The Wicked King by Holly Black Summary
Overview of The Wicked King
In Holly Black's #1 NYT bestseller, a mortal navigates deadly faerie politics with cunning and betrayal. Winner of Goodreads' Best YA Fantasy, this "Game of Faeries" captivates with its brutal beauty. What price would you pay for power?
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Key takeaways
A Deadly Dance of Power and Desire
In the treacherous world of Elfhame, where beauty conceals cruelty and no one speaks direct lies while everyone deceives, Jude Duarte walks a dangerous path. Five months have passed since she manipulated the cruel Prince Cardan onto the throne, binding him to her will through blackmail. Now she rules from the shadows as the power behind the throne-a mortal girl secretly controlling the High King of Faerie. But power, as her foster father Madoc once taught her, is far easier to acquire than to hold. Her puppet king proves unpredictable, indulging in debauchery while deliberately testing the limits of her control. Meanwhile, Queen Orlagh of the Undersea threatens to break her treaty with the land, potentially sinking all of Elfhame beneath the waves unless Cardan agrees to marry her daughter Nicasia. As Jude navigates this treacherous political landscape, she discovers that the greatest danger may not be losing her power-but losing her heart to the wicked king she's supposed to control.
The Mortal Seneschal's Burden
When Hatred Burns Into Desire
Blood Ties and Betrayals
Prisoner of the Undersea
The King Transformed
The Exiled Queen
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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