Series hub
The Folk of the Air
The Folk of the Air is Holly Black's Elfhame series for readers who want fae courts to feel beautiful, cruel, strategic, and unsafe. It is a sharp YA-crossover route built around Jude Duarte, Cardan, royal intrigue, bargains, humiliation, ambition, and romance that develops through power rather than softness.
Author: Holly Black | Last checked: August 20, 2026.
Why readers come here
This is the page for readers who finish ACOTAR and realize they want fae courts, but not necessarily the same emotional texture. The Folk of the Air leans into court strategy, mortal vulnerability, cruelty, manipulation, and the thrill of watching a heroine learn how to survive people who underestimate her.
Books in the series
| Order | Book |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Cruel Prince |
| 1.5 | The Lost Sisters novella optional |
| 2 | The Wicked King |
| 3 | The Queen of Nothing |
| After trilogy | How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories illustrated companion |
For a spoiler-safe step-by-step order, use the dedicated Folk of the Air reading order.
Later Elfhame books
Holly Black's official bibliography separates the original Folk of the Air books from the later Novels of Elfhame. Read the original trilogy first, then continue with these if you want the world after Jude and Cardan's central arc.
| Path | Book | Best read when |
|---|---|---|
| Novels of Elfhame 1 | The Stolen Heir | After the original trilogy |
| Novels of Elfhame 2 | The Prisoner's Throne | After The Stolen Heir |
Reading path
Start with The Cruel Prince even if you already know the popular Cardan quotes and fan edits. The emotional payoff depends on watching Jude enter Elfhame from a position of danger, anger, and social disadvantage. The Lost Sisters is optional, but it gives Taryn's perspective on events around the first book. Save How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories until after the trilogy because it is built around Cardan's context.
If you want only the main arc, read books 1-3. If you want the fuller Elfhame route, add the novella, the illustrated companion, and the later duology.
Reader fit
| Good fit if you want | Maybe not if you want |
|---|---|
| Fae who feel dangerous, ancient, and rule-bound | Soft cozy fae romance |
| A mortal heroine using strategy instead of overwhelming magic | A heroine who is quickly accepted into the court |
| Enemies-to-lovers tension with political stakes | High-spice adult romance structure |
| Court schemes, bargains, betrayal, and ambition | A gentle found-family healing arc as the main appeal |
Audiobook format
| Edition | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard audiobooks | Single narrator | Listeners who want the closest book-like version of Jude's perspective and the court tension. |
| Dramatized / full cast | Not a major current route for this hub | Check retailers before buying if you specifically need a full cast edition. |
Always check the retailer page for narrator, region, and edition details before buying, because audiobook listings can vary by country.
Where to buy or listen
Check current editions for The Folk of the Air. Availability can vary by format, country, and retailer.
Some links may be affiliate links. Always check the retailer page for the exact edition, price, narrator, and availability before buying.
Reader FAQ
Is The Folk of the Air a romantasy series?
It is best described as YA fae fantasy with a sharp romantic tension thread. Romantasy readers often use it for cruel fae courts, enemies-to-lovers energy, bargains, and political power games, but it is not adult romance-first romantasy.
What order should I read The Folk of the Air books in?
For a first read, use publication order: The Cruel Prince, The Lost Sisters if you want the novella, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, then How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories. Continue with The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner's Throne afterward for the later Elfhame duology.
Should I read The Lost Sisters?
It is optional, but useful if you want Taryn's perspective between The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King.
Should I read The Stolen Heir before The Cruel Prince?
No. The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner's Throne take place later in Elfhame and work best after the original Folk of the Air trilogy.
Is The Folk of the Air like ACOTAR?
Only in the broad fae-court sense. The Folk of the Air is sharper, colder, more political, and lower-spice than ACOTAR.