The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Plot: 5 stars first book, 3 stars second

Writing: 4.5 stars

Characters: 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 stars

Romance? check.

Schemes? check.

Whiplash? check.

I'm giving this one a 4.5 star rating because it just wasn't a five, but I really did love it! The second half was a little too cheesy, considering everything we'd been through by that point, but I was so in love with what was happening that I don't even care.

So, basically Jude has been exiled and she can't go back to faerieland (obviously, because exile). She feels betrayed by Cardan and Taryn and is living with her other sister, Vivi. One day, Taryn shows up on her doorstep begging Jude to help her and thus starts the final installment in The Folk of the Air series.

This installment is divided up into two "books" within itself, and I really think the first book was better than the second, but truly they were both good. I think the second one was a little too cliche, considering as a whole this series has been anything but. I also feel like the second book was entirely too predictable, but that's just me.

The first book, however, was entirely too enjoyable. I think after finishing the beginning part I was like, "okay, this will break your heart but it'll be okay, go grab some icecream afterwards." The icecream was needed. I also think the first book gave great suspense and anticipation for what was to come, so it really was a 5 star read. However, the second book was like a balloon that refuses to float. It was so close, it had such promise, but it didn't quite make it. However however, the second book still showed so much growth among them all that I can hardly hate it.

Overall, I really recommend this series to pretty much anyone. Before this one, I had only really read SJM and Cassandra Clare's fae (I feel like I'm forgetting one but I can't figure it out), so this one was drastically different. I mean, blue people, goblins, imps, cat tails, etc. I still loved it. Admittedly, within 100 pages of the first book I was unsure of my commitment to the series and felt like I was in way over my head, but it worked out, and I'm so glad it did. Everyone needs a piece of this world, pronto.