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Series Guide
The Folk of the Air
By Holly Black · 3 main books · Complete trilogy
Use this The Folk of the Air books in order guide to start in the right place, follow the series clearly, and avoid common reading-order confusion.
Start with: The Cruel Prince
About this series
This The Folk of the Air books in order guide helps you read Holly Black's Elfhame series in the clearest order.
If you are new to The Folk of the Air, start with The Cruel Prince and continue through all four books in publication order. For the later Prince Oak and Queen Suren duology, see Novels of Elfhame.
Best first read: publication order.
Read more about this series
If you are new to The Folk of the Air, start with The Cruel Prince and continue through all four books in publication order. For the later Prince Oak and Queen Suren duology, see Novels of Elfhame.
Best first read: publication order.
Reading order
- 1
The Cruel Prince
2018
- 2
The Wicked King
January 2019
- 3
The Queen of Nothing
November 2019
- 4
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
CompanionOptional2020
This guide covers the four core Folk of the Air books, while Novels of Elfhame is handled separately as a later two-book duology in the same world.
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 all four core books.
Can you skip any books?
No. If you are reading this series for the first time, the clearest experience is to read all four books in order.
How does this connect to Novels of Elfhame?
This guide covers the four core Folk of the Air books. Novels of Elfhame is a later duology in the same broader Elfhame world.
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 books
🌶️
Spice
Complete trilogy
Status
3
Tropes
Best for: fae politics and court-intrigue readers
Start with: The Cruel Prince
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Folk of the Air reading order?
The Folk of the Air reading order is The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, and How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories.
Is The Folk of the Air series complete?
Yes. The Folk of the Air is complete with four books in this guide.
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.
Do I need to read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories?
In this guide, yes. It is included as the fourth Folk of the Air book so readers can follow one consistent Elfhame sequence before moving to Novels of Elfhame.