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How Does 'The Queen Of Nothing' End?

Found the Queen of Power struggles intense. No spoilers please, but is Holly Black's final Folk of the Air book a hopeful or tragic conclusion for Jude and Cardan?
2025-06-25 03:06:01
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11 Answers

Best Answer
sona
sona
The story ultimately wraps up with Jude having mastered her magical ability to claim the throne of Elfhame and rule Faerie as she sees fit. Another under appreciated royal takes on Faerie’s treacherous politics in ‘The Rejected Queen’ and while she’s not as fully developed as Jude, her struggle to gain legitimate status and her quest for revenge is compelling and it drives the plot in very satisfying ways.
2026-08-04
Ella
Ella
'The Queen of Nothing', the third volume in The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black, ends with the return of Jude to Elfhame and her fight for the throne against Orlagh. It’s not an easy fight, but Jude manages to outsmart her enemies, as she always does. The final confrontation with Cardan ends on a note of intense tension mixed with love and forgiveness, as Jude and Cardan finally have equal positions in their relationship. Cardan kneels before Jude and places the crown on her head in a gesture of adoration. After the confrontation with his rival, the new position of the Undersea, the collapse of Madoc’s plans, and the incredible rise of the Court of Shadows, Jude’s victory is not only about her taking the throne. It’s also about rewriting the history of Faerie in order to include mortals such as herself. We see Jude lounging on her throne, surrounded by velvet, with Cardan by her side in the final scene. The ending is revolutionary and satisfying at the same time.

I’ll also never forget the smallest details of the book, like Jude’s fragility when she thought Cardan was dead, her reconciliation with Vivi, and how the shadows of Elfhame now belong to her. So much was packed into that last book, and it was so equally balanced between action and intimacy.
2025-06-26
Sawyer
Sawyer
The last act is where Jude gets the last word and turns her exile into a tool for her own success. She outmaneuvers Orlagh in a brilliant move. Meanwhile, Cardan has traded his typical Cardan behavior for growth. He stands by Jude through and through, and their coronation scene is wonderful. It’s two outcasts, ruling against centuries of tradition of the fae being hateful to other creatures. It’s a fantastic ending to the book, and ties up many of the plot threads in very satisfying ways (such as Taryn’s regret over his past actions and the rise of the Court of Shadows).
2025-06-28
Yasmin
Yasmin
In The Queen of Nothing, Jude’s journey comes to an end in perfect Jude-fashion: she takes Elfhame by storm. Jude tricks Orlagh into breaking a promise he made to her, and then she’s free to reclaim the throne of Elfhame in whatever way she needs to. She’s got Cardan firmly in her camp now, and he’s completely devoted to her. Their relationship has moved from toxic to comfortable in a healthier but no less passionate way. We see a bit of resolution for some of the secondary characters in the book, like the Bomb and the Ghost. Jude faces down Madoc in a manner that is inevitable but also somewhat poignant. But mostly the book is just a fantastic blend of action, romance, and politics.
2025-06-28
Felix
Felix
The ending of The Queen of Nothing by Sarah J. Maas is exactly what I would have wanted from a finale: so much politics and so much emotions. After being banished Jude manages to use that to her advantage to bring down Orlagh. The way Cardan publicly declares his choice for Jude over the tradition of the fae and how the dynamic of Jude and Cardan has changed from being so unhealthy and even obsession-like to being almost respectful was amazing to read. The way Taryn is redeemed from his past actions and the way the Undersea is dealt with and how it affects the other characters leaves its mark but in the end Jude is able to achieve what she set out to do and that is to be crowned queen with mortals and fae sharing power in a new era.
2025-06-28

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