Second in the Duology

 The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black 

You know going into this series that it is political intrigue, but this wasn't as strong as the previous books. Where did this bad guy come from? Yes, we knew that Oak has been working to find and destroy plots against Jude and Carden, but I don't even remember this character ever being mentioned, ever, until this book. Now, that could just be me forgetting since it's been a while since I read the previous book in this duology and even longer since I read the previous series, but the random pompous advisor has been plotting to put Oak on the throne? And he hasn't been seen until now? I have always hated the Storm Hag, and I continue to hate her and I'm glad she was foiled. That Wren was able to FINALLY fully come into her powers after defeating her, and get to have a relationship with Bex, which she desperately wanted, and get to have Oak was good. But I'm still mad about the advisor being the brains behind the plot and him working with the Storm Hag. It was nice to get some closure on the truth of Oak's birth, even if that closure hurt because it was someone that he had considered a friend that was behind his mother's murder. And Madoc being back home with his children was good, even if he isn't always good; I do have a bit of a soft spot for him (rose colored glasses).  Despite this being the weakest of the five books, I do still really love this series.