I was looking forward to reading this book and wanted it in my hands as soon as I finished The Wicked King. I love this series and I love Holly Black's writing, I devoured this book in less than 2 days.

I thought that this book was a great finale to the series. I really love how Holly Black writes, creating so much tension and a few climaxes that make you both happy and filled with anticipation as to what is going to happen next. Especially when there's still half a book, or less than 100 pages, left. I love the twists and turns in the previous books and I loved them in this one too.

I loved how the story and the characters developed. I loved that Jude was able to come to terms with her relationships, with Taryn, Madoc and Cardan. The events of the previous book left her at odds with all of them and by the end of 'The Queen of Nothing' Jude is able to figure out where she stands with them and what they mean to each other.

I really loved the conflicting emotions that she had about Madoc. Which started from the moment that he murdered her parents and then raised her and her sisters as his in Faerie. She loves him as her father but also hates him because he murdered her parents, fought against her when she put Cardan on the throne, and is working to overthrow Cardan and rule himself. The way that their relationship was at the end of this book I thought felt peaceful. Or at least from Jude's POV that was how I felt that it came across.

Taryn is character that I don't really like. (But to be honest I don't really like either of Jude's sisters.) And I had felt that after what she had done in The Wicked King I had thought that I couldn't like her. But I did feel like she redeemed herself a little when she killed another character that I hated more. Although I do think that she got away too lightly, there was little to no consequences for her actions. I think that she deserved some sort of punishment for all the stuff that she did. Because let's be honest she did so many bad things in all three books and Jude forgave her time and again, basically letting her get away with it all. So, yeah I think that Taryn deserved to be punished.

Cardan was fantastic as always. His and Jude's relationship I feel like can be easily summed up with this quote:

I can't believe he said that and then just walked out, leaving me reeling. I am going to strangle him.

Chapter 22, page 209

They know how to push each others buttons so well. I love Cardan, he's such a pain but his character has grown so much since the first book. He's still wicked and cruel, but he's a good ruler and does figure out to show his feels in a more positive and direct manner than before.

(Also, like many of us guessed after the end of The Wicked King, Jude could come back from exile whenever she wanted. But she was too blindsided by anger to actually realise the loophole that Cardan had left her. Also, we get to hear from him why he decided to exile her too. Which was great. He just wanted to impress her, damn it.)

Honestly there was so much that happened in this book that was great. I loved it. And I loved all of the decisions and trails that Jude had to face. While also showing that she was capable to be by Cardan's side. Many of the Living Council and other Faeries doubt her, heavily, and criticise her for being mortal. But she shows them just how capable a ruler she is.

I just wish that there had been more of Cardan in this book. I felt like there was a major lack of Cardan in this book. But I probably could have read another 500 pages of just Jude and Cardan being idiots, domestic and just carrying on trying to one up the other. With Cardan trying to impress Jude with everything that he did. Which I would have loved to have read more of.

I felt like there just wasn't enough in this book. Leaving me a bit disappointed that Cardan wasn't as major a player in this story. It felt a little like he was sidelined.

Also I didn't like how easily Taryn seemed to be forgiven. Like I said before I think that she needed to have consequences for her actions. Even though Jude doesn't verbally say that she forgives her, but I did feel like she was on the road to forgiving her. Even though I don't think that Taryn did anything that indicated that she deserved it. But then again she didn't really do much in this story.

I also felt like Madoc got off too lightly. Plus I don't think it made that much sense either. His punishment definitely took away what made Madoc, Madoc. As he is not allowed to fight ever again and is thrown out of Faeire. I do think that it puts him in a position to try to influence Oak though. Which is something that no one but Madoc wants.

There was so much that I loved about this book and this series. I am sad to see it end, but I do think that Jude's story ended nicely. And I also loved that it was pretty open ended. There was plenty of hints of what might happen to the characters in the future and maybe even hints of possibly more stories in the future with some of the other characters.

Such as Oak and Surren, the Queen of the Court of Teeth, the Roach and the Bomb, and the Ghost and Taryn to name a few. I think that it would be brilliant if there was more stories with these characters in future books in this world. Well, honestly I would love more books by Holly in this world full stop.

I was not disappointed with this book at all. Sure there was some things that I didn't like but overall I loved it and I loved this series. I thought that this was an excellent finale to this story and Holly Black wrote another amazing books to add to my favourites.