Reading order
How to Read The Folk of the Air
The Folk of the Air is a fae-politics path for readers who like ambition, betrayal, court maneuvering, and a sharp enemies-to-lovers dynamic with a YA fantasy shape.
Main trilogy
- The Cruel Prince
- The Wicked King
- The Queen of Nothing
Companion and later Elfhame books
- The Lost Sisters
- How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
- The Stolen Heir
- The Prisoner's Throne
Related links
How to approach the series
The Folk of the Air is best read in publication order because Jude's power, Cardan's role, and the court betrayals escalate book by book. It is not a romance-first romantasy route; it is sharper, more political, and more YA fae court fantasy with a famous enemies-to-lovers thread.
Readers coming from ACOTAR should expect a colder, more scheming faerie world. The appeal is manipulation, bargains, crowns, family loyalty, and tension rather than open emotional softness.
Best path by reader type
| Reader type | Best route |
|---|---|
| New reader | Read The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, then The Queen of Nothing. |
| Romance-first reader | Go in knowing the romance is a slow, tense thread inside a political fae story. |
| Fae-court reader | Pair it with ACOTAR, Once Upon a Broken Heart, and fae discovery pages for broader routes. |
Reader FAQ
Is The Folk of the Air romantasy?
It is YA fae fantasy with a major romantic tension thread, but it is less romance-forward than adult romantasy.
Can I skip the companion books?
For the main Jude and Cardan arc, stick to the core trilogy first. Companion material is best after you know the court and characters.
What should I read next?
Try Once Upon a Broken Heart, ACOTAR, or Fae Romantasy.