Dickens & Rumi

book

The Wicked King

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Holly Black · 2019

Is The Wicked King appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for The Wicked King by Holly Black. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Violence, Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 14+Book 2 · The Folk of the AirSource checked

Why this age? Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ.

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+
Strongest cautionsViolence 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · The Folk of the Air
Recommendation3.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: violence.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: violence.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Violence 4/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
17Scored categories
17Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 18, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes
Show Wikipedia summary

Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Violence4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Positive messages3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 3 · The Queen of NothingStrongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Romance 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · The Cruel PrinceAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Romance3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Religious themes1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · The Wicked KingAges 14+
    Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  3. Book 2 · Wicked KingAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Romance4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  4. Book 3 · The Queen of NothingAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Romance4/5Violence4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Religious themes1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Lower cautionsTry something gentlerLIGHTLARK SAGAOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleEONACompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than The Wicked King. Open each review for the details.

LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+6 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe SingingAlison Croggon · 2008Ages 13+5 points lighter on published cautionsHADESAlexandra AdornettoAges 14+4 points lighter on published cautionsHALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+4 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Several characters are killed during the political power struggles.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional descriptions of wounds and blood, typical for dark fantasy.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Mild profanity is present, fitting the tone of the genre.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

Features secondary characters who are in same-sex relationships.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Religious faith and organized religious practice are not prominent aspects of the story.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Romantic tension and a complicated relationship between Jude and Cardan are significant but intertwined with power and politics.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Dark faerie threats, captivity, betrayal, and pursuit create frequent tension, but the danger is mostly fantastical and not presented as prolonged horror.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

There is sensuality, kissing, and sexual tension, but no extended explicit sexual content; the book is aimed at older teens.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Alcohol and drug-like magical substances or poisons appear in the faerie setting, generally as plot devices rather than instruction.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Frequent fantasy violence, threats, combat, torture, assassination plots, and coercion drive the political conflict.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Jude repeatedly faces danger, betrayal, and political pressure, showing persistence and bravery, though sometimes through risky choices.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Inventive world-building, faerie customs, magical politics, disguises, and strategic problem-solving strongly stimulate imagination.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Characters include various species and some LGBTQIA inclusion, though representation is limited by the fantasy setting.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental insight into strategy, negotiation, alliances, and political power, but education is not its primary purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Care and loyalty appear in selected relationships, but the court environment rewards suspicion and manipulation more often than open kindness.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

It examines loyalty, autonomy, consequences, political responsibility, and the costs of manipulation and power-seeking.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters show determination and strategic ability, but many choices involve deception, revenge, coercion, or morally gray conduct.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story handle conflict or violence? Did the characters have other choices?
  3. Which choice in The Wicked King would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Wicked King, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

If you liked this

Try something nearby

Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.

You’re hereThe Wicked King
EONAAlison GoodmanAges 14+EONAlison GoodmanAges 13+CEMETERY BOYSAiden ThomasAges 14+THE WAY I USED TO BEAmber SmithAges 16+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.