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Series Guide
The Folk of the Air
By Holly Black · 3 main books · Complete trilogy
Use this The Folk of the Air books in order guide to start with The Cruel Prince, follow the Elfhame quartet clearly, and see whether The Stolen Heir belongs after the core series.
Start with: The Cruel Prince
About this series
This The Folk of the Air books in order guide helps you read Holly Black's Elfhame series in the clearest order, starting with The Cruel Prince and continuing through the core quartet.
If you are new to The Folk of the Air, start with The Cruel Prince and continue through all four books in publication order. For the later Prince Oak and Queen Suren duology, see Novels of Elfhame.
Best first read: publication order.
Read more about this series
If you are new to The Folk of the Air, start with The Cruel Prince and continue through all four books in publication order. For the later Prince Oak and Queen Suren duology, see Novels of Elfhame.
Best first read: publication order.
The Folk of the Air Reading Order
- 1
The Cruel Prince
2018
- 2
The Wicked King
January 2019
- 3
The Queen of Nothing
November 2019
- 4
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
CompanionOptional2020
This guide covers the four core Folk of the Air books, while Novels of Elfhame is handled separately as a later two-book duology in the same world.
The Folk of the Air Reading Order
Start with The Cruel Prince, then read The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, and How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories in publication order.
Cruel Prince books in order
The Cruel Prince is the first book in the Elfhame quartet and the right starting point for new readers.
Elfhame books in order
The Folk of the Air is the core Elfhame quartet. Novels of Elfhame is a later duology set in the same broader world.
For the broader Holly Black reading path, see Holly Black books in order.
Is The Folk of the Air complete?
Yes. The Folk of the Air is complete as a four-book Elfhame series.
Is The Folk of the Air romantasy?
Yes. It is commonly read as fae romantasy or dark fantasy romance, with court intrigue, dangerous attraction, and strong political tension.
Is The Folk of the Air spicy?
It is usually considered low to moderate spice rather than high-spice adult romantasy.
Should you read The Stolen Heir after The Folk of the Air?
Yes, if you want more Elfhame after the core quartet. The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner's Throne are later books in the same world, but they are not required for the main Folk of the Air reading order.
If you want the later Elfhame duology next, start with The Stolen Heir books in order.
Reading Order Notes
These The Folk of the Air reading order notes can help first-time readers understand the safest way to read the series.
For most first-time readers, the main books are the core reading path. This guide also includes companion and novella entries for readers who want the fuller world-level order.
World connection note: Related Elfhame entries continue in Novels of Elfhame after the main trilogy.
Why publication order works
For most readers, publication order is the best The Folk of the Air reading order because it preserves political reveals, character shifts, and romantic tension across all four core books.
Should you read The Stolen Heir after The Folk of the Air?
For the core quartet, no books should be skipped on a first read. If you want more Elfhame after the main series, The Stolen Heir is a later duology you can read afterward.
How does this connect to Novels of Elfhame?
This guide covers the four core Folk of the Air books. Novels of Elfhame is a later duology in the same broader Elfhame world.
New to this series? Start here
The Cruel Prince
Best first entry point for The Folk of the Air. Read this before the rest of the series.
Buy first book on BookshopSeries at a glance
3
Main books
🌶️
Spice
Complete trilogy
Status
3
Tropes
Best for: fae politics and court-intrigue readers
Start with: The Cruel Prince
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Folk of the Air reading order?
The Folk of the Air reading order is The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, and How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories.
Is The Folk of the Air series complete?
Yes. The Folk of the Air is complete with four books in this guide.
Is The Folk of the Air romantasy?
Yes. The Folk of the Air is commonly read as fae romantasy or dark fantasy romance, with court intrigue, dangerous attraction, and strong political tension.
Is The Folk of the Air spicy?
It is usually considered low to moderate spice rather than high-spice adult romantasy.
Should I start Holly Black with The Folk of the Air?
Yes. The Cruel Prince is the clearest starting point for Holly Black's Elfhame world and the first book in The Folk of the Air sequence.
Should you read The Stolen Heir after The Folk of the Air?
Yes, if you want more Elfhame after the core quartet. The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner's Throne are later books in the same world, but they are not required for the main Folk of the Air reading order.
Do I need to read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories?
In this guide, yes. It is included as the fourth Folk of the Air book so readers can follow one consistent Elfhame sequence before moving to Novels of Elfhame.