Tis Me Michelle

Trying to jog my memory a bit, cause I’ve been on a reading/listening kick recently. This is the first fiction book I’ve listened to, and it wasn’t too bad. I definitely am still hit or miss with audiobooks, I’ve started a few that I immediately stopped because I couldn’t get into it. Since The Wicked King is the sequel to The Cruel Prince I had a basis to work with. Honestly, so far that’s how I have been able to do fiction books on audiobooks, I need some grounding in the story.

I liked The Cruel Prince. I mentioned in that review I wanted more and was hoping The Wicked King would give me more. And I really didn’t get it. Jude had some semblance of power in this book and was playing in more high-stakes situations. I did enjoy the subplot of her ending up in The Undersea and how she maneuvered herself through it. In the first book, the odd family Jude’s a part of is left in shambles based on her outsmarting her ‘dad’ Madoc. They interact here and there as Madoc is still part of the Court. And Jude and her twin Viv’s relationship is at odds as well. There were a few moments between them, however not many. In both books, Viv plays a pivotal role in deceiving Jude, I would love to have a few chapters on her perspective.

But what I really wanted was the heat. Holly gave us just a bit of it in this one. There is a clear romantic tension there between Jude and Carden. Ultimately based on the clear chemistry and trust that was established led up to this book’s finale, which I felt made her seem stupid. I’d like to think there’s a good reason for how things ended, that there is a plan behind it. Trying to let you know without spoilers here.

I’m at a toss-up if I want to continue the series because I’d be really annoyed if I read the next one and it’s another slow build-up for the following book. Listen, it was a good listen. And I liked both books, but it just was lacking that oomph for me.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️