Cruel Prince Reading Order
By the Ember team · Updated July 2026
The Cruel Prince series by Holly Black, also called the Folk of the Air series, has a main trilogy: The Cruel Prince (2018), The Wicked King (2019), and The Queen of Nothing (2019). Read in publication order. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a companion novella set after the trilogy. The Stolen Heir (2023) and The Prisoner's Throne (2024) continue the story with new main characters but connect to the original trilogy.
This is not a series where you can skip the first three books and jump to the duology. The Stolen Heir takes place 8 years after The Queen of Nothing and assumes you know the world, the politics, and the major reveals from the trilogy. Starting anywhere other than The Cruel Prince will spoil the original story and leave you confused.
Short answer
The Cruel Prince series, also called Folk of the Air, by Holly Black has a main trilogy: The Cruel Prince (2018), The Wicked King (2019), and The Queen of Nothing (2019). Read in publication order. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a companion novella set after book 3. The Stolen Heir (2023) and The Prisoner's Throne (2024) continue the story with new main characters but connect to the original trilogy.
Cruel Prince series books in order
The Cruel Prince
Released January 2, 2018
Jude Duarte was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants to belong in this dangerous world, but as a mortal, she has no power. Prince Cardan is cruel, beautiful, and the youngest son of the High King. He delights in tormenting Jude. To win a place at Court, Jude must defy him and face the consequences.
The Wicked King
Released January 8, 2019
Jude has tricked Cardan onto the throne, but now she is the power behind it. Navigating the constantly shifting alliances of Faerie is hard enough without the threat of civil war. Cardan is unpredictable, dangerous, and bound to her by an oath he resents. Jude needs to keep him in check while also figuring out who she can trust.
The Queen of Nothing
Released November 19, 2019
After being exiled to the mortal world, Jude is powerless and furious. She has been betrayed by the person she trusted most. But when a chance to return to Faerie comes, she will take it. Even if it means facing Cardan, who she is not sure she can forgive. War is coming to Elfhame, and Jude will have to risk everything to save the people she loves.
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
Released November 24, 2020
A companion novella told from Cardan's POV, set after The Queen of Nothing. Cardan is adjusting to life as the High King with Jude by his side, but his mother has a request that forces him to confront his past. This novella is not essential but adds context to Cardan's childhood and his relationship with his family.
The Stolen Heir
Released January 3, 2023
Eight years after the events of The Queen of Nothing, Suren is a former child queen who was betrayed and exiled. Wren is a trickster prince from the Court of Teeth. Together, they must navigate a dangerous quest that connects back to the original trilogy. Jude and Cardan make appearances, but this is a new story with new main characters.
The Prisoner's Throne
Released January 2, 2024
The sequel to The Stolen Heir continues Wren and Suren's story. Wren is now a political prisoner, and Suren must decide what she's willing to sacrifice to save him. The stakes are higher, and the connection to the Folk of the Air world deepens. This book concludes the duology.
Where to start with the Cruel Prince series
Start with The Cruel Prince. Do not skip it. Do not read a summary and jump to The Wicked King. The first book is the foundation for the entire series, and the relationship between Jude and Cardan is built on the dynamic established in book one. If you skip ahead, you will miss the context that makes the later books work.
The Cruel Prince follows Jude Duarte, a mortal girl living in the High Court of Faerie after her parents were murdered. She has no power in a world where power is everything, and Prince Cardan delights in reminding her of that. The book is fae politics, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a heroine who refuses to stay powerless. Holly Black's Faerie is dangerous, beautiful, and full of characters who lie as easily as they breathe.
If you like morally gray love interests, slow-burn romance built on tension and resentment, political intrigue, and fae courts where everyone is playing a different game, you will like The Cruel Prince. If you prefer soft fae or instant-love romance, this series will not be for you. The romance is slow, the love interest is cruel in the beginning, and Jude is not a gentle heroine.
What to read after The Cruel Prince
If you have finished the Folk of the Air series and need something that hits the same notes, these are the reads that deliver.
Explore fantasy romance readalikes with fae politics, enemies-to-lovers tension, morally gray love interests, and dangerous court intrigue.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
If you loved the power dynamics, the brutal setting, and the slow-burn tension in The Cruel Prince, An Ember in the Ashes delivers that same mix in a fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome.
Discover more romantasy reads with political intrigue, fae courts, forbidden romance, and enemies-to-lovers arcs.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Cruel Prince reading order?
The Cruel Prince series, also called Folk of the Air, by Holly Black has a main trilogy: The Cruel Prince (2018), The Wicked King (2019), and The Queen of Nothing (2019). Read in publication order. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a companion novella set after book 3. The Stolen Heir (2023) and The Prisoner's Throne (2024) continue the story with new main characters but connect to the original trilogy.
Do I need to read The Cruel Prince trilogy before The Stolen Heir?
Yes, you should read the original Folk of the Air trilogy (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing) before starting The Stolen Heir. The duology takes place 8 years after the trilogy ends and includes references, spoilers, and returning characters from the original series. Starting with The Stolen Heir will ruin major reveals from the trilogy.
Is How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories necessary?
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is not necessary to understand the main series, but fans of Cardan will want to read it. The novella is told from Cardan's POV and takes place after The Queen of Nothing. It adds backstory about his childhood and his family, but it does not advance the main plot. You can skip it if you are only interested in the core story.
How many books are in the Cruel Prince series?
The Folk of the Air series has 6 books total: the original trilogy (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing), one companion novella (How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories), and a two-book continuation (The Stolen Heir, The Prisoner's Throne). The series is complete as of January 2024.
Should I read Cruel Prince in publication order or chronological order?
Read the Cruel Prince series in publication order, which is the same as chronological order. Start with The Cruel Prince, then The Wicked King, then The Queen of Nothing. If you want the companion novella, read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories after The Queen of Nothing. Then read The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner's Throne. This order prevents spoilers and preserves the intended pacing.
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Sources
Series order and release dates verified as of July 2026.
- Holly Black Official BibliographyUsed for official Folk of the Air series information and release dates.
- Folk of the Air Series WikipediaUsed for series overview and publication timeline.
- Goodreads Folk of the AirUsed for series order and reader context.
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