Overall thoughts: amazing. I loved Cardan and Jude-- their landmine filled relationship is literally everything, the tension is through the roof and that was my everything while reading this one. Individually, they're very interesting characters, but together they are everything haha. Like the background of betrayal and all with them is just too good.
Still hate Taryn, like I know there was a short from her perspective that tried to "explain" everything, but I basically just hate her and while some betrayal is okay, hers was not. (not a spoiler, talking about the previous book). Like she waltzes in at the beginning of this one, doesn't apologize and just wants everything to be better, well guess what T, IT'S NOT. (Yes, I'm totally fine. It's all good. It's fine. I don't care...)
Yeah, this book took my emotions on a super bumpy roller coaster. Honestly, the first book was good, but this one is a work of ART. 9/10 stars, obviously I highly recommend! If you even slightly enjoyed the first book, definitely pick this one up (if you haven't already, this review is coming very late, I'm aware.)
Synopsis:
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.
SPOILERS:
OKAY so it's been like half a year since I read this but can I just freak out over the fact that OH DEAR GOD SHE TOLD US THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK SO LONG AGO!!! The title of the last book has been released for years now. It's called QUEEN OF NOTHING. BECAUSE JUDE IS QUEEN BUT IT'S OF NOTHING. I'm highkey disappointed in myself for not even thinking of this. I know it's such a toxic relationship but I LOVE CARDAN AND JUDE. And I love how they're equals now. It's great. Okay. Yeah. That's the only spoilery thing I have to say because well... it's been so long whoops.
Thanks for reading,
Anj