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Complete Series Reading Guide
The Folk of the Air Books in Order
By Holly Black · 3 main novels · 1 companion · Complete trilogy
Start with The Cruel Prince, read Holly Black’s complete three-book trilogy, then see where How the King of Elfhame and The Stolen Heir fit.
Start with: The Cruel Prince
About this series
This The Folk of the Air books in order guide separates the complete Jude-and-Cardan trilogy from its optional Cardan companion and the later Novels of Elfhame duology.
For a spoiler-safe first read, start with The Cruel Prince, continue through The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing, then add How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories if you want more Cardan. The Stolen Heir begins a separate later duology.
Best first read: the three-book core trilogy in publication order.
Read more about this series
For a spoiler-safe first read, start with The Cruel Prince, continue through The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing, then add How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories if you want more Cardan. The Stolen Heir begins a separate later duology.
Best first read: the three-book core trilogy in publication order.
The Folk of the Air Reading Order
The Cruel Prince Reading Order: Quick Answer
For the main story, read The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing. Then add How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories if you want the optional Cardan companion.
Main trilogy
1. The Cruel Prince → 2. The Wicked King → 3. The Queen of Nothing
Optional companion
4. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
The Stolen Heir → The Prisoner's Throne comes later as the separate Novels of Elfhame duology, not as Books 5 and 6 of Folk of the Air.
Which Folk of the Air Reading Order Should You Use?
Best for first-time readers
Main Trilogy Only
The Cruel Prince → The Wicked King → The Queen of Nothing. Stop here for Jude and Cardan's complete central arc.
For more Cardan
Trilogy + Companion
Read the trilogy first, then How the King of Elfhame for its illustrated stories and Cardan perspective.
To keep reading
Full Elfhame Path
Add The Stolen Heir → The Prisoner's Throne after the Folk of the Air path.
The Folk of the Air Trilogy in Order
Read the three main novels in publication order. The Queen of Nothing is the trilogy finale.
- 1
The Cruel Prince
2018
- 2
The Wicked King
2019
- 3
The Queen of Nothing
2020
When Should You Read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories?
Read it after The Queen of Nothing. It is an illustrated companion to the trilogy, not a fourth main novel. It is optional, but recommended if you want more Cardan and a fuller Folk of the Air experience.
- 4
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
CompanionOptional2020
Why Do Some Lists Say The Folk of the Air Has 4 Books?
The main story is a trilogy: The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing. Holly Black's official bibliography also groups How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories under Folk of the Air. That is why four books may appear in the umbrella count: three main novels plus one optional illustrated companion.
Elfhame Books in Reading Order
If you want the broader current Elfhame path, continue with the separate Novels of Elfhame duology set 10 years later.
- 5. The Stolen Heir
- 6. The Prisoner's Throne
Is The Folk of the Air Complete?
Yes. The main trilogy is complete. The optional companion adds more Cardan, and the later Novels of Elfhame duology is also complete. Holly Black's FAQ leaves the wider world open for future stories.
More Elfhame and Faerie Stories
A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters is currently announced for November 2026 as an illustrated short-story collection set in Holly Black's broader Faerie world. It is not a Folk of the Air or Novels of Elfhame numbered book, so it is not placed in this reading order.
The core path is a complete three-book trilogy. How the King of Elfhame is an optional illustrated companion, while Novels of Elfhame is a separate later two-book duology.
Reader Questions
The answers above keep the main trilogy, optional companion, and later Elfhame duology separate. For the broader Holly Black reading path, see Holly Black books in order →.
Is The Folk of the Air romantasy?
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.
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 the core trilogy. The companion is safest after The Queen of Nothing.
Should you read The Stolen Heir after The Folk of the Air?
You can stop after The Queen of Nothing because the main trilogy is complete. How the King of Elfhame is optional; read it afterward for more Cardan. The Stolen Heir starts a separate later duology.
How does this connect to Novels of Elfhame?
Folk of the Air has three main novels plus one optional illustrated companion. Novels of Elfhame is a separate two-book continuation set 10 years later.
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 novels
1
Companion volume
Complete
Core trilogy
2 books
Later duology
Start with: The Cruel Prince
Best first read: The core trilogy in publication order
Best for: Fae politics, court intrigue, and slow-building romantic tension
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Folk of the Air reading order?
For the core trilogy, read The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing. Then, if you want more Cardan, read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories as an optional illustrated companion.
Is The Folk of the Air series complete?
Yes. The main Folk of the Air story is complete as a three-book trilogy. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is an optional companion, and Novels of Elfhame is a separate later duology.
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 to continue in Elfhame. The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner's Throne form the separate Novels of Elfhame duology, set 10 years later, and are not Books 5 and 6 of Folk of the Air.
Do I need to read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories?
No. Read it after The Queen of Nothing if you want more Cardan and a fuller Folk of the Air experience. It is an illustrated companion rather than a fourth main novel.