The Wicked King by Holly Black (Paperback)

Jude has done the unthinkable. She has placed Prince Cardan on the throne of Faerie and bound him to obey her for a year and a day. Power, though, comes at a cost. As the King’s seneschal, Jude must navigate a court filled with lies, shifting loyalties and constant threats, all while knowing that her control is temporary.

Cardan proves far from a willing puppet. As High King, he uses every chance to provoke, embarrass and undermine Jude, turning their uneasy alliance into a dangerous game of dominance and desire. Beneath the public tension, something far more complicated simmers, leaving Jude torn between strategy and emotion.

While Jude struggles to hold her position, a traitor moves through the court, quietly working to destroy her from within. Each decision risks exposure, betrayal or death. The pressure of rule weighs heavily as enemies close in and trust becomes harder to place.

With time slipping away, Jude must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her power and those she cares about. The Wicked King deepens the intrigue of The Folk of the Air series, exploring control, vulnerability and the price of ruling in a world built on deception.