The second and third volumes of the Folk of the Air series satisfyingly complete this enchanting trilogy mired in the complex politics as imagined here in the world of faerie. In The Wicked King, mortal Jude struggles with her new, covert control of King Cardan—and thus the land of Faerie itself—while he does his best to subvert her power even as toxic attraction continues to sizzle between them. Meanwhile, new powers begin to vie for the throne, aided by a traitor who will betray Jude. When Queen of Nothing opens, Jude, who is white, is now queen and has been banished by Cardan to the mortal world. Disguised as her twin, Taryn, she reenters Faerie to find that war is on the horizon and a curse is about to complicate things further. It’s difficult to say which aspect of the series is strongest: the stunning, intricate world-building; the complex relationships among the characters; or the riveting plotting. Perhaps above all, Jude herself deserves praise. Brilliant, strong-willed, and determined, she is distinguished from the fae by much more than her mortality. (Age 12 and older)