The myths and legends surrounding The Fair Folk have always drawn humanity’s attention. The allure of faerie courts, magic systems, and the strange remains alive in literature, and Holly Black has reawakened this love across audiences everywhere.
The Cruel Prince series—also known as The Folk of the Air series or the Elfhame series—invites the reader to immerse in the enthralling tale of Jude Duarte and how she, as a mere human, managed to survive and thrive amidst the scheming and dangerous courts of the Fae.
Full of intrigue, diplomacy, danger, and romance, The Cruel Prince Series is a staple of YA literature and an enchanting universe worth exploring.
- What Is The Cruel Prince Series?
- How Many Books Are in The Cruel Prince Series?
- All The Books in The Cruel Prince Series in Order
- Is The Cruel Prince Book Series Complete?
What Is The Cruel Prince Series?
The Cruel Prince series is the popular name for the story, following its first and most successful novel. However, the saga is officially titled The Folk of the Air series, and that’s how you’re most likely to find official information.
The story mostly takes place in the fae world of Elfhame. It follows the steps of Jude, a young human woman who was taken to Elfhame in her childhood following the brutal murder of her mother and father. Raised in a place that discriminates against humans, she must use her wits and skills to gain power and survive against those who threaten her—including the Cruel Prince himself, Cardan.
These novels, written by Holly Black, are Young Adult Fantasy stories depicting the world of the Fae according to the lore crafted by the author with some inspiration derived from Norse mythology.
Despite being commonly considered a romance series, love usually takes a backseat to the action, plotting, and political drama. Likewise, it doesn’t portray sexual content but has many displays of violence.
How Many Books Are in The Cruel Prince Series?
It depends on which books you consider part of The Cruel Prince series. It can be as little as three books or as many as seven.
Overall, the works that may fit under the label are divided into three categories: the original trilogy, the companion stories, and the spin-offs. All three of these categories are labeled The Elfhame Series.
- The Original Trilogy, The Folk of the Air series: These are the core books of the series and the main storyline. As expected, the series has three (3) books: The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing.
- Supplementary Novellas: These are companion stories that, while not part of the main storyline, provide incredible information and extra points of view. There are two: The Lost Sisters and How The King of Elfhame Learned To Hate Stories.
- Spin-off Duology, The Stolen Heir series: These are sequel spin-off novels that focus on secondary characters from the main trilogy. It comprises two books: The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner’s Throne.
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All The Books in The Cruel Prince Series in Order
All the books in the Elfhame series form a continuous narrative, so it is essential to read them in order. Otherwise, you risk spoiling events from the previous novel and not understanding multiple plot points of the next one.
Below is the reading order of the series thus far.
The Cruel Prince
(The Folk of the Air #1)
At seven years old, Jude’s life changed forever. Her mother’s former husband murdered her parents and decided to take responsibility for the orphaned children, taking Jude and her sisters with him. The twist? He was a faerie and brought them to the High Court of Faerie.
But life as a human among the Fae is not easy. Ten years later, she has learned to live in fear, looking down and avoiding trouble while longing to belong. But trouble always finds her—and trouble is named Prince Cardan Greenbriar, one of her bullies and the king’s youngest son, with a notorious dislike for humans.
But as a human, Jude has something the Faerie don’t—the ability to lie. So when Prince Dain ascends to the throne, he seeks her services as a spy. She might finally belong if she succeeds, but the price is heavy and paid in blood, danger, and intrigue.
The Lost Sisters (Novella #1)
This companion novella is written as a letter from Taryn to Jude and is set between The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King. It gives a glimpse into Taryn’s inner thoughts and her complex relationship with Jude and Locke.
As of the publication of this article, The Lost Sisters is only available as an e-novella. Despite not being a main entry into the trilogy, this novella is an enriching read that discusses important events from the first novel from Taryn’s perspective and foreshadows future plot points in the next installment.
The Wicked King
(The Folk of the Air #2)
The revelations at the end of The Wicked King changed everything, and now, five months later, Jude’s priority is to ensure her brother Oak’s safety at all costs. Luckily, she has a secret weapon with her—total control of the Wicked King himself, Cardan.
However, Cardan does not make it easy for her—despite being bound, he does his best to undermine her and remain in control. But as their mutual hatred continuously morphs into a strange attraction, threats to their rule do not cease, including a traitor lurking in the shadows.
As such, Jude and Cardan must navigate political machinations, complex court dynamics, and deadly dangers to ensure the realm remains stable at all costs.
The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3)
Exiled to the mortal realm after the events of The Wicked King, Jude discovers that power is easier to get than to keep. The Queen of Faerie turned Queen of Nothing must begin climbing back up.
An opportunity arrives when her twin sister Taryn arrives at her door with shocking and life-changing news. Now decided to infiltrate Faerie by pretending to be Taryn, Jude is determined to save her sister’s life, prevent war, and save everyone she loves—even if it means risking death at the hands of the King.
The last book of The Folk of the Air main trilogy, The Queen of Nothing, concludes the main storyline with Jude and Cardan as protagonists.
How The King of Elfhame Learned To Hate Stories
(Novella #2)
How The King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is an illustrated collection of short stories from Cardan’s perspective.
Each story depicts different events in Cardan’s life—from his childhood to his transformation into the Cruel Prince and eventual rule as the Wicked King. The tales range from entirely new to depicting familiar events from the previous books, as witnessed by Cardan.
Since all stories spoil events from the trilogy—and some are even set after the events of The Queen of Nothing—this novella is best read afterward.
The Stolen Heir
(The Stolen Heir #1)
The first of a duology, The Stolen Heir, is set in the Elfhame universe but is not directly related to The Cruel Prince book series. However, this spin-off series follows familiar characters and plot points, making it perfect for whoever craves more of this world.
Set eight years after the events of The Queen of Nothing, it follows the dangerous quest taken by the runaway child queen of the Court of Teeth, and Prince Oak, the heir of Elfhame.
The Prisoner’s Throne
(The Stolen Heir #2)
The last volume of The Stolen Heir duology, The Prisoner’s Throne, follows immediately after the previous novel’s events.
Now imprisoned, Oak must rely on his charm and manipulative skills to ensure his survival until Cardan and Jude come to his rescue—but can he remain loyal to Elfhame when it may cost him the love of his life?
Is The Cruel Prince Book Series Complete?
Well, yes and no.
The main trilogy set in this universe, The Folk of the Air, is already concluded. However, the world continues to grow with the inclusion of The Stolen Heir duology—labeled Novels of Elfhame on the author’s website—which could imply that she plans to expand the stories set in this universe.
Intriguingly, a fan asked Black whether Cardan and Jude would appear in more works in the future, to which the author replied, “I can’t tell you much about it, but yes.”
It seems this is not the last time the world will see the magic of Elfhame.
But while you wait for further adventures for the Queen of Faerie, explore other Fae courts by checking the A Court of Thorns and Roses book series—one of the best series in young adult fantasy books. However, if you’d like more mythology, Madeline Miller’s books and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series are also worth a read.
