Queen of Nothing (Folk of Air #3)

by Holly Black

5 stars. Best enjoyed when you have no plans–this one will hold onto you until you finish.

In the aftermath of the event of The Wicked King, Jude has been exiled from her place in Faerie. Not only has she lost her place as her clandestine husband King Cardan’s queen, but also her hard-won place at court as his seneschal and her position in the Court of Shadows spy network. She has also pissed off her adoptive father, General Maddox, a red cap fae you truly don’t want to mess with, by scheming her own schemes with regards to the throne in which her seemingly estranged husband sits. However, if we haven’t learned already, dear reader: Jude can’t be knocked down for long. After gaining some respect with a fellow faerie exile, she uncovers a plot against Cardan that causes her to find a way past her exile and back into the beautiful, dangerous, and deadly land she has called home for most of her life and into the arms of danger itself.

Folk of Air has been one of my most favorite series to dive into over the last two years. I have loved every second of the heartbreak and intrigue and adventure that Black has offered to her readers, and this was most assuredly no exception. The dysfunctional romance between Jude and Cardan would be completely problematic in the real world, but reflects the and of faerie itself, a setting which could be described as lush, gorgeous, and vicious—like a carnivorous tropical flower luring in unsuspecting prey. Unfortunately, we are that prey, falling victim to the gorgeous words that we gobble up from the pages, while entirely unaware that they are devouring us in return, piece by piece, its sticky poison left on our very bones to warm our souls. 

A story that leaves the reader longing for more–such is the mark of the great book. However, one that leaves a reader yearning for more time in the world, yet entirely fulfilled by the end of the current story—that is the mark of an excellent series finale. I wish I could give you more about the book itself, but I would hate the spoil this one for you.