've hardly spoken to the other people in my house since I started listening.
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- Ashey44
- 2021-01-03
Yes such a great read!!
I love these fantasy books. I devoured this one and it is so great!
I love this narrator to. She alters the characters voices very well. I loved her voice for cardon and the bomb. She does it so consistently and you can remember who's talking easily!
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- Rebeca Oloarte
- 2020-11-08
A teeny bit better than the first one
I liked the character development and growth from being worthless to start becomming someone that matters, I liked it better than the first book even tho I found the protagonist annoying at times. The love story seems less forced, I liked that there is a non strings attached one night stand that actually does have strings attached and I would have liked the author to exploit this a little more, the awkwardness that comes after when there are actual feelings and people are trying to pretend there are non, would have been refreshing, for a second book I woukd have liked more romance or action, or both.
This whole book felt like something is happening but at the same time it feels like its not quite there, something is missing...
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- Richel (letsreadshallwe)
- 2020-11-02
Clever Plot Twist!
“Kiss me again,” he says, drunk and foolish. “Kiss me until I am sick of it.”
Sweeter the second time around indeed! This is the second time I read The Wicked King but this time through the audiobook.
I fell in love with The Cruel Prince because of the magical world building and distinctive characters and that continues in The Wicked King but with so much more. Holly Black delivered with the best plot and clever scheming that will make you scared and frightened from start to finish. The betrayal, pain, cruelty and romance was written so well this book made me feel so much but most of all, this made me furious! I felt so bad for Jude specially with that ending! My heart broke for her and I have no idea how I was able to survive the wait for the next book.
Rereading this was a nice reminder why this is my favorite book in the series. Definitely a must read for people who loves magic and clever plot twists!
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- Brittany Johnston
- 2020-05-22
Really enjoyed this story!
I really enjoyed this story and the performance. I like the writing style, and I can't wait to listen to the next book!
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- Ingrid
- 2019-10-23
Awesome! Can’t wait for the next one!
A fantastic follow up to The Cruel Prince. A few unexpected twists and turns and well written. Couldn’t stop listening!! Caitlin Kelly is a true gem - such a pleasure to listen to. The consistency of her character voices is unbelievable. I want to listen to more of her work!!
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- Laura Berg
- 2019-10-16
Ok follow up
The book now sees the characters leave the high school (I mean lessons) part behind. The book is at its best when Jude and the Bomb are bonding. I found those to be the most endearing because the character actually would allow herself to unhinge.
Also a big pro of the main character is a YA book that takes into account female sexuality!!
Cons: The character's agnst and anger make her come off as less human than the fae. I dunno if I would have been as into reading the book as listening to it as the narrator did a very good job between the external dialogues as well as the internal monologue of Jude. The first person narration also is limiting.
To the author: Please follow up this series with letters written to Jude by a certain someone that the Bomb has been rescuing from the fire about their perspective.
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- Kristal
- 2019-01-12
You're Killing Me, Holly!
Holly.... with all due respect... you need to knock it off with this "waiting one year between books" schtick. Just... stop. I demand satisfaction !
In all seriousness, loved the book. Waited a year and devoured it. I need more. Need to know what happens.
This is a serious problem I have with most of Holly's books. Can't get enough and have no self control and just devour them and then whine and beg for Holly to give me more.
2019 just started and I'm already crying for 2020 so Holly will put me out of my misery.
18 people found this helpful
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- LexiLikesLiterature
- 2019-01-18
Masterful Storytelling
"As though you wanted him to know that the thing dearest to him was worth nothing to you"
This story is delivered delicately. It implants a subtle thought and throughout the story you feel as though there is something nagging at you from the inside. By the end, the story has left you exposed and you wonder how you didn't notice until last minute. The suspense is done well. It's subtle but impactful. There are enough small enlightenments through out the story that it doesn't feel drawn out or overdone.
"...the cruel beauty of his face"
Book 2 of this series goes alittle further with its messy love angles and even gives a brief love scene. It isn't anything that wouldn't be allowed in a PG-13 moment, but to me it fit really well with the character personalities.
"I'll take a coffee as black as the eyes of the High King of Elfhan"
There are a few chapters that take place in the Human World and it makes me more curious about why the Fae aren't enchanted with our world. There are cars, candy, electronics, and guns. Would not one Fae take those things back to Fairie?
"If faire land is the way you say, why do you live here?"
Yes, I understand that the three sisters were raised in Fairie and it's what they consider home. Being the only true fae, Vivi is drawn to the Human World. The human sisters are both desperate to be a part of Faire, when life would seem so much easier if they returned to the Human World. The story seems to highlight how living beings always desire something they can't have. The grass is always greener on the other side.
The story is still told from Jude' s point of view, but this go around we get to see more of how her actions and decisions impact others. We also get to see more of Jude's flaws. She isn't the sweet innocent bullied girl from Book One. She has power now. That power becomes heavy.
After finishing this book, I sat here looking up at my ceiling trying to bring myself back to reality. For 10 straight hours I listened and for 10 straight hours I vacated this realm. I left this place and followed Jude through Fairie. Jude and I had swords fights with assassins. We exchanged verbal lashes with the counsel, and we endured through our embarrassment and torture.
There were times that I tried to tell Jude that she was going too far and there were times when Jude just completely surprised me. However, despite her imperfections, I find myself glued to Jude. She is like the best friend that you know if she jumps off the bridge then you're jumping too (even if you think its stupid). As Jude faces betrayal from all around her, I want to scream.
I don't know if these random thoughts give this book justice. It's a beautiful story and the narration is perfect. The last sentence of the love scene was done so well by the narrator it gave me chills. I've listened to the scene over and over... and still the emotion she puts into that particular sentence starts an ache in my chest.
This is obviously going to be a hit if not the best book of 2019. I just wish it didn't take a full year to get the third. Gonna be a long wait...
14 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-01-12
Infuriating ending
love the book and the story. the ending makes me want to throw something. in fact waiting a year for the next may be the most frustrating.
5 people found this helpful
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- Tory Andrew
- 2019-01-10
Good but 1st book was better
This was a good book but not as good as the first. It seemed slow to me. I also wish there was some loyalty somewhere in the book. Everyone is constantly lying and it just makes life harder for all of the land.
5 people found this helpful
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- Jenn
- 2019-01-18
Nothing is ever what it seems... or is it?
Holly Black sets a high bar for YA authors with this masterful series. Few authors can make the second book as compelling as the first. Few authors can write a trilogy where most of the characters are pretty terrible "people," and yet the story seems all the better for it. Few authors can end each book in a way that can be interpreted as a cliffhanger... or not.
There are plot twists that you see coming combined with ones you'll never guess. You may know the what, but she's very good at throwing you an unexpected how something happens.
As for these murderers, maniacs, and malicious, manipulative monsters... well, you don't need to like them to understand them or, at times, empathize with them. For example, many of us know a girl like Taryn, someone who will do anything to get and keep her man, and that man is kind of a jerk, but she'll say he's good to her... she'll let herself be fooled or look the other way, she'll put him above all else. She gets from you empathy with a dash of pity and a smidge of disgust.
Jude is an anti-heroine through and through, yet, some of her experiences in this book... well, you wouldn't wish them on your worst enemy.
In the end, the one who was supposed to be the worst of all is the one you root for. You begin to suspect his cruelty is a facade, or, has been replaced with... something else. You wait in anticipation for him to realize it. You think he is manipulative, and he is, but who is he really manipulating and why. I believe Cardan is not at all what he seems.
The ending of this book is both shocking and expected. Once you read it, you'll know what I mean. You will sit. You will process all that happened. You will look at the ending, and you will know there is more to the story. After all... there's still book 3. Your pulse begins to race, but your heart shatters all the same because even as you realize this is not the end... you know it will be another year before you reach it. Even then you will be sad because no matter the ending, these are characters you won't want to let go.
7 people found this helpful
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- Kelly Albury
- 2020-08-20
Still dislike the narration, story was meh
I find the narrator's voice for Male characters to be annoying. The plot just didnt do it for me either. I've decided to give up on this story, and won't be reading book 3.
2 people found this helpful
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- Shannon
- 2019-01-20
Wasn’t as good as the first
But I’ll still read the next one, some of it just felt like filler parts and I feel like the ending could have been more expanded rather than the filler parts in the middle of the book
2 people found this helpful
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- Marlana M.
- 2019-01-18
No! Why you end it there?!
I have to wait to hear what happens now?! I am DYING! This series is the best series Holly Black has ever written and my feels can't handle it. I need to sit for a while and allow my heart to heal from the way she has ripped it out.
2 people found this helpful
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- Yvonne den Besten
- 2020-01-24
Overhyped, still worth my time
After what's happened in the last book, Jude may think she safe in Fairy. As it turns out nothing is less true, It's a book that reads a lot like a chess game, lot's of interesting moves, twists and turns. I shared Jude's sense of danger, of not being able to trust anyone; you really feel everything that's at stake constantly.
But, people praise this book mostly for the twisted romance, and I think our characters share so precious few moments, though admittedly more more than in the first book. The amount that they do share just gave me all the feelings. I liked getting to know Cardan better in this one, too
The other thing I really liked was the relationship between Jude and her 'adoptive' father, it will be interesting to see where that goes. As for the ending, let's just say; I'm definitely intrigued.
Caitlin Kelley narrates this, and while I think she does a great job, I also think that she sounds a bit young and overly feminine for such a complex character as Jude
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-07-26
I Strongly Dislike the Ending
The narrator did well, I just do not like the story. The dynamic between the OTP is confusing throughout, and the ending is very unsatisfying. Chapters begin and end in unusual spots, and characters seem to slide in and out of importance with almost no development beyond being devices to build the main character’s plot. Also scenic flow is a little confusing as well because transitions over time aren’t very obvious. The basis of the plot is well structured but it’s details and development are lacking.
1 person found this helpful