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The Stolen Heir Duology #2
The Prisoner’s Throne
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.
Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he’s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign—even if it means ending Wren, too.
With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak’s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It’s just a question of whom he will doom.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2024
About the author
Holly Black
191 books104k followersHolly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,013 reviews
March 23, 2024
4.75 could easily be changed to 5 stars.
Want to read
September 28, 2023one jurdan appearance to end my years long depression thanks
EDIT: BOTH CARDAN AND JUDE MAKE AN APPEARANCE EVERYONE SAY THANK YOU HOLLY🙏🙏
EDIT: BOTH CARDAN AND JUDE MAKE AN APPEARANCE EVERYONE SAY THANK YOU HOLLY🙏🙏
April 1, 2024
3.75!
This was more slap and less yap which is good because the stolen heir was more yap and less slap (I gave it a one)
Considering that I gave the first one a 1, it is a MASSIVE improvement because it was just so much more closer to a four and I enjoyed the hell out of it. Holly fixed two of my biggest flaws in The stolen heir which were No Jude and Cardan scenes and the book not being in Oaks POV. This one had a hefty serving of Jude and Cardan, they indeed spooned out and it was in Oak's POV which just proved how much better the first would have been in his POV.
You know there are cases where the main characters who become side characters in spin offs are treated as the main characters? Yeah, I do not like that but since Oak and Wren were such weak characters in terms of the depths of their arc, I cherished every minute of Jude and Cardan that I got. I do feel like Oak got more development and I saw what the author tried to do by giving both the main characters their own books to manage their arcs but she somewhat succeeded with Oak because we get to see a lot of development on his side, I went from not feeling anything for him to actually liking him but as for Wren, she failed because I could not make myself to like her at all!!
Another thing was that I was already so attached to Jude and Cardan that even when Oak was defying them or when Wren was fighting them, my love for Jurdan was so high that I started hating our two main characters so that kind of did not help my case.
The romance, the flirt that Oak was! I am 100% sure he learned all of that from Cardan because him saying all those stuff resembled Cardan a lot and I liked that but the romance besides Oaks groveling felt short for me, only because I could not make myself to care for Wren AT ALL!
Jude and Cardan on the other hand took everything and aced it.
Now, the plot and the politics were heavily intertwined so I was enjoying it to some extent but then it started jumping off places, was sometimes a little too convenient, so I could not enjoy it that much. I did not like Wren (sorry for mentioning it a lot) Also did not like Oaks hooves and what else? OH I thought that the last battle instead of the fight of Jude was very underwhelming could have been better!
It also did improve one thing that bugged me a lot in the first one long ass chapters, here there were chapters with fine length. Also this Jude and Cardan scene (spoilers obviously *Minor*):
“Cardan is lying on the bed, bandaged and sulking, in a magnificent dressing gown. “I hate being unwell,” he says.
“You’re not sick,” Jude tells him. “You are recovering from being stabbed—or rather, throwing yourself on a knife.”
“You would have done the same for me,” he says airily.
“I would not,” Jude snaps.
“Liar,” Cardan says fondly.”
Overall, for those who liked the stolen heir this is probably going to be a five stars and for those like me who did not like the stolen heir and had the same problems as me, read it! it is going to be a fun ride. (very impressed by how Holly redeemed this novel cuz my expectations were low)
Elfhame rating:
The Cruel Prince: 4.37
The Wicked King: 4.57
The Queen of Nothing: 4.28
How The King of Elfhame Learned To Hate Stories: 4.50
The Stolen Heir: 1.48
The Prisoner's Throne: 3.85
~~
Jude and Cardan scenes in this book better fucking spoon out and for the love of god do not mention Oaks hooves more than once, please and thank you!
This was more slap and less yap which is good because the stolen heir was more yap and less slap (I gave it a one)
Considering that I gave the first one a 1, it is a MASSIVE improvement because it was just so much more closer to a four and I enjoyed the hell out of it. Holly fixed two of my biggest flaws in The stolen heir which were No Jude and Cardan scenes and the book not being in Oaks POV. This one had a hefty serving of Jude and Cardan, they indeed spooned out and it was in Oak's POV which just proved how much better the first would have been in his POV.
You know there are cases where the main characters who become side characters in spin offs are treated as the main characters? Yeah, I do not like that but since Oak and Wren were such weak characters in terms of the depths of their arc, I cherished every minute of Jude and Cardan that I got. I do feel like Oak got more development and I saw what the author tried to do by giving both the main characters their own books to manage their arcs but she somewhat succeeded with Oak because we get to see a lot of development on his side, I went from not feeling anything for him to actually liking him but as for Wren, she failed because I could not make myself to like her at all!!
Another thing was that I was already so attached to Jude and Cardan that even when Oak was defying them or when Wren was fighting them, my love for Jurdan was so high that I started hating our two main characters so that kind of did not help my case.
The romance, the flirt that Oak was! I am 100% sure he learned all of that from Cardan because him saying all those stuff resembled Cardan a lot and I liked that but the romance besides Oaks groveling felt short for me, only because I could not make myself to care for Wren AT ALL!
Jude and Cardan on the other hand took everything and aced it.
Now, the plot and the politics were heavily intertwined so I was enjoying it to some extent but then it started jumping off places, was sometimes a little too convenient, so I could not enjoy it that much. I did not like Wren (sorry for mentioning it a lot) Also did not like Oaks hooves and what else? OH I thought that the last battle instead of the fight of Jude was very underwhelming could have been better!
It also did improve one thing that bugged me a lot in the first one long ass chapters, here there were chapters with fine length. Also this Jude and Cardan scene (spoilers obviously *Minor*):
“Cardan is lying on the bed, bandaged and sulking, in a magnificent dressing gown. “I hate being unwell,” he says.
“You’re not sick,” Jude tells him. “You are recovering from being stabbed—or rather, throwing yourself on a knife.”
“You would have done the same for me,” he says airily.
“I would not,” Jude snaps.
“Liar,” Cardan says fondly.”
Overall, for those who liked the stolen heir this is probably going to be a five stars and for those like me who did not like the stolen heir and had the same problems as me, read it! it is going to be a fun ride. (very impressed by how Holly redeemed this novel cuz my expectations were low)
Elfhame rating:
The Cruel Prince: 4.37
The Wicked King: 4.57
The Queen of Nothing: 4.28
How The King of Elfhame Learned To Hate Stories: 4.50
The Stolen Heir: 1.48
The Prisoner's Throne: 3.85
~~
Jude and Cardan scenes in this book better fucking spoon out and for the love of god do not mention Oaks hooves more than once, please and thank you!
March 30, 2024
2.5 stars✨
Disappointed. So damn disappointed.
The first half was far better written than the second. The second half completely fell flat for me. I liked Oak's pov more compared to Wren's in The Stolen Heir. Imo this duology should have never been written. It does not do The Cruel Prince justice, that trilogy is so beautifully crafted and everything about this one is so mind numbingly boring.
There is no real plot tbh. If Oak had just talked about his plans to his family, this whole book would have been like 70-100 pages max. The romance was so lackluster. Wren and Oak have zero chemistry. They have a few cute moments but that's pretty much it.
The OG couple was the only reason I kept reading. They still have the firepower. Whenever they were included in the scenes, those scenes became powerful and ofc this overshadowed Oak and his story. They are the reason for this generous rating.
I was intrigued about Oak and his magic and I wish it would have been utilized more. Oak is much easier to get along with compared to Wren. Wren had no personality in this one, and it frustrated me quite a lot.
Am just glad this book is done. I would much rather read The Cruel Prince trilogy over a thousand times to this.
~•~•~
Unfortunately am not that excited about this one as I hoped to be, but I still want to know how it ends. So here we go...
Disappointed. So damn disappointed.
The first half was far better written than the second. The second half completely fell flat for me. I liked Oak's pov more compared to Wren's in The Stolen Heir. Imo this duology should have never been written. It does not do The Cruel Prince justice, that trilogy is so beautifully crafted and everything about this one is so mind numbingly boring.
There is no real plot tbh. If Oak had just talked about his plans to his family, this whole book would have been like 70-100 pages max. The romance was so lackluster. Wren and Oak have zero chemistry. They have a few cute moments but that's pretty much it.
The OG couple was the only reason I kept reading. They still have the firepower. Whenever they were included in the scenes, those scenes became powerful and ofc this overshadowed Oak and his story. They are the reason for this generous rating.
I was intrigued about Oak and his magic and I wish it would have been utilized more. Oak is much easier to get along with compared to Wren. Wren had no personality in this one, and it frustrated me quite a lot.
Am just glad this book is done. I would much rather read The Cruel Prince trilogy over a thousand times to this.
~•~•~
Unfortunately am not that excited about this one as I hoped to be, but I still want to know how it ends. So here we go...
Want to read
October 11, 2023Edit 7/9/23: I literally just got back from vacation and I see that the release date got pushed back to MARCH?? I CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG TO SEE JURDAN AGAIN
Edit 6/16/23: FINALLY, FINALLY WE HAVE A COVER. My thoughts are.....it's fine.
Edit 1/16/23: so I finished The Stolen Heir and let's just say I'm only reading this book for Jude and Cardan and because I'm a tiny bit curious about what happens next. I want to see Jude go absolutely FERAL trying to get Oak back
Edit 1/12/23: As much as I'm disappointed in The Stolen Heir rn (i'm not done with it yet so i can't say much about that at the moment) I would give ANYTHING to see Jurdan again, and also FEBRUARY 27TH 2024??? THAT'S SO FAR AWAY
Edit 1/9/23: THE PRISONER'S THRONE OH MY GOD
Edit: JUDE AND CARDAN BETTER HAVE A BIG ROLE IN THIS I BEG
Oh. My. God. THE FIRST ONE ISN'T EVEN OUT AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW MY EXCITEMENT FOR THIS AHHH
Edit 6/16/23: FINALLY, FINALLY WE HAVE A COVER. My thoughts are.....it's fine.
Edit 1/16/23: so I finished The Stolen Heir and let's just say I'm only reading this book for Jude and Cardan and because I'm a tiny bit curious about what happens next. I want to see Jude go absolutely FERAL trying to get Oak back
Edit 1/12/23: As much as I'm disappointed in The Stolen Heir rn (i'm not done with it yet so i can't say much about that at the moment) I would give ANYTHING to see Jurdan again, and also FEBRUARY 27TH 2024??? THAT'S SO FAR AWAY
Edit 1/9/23: THE PRISONER'S THRONE OH MY GOD
Edit: JUDE AND CARDAN BETTER HAVE A BIG ROLE IN THIS I BEG
Oh. My. God. THE FIRST ONE ISN'T EVEN OUT AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW MY EXCITEMENT FOR THIS AHHH
March 31, 2024
honestly speaking, this book fell short in several aspects. but judecardan moments elevated the reading experience.
March 31, 2024
જ⁀➴
✧ ˚. 2.5 stars
⋆˙⟡ “love. that force that compels us to be sometimes better and often worse. that power by which we can all be bound. that which we ought to fear and yet most desire.”
i read this solely in my quest for judecardan crumbs. seeing my parents has been the highlight of my year and this review consists of mostly them sorry (i’m not)
⋆ ˚ ✦. my thoughts ˖ ࣪ .
this book is definitely an improvement to the stolen heir but it also wasn’t mind blowing, which wasn’t very surprising because of the snooze fest that was the stolen heir. this definitely had a lot of potential but i think the characters were lacking depth and i honestly didn’t care, so i don’t have much to say about them.
as you can see i can’t determine how i feel towards this book because going into this i had VERY little exceptions. it turned out better than i expected and i was entertained, my jaw did drop a couple of times but it still wasn’t very memorable for me. if i would have developed a connection with and an attachment to the characters then i would have loved it but i didn’t. quite frankly it just made me want to reread the folk of the air. at some point i grew restless and i just wanted it to end but then the ending felt very abrupt and i was like what ?? holly left a lot of things unanswered, leaving an opening to explore this world further but i’m not sure how i feel about this.
something that really bothered me is that the prisoners throne was written in third person; in oak’s perspective, when the stolen heir was written in first person; in wren’s perspective. this made it very difficult for me to develop any emotional connection with these characters.
⌗ characters .ᐟ
⧼ ⟡ oak
↳ he had me cackling so many times with his monologue and he was way more likeable than in the stolen heir but i’m sorry i struggled to see him as a love interest when cardan is right there!! i won’t cheat on my boyfriend.
�� ࣪ “maybe that is why it seems so believable that he may have enchanted everyone in his life into caring for him. after all, how can anyone love him when no one really knows him?”
⧼ ⟡ wren
↳ i didn’t care for wren in the stolen heir, and i thought maybe she would be somewhat interesting in this book but again, she wasn’t. she had absolutely no backbone and i couldn’t connect with her at all. she was simply there.
⊹ ࣪ “you are the one who pulled me out of my forest and forced me to stop denying all the parts of me i tried to hide.”
⧼ ⟡ oakwren
↳ i liked the childhood friends to lovers trope but the romance was so underwhelming. i couldn’t see it being reciprocated by wren until it came out of nowhere somewhere around the 60% mark. it felt very surface level and rather undeveloped. i wanted to be invested in them but i didn’t find myself rooting for them at all and i genuinely could care less if they ended up together. holly didn’t try at convincing me they had any chemistry.
⊹ ࣪ “what do you want?”
⊹ ࣪ “everything. charm me. rip me open. ruin me. go too far ... i will use you. i will drain you until you are nothing more than a husk.”
⊹ ࣪ “use me, then,” he whispers, mouth on her throat.
⧼ ⟡ judecardan
↳ I MISSED THEM BEYOND BELIEF 🥹 my heart was doing flips every scene they were in. just the mention of their names had me giggling and kicking my feet. their top fangirl since day one 🎀 i had to take a breather when they appeared to collect myself because every time that they opened their mouths i started screaming. they were so protective of each other 😭💘 there was one scene i BADLY wanted to include but it’s too big of a spoiler 🤕 ANYWAY THEY SERVED SO FUCKING HARD. i was sweating when oak was hiding in their room and cardan started to purr at jude.i fully thought they were about to fuck and oak was about to bear witness
⤿ jurdan scenes for the deprived girlies
⊹ she hasn't bothered with a gown today, either, but wears a pair of high boots, tight-fitting trousers, and a vestlike doublet over a shirt poufy enough that it may have been borrowed from cardan.
JURDAN SHARING CLOTHES IS CANON!!
⊹ ࣪ oak saw his sisters face. there was something private there, and painful. he hadn’t known, back then, how close she’d come to losing cardan forever, and maybe losing herself, too.
⊹ ࣪ “have i ever told you how much you sound like madoc when you talk about murder?" cardan said, opening one eye. "because you do."
⊹ ࣪ “that must be what you like about me.”
⊹ ࣪ "that you're terrifying?"
⊹ ࣪ he asked, his drawl becoming exaggeratedly languorous, almost a purr.
⊹ ࣪ ”i adore it.”
⊹ ࣪ she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes. the king's arms came around her, and she shivered once, as though letting something fall away.
*screams into oblivion*
⊹ ࣪ “you’d think i never did a more popular thing than sit in the dark on a throne and bite people who annoyed me. i could have always done that. i could do that now.”
⊹ ࣪ “bite people?” jude echoed from the other end of the table.
⊹ ࣪ cardan grinned at her. “yes if that’s what they like.” he snapped his teeth at the air to demonstrate.
⊹ ࣪ “no one is interested in that.” jude said, shaking her head.
jude darling, you’re fooling no one.
⊹ ࣪ “i could try. a small bite. just to see if someone would write a song about it.”
I VOLUNTEER!!!
⊹ ࣪ “if you’ve hurt her —” cardan beings, his gaze on his wife.
how do i go on with my life now?
⧼ ⟡ other characters
↳ i was far more interested in tiernan and hyacinth’s love story than oak and wren’s! the og’s being together had me nearly tearing up. i missed them so much.
──── ᯓ★
𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ pre read review ꒱ JUDECARDAN COME HOME!! THE KIDS MISS YOU.
✧ ˚. 2.5 stars
⋆˙⟡ “love. that force that compels us to be sometimes better and often worse. that power by which we can all be bound. that which we ought to fear and yet most desire.”
i read this solely in my quest for judecardan crumbs. seeing my parents has been the highlight of my year and this review consists of mostly them sorry (i’m not)
⋆ ˚ ✦. my thoughts ˖ ࣪ .
this book is definitely an improvement to the stolen heir but it also wasn’t mind blowing, which wasn’t very surprising because of the
as you can see i can’t determine how i feel towards this book because going into this i had VERY little exceptions. it turned out better than i expected and i was entertained, my jaw did drop a couple of times but it still wasn’t very memorable for me. if i would have developed a connection with and an attachment to the characters then i would have loved it but i didn’t. quite frankly it just made me want to reread the folk of the air. at some point i grew restless and i just wanted it to end but then the ending felt very abrupt and i was like what ?? holly left a lot of things unanswered, leaving an opening to explore this world further but i’m not sure how i feel about this.
something that really bothered me is that the prisoners throne was written in third person; in oak’s perspective, when the stolen heir was written in first person; in wren’s perspective. this made it very difficult for me to develop any emotional connection with these characters.
⌗ characters .ᐟ
⧼ ⟡ oak
↳ he had me cackling so many times with his monologue and he was way more likeable than in the stolen heir but i’m sorry i struggled to see him as a love interest when cardan is right there!! i won’t cheat on my boyfriend.
�� ࣪ “maybe that is why it seems so believable that he may have enchanted everyone in his life into caring for him. after all, how can anyone love him when no one really knows him?”
⧼ ⟡ wren
↳ i didn’t care for wren in the stolen heir, and i thought maybe she would be somewhat interesting in this book but again, she wasn’t. she had absolutely no backbone and i couldn’t connect with her at all. she was simply there.
⊹ ࣪ “you are the one who pulled me out of my forest and forced me to stop denying all the parts of me i tried to hide.”
⧼ ⟡ oakwren
↳ i liked the childhood friends to lovers trope but the romance was so underwhelming. i couldn’t see it being reciprocated by wren until it came out of nowhere somewhere around the 60% mark. it felt very surface level and rather undeveloped. i wanted to be invested in them but i didn’t find myself rooting for them at all and i genuinely could care less if they ended up together. holly didn’t try at convincing me they had any chemistry.
⊹ ࣪ “what do you want?”
⊹ ࣪ “everything. charm me. rip me open. ruin me. go too far ... i will use you. i will drain you until you are nothing more than a husk.”
⊹ ࣪ “use me, then,” he whispers, mouth on her throat.
⧼ ⟡ judecardan
↳ I MISSED THEM BEYOND BELIEF 🥹 my heart was doing flips every scene they were in. just the mention of their names had me giggling and kicking my feet. their top fangirl since day one 🎀 i had to take a breather when they appeared to collect myself because every time that they opened their mouths i started screaming. they were so protective of each other 😭💘 there was one scene i BADLY wanted to include but it’s too big of a spoiler 🤕 ANYWAY THEY SERVED SO FUCKING HARD. i was sweating when oak was hiding in their room and cardan started to purr at jude.
⤿ jurdan scenes for the deprived girlies
⊹ she hasn't bothered with a gown today, either, but wears a pair of high boots, tight-fitting trousers, and a vestlike doublet over a shirt poufy enough that it may have been borrowed from cardan.
JURDAN SHARING CLOTHES IS CANON!!
⊹ ࣪ oak saw his sisters face. there was something private there, and painful. he hadn’t known, back then, how close she’d come to losing cardan forever, and maybe losing herself, too.
⊹ ࣪ “have i ever told you how much you sound like madoc when you talk about murder?" cardan said, opening one eye. "because you do."
⊹ ࣪ “that must be what you like about me.”
⊹ ࣪ "that you're terrifying?"
⊹ ࣪ he asked, his drawl becoming exaggeratedly languorous, almost a purr.
⊹ ࣪ ”i adore it.”
⊹ ࣪ she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes. the king's arms came around her, and she shivered once, as though letting something fall away.
*screams into oblivion*
⊹ ࣪ “you’d think i never did a more popular thing than sit in the dark on a throne and bite people who annoyed me. i could have always done that. i could do that now.”
⊹ ࣪ “bite people?” jude echoed from the other end of the table.
⊹ ࣪ cardan grinned at her. “yes if that’s what they like.” he snapped his teeth at the air to demonstrate.
⊹ ࣪ “no one is interested in that.” jude said, shaking her head.
jude darling, you’re fooling no one.
⊹ ࣪ “i could try. a small bite. just to see if someone would write a song about it.”
I VOLUNTEER!!!
⊹ ࣪ “if you’ve hurt her —” cardan beings, his gaze on his wife.
how do i go on with my life now?
⧼ ⟡ other characters
↳ i was far more interested in tiernan and hyacinth’s love story than oak and wren’s! the og’s being together had me nearly tearing up. i missed them so much.
──── ᯓ★
𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ pre read review ꒱ JUDECARDAN COME HOME!! THE KIDS MISS YOU.
April 17, 2024
₊ ˚ 🐇・ɞ ₊ ˚ 5 stars – spoilers are marked
tropes:
⤷ strong fmc
⤷ fairy world
⤷ betrayal
╰ ꒰ ⊹ – “i adore u. i want to play games with u. i want to tell u all the truths i have to give. and if u really think u’re a monster, then let’s be monsters together.”
˖ ✧ ݁ ˖ thoughts before i read the book:
before starting this book, i did not have quite the highest of hopes and thought the sequel to the stolen heir would be boring. i had expected to give it a mere 4–4.25 stars which, for a Holly Black book imo, is quite disappointingly low. and tho while reading this book, i expected to give it a low rating, which i will go into depth ab in the next part of this review, i did, in fact, rate this 5 stars!!
╰ ꒰ ⊹ – “we do not love because people deserve it—nor would i want to be loved because i was the most deserving of some list of candidates. i want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. i want to be forgiven for my flaws.”
˖ ✧ ݁ ˖ overall thoughts:
omg, 1st things first i js want to say i'm so sry for taking sm time to write this review, i js was not feeling it w this particular review. now that i'm gladly feeling it, let us get into the review! so at first i was actually thinking of rating it 3 stars, (when i got a bit far into the book), bc, if we're talking ab the entire book, it was quite boring and not it, which i hardly ever say ab books. but further into the book i was like, “since Holly Black wrote this book, y don't i js give it 4 stars instead? and i can add 0.5 stars for the jurdan content to make it 4.5 stars.” so that was supposed to be the rating UNTIL we got to the end bc boy oh boy am i utterly SPEECHLESS. it was giving the most tcp vibes EVER and i devoured the ending. moreover, i loved how we got more interaction anddd romance bw Oak and Wren. AND THE JURDAN CONTENT WAS JS AMAZINGGG AND ESPECIALLY BC I MISSED THEM SO SMM 🤭 😌 (i did not at all expect to rant this much)
╰ ꒰ ⊹ – “charm me. rip me open. ruin me. go too far.”
˖ ✧ ݁ ˖ favourite quotes:
• 𓏲 ‛that must be what u like ab me.’ ‛that u’re terrifying? i adore it.’
• 𓏲 i thought love was a fascination, or a desire to be around someone, or wanting to make them happy. i believed it just happened, like a slap to the face, and left the way the sting from such a blow fades. that’s y it was easy for me to believe it could be false or manipulated or influenced by magic. until i met u, i didn’t understand to feel loved, one has to feel known. and that, outside of my family, i had never really loved because i hadn’t bothered to know the other person. but ik u. and u have to come back to me, Wren, because no one gets us but us. yk y u’re not a monster, but i might be. ik y throwing me in ur dungeon meant there was still something between us. we are messes and we are messed up and i don’t want to go thru this world without the one person i can’t hide from and who can’t hide from me.
• 𓏲 ‛i hate being unwell.’ he says. ‛u’re not sick. u r recovering from being stabbed—or rather, throwing urself on a knife.’ Jude tells him. ‛u would have done the same for me.’ ‛i would not.’ Jude snaps. ‛liar.’ Cardan says fondly.
• 𓏲
tropes:
⤷ strong fmc
⤷ fairy world
⤷ betrayal
╰ ꒰ ⊹ – “i adore u. i want to play games with u. i want to tell u all the truths i have to give. and if u really think u’re a monster, then let’s be monsters together.”
˖ ✧ ݁ ˖ thoughts before i read the book:
before starting this book, i did not have quite the highest of hopes and thought the sequel to the stolen heir would be boring. i had expected to give it a mere 4–4.25 stars which, for a Holly Black book imo, is quite disappointingly low. and tho while reading this book, i expected to give it a low rating, which i will go into depth ab in the next part of this review, i did, in fact, rate this 5 stars!!
╰ ꒰ ⊹ – “we do not love because people deserve it—nor would i want to be loved because i was the most deserving of some list of candidates. i want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. i want to be forgiven for my flaws.”
˖ ✧ ݁ ˖ overall thoughts:
omg, 1st things first i js want to say i'm so sry for taking sm time to write this review, i js was not feeling it w this particular review. now that i'm gladly feeling it, let us get into the review! so at first i was actually thinking of rating it 3 stars, (when i got a bit far into the book), bc, if we're talking ab the entire book, it was quite boring and not it, which i hardly ever say ab books. but further into the book i was like, “since Holly Black wrote this book, y don't i js give it 4 stars instead? and i can add 0.5 stars for the jurdan content to make it 4.5 stars.” so that was supposed to be the rating UNTIL we got to the end bc boy oh boy am i utterly SPEECHLESS. it was giving the most tcp vibes EVER and i devoured the ending. moreover, i loved how we got more interaction anddd romance bw Oak and Wren. AND THE JURDAN CONTENT WAS JS AMAZINGGG AND ESPECIALLY BC I MISSED THEM SO SMM 🤭 😌 (i did not at all expect to rant this much)
╰ ꒰ ⊹ – “charm me. rip me open. ruin me. go too far.”
˖ ✧ ݁ ˖ favourite quotes:
• 𓏲 ‛that must be what u like ab me.’ ‛that u’re terrifying? i adore it.’
• 𓏲 i thought love was a fascination, or a desire to be around someone, or wanting to make them happy. i believed it just happened, like a slap to the face, and left the way the sting from such a blow fades. that’s y it was easy for me to believe it could be false or manipulated or influenced by magic. until i met u, i didn’t understand to feel loved, one has to feel known. and that, outside of my family, i had never really loved because i hadn’t bothered to know the other person. but ik u. and u have to come back to me, Wren, because no one gets us but us. yk y u’re not a monster, but i might be. ik y throwing me in ur dungeon meant there was still something between us. we are messes and we are messed up and i don’t want to go thru this world without the one person i can’t hide from and who can’t hide from me.
• 𓏲 ‛i hate being unwell.’ he says. ‛u’re not sick. u r recovering from being stabbed—or rather, throwing urself on a knife.’ Jude tells him. ‛u would have done the same for me.’ ‛i would not.’ Jude snaps. ‛liar.’ Cardan says fondly.
• 𓏲
April 8, 2024
1.) The Stolen Heir ★★★★
let me just start this mini review with a big preface: you all know holly black is one of my favorite authors of all time, and her world of faerie is one of my favorite settings of all time, so just reading a new book by her, and being in this world again, was truly a joy to me and will be one of my favorite reading experiences of the year.
in the first book in this spin off duology starring oak, we get to go on a quest line adventure alongside him and Suren, while they both are contemplating the person they want to be versus the person their birthright is trying to lead them to be. i really enjoyed it and could not wait for this second book, especially because we all know holly black loves a good cliffhanger ending.
yet this second and final installment, despite picking up right where book one left off, felt so unlike the first book in this duology. i feel like a lot of people picked up the stolen heir wanting more of jude and cardan’s story, and were a little upset when they were given something completely different. and i almost feel like that sentiment was very heard, therefore this book feels way more like a continuation of jude and cardan’s story with oak struggling to be the main character alongside the plot that ultimately felt like a new set up for what is to come. and i don’t really know if this is a complaint or praise, but it for sure felt jarring and just overall was so very felt. and again, i know a lot more people will prefer this book, because again, way more jude and cardan and a big set up for what is cooking in elfhame next, but i do think it hindered my reading experience of this book a little bit.
and trust me, i love jude and cardan with the sum of my being. they are truly my otp of all otps and i am waiting with bated breath to see them in the undercity. i just wish we got more oak and wren, because i really did/do love their storyline, and this personally just felt so different in tone and set up from book one that it just made me feel a little sad for them. as always, i love madoc and all the complicated love and feelings involving him and his children. i love that something really big is happening with taryn and leander (and a tree) and i am absolutely quaking in waiting to find out. and overall, this world and these characters just mean everything to me and i will forever be thankful to get any and all stories set in the world of faerie from holly black.
trigger + content warnings: talk of infidelity in past (not mcs), poisoning, death, murder, torture, alcohol consumption, captivity, child abuse / abusive parents in past, mind control magic, drowning
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
1.) The Cruel Prince ★★★★★
1.5) The Lost Sisters ★★★★★
2.) The Wicked King ★★★★★
3.) The Queen of Nothing ★★★★★
3.5) How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories ★★★★★
“I need no protestations of your feelings. Love can be lost, and I am done with losing.”
let me just start this mini review with a big preface: you all know holly black is one of my favorite authors of all time, and her world of faerie is one of my favorite settings of all time, so just reading a new book by her, and being in this world again, was truly a joy to me and will be one of my favorite reading experiences of the year.
in the first book in this spin off duology starring oak, we get to go on a quest line adventure alongside him and Suren, while they both are contemplating the person they want to be versus the person their birthright is trying to lead them to be. i really enjoyed it and could not wait for this second book, especially because we all know holly black loves a good cliffhanger ending.
yet this second and final installment, despite picking up right where book one left off, felt so unlike the first book in this duology. i feel like a lot of people picked up the stolen heir wanting more of jude and cardan’s story, and were a little upset when they were given something completely different. and i almost feel like that sentiment was very heard, therefore this book feels way more like a continuation of jude and cardan’s story with oak struggling to be the main character alongside the plot that ultimately felt like a new set up for what is to come. and i don’t really know if this is a complaint or praise, but it for sure felt jarring and just overall was so very felt. and again, i know a lot more people will prefer this book, because again, way more jude and cardan and a big set up for what is cooking in elfhame next, but i do think it hindered my reading experience of this book a little bit.
and trust me, i love jude and cardan with the sum of my being. they are truly my otp of all otps and i am waiting with bated breath to see them in the undercity. i just wish we got more oak and wren, because i really did/do love their storyline, and this personally just felt so different in tone and set up from book one that it just made me feel a little sad for them. as always, i love madoc and all the complicated love and feelings involving him and his children. i love that something really big is happening with taryn and leander (and a tree) and i am absolutely quaking in waiting to find out. and overall, this world and these characters just mean everything to me and i will forever be thankful to get any and all stories set in the world of faerie from holly black.
trigger + content warnings: talk of infidelity in past (not mcs), poisoning, death, murder, torture, alcohol consumption, captivity, child abuse / abusive parents in past, mind control magic, drowning
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
1.) The Cruel Prince ★★★★★
1.5) The Lost Sisters ★★★★★
2.) The Wicked King ★★★★★
3.) The Queen of Nothing ★★★★★
3.5) How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories ★★★★★
March 31, 2024
⤿ 3.5 stars ✰
⊹ buddy read with mariam !!
i’m part of the group of people that read this solely for the appearance of judecardan👩🏻🦯 i liked this one more than the stolen heir bc it was filled with betrayals, secrets, and twists which made it so fun to read. but just like the first it does suffer around the middle and ngl i should’ve just skimmed through them, not to mention that i’ve already forgotten a good chunk of it. but the last few chapters were definitely my favourite bc i was really craving some action, the writing was also so good as always! i’m holding out hope that i’ll enjoy the next elfhame book more especially with how chapter 24 ended <3
→ characters.
🗡️ ꒱ oak ⟡ ࣪˖ i absolutely adored him in both books and i love that we got more insight on his character! holly wrote about his feelings in a way that touched my heart bc of how real and raw they were and i’d be lying if i said it wasn’t heartbreaking. i need to know what this poor child has gone through ☹!! i really like that this book was in oak’s pov and getting to understand him at a deeper level. bro was soo whipped for when lmao, i may not like them together but i’ll always love boy obsessed !
🌬️ ꒱ wren ⟡ ࣪˖ i liked her in the stolen heir but i’m very conflicted about her in this one, i don’t know if it’s because this book is in oak’s pov instead of hers but i couldn’t connect to her character at all :( girl felt like a side character lmao
🏹 ꒱ oakwren ⟡ ࣪˖ i lowkey hate them together and i stand by the fact that they should’ve just been friends. it was hard to root for them bc the chemistry was practically nonexistent, adding on to the fact that their relationship was very poorly developed. in short they’re just one of those couples that won’t last past the epilogue *minor spoilers* i hope i’m not the only one who was actually looking forward to oak killing wren, though it’s pretty obvious holly would never kill her off lol
🧺 ꒱ judecardan ⟡ ࣪˖ jurdan hangover was put on pause bc they finally came home to me *wipes tears* i’ve missed them soso much <3 i ate up every last crumb of them and i absolutely adore that they still have the same witty banter. the best thing about this book is fr all the moments between them bc i feel like we never got much of it in the trilogy, jurdan clears oakwren any day i said what i said ! this isn’t even their book but they somehow had more tension than the main couple.. yikes. *minor spoilers* the scene where cardan protected jude and even got himself stabbed bc of it? irreversible damage was done to me. i’d tell randalin to count his days but man is already dead (thank god) *end of spoilers* also ignore how all my kindle highlights are just jurdan leave me alone okay
→ quotes.
➛ love. that force that compels us to be sometimes better and often worse. that power by which we can all be bound. that which we ought to fear and yet most desire.
➛ you keep telling me that others will do to me what you have already done. i know what it is to want something so much that you would rather have the shadow of it than nothing, even if that means you will never have the real thing. and love is not that.
➛ until i met you, i didn’t understand to feel loved, one has to feel known. and that, outside of my family, i had never really loved because i hadn’t bothered to know the other person. but i know you. and you have to come back to me, wren, because no one gets us but us.
⊹ buddy read with mariam !!
“i adore you. i want to play games with you. i want to tell you all the truths i have to give. and if you really think you’re a monster, then let’s be monsters together.”
i’m part of the group of people that read this solely for the appearance of judecardan👩🏻🦯 i liked this one more than the stolen heir bc it was filled with betrayals, secrets, and twists which made it so fun to read. but just like the first it does suffer around the middle and ngl i should’ve just skimmed through them, not to mention that i’ve already forgotten a good chunk of it. but the last few chapters were definitely my favourite bc i was really craving some action, the writing was also so good as always! i’m holding out hope that i’ll enjoy the next elfhame book more especially with how chapter 24 ended <3
→ characters.
🗡️ ꒱ oak ⟡ ࣪˖ i absolutely adored him in both books and i love that we got more insight on his character! holly wrote about his feelings in a way that touched my heart bc of how real and raw they were and i’d be lying if i said it wasn’t heartbreaking. i need to know what this poor child has gone through ☹!! i really like that this book was in oak’s pov and getting to understand him at a deeper level. bro was soo whipped for when lmao, i may not like them together but i’ll always love boy obsessed !
🌬️ ꒱ wren ⟡ ࣪˖ i liked her in the stolen heir but i’m very conflicted about her in this one, i don’t know if it’s because this book is in oak’s pov instead of hers but i couldn’t connect to her character at all :( girl felt like a side character lmao
🏹 ꒱ oakwren ⟡ ࣪˖ i lowkey hate them together and i stand by the fact that they should’ve just been friends. it was hard to root for them bc the chemistry was practically nonexistent, adding on to the fact that their relationship was very poorly developed. in short they’re just one of those couples that won’t last past the epilogue *minor spoilers* i hope i’m not the only one who was actually looking forward to oak killing wren, though it’s pretty obvious holly would never kill her off lol
🧺 ꒱ judecardan ⟡ ࣪˖ jurdan hangover was put on pause bc they finally came home to me *wipes tears* i’ve missed them soso much <3 i ate up every last crumb of them and i absolutely adore that they still have the same witty banter. the best thing about this book is fr all the moments between them bc i feel like we never got much of it in the trilogy, jurdan clears oakwren any day i said what i said ! this isn’t even their book but they somehow had more tension than the main couple.. yikes. *minor spoilers* the scene where cardan protected jude and even got himself stabbed bc of it? irreversible damage was done to me. i’d tell randalin to count his days but man is already dead (thank god) *end of spoilers* also ignore how all my kindle highlights are just jurdan leave me alone okay
⌗ “that must be what you like about me.”
“that you’re terrifying? i adore it.”
→ quotes.
➛ love. that force that compels us to be sometimes better and often worse. that power by which we can all be bound. that which we ought to fear and yet most desire.
➛ you keep telling me that others will do to me what you have already done. i know what it is to want something so much that you would rather have the shadow of it than nothing, even if that means you will never have the real thing. and love is not that.
➛ until i met you, i didn’t understand to feel loved, one has to feel known. and that, outside of my family, i had never really loved because i hadn’t bothered to know the other person. but i know you. and you have to come back to me, wren, because no one gets us but us.
March 23, 2024
"I adore you. I want to play games with you. I want to tell you all the truths I have to give. And if you really think you’re a monster, then let’s be monsters together.”
If this book hasn't cured my depression, I don't think anything will (unless it's another Elfhame Novel). My expectations were already high and then Holly Black goes and exceeds them like it's nothing. I cannot possibly comprehend the intelligence it takes to write a story like this one. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. From the plot to the characters to the lore, everything is perfection. I particularly loved a specific parallel between Wren and Cardan at the end of the book, that I can't describe more without spoiling the story. Besides, you cannot believe the joy I feel knowing that this isn't the last book in the series! If Holly Black's confirmation wasn't enough, this book definitely leaves more to be told. I just hope Jude and Cardan will be there like they are in this one. Or perhaps at the center of it once again. 🤩
Moreover, for those complaining that Oak lacks significant character development in The Stolen Heir, it's because it happens in The Prisoner's Throne AS IT SHOULD. He is such a complicated character, he deserves to be explored in his own book. What's more, he is even more like Cardan and Jude in this book. He has created this facade of the weak, spoiled young heir, hiding his true self even from his family, much like Cardan has done in the OG series. In truth, he is as devious and skilled as Jude has ever been, and just as charming and alluring as Cardan. He uses those skills to weed out anyone plotting treason and protect Jude and Cardan. How cute is that? In addition, Wren isn't the only one with fears and insecurities about being loved. Oak's gancanagh power makes him wonder if anyone truly loves him or if he inadvertently made them do so, even his own family. Given everything his family sacrificed to protect him, especially Jude, this makes him feel even more guilty. Honestly, I just want to hug him and tell him that's not true. Oh, by the way, what the hell is wrong with his hooves exactly?! He's a faerie! I'd be weirder if he didn't have animalistic features. If anything they make him even more fascinating. Lay off him, dudes!
Furthermore, Wren's character is just as incredible. For all her character development in the first book, there is still room left for more. In The Stolen Heir she goes from this scared and easily manipulated girl, desperate to be loved to a terrifying and powerful monster queen, but with no resolution to her major and justifiable trust issues. It's these issues she overcomes in this book. Besides, despite becoming a powerful queen rivaling the High King and Queen of Elfhame, neither her power nor her time is limitless. There's still a lot of conflict to resolve. However, it's her turn to become the enigmatic one as Oak tries to figure out what she's hiding and what she truly feels for him.
Additionally, I will never not appreciate reading the main characters from their love interests' perspectives. I loved reading about Wren from Oak's point of view as much as I loved reading about Oak from Wren. It is undeniable how much he loves her, even after the questionable things she's done to him, i.e. locking him in prison and putting the bridle on him, among other things. The animosity between them did little to damper their feelings. The tension between them is almost as intense as Jude and Cardan's which means a lot. They say such sweet things to each other I became a puddle on the floor reading them. They are such simps they make me a simp. I love them! They're so precious.
What's more, another couple that stole my heart is Tiernan and Hyacinthe. Their love for each other is so complicated, yet neither can deny the other (and it's not because they're faeries and can't lie). Things are even worse between them in this book than in the last, yet their passion only intensifies. Much like Oak and Wren, nothing can get between them. The only thing that bums me out is that we only experience them through Oak (and Wren in the first book) when they more than deserve their own points of view. Their love story needs its own book.
Last but definitely not least, it's the couple that gives me a reason to live, the air that I breathe, my sweet villains and my darling gods, the High Queen and King of Elfhame, and my heart and soul, Jude and Cardan. There's little I love more than reading about my favorite couple from other characters' points of view, especially from a character that cares and loves them almost as much as I do. The Jurdan content in this book made my little simp heart pound in my chest. It cured my depression for the rest of the year. I squealed so loudly at every single moment with them in it, and all those moments were pure, wholesome perfection. Words cannot truly describe the feelings I experienced reading about them. I will never be able to think about anything else again. Ever.
P.S. I still don't like Taryn, but Madoc is well on his way to a redemption arc.
If this book hasn't cured my depression, I don't think anything will (unless it's another Elfhame Novel). My expectations were already high and then Holly Black goes and exceeds them like it's nothing. I cannot possibly comprehend the intelligence it takes to write a story like this one. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. From the plot to the characters to the lore, everything is perfection. I particularly loved a specific parallel between Wren and Cardan at the end of the book, that I can't describe more without spoiling the story. Besides, you cannot believe the joy I feel knowing that this isn't the last book in the series! If Holly Black's confirmation wasn't enough, this book definitely leaves more to be told. I just hope Jude and Cardan will be there like they are in this one. Or perhaps at the center of it once again. 🤩
Moreover, for those complaining that Oak lacks significant character development in The Stolen Heir, it's because it happens in The Prisoner's Throne AS IT SHOULD. He is such a complicated character, he deserves to be explored in his own book. What's more, he is even more like Cardan and Jude in this book. He has created this facade of the weak, spoiled young heir, hiding his true self even from his family, much like Cardan has done in the OG series. In truth, he is as devious and skilled as Jude has ever been, and just as charming and alluring as Cardan. He uses those skills to weed out anyone plotting treason and protect Jude and Cardan. How cute is that? In addition, Wren isn't the only one with fears and insecurities about being loved. Oak's gancanagh power makes him wonder if anyone truly loves him or if he inadvertently made them do so, even his own family. Given everything his family sacrificed to protect him, especially Jude, this makes him feel even more guilty. Honestly, I just want to hug him and tell him that's not true. Oh, by the way, what the hell is wrong with his hooves exactly?! He's a faerie! I'd be weirder if he didn't have animalistic features. If anything they make him even more fascinating. Lay off him, dudes!
Furthermore, Wren's character is just as incredible. For all her character development in the first book, there is still room left for more. In The Stolen Heir she goes from this scared and easily manipulated girl, desperate to be loved to a terrifying and powerful monster queen, but with no resolution to her major and justifiable trust issues. It's these issues she overcomes in this book. Besides, despite becoming a powerful queen rivaling the High King and Queen of Elfhame, neither her power nor her time is limitless. There's still a lot of conflict to resolve. However, it's her turn to become the enigmatic one as Oak tries to figure out what she's hiding and what she truly feels for him.
Additionally, I will never not appreciate reading the main characters from their love interests' perspectives. I loved reading about Wren from Oak's point of view as much as I loved reading about Oak from Wren. It is undeniable how much he loves her, even after the questionable things she's done to him, i.e. locking him in prison and putting the bridle on him, among other things. The animosity between them did little to damper their feelings. The tension between them is almost as intense as Jude and Cardan's which means a lot. They say such sweet things to each other I became a puddle on the floor reading them. They are such simps they make me a simp. I love them! They're so precious.
What's more, another couple that stole my heart is Tiernan and Hyacinthe. Their love for each other is so complicated, yet neither can deny the other (and it's not because they're faeries and can't lie). Things are even worse between them in this book than in the last, yet their passion only intensifies. Much like Oak and Wren, nothing can get between them. The only thing that bums me out is that we only experience them through Oak (and Wren in the first book) when they more than deserve their own points of view. Their love story needs its own book.
Last but definitely not least, it's the couple that gives me a reason to live, the air that I breathe, my sweet villains and my darling gods, the High Queen and King of Elfhame, and my heart and soul, Jude and Cardan. There's little I love more than reading about my favorite couple from other characters' points of view, especially from a character that cares and loves them almost as much as I do. The Jurdan content in this book made my little simp heart pound in my chest. It cured my depression for the rest of the year. I squealed so loudly at every single moment with them in it, and all those moments were pure, wholesome perfection. Words cannot truly describe the feelings I experienced reading about them. I will never be able to think about anything else again. Ever.
P.S. I still don't like Taryn, but Madoc is well on his way to a redemption arc.
March 22, 2024
IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT!! JUDE AND CARDAN ARE MY PARENTS
update 1: WE HAVE A TITLE!!!! IM SO EXCITED
update 2:
done. finished. crying screaming throwing up
IF THIS SERIES HAS 5 FANS IM ONE OF THEM. IF THIS SERIES HAS 1 FAN IT IS ME. IF THIS SERIES HAS NO FANS IM DEAD.
i love this series so much, this book was great!!! a little slow at times but honestly i didnt even care. i can’t wait for whatever comes next
update 1: WE HAVE A TITLE!!!! IM SO EXCITED
update 2:
done. finished. crying screaming throwing up
IF THIS SERIES HAS 5 FANS IM ONE OF THEM. IF THIS SERIES HAS 1 FAN IT IS ME. IF THIS SERIES HAS NO FANS IM DEAD.
i love this series so much, this book was great!!! a little slow at times but honestly i didnt even care. i can’t wait for whatever comes next
Want to read
March 22, 2023Holly Black bring judecardan back to me please
Want to read
January 15, 2023Edit- I JUST NOW REALIZED WE WERE GIVEN A PROPER TITLE🤯🤩 I GUESS I’VE BEEN SLEEPING UNDER A ROCK AHHHHHHHHH
me:
🪨
😴✌️
THIS IS THE BOOK WITH JUDE AND ZADDY CARDAN!!!!!! THE STOLEN HEIR ISN'T EVEN OUT YET BUT SEEING THIS ON GR IS SO EXCITING (and torturous)😫💃😮💨🙏😭🫶😤
me:
🪨
😴✌️
THIS IS THE BOOK WITH JUDE AND ZADDY CARDAN!!!!!! THE STOLEN HEIR ISN'T EVEN OUT YET BUT SEEING THIS ON GR IS SO EXCITING (and torturous)😫💃😮💨🙏😭🫶😤
March 29, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand the political intrigue and betrayals was well done, but on the other hand the pacing was inconsistent, the romance and character development was lacking. The plot was interesting, but I felt that it dragged and at times I had a difficult time following the plot. The pacing was inconsistent throughout, it was very slow at times and then it was too fast. I have mixed feelings about Oak, he is charming and manipulate, but he also cares about his sisters and family. I didn't feel a connection to the characters, which had an effect on my enjoyment of the book. I liked Wren, but she made decisions that I didn't agree with and her character development was lacking. I wished the story also included Wren's point of view, I didn't understand her decisions in certain situations and her feelings were not explained. I really enjoyed the Jude and Cardan cameo in this book, I loved seeing them together and it was interesting seeing them interact with Wren and Oak. The romance between Oak and Wren was lacking and I didn't feel a connection between them. I liked that their romance developed over time and they understood each other, but the chemistry and tension was lacking. I enjoyed the ending and I was shocked by the several betrayals. Overall this book was okay, but I felt that the pacing was inconsistent, the character development was lacking and the chemistry was lacking between the main characters.
April 21, 2024
3/ 5⭐
1/5 🌶️
I HATED IT!!! I'm so disappointed.
The Stolen Heir Duology #2, "The Prisoner's Throne" by Holly Black, oh sweet mercy, did this one drag like a sinking ship! I can't even recall the last time it took me a solid 10 days to claw my way through. I was bored a lot!
Now, let's give credit where it's due—the political intrigue and betrayals were masterfully crafted. But, and this is a colossal "but," the pacing was all over the blasted place, and the romance and character development? Ha! Nonexistent! Sure, it was packed with betrayals, secrets, and twists that kept me hanging on by a thread. But, let's face it, it seriously suffered in the middle. I probably should've just hurled the book across the room and saved myself the agony.
But, oh, those last few chapters? Finally, some action to rouse me from my stupor! And the writing? Oh, it was a symphony of brilliance! Jude and Cardan? They absolutely hijacked the narrative! I was giggling, blushing, every time they graced the page. I've yearned for them with every fiber of my being. The Truth. I am was not interested in Oak or Wren...
Quotes:
“We do not love because people deserve it—nor would I want to be loved because I was the most deserving of some list of candidates. I want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. I want to be forgiven my flaws.”
“Oh, my darling, my sweet child. Not everyone needs to love you.” She sighed. But Oak liked everyone loving him. Oak liked it so much that he didn’t understand why he would want it to be otherwise.
"Cardan is lying on the bed, bandaged and sulking, in a magnificent dressing gown. “I hate being unwell,” he says. “You’re not sick,” Jude tells him. “You are recovering from being stabbed—or rather, throwing yourself on a knife.” “You would have done the same for me,” he says airily. “I would not,” Jude snaps. “Liar,” Cardan says fondly."
.......................................................................................
"No one in chains could ever truly love you."
Now we have to wait until 2024 to see what happens with Oak and Wren!!
1/5 🌶️
I HATED IT!!! I'm so disappointed.
The Stolen Heir Duology #2, "The Prisoner's Throne" by Holly Black, oh sweet mercy, did this one drag like a sinking ship! I can't even recall the last time it took me a solid 10 days to claw my way through. I was bored a lot!
Now, let's give credit where it's due—the political intrigue and betrayals were masterfully crafted. But, and this is a colossal "but," the pacing was all over the blasted place, and the romance and character development? Ha! Nonexistent! Sure, it was packed with betrayals, secrets, and twists that kept me hanging on by a thread. But, let's face it, it seriously suffered in the middle. I probably should've just hurled the book across the room and saved myself the agony.
But, oh, those last few chapters? Finally, some action to rouse me from my stupor! And the writing? Oh, it was a symphony of brilliance! Jude and Cardan? They absolutely hijacked the narrative! I was giggling, blushing, every time they graced the page. I've yearned for them with every fiber of my being. The Truth. I am was not interested in Oak or Wren...
Quotes:
“We do not love because people deserve it—nor would I want to be loved because I was the most deserving of some list of candidates. I want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. I want to be forgiven my flaws.”
“Oh, my darling, my sweet child. Not everyone needs to love you.” She sighed. But Oak liked everyone loving him. Oak liked it so much that he didn’t understand why he would want it to be otherwise.
"Cardan is lying on the bed, bandaged and sulking, in a magnificent dressing gown. “I hate being unwell,” he says. “You’re not sick,” Jude tells him. “You are recovering from being stabbed—or rather, throwing yourself on a knife.” “You would have done the same for me,” he says airily. “I would not,” Jude snaps. “Liar,” Cardan says fondly."
.......................................................................................
"No one in chains could ever truly love you."
Now we have to wait until 2024 to see what happens with Oak and Wren!!
March 24, 2024
my reunion with judecardan and being back in elfhame feels like the light at the end of the tunnel after being in the trenches for the past weeks
Read
April 10, 2024Pre-review:
Umm I am done guys... Review and rating to come...
HAPPY RELEASE DAY MOTHERRR
BUCKLE UP BABES NO MORE WHINING I HAVE THE BOOK IN MY HANDS!!!! BR WITH MY BAE JAE 🥰💗 CARDAN HUBBY HERE I COMEE
------------------------------
Edit 4: SORRY FOR BEING A WHINY BITCH EVERYONE BUT I CAN'T FIND THE ARC 😭😭😭
Edit 3: GUYS HOLLY BLACK RELEASED A SNEAK PEAK ON TPT !! IT IS SO GOOD 🤭💗
Edit 2: guys tbh the cover is kind of ugly... But hey I won't judge the book by its cover. HAS ANYONE SEEN THE ARC ANYWHERE ???? I WOULD SELL MY FIRST BORN FOR IT.
JURDAN ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS BOOK !!!!!!! I CAN'T FIND THE ARC ON NETGALLERY UGHH💔😭😭😭
THIS BOOK NEEDS TO COME OUT NOWW
WTF ARE THERE NO ARCS OR WHAT 😭😭😭 I HAVEN'T SEEN A SINGLE ARC REVIEW 😭😭
Umm I am done guys... Review and rating to come...
HAPPY RELEASE DAY MOTHERRR
BUCKLE UP BABES NO MORE WHINING I HAVE THE BOOK IN MY HANDS!!!! BR WITH MY BAE JAE 🥰💗 CARDAN HUBBY HERE I COMEE
------------------------------
Edit 4: SORRY FOR BEING A WHINY BITCH EVERYONE BUT I CAN'T FIND THE ARC 😭😭😭
Edit 3: GUYS HOLLY BLACK RELEASED A SNEAK PEAK ON TPT !! IT IS SO GOOD 🤭💗
Edit 2: guys tbh the cover is kind of ugly... But hey I won't judge the book by its cover. HAS ANYONE SEEN THE ARC ANYWHERE ???? I WOULD SELL MY FIRST BORN FOR IT.
JURDAN ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS BOOK !!!!!!! I CAN'T FIND THE ARC ON NETGALLERY UGHH💔😭😭😭
THIS BOOK NEEDS TO COME OUT NOWW
WTF ARE THERE NO ARCS OR WHAT 😭😭😭 I HAVEN'T SEEN A SINGLE ARC REVIEW 😭😭
April 18, 2024
･:*:･ﾟ⁀➷ 4/5 ★
This was really enjoyable!! 🤭🤭 Imo a great conclusion to the series & i will always love any book set in elfhame 🥹💐
Tropes:
❄️ Morally grey characters
❄️ Fae
❄️ Enemies to lovers
❄️ Political intrigue
This is the second book in the stolen heir duology and i was really excited to read it after thoroughly enjoying the stolen heir. And thankfully, it did not disappoint! I had a lot of fun with this one 🤍🤍
ೃ⁀➷ Writing & plot:
I always go into a holly black book excited bc i just love holly black’s writing so so much!! 🥹🫶 The way she writes makes everything seem so whimsical and magical and i can never get enough of it. The vibes of her books are always immaculate! ✨️
I also really liked the plot of this book! I wasn’t sure where we were going to go after the stolen heir’s ending but i enjoyed the direction we took and the last little bit of the book was so action-packed. However, i must say, the pacing of this book was a littlee bit slow and i wish more could’ve happened in the beginning.
ೃ⁀➷ Characters:
I’ve grown to really enjoy the characters in this series! In the first book, it felt like we were following a very small cast of characters but seeing so many of the og characters in here was sm fun 🥹🥹
➵ Oak: i am actually so glad we got to read from his pov in this book bc it was so interesting!! Seeing how he hides between this mask and actually has sm more to him than meets the eye was fascinating to me and made me appreciate his character a lot more than in the stolen heir 🫶🫶
➵ Wren: why did she kinda have no personality in this book…? 🤨🤨
➵ Also, the judecardan appearances!! Holly black listened to us bc they had sm screentime in this book and I WAS EATING IT UP 😩😩 judecardan forever!! 🥹❤️🩹
ೃ⁀➷ Romance:
‼️ potential spoilers in this section ‼️
➵ Oak and Wren: I have mixed feelings on oak and wren’s romance. I do wish they had a different trope than also enemies to lovers bc it’s hard not to compare them to jude and cardan, and they are obviously nowhere near as good. However, i was surprised by how much i liked their scenes in this book and i think their ending was done really well!! 💐 I wasn’t a hugee fan of them at first, but you know what, they’ve grown on me 😚
➵ Tiernan and Hyacinthe: cutiepies 🎀
‼️ spoilers have ended ‼️
ೃ⁀➷ In conclusion:
A solid conclusion to this series! 🥹🫶 I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
➛ Fae!
➛ Scheming & betrayals
➛ Great writing
➛ Amazing world
I just love elfhame sm 🎀💐
《 2024 Challenge: Book 45 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
ೃ⁀➷ pre-review:
➛ I had a lot of fun reading this one! 🤍🤍 a great conclusion to the series and I will love any book set in elfhame 🥹🎀
Rtc 💐
This was really enjoyable!! 🤭🤭 Imo a great conclusion to the series & i will always love any book set in elfhame 🥹💐
Tropes:
❄️ Morally grey characters
❄️ Fae
❄️ Enemies to lovers
❄️ Political intrigue
This is the second book in the stolen heir duology and i was really excited to read it after thoroughly enjoying the stolen heir. And thankfully, it did not disappoint! I had a lot of fun with this one 🤍🤍
ೃ⁀➷ Writing & plot:
I always go into a holly black book excited bc i just love holly black’s writing so so much!! 🥹🫶 The way she writes makes everything seem so whimsical and magical and i can never get enough of it. The vibes of her books are always immaculate! ✨️
I also really liked the plot of this book! I wasn’t sure where we were going to go after the stolen heir’s ending but i enjoyed the direction we took and the last little bit of the book was so action-packed. However, i must say, the pacing of this book was a littlee bit slow and i wish more could’ve happened in the beginning.
ೃ⁀➷ Characters:
I’ve grown to really enjoy the characters in this series! In the first book, it felt like we were following a very small cast of characters but seeing so many of the og characters in here was sm fun 🥹🥹
➵ Oak: i am actually so glad we got to read from his pov in this book bc it was so interesting!! Seeing how he hides between this mask and actually has sm more to him than meets the eye was fascinating to me and made me appreciate his character a lot more than in the stolen heir 🫶🫶
➵ Wren: why did she kinda have no personality in this book…? 🤨🤨
➵ Also, the judecardan appearances!! Holly black listened to us bc they had sm screentime in this book and I WAS EATING IT UP 😩😩 judecardan forever!! 🥹❤️🩹
ೃ⁀➷ Romance:
‼️ potential spoilers in this section ‼️
➵ Oak and Wren: I have mixed feelings on oak and wren’s romance. I do wish they had a different trope than also enemies to lovers bc it’s hard not to compare them to jude and cardan, and they are obviously nowhere near as good. However, i was surprised by how much i liked their scenes in this book and i think their ending was done really well!! 💐 I wasn’t a hugee fan of them at first, but you know what, they’ve grown on me 😚
➵ Tiernan and Hyacinthe: cutiepies 🎀
‼️ spoilers have ended ‼️
ೃ⁀➷ In conclusion:
A solid conclusion to this series! 🥹🫶 I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
➛ Fae!
➛ Scheming & betrayals
➛ Great writing
➛ Amazing world
I just love elfhame sm 🎀💐
《 2024 Challenge: Book 45 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
ೃ⁀➷ pre-review:
➛ I had a lot of fun reading this one! 🤍🤍 a great conclusion to the series and I will love any book set in elfhame 🥹🎀
Rtc 💐
March 5, 2024
Okay. So the first 65% of the book drags a bit. But the next 35%?? I was gasping, jaw dropping, crying.
But... um... miss Holly Black left some loose ends and so I am expecting another book or novella following these characters 😁😁😁
---
OAK, PRINCE OF SUNLIGHT, POV??
(and jude and cardan cameo perhaps? update on taryn & the ghost?)
But... um... miss Holly Black left some loose ends and so I am expecting another book or novella following these characters 😁😁😁
---
OAK, PRINCE OF SUNLIGHT, POV??
(and jude and cardan cameo perhaps? update on taryn & the ghost?)
Want to read
March 2, 2023i knew and know this is a duology but damn, conclusion sounds so final.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1647896333i/31792110._UX200_CR0,96,200,200_.jpg)
March 16, 2024
⤅ I hate to say this, but I think this was a rush job, and it shows.
(Warning: spoilers).
I remember very clearly the dizzy intensity with which I fell in love with The Cruel Prince, which came out on my 18th birthday. I was deliriously joyous when I got an ARC of The Wicked King, and discovered I loved it just as much - or even more. But nothing has been the same since. I don't even think it's confined to this series - The Book of Night was objectively poor, and although I made myself enjoy The Stolen Heir (which was decent), I'm terrified that the magic is gone.
This book has done nothing to allay my fears.
We pick up where the last one left off, with Oak in Wren's prisons and an army gathering outside the doors. Initially things seemed promising. We're no longer in first-person Wren's head; instead, the entire book is narrated in from third-person Oak's POV, and at first that was great, because we could see Oak's desperation to catch Wren's attention while she remained aloof.
But then... I don't know. Things started going downhill. For one, I am genuinely not as convinced as I should be that Oak actually loves Wren. It's well acknowledged that he always knew where she was, but instead of seeking her out, he'd spend all his time falling in love with others and leaving her to scrabble for her life in the dirt. What makes this latest love any more real than the others? The book touches upon this, but doesn't give us a satisfactory answer. Unforgivably, Oak actually believes at one point that Wren has betrayed his family, and he goes WAY too far before realising that's not the case. Sorry, but my preferred sort of romance is the kind where even if the heroine has actually betrayed the hero, he NEVER stands over her with his sword drawn and contemplates chopping her head off. Oak's love felt shallow, and that's tragic because Wren deserved so much better.
My heart honestly breaks for Wren. She's never been loved, and the fact that we don't see her thoughts in this book actually does nothing but underscore how little Oak understands her in some ways. He never takes her to all the fun places in Elfhame like he promised, and he even still carries on a semblance of a romance with someone else (to ferret out her secrets, but still. How far would he have gone? Too far, I suspect). The lack of epilogue is the cherry on top. Wren has pretty much nobody, at multiple points she doesn't even have Oak (when it gets too hard for him). This series badly needed a third book to really make me feel like she was in a good place.
Random plotlines in this book get picked up and then dropped again. Like, the ancient troll kings or whatever - they just... are no longer a thing?? And the whole Nicasia-looking-for-a-husband... I actually got the impression Black might be planning to write a book of Jude and Cardan in that setting. As expected, those two were by far the strongest part of the book, because that's a couple where the love actually shines through and had time and energy devoted on it. Unfortunately Taryn also made appearances, but what can you do - Black seems to have a weird soft spot for her.
⤅ Overall
I'm really disappointed, to be honest. The writing is as lovely as ever, but I expected - and hoped for - so much more in the way of sheer emotion and clever plot twists.
(Warning: spoilers).
I remember very clearly the dizzy intensity with which I fell in love with The Cruel Prince, which came out on my 18th birthday. I was deliriously joyous when I got an ARC of The Wicked King, and discovered I loved it just as much - or even more. But nothing has been the same since. I don't even think it's confined to this series - The Book of Night was objectively poor, and although I made myself enjoy The Stolen Heir (which was decent), I'm terrified that the magic is gone.
This book has done nothing to allay my fears.
We pick up where the last one left off, with Oak in Wren's prisons and an army gathering outside the doors. Initially things seemed promising. We're no longer in first-person Wren's head; instead, the entire book is narrated in from third-person Oak's POV, and at first that was great, because we could see Oak's desperation to catch Wren's attention while she remained aloof.
But then... I don't know. Things started going downhill. For one, I am genuinely not as convinced as I should be that Oak actually loves Wren. It's well acknowledged that he always knew where she was, but instead of seeking her out, he'd spend all his time falling in love with others and leaving her to scrabble for her life in the dirt. What makes this latest love any more real than the others? The book touches upon this, but doesn't give us a satisfactory answer. Unforgivably, Oak actually believes at one point that Wren has betrayed his family, and he goes WAY too far before realising that's not the case. Sorry, but my preferred sort of romance is the kind where even if the heroine has actually betrayed the hero, he NEVER stands over her with his sword drawn and contemplates chopping her head off. Oak's love felt shallow, and that's tragic because Wren deserved so much better.
My heart honestly breaks for Wren. She's never been loved, and the fact that we don't see her thoughts in this book actually does nothing but underscore how little Oak understands her in some ways. He never takes her to all the fun places in Elfhame like he promised, and he even still carries on a semblance of a romance with someone else (to ferret out her secrets, but still. How far would he have gone? Too far, I suspect). The lack of epilogue is the cherry on top. Wren has pretty much nobody, at multiple points she doesn't even have Oak (when it gets too hard for him). This series badly needed a third book to really make me feel like she was in a good place.
Random plotlines in this book get picked up and then dropped again. Like, the ancient troll kings or whatever - they just... are no longer a thing?? And the whole Nicasia-looking-for-a-husband... I actually got the impression Black might be planning to write a book of Jude and Cardan in that setting. As expected, those two were by far the strongest part of the book, because that's a couple where the love actually shines through and had time and energy devoted on it. Unfortunately Taryn also made appearances, but what can you do - Black seems to have a weird soft spot for her.
⤅ Overall
I'm really disappointed, to be honest. The writing is as lovely as ever, but I expected - and hoped for - so much more in the way of sheer emotion and clever plot twists.
Read
April 16, 2024⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚POST-READ APRIL 15th
im so conflicted.. but it wasn't bad..! 3 or 4 stars, rtc <3
⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚PREVIEW APRIL 5TH
well here we are. i dont know if im excited or not, but i cant lie, i adore this world. the world of elfhame so i am very excited 🥹 i still haven't found a world like it and i dont know i ever will! ANYWAYS - also every time im back in this universe, i just have to mention: anyone remember when i had the cruel prince as my pf for like 6 months LMAOO anyways, love you guys, i hope i love this 🫡 also i sense a jurdan cameo!!
mar, 7, 24
can someone PLEASE explain to me how i forgot this just released 😭 umm oh well!! i hear no one talking about this, but when i get to it, it BETTER DELIVER OKMSDCJD. jurdan wya 🙈 im looking.
im so conflicted.. but it wasn't bad..! 3 or 4 stars, rtc <3
⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚PREVIEW APRIL 5TH
well here we are. i dont know if im excited or not, but i cant lie, i adore this world. the world of elfhame so i am very excited 🥹 i still haven't found a world like it and i dont know i ever will! ANYWAYS - also every time im back in this universe, i just have to mention: anyone remember when i had the cruel prince as my pf for like 6 months LMAOO anyways, love you guys, i hope i love this 🫡 also i sense a jurdan cameo!!
mar, 7, 24
can someone PLEASE explain to me how i forgot this just released 😭 umm oh well!! i hear no one talking about this, but when i get to it, it BETTER DELIVER OKMSDCJD. jurdan wya 🙈 im looking.
March 8, 2024
Oak knew what wanting the throne did to people. He would never be like that.
it's actually incredibly unfair elfhame isn't real. tw: hooves 🤣
the way i DEVOURED this. getting oak's perspective was a delightful switch up, i actually adore him even more thanks to this book. jurdan appearances are fun and exciting, and i enjoy madoc SO MUCH as a character. dad and daddy lol. i feel like this did an excellent job of confronting the complexity of their family.
i wish i had reread the stolen heir before this to refresh my memory on some things, bc i wasn't sure how much we as the readers were supposed to have known throughout this. regardless, i enjoyed the mystery and the pining on oak's behalf.
i will always love being in elfhame. i might be a little idealistic in thinking we may be getting more elfhame stories in the future, but a girl can dream.
spoiler for a side character's fate
“So advise me—I wish to be obeyed, even if I cannot be loved.”
Wren saw things that were far more terrifying and cruel than anything he witnessed. And perhaps somewhere inside her, she is coming to learn that she can be all the things that once scared her.
“We do not love because people deserve it—nor would I want to be loved because I was the most deserving of some list of candidates. I want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. I want to be forgiven my flaws.”
it's actually incredibly unfair elfhame isn't real. tw: hooves 🤣
the way i DEVOURED this. getting oak's perspective was a delightful switch up, i actually adore him even more thanks to this book. jurdan appearances are fun and exciting, and i enjoy madoc SO MUCH as a character. dad and daddy lol. i feel like this did an excellent job of confronting the complexity of their family.
i wish i had reread the stolen heir before this to refresh my memory on some things, bc i wasn't sure how much we as the readers were supposed to have known throughout this. regardless, i enjoyed the mystery and the pining on oak's behalf.
i will always love being in elfhame. i might be a little idealistic in thinking we may be getting more elfhame stories in the future, but a girl can dream.
spoiler for a side character's fate
“So advise me—I wish to be obeyed, even if I cannot be loved.”
Wren saw things that were far more terrifying and cruel than anything he witnessed. And perhaps somewhere inside her, she is coming to learn that she can be all the things that once scared her.
“We do not love because people deserve it—nor would I want to be loved because I was the most deserving of some list of candidates. I want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. I want to be forgiven my flaws.”
March 24, 2024
the four stars are just for jurdan<3
(because i only read the parts that mentioned jude/cardan.)
IM SORRY
because i technically didn't read this book(i mean i read like 40% so i read ENOUGH but)... i'm not gonna review it but here are some jurdan quotes for all my deprived babes<3
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
(cardan):"i didn't enjoy being a snake, and yet i appear to be doomed to be reminded of it for all eternity," cardan was saying, black curls falling across his face. he held a three-pronged fork aloft as though to emphasize his point. "the excess of songs hasn't helped, nor has their longevity. its been what? eight years? nine? truly, the celebratory air about the whole buisness has been excessive. you'd think i never did a more popular thing than sit in the dark on a throne and bite people who annoyed me. i could have always done that. i could do that now."
"bite people?" echoed jude from the other end of the table. cardan grinned at her. "yes if thats what they like" he snapped his teeth in the air as though to demonstrate.
"no one is interested in that" jude said, shaking her head."
jude. babe. you're not fooling anyone
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
"cardan drew a dramatic line across his throat and then slumped exaggeratedly over, eyes closed, mouth open. playing dead.
jude scowled. "you need not make fun."
"have i ever told you how much you sound like madoc when you talk about murder?" cardan said, opening one eye. "because you do."
"that must be what you like about me,"
"that you're terrifying?" he asked, his drawl becoming exaggeratedly languorous, almost a purr. "i adore it."
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
xoxo, maggie<3
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
pre-read
i may or may not be reading this just hoping it gets me out of my slump…i also may or may not be reading this without reading the stolen heir. but i’m missing jurdan so what can i do 🥲
(because i only read the parts that mentioned jude/cardan.)
IM SORRY
because i technically didn't read this book(i mean i read like 40% so i read ENOUGH but)... i'm not gonna review it but here are some jurdan quotes for all my deprived babes<3
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
(cardan):"i didn't enjoy being a snake, and yet i appear to be doomed to be reminded of it for all eternity," cardan was saying, black curls falling across his face. he held a three-pronged fork aloft as though to emphasize his point. "the excess of songs hasn't helped, nor has their longevity. its been what? eight years? nine? truly, the celebratory air about the whole buisness has been excessive. you'd think i never did a more popular thing than sit in the dark on a throne and bite people who annoyed me. i could have always done that. i could do that now."
"bite people?" echoed jude from the other end of the table. cardan grinned at her. "yes if thats what they like" he snapped his teeth in the air as though to demonstrate.
"no one is interested in that" jude said, shaking her head."
jude. babe. you're not fooling anyone
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
"cardan drew a dramatic line across his throat and then slumped exaggeratedly over, eyes closed, mouth open. playing dead.
jude scowled. "you need not make fun."
"have i ever told you how much you sound like madoc when you talk about murder?" cardan said, opening one eye. "because you do."
"that must be what you like about me,"
"that you're terrifying?" he asked, his drawl becoming exaggeratedly languorous, almost a purr. "i adore it."
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
xoxo, maggie<3
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
pre-read
i may or may not be reading this just hoping it gets me out of my slump…i also may or may not be reading this without reading the stolen heir. but i’m missing jurdan so what can i do 🥲
April 4, 2024
When your most anticipated read turns into your most disappointed read<<<
Even though the last book kind of felt flat for me, I was still so excited for this one. Considering how the last book ended, I was expecting some great war between Jude and Wren and a lot of action and betrayals...but heh that definitely did not happen.
Here are things I liked about this book and the complains I have:
LIKED
Oak: No matter what, I can't deny it. I LOVED Oak's personality. It was so unique and just fun to read. He played like a fool and made others think he was dumb and careless while meanwhile he was constantly strategizing and planning his next move.
"It's easy to make someone look foolish if you're willing to play the fool"
Romance: The romance between Oak and Wren wasn't necessarily good but I loved Oak's part in it. How determined he was even after getting his heart broken over and over just made me wanna give him a big hug. I love his so much 🤧
Wren stares at him "And if I send you away, even after this speech? If I don't want you?" He hesitates. "Then I'll go," he says "and adore you from afar. And compose ballads about you or something."
The Writing: I know you're all gonna agree with me on this because Holly Black's writing is so beautiful and the way she writes, I'm in awe. In this book, the tone was pretty formal and Victorian era types but it was still so easy to read! The way she describes things and make them appear so realistic, I love it. I love her.
There is a taste on his tongue that is somehow the flavor of sleep itself, as though he went so deep into the land of dreams that he brought some of it back with him
Jurdan moments: I missed my babies 😭😭 Just the name of Jude or Cardan gives me butterflies. I was so happy to meet them again, I can't explain. They own my whole heart. I wish Holly Black wrote this duology about them instead of Oak and Wren but what can we do? 👀
Cardan says. "But if it's just pushing wooden little wooden people around on maps, I will leave that to Leander.
Ahh Cardan 😩😩 I can honestly read about them all day and all night and still not get tired of it.
DIDN'T LIKE
Plot and Pace: The most important elements in any book and Holly Black just ruined it for me 😭😭 I'm actually questioning if she even wrote this duology herself. The first interesting thing that happens that actually caught my eye or made this book slightly more interesting, happened when the book hit 80% mark. From the very start, it dragged on sooo much, I actually fell asleep. Too much of unnecessary stuff and details and it was super boring 🥱
Wren: This actually made me so mad. I loveddd Wren in the first book. Her sharp teeth and blue skin and how realistically she was written...I adored her. But in this book? No. She's a completely different person. Her part was so small and minimum, she literally did close to nothing and i expected something bigger. Her character disappointed me the most and now I'm just sad 😔💔
Romance: I said I loved Oak's side in it but in general it was phew. Non existent really. I couldn't see the spark between Oak and Wren at all...how was I supposed to love them? There was no chemistry or angst between them and just a no overall. Tiernan's and Hyacinthe's romance was better than them.
Overall, I didn't feel the spark or happiness I felt while reading the cruel prince trilogy. It was so boring I had to literally push myself through it. I wouldn't recommend reading this duology tbh but if you do plan to read this book, just read the last 30 to 20% and it'll all be the same.
***
Probably my most anticipated read so when I saw it in my local bookstore, you know I ran for it 🏃♀️🏃♀️
I trust Jurdan to get me out of my slump 🫶
Even though the last book kind of felt flat for me, I was still so excited for this one. Considering how the last book ended, I was expecting some great war between Jude and Wren and a lot of action and betrayals...but heh that definitely did not happen.
Here are things I liked about this book and the complains I have:
LIKED
Oak: No matter what, I can't deny it. I LOVED Oak's personality. It was so unique and just fun to read. He played like a fool and made others think he was dumb and careless while meanwhile he was constantly strategizing and planning his next move.
"It's easy to make someone look foolish if you're willing to play the fool"
Romance: The romance between Oak and Wren wasn't necessarily good but I loved Oak's part in it. How determined he was even after getting his heart broken over and over just made me wanna give him a big hug. I love his so much 🤧
Wren stares at him "And if I send you away, even after this speech? If I don't want you?" He hesitates. "Then I'll go," he says "and adore you from afar. And compose ballads about you or something."
The Writing: I know you're all gonna agree with me on this because Holly Black's writing is so beautiful and the way she writes, I'm in awe. In this book, the tone was pretty formal and Victorian era types but it was still so easy to read! The way she describes things and make them appear so realistic, I love it. I love her.
There is a taste on his tongue that is somehow the flavor of sleep itself, as though he went so deep into the land of dreams that he brought some of it back with him
Jurdan moments: I missed my babies 😭😭 Just the name of Jude or Cardan gives me butterflies. I was so happy to meet them again, I can't explain. They own my whole heart. I wish Holly Black wrote this duology about them instead of Oak and Wren but what can we do? 👀
Cardan says. "But if it's just pushing wooden little wooden people around on maps, I will leave that to Leander.
Ahh Cardan 😩😩 I can honestly read about them all day and all night and still not get tired of it.
DIDN'T LIKE
Plot and Pace: The most important elements in any book and Holly Black just ruined it for me 😭😭 I'm actually questioning if she even wrote this duology herself. The first interesting thing that happens that actually caught my eye or made this book slightly more interesting, happened when the book hit 80% mark. From the very start, it dragged on sooo much, I actually fell asleep. Too much of unnecessary stuff and details and it was super boring 🥱
Wren: This actually made me so mad. I loveddd Wren in the first book. Her sharp teeth and blue skin and how realistically she was written...I adored her. But in this book? No. She's a completely different person. Her part was so small and minimum, she literally did close to nothing and i expected something bigger. Her character disappointed me the most and now I'm just sad 😔💔
Romance: I said I loved Oak's side in it but in general it was phew. Non existent really. I couldn't see the spark between Oak and Wren at all...how was I supposed to love them? There was no chemistry or angst between them and just a no overall. Tiernan's and Hyacinthe's romance was better than them.
Overall, I didn't feel the spark or happiness I felt while reading the cruel prince trilogy. It was so boring I had to literally push myself through it. I wouldn't recommend reading this duology tbh but if you do plan to read this book, just read the last 30 to 20% and it'll all be the same.
***
Probably my most anticipated read so when I saw it in my local bookstore, you know I ran for it 🏃♀️🏃♀️
I trust Jurdan to get me out of my slump 🫶
April 17, 2024
2.5 stars
What did I just read? 😭😭
Lawd, this fucking dragged. I don't remember the last time it personally took me 4 days to read something that wasn't 600+ pages. I did not want to pick this up and really had to force myself to read it because JudeCardan obviously.
Honestly, this duology is a pale imitation of the TFOTA series. I felt basically nothing for any of these characters and it really felt like nothing happened this whole book. None of the scenes really had any emotional depth and the pacing was just strange.
The only thing I cared about was seeing Jurdan, and even that was disappointing for me. Didn't get nearly enough of them and what we did get seemed like a watered down version.
TBD if I'll continue any books in this universe 😟
What did I just read? 😭😭
Lawd, this fucking dragged. I don't remember the last time it personally took me 4 days to read something that wasn't 600+ pages. I did not want to pick this up and really had to force myself to read it because JudeCardan obviously.
Honestly, this duology is a pale imitation of the TFOTA series. I felt basically nothing for any of these characters and it really felt like nothing happened this whole book. None of the scenes really had any emotional depth and the pacing was just strange.
The only thing I cared about was seeing Jurdan, and even that was disappointing for me. Didn't get nearly enough of them and what we did get seemed like a watered down version.
TBD if I'll continue any books in this universe 😟
January 29, 2023
Ok i see many people aren't that satisfied with the first book cuz they thought that one's gonna give tfota series and it didn't and proud to say that's not the case with me. I LOVED THE FIRST BOOK GODDAMN AND THE ENDING DID NOTHING BUT MADE MY INTEREST GROW IN THIS DUOLOGY 1000× MORE. I'm already rating it 5 stars cuz holly black never disappoints. If you have a problem go talk to my lawyer!
ALSO THIS BETTER GIVE ME MY JURDAN MOMENTS OR I'LL GO BALLISTIC
ALSO THIS BETTER GIVE ME MY JURDAN MOMENTS OR I'LL GO BALLISTIC
March 18, 2024
”I am a chasm that will never be full. I am hunger. I am need. I cannot be sated. If you try, I will swallow you up. I will take all of you and want more. I will use you. I will drain you until you are nothing more than a husk.” “Use me, then.”
i love this world. i love these characters. i loved the jurdan moments. i loved the sibling dynamics. i loved the romantic development. AHHH! how does holly black manage to NAIL sexual tension even tho all of these books are YA?!
giving it a 4/5 just because the politics weren’t as streamlined in this one. i did find myself wishing we got some of wren’s POV to help bridge the gaps. i didnt fully understand her motivations in this book. the stakes also didn’t feel *as* high as the rest of the series overall & the ending felt a lil’ anticlimactic, but still such a fun duology in elfhame !!! 🥹🫶⭐️
and cannot believe HB hinted at POTENTIAL spinoff JUDE/CARDAN PREGNANCY TROPE IN THE UNDERSEA WATCHING NICASIA’s BACHELORETTE SEASON I CANT WAITTTT OMFG ???????
i love this world. i love these characters. i loved the jurdan moments. i loved the sibling dynamics. i loved the romantic development. AHHH! how does holly black manage to NAIL sexual tension even tho all of these books are YA?!
giving it a 4/5 just because the politics weren’t as streamlined in this one. i did find myself wishing we got some of wren’s POV to help bridge the gaps. i didnt fully understand her motivations in this book. the stakes also didn’t feel *as* high as the rest of the series overall & the ending felt a lil’ anticlimactic, but still such a fun duology in elfhame !!! 🥹🫶⭐️
and cannot believe HB hinted at POTENTIAL spinoff JUDE/CARDAN PREGNANCY TROPE IN THE UNDERSEA WATCHING NICASIA’s BACHELORETTE SEASON I CANT WAITTTT OMFG ???????
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