I’ll be honest — The Cruel Prince didn’t totally win me over on the first read. But after diving into The Stolen Heir and falling in love with Holly Black’s world-building and dark, twisty storytelling, I decided to give the series another shot. And wow… I’m so glad I did. On my second read, everything clicked. The politics, the power plays, the characters — it’s now one of those stories that lives rent-free in my head. I’ve reread it since… and I’m already considering another go.

Synopsis:

Jude was only 7 years old when her parents were brutally murdered in front of her and her sisters. The fearsome assassin took her and her siblings to live in the world of faerie. Tormented for being mortal, Jude has never felt like she belonged. Jude soon realises that to survive in the dangerous world of the royal court, she needs to be as cunning and deceitful as the fae themselves. 

What I Loved

• Jude Duarte is a sharp, stubborn, and fiercely ambitious protagonist who doesn’t back down — even when she probably should. Her journey from powerless mortal to dangerous player in the faerie courts is addictive.

• Cardan Greenbriar is everything you want in a morally grey, infuriating fae prince. He’s cruel, a bully mysterious, and surprisingly vulnerable under all the snark and swagger.

• The enemies-to-lovers dynamic? Peak tension. Holly Black builds their relationship with just the right amount of angst, mistrust, and longing.

The world-building is dark and decadent, filled with deadly beauty, political intrigue, and the kind of high-stakes manipulation that keeps you hooked. I haven’t read another fantasy book yet with so much world building. The description of everything was incredible. I loved it so much! 

100% recommend— especially if you love a dark, dramatic fantasy with sharp characters and incredible world building.

More Books In The Folk Of Air Series: