The first lesson is to make yourself strong.
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
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I borrowed an ARC from a friend because she's amazing. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I honestly don't know where to start with my review! There are so many things that I want to talk about, but I'm worried I'll accidentally give something away. Everyone is constantly scheming, and plotting, and planning -- it's hard to keep track! I'm amazed Jude has survived for as long as she has.
First of all, there were multiple betrayals that I never anticipated. I still cannot wrap my head around the complexities of this story! Faeries are unable to lie, so Black has to twist their words until they sound like the truth. It's really amazing. Jude can lie, but it also has its disadvantages. She's always looking over her shoulder, constantly taking risks that have dangerous consequences, and forever trying to stay one step ahead of everyone else. It's impossible for her to predict every move the Folk will make, and she can barely trust her allies.
Seriously, this was an insanely good book! It didn't have as many physical confrontations, but that didn't keep people from waging war in their heads. Everything is a game, and everyone is looking for ways to outmaneuver their opponents. I held my breath and waited for something bad to befall Jude or Cardan, because they seem to have more enemies than anyone else. I also really wanted more romance between the two, but Black is being subtle and evasive.
Madoc -- I can't decide if I like him or not. I believe he still has fatherly feelings regarding Jude, but he also sees her as his equal. They're on opposing sides for most of the book, and it was nice seeing them work together (briefly).
Taryn and Locke -- I'm not even going to go there.
Balkekin -- He's still a bastard.
Oak and Vivi -- They're two of my favorite characters! I really want them to play a larger role in the next book. Also, I like how protective Jude is of her siblings. She's a fierce friend and a formidable enemy.
There's so much going on in this series, it's hard to predict anything (believe me, I've tried). There are numerous players, and they all have different agendas. Two people might seem like friends one moment, only to betray each other with their next breath. It was insane!
