A review by theravenkingx
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

3.0

Queen of Nothing - the final installment in the series - started with Jude in exile in the mortal world after being betrayed by her husband Cardan - The High King.

Things changed when her twin sister - Taryn appeared and begged Jude for her assistance. When Jude returns to Elfhame, she finds herself entangled in a web of love, betrayal, and politics once again.

My thoughts
The book had many strengths, such as the fast-paced plot, the witty and engaging dialogue, ample amount of twists,  the vivid and immersive world-building, and the complex and dynamic characters.

However, the book also had some shortcomings, such as the short length, the rushed resolution, the lack of development for some characters, and the inconsistency of some actions and motivations. The book was a quick read at only 300 pages, but I felt like the second half dragged on too long.

Jude kept saying that oak is the rightful heir and one day he will rule the kingdom, but how ? Now that the crown no longer exist and Jude and Cardan are likely to have a heir of their own ?.

The book felt like it skipped over some important scenes and details, and wrapped up some conflicts and subplots too quickly and conveniently. The story about Lady Asha and jude's mother didn't go anywhere and why mardoc had to kill Jude's parents stayed unresolved.

The book also did not give enough attention to some characters, such as Taryn, Locke, Nicasia, and Oak, who had significant roles in the previous books, but were reduced to minor or absent characters in this one.

The book had a promising start, but it soon became disappointing and frustrating. The book was full of convenience and coincidence. The stakes weren't high and the challenges that Jude faced cumulated to nothing.

Everything seemed to work out for her too easily. For example: A certain character's death conveniently paved the way for Jude to return to Elfhame and when the land healed her and made her the Queen.

The book also had a forced and cringeworthy feminist message. When Jude said that Elfhame deserved to be ruled by a queen, I lost interest immediately. And when she told the kid that she bleeds every month, I cringed so hard. The book tried to make Jude a strong and independent female character, but it failed to do so convincingly.

Cardan giving up his crown and confessing his love seemed out of character cos the author didn't give enough time for his character to develop.

Jude was utterly annoying at times. Especially when the army was outside the castle ready to attack and her first thought was to wear something good. She asked her sister to design her new clothes