Holly Black Books in Order
Read Holly Black books in order, including The Folk of the Air and The Stolen Heir, with clear guidance on where to start and how to follow her Elfhame reading path. Most new readers should begin with The Cruel Prince, the first book in The Folk of the Air.
New to Holly Black? Start with The Cruel Prince.
Series by Holly Black
The Folk of the Air
3 books · Complete
Best for readers who want fae politics, sharp rivalry, court intrigue, and the clearest Holly Black starting point.
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The Stolen Heir
2 books · Complete
Best for readers who want to stay in Elfhame after The Folk of the Air and continue into a darker later duology with slower romantic development.
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Best place to start
Start with The Folk of the Air and begin at The Cruel Prince. This is the clearest first-time path for most readers.
Then continue in publication order inside that series before branching to another entry point.
Most popular series
Completed series by this author
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Stephanie Garber
Good match for readers who want dangerous magic, fairytale tension, and accessible fantasy romance momentum.
Rebecca Ross
Good match for readers who want emotional fantasy, gentler romantic pacing, and lyrical worldbuilding.
Sarah J. Maas
Good match for readers who want fae court drama, bigger romantasy scope, and stronger crossover appeal.
Readers who like Holly Black may also like
Readers who like Holly Black often also enjoy Stephanie Garber, Rebecca Ross, and Sarah J. Maas.
Where should you start with Holly Black?
Start with The Folk of the Air if you want Holly Black's best-known fae court series and the easiest entry point for new readers.
Choose The Stolen Heir after that if you want to stay in Elfhame and continue into the later duology.
Reading Holly Black in order
For most readers, the easiest way to read Holly Black in order is to start with The Cruel Prince, continue through The Folk of the Air in publication order, and then move to The Stolen Heir duology if you want more Elfhame. This is the clearest way to keep the world-level reading path simple while still treating the later duology as its own entry.
About Holly Black
Holly Black is best known here for The Folk of the Air and The Stolen Heir, two connected fae fantasy series set in the broader Elfhame world.
Her books are a strong fit for readers who want court intrigue, dangerous fae politics, emotional tension, and a clear series entry point.
If you are new to Holly Black, start with The Folk of the Air.
Why Readers Like Holly Black
- Fae politics and court intrigue
- Sharp rivalry and emotional tension
- Strong fantasy atmosphere
- Memorable worldbuilding
- Clear series entry points
Explore Holly Black Series
New readers: start with The Folk of the Air
Best first book: The Cruel Prince
Want more Elfhame: continue with The Stolen Heir
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Holly Black series to start with?
For most readers, The Folk of the Air is the best Holly Black series to start with because it includes The Cruel Prince, which is the clearest entry point into her modern Elfhame fantasy world.
How many major Holly Black fae series are there?
For readers coming for Holly Black’s current fae fantasy work, the two main series featured here are The Folk of the Air and The Stolen Heir.
Should I read Holly Black books in publication order?
Yes. The simplest path is to start with The Cruel Prince, continue through The Folk of the Air, and then move to The Stolen Heir if you want more Elfhame.
Which Holly Black series is best for romantasy readers?
For most romantasy-adjacent readers, The Folk of the Air is the strongest place to start because it offers the best mix of fae politics, rivalry tension, and fantasy romance appeal.