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.