The Wicked King

The Wicked King by Holly Black is the second book in The Folk of the Air trilogy. It follows Jude, a mortal girl who has bound the wicked faerie king, Cardan, to her and made herself the power behind the throne of Faerie. Jude must navigate dangerous political intrigues and ever-shifting alliances while fighting to protect her younger brother Oak, the heir to Faerie. Cardan constantly undermines and humiliates her, even as his fascination with her grows. When a betrayal threatens her life and those she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and confront complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control in this perilous faerie world. The book is a blend of courtly double-crossing, faerie lore, and toxic attraction, full of twists, political plotting, and dark enchantment.