Wicked King

The Wicked King is so fast-paced and intense, you won't be able to put it down. --The Missourian * A heady blend of courtly double-crossing, Faerie lore, and toxic attraction swirls together in the sequel to THE CRUEL PRINCE...Black's writing is both contemporary and classic; her world is, at this point, intensely well-realized, so that some plot twists seem almost inevitable. --Kirkus, Starred Review Holly Black is a mistress of well-paced fantasy... --Austin-American Statesman An epic saga of palace intrigue and deception. --Entertainment Weekly * [A] dangerous journey filled with mystery, betrayal, intrigue, and romance....Larger-than-life action in a kingdom packed with self-centered, evil, and manipulating characters also doles out real life issues. --VOYA, Starred Review The Wicked King has satisfying twists and turns, sizzling passions, brutal violence, spies and revels of all sorts--no one brings the intricate courtly politics of Faerie to life quite as well, or with as much intelligence, as Holly Black. --Shelf Awareness, starred review The plot itself twists, turns, and dovetails perfectly with the assured character development; in this way, Black proves herself a master storyteller writing in the tradition of Megan Whalen Turner. --Horn Book * A rare second volume that surpasses the first, with, happily, more intrigue and passion still to come. --Booklist, Starred Review Praise for The Wicked King: A stunning and compelling sequel. ----SLJ, Starred Review * Jude, who struggles with a world she both loves and hates and would rather be powerful and safe than good, is a compelling narrator. Whatever a reader is looking for--heart-in-throat action, deadly romance, double-crossing, moral complexity--this is one heck of a ride. --Booklist, starred review * Another fantastic, deeply engaging, and all-consuming work from Black that belongs on all YA shelves. --School Library Journal, starred review * [S]pellbinding.... Breathtaking set pieces, fully developed supporting characters, and a beguiling, tough-as-nails heroine enhance an intricate, intelligent plot that crescendos to a jaw-dropping third-act twist. --Publishers Weekly, starred review I require book two immediately. Holly is the Faerie Queen. --Victoria Aveyard, #1 bestselling author of The Red Queen series Praise for The Cruel Prince Lush, dangerous, a dark jewel of a book. Black's world is intoxicating, imbued with a relentless sense of peril that kept me riveted through every chapter of Jude's journey. And Jude! She is a heroine to love--brave but pragmatic, utterly human. This delicious story will seduce you and leave you desperate for just one more page. --Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life. Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. --Kirkus Reviews