Does Jude Betray Cardan In 'The Wicked King'?

The curse in 'The Wicked King' is a brutal political trap disguised as a magical binding. Jude, the protagonist, gets tricked into sealing a bargain with Cardan, the High King of Elfhame, that forces her to serve him for a year and a day. The catch? She can't hurt him, disobey his commands, or let anyone else harm him—while he can torment her freely. The curse isn’t just physical; it messes with her willpower. Imagine wanting to stab someone but your arm locks up mid-swing. Worse, the fae magic twists loopholes: if she tries to exploit technicalities, the curse tightens like a noose. It’s a masterclass in fae cruelty—power wrapped in poison.

The ending of 'The Wicked King' is a masterclass in betrayal and political maneuvering. Jude, who’s been pulling the strings as Cardan’s seneschal, gets outplayed at her own game. After securing power for Cardan and herself, she thinks she’s untouchable—until Cardan turns the tables by banishing her to the mortal world. The twist? He secretly marries her first, making her the Queen of Faerie but trapped away from her throne. It’s brutal because Jude’s scheming got her exactly what she wanted (power) but in the worst way possible (isolated and powerless). The last scene with her screaming into the ocean is haunting. This sets up 'The Queen of Nothing' perfectly—you know Jude won’t stay down for long.

The protagonist of 'The Wicked King' is Jude Duarte, a mortal girl who gets tangled in the treacherous politics of the Faerie world. What makes Jude such a compelling lead is her sharp mind and relentless ambition—she’s not some damsel waiting to be rescued. Instead, she claws her way into power, becoming a key player in the High Court of Faerie despite being human. Her relationship with Cardan, the titular Wicked King, is a rollercoaster of manipulation, tension, and twisted attraction. Jude’s journey is brutal; she faces betrayal, violence, and the constant threat of being outmatched by immortal beings, yet she never backs down. The way she navigates this cutthroat world with sheer cunning and a dagger in hand is pure brilliance. The book dives deep into Jude’s internal struggles—her desperation to prove herself, her love-hate dynamic with Faerie, and the moral compromises she makes to survive. Unlike typical fantasy heroes, she’s flawed, ruthless, and unapologetically ambitious. Her mortal vulnerability contrasts starkly with the supernatural enemies around her, making every victory hard-earned. The political intrigue she masters, the alliances she forges (and breaks), and her psychological battles with Cardan elevate her beyond a simple protagonist—she’s a force of nature in a world that constantly underestimates her.

The romance in 'The Wicked King' is subtle but deeply impactful. Jude and Cardan's dynamic is charged with tension—part hate, part fascination. Their interactions are a dance of power and vulnerability, where every glance and word carries weight. It’s not the flowers-and-chocolates kind; it’s messy, manipulative, and thrilling. The chemistry simmers beneath political schemes, making their moments of closeness electric. You’ll find yourself rereading their scenes, picking up on buried emotions. If you enjoy romance that’s more psychological than physical, this book delivers. For similar vibes, try 'The Cruel Prince' (obviously) or 'From Blood and Ash'.

Jude’s rise in 'The Wicked King' is a masterclass in political maneuvering. She starts as a human with no inherent magic, but her sharp mind becomes her greatest weapon. By becoming Cardan’s seneschal, she manipulates the Faerie court from the shadows, using his authority as a puppet king to enforce her will. Her power isn’t flashy—it’s calculated. She leverages secrets, blackmail, and alliances, like her deal with the Ghost, to control key players. The scene where she outmaneuvers Madoc by anticipating his rebellion? Pure chess moves. Jude’s strength lies in her ability to turn weaknesses (her humanity) into advantages, making others underestimate her until it’s too late.

'The Wicked King' isn't a standalone—it’s the electrifying second book in Holly Black’s 'Folk of the Air' trilogy. The story dives deeper into Jude’s ruthless political maneuvering in the High Court of Faerie, where every alliance is a dagger hidden in silk. The first book, 'The Cruel Prince', sets the stage with its brutal fae politics, while 'The Wicked King' escalates the stakes with betrayals that cut sharper than any blade. The trilogy concludes with 'The Queen of Nothing', wrapping up Jude’s journey from mortal hostage to power player in a world where love and vengeance blur. Reading it alone would leave gaps; the trilogy’s strength lies in how each book builds on the last, weaving a tapestry of cunning, ambition, and fragile trust. Holly Black’s prose is a cocktail of venom and velvet—skipping the series would miss the crescendo of her craft.

Cardan earns the title 'Wicked King' through a mix of cunning, cruelty, and charisma that defines his rule in 'The Folk of the Air' series. At first glance, he embodies the worst of Faerie's decadent nobility—arrogant, manipulative, and utterly indifferent to suffering. His games aren’t petty pranks; they’re calculated moves to destabilize rivals, like forcing Jude into servitude or orchestrating political chaos with a smirk. But his wickedness isn’t one-dimensional. Beneath the glittering malice lies a prince shaped by abuse, using cruelty as both armor and weapon. He exiled his own father, toys with mortal lives, and revels in the fear he inspires. Yet what makes him truly terrifying is his unpredictability. One moment he’s banishing allies on a whim, the next he’s saving Jude from assassins—not out of kindness, but because her misery is his to command. The title sticks because he owns it, turning villainy into an art form.

In 'The Cruel Prince' trilogy, death isn't just an event—it's a catalyst that reshapes Faerie's political landscape. The most shocking loss is Carden Greenbriar, the brutal High King, murdered by Jude in a desperate bid for survival. His death sparks chaos, revealing the fragility of faerie power. Later, Madoc, Jude's warlord stepfather, meets his end in battle, his ambition finally outstripping his cunning. Taryn, Jude's twin, doesn't die but becomes a ghost of herself after betraying her sister, her spirit crushed by guilt. The real tragedy is Locke, the manipulative noble, whose games lead to his own demise—poisoned by his ex-lover Nicasia. Even the gentlest soul, Oriana, Jude's stepmother, perishes off-page, her quiet strength forgotten in the turmoil. Each death feels personal, woven into Jude's rise from pawn to queen.