The Folk of the Air: Holly Black's Complete Reading Order
April 6, 2026
Holly Black has been writing fae fiction since 2002. Her Folk of the Air trilogy, published between 2018 and 2020, distilled everything she knows about fae politics, mortal vulnerability, and enemies-to-lovers into one of BookTok’s most consistently recommended series.
The Folk of the Air Trilogy
- The Cruel Prince (2018)
- The Wicked King (2019)
- The Queen of Nothing (2020)
The complete Folk of the Air reading order is on the series page.
Read in order. Each book ends on a significant development — starting mid-series will spoil the plots of earlier books.
What the Series Is About
Jude Duarte is human. She was taken to Faerie as a child alongside her sisters after her parents were murdered by a fae general. Now seventeen, she lives in the fae court, is despised by Prince Cardan, and wants nothing more than to belong — and to have power.
The relationship between Jude and Cardan is the engine of the series: enemies, rivals, reluctant allies, something else. It’s one of romantasy’s best-constructed slow burns, built on genuine political intrigue rather than pure romantic tension.
Holly Black’s Other Fae Novels
Black has written extensively in fae fiction. Her earlier work is connected to the same mythology if not the same continuity:
The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi)
Children’s series; the fae world of the Grace children. Not connected to Folk of the Air but shares the same fae mythology approach.
Tithe / Modern Faerie Tales Trilogy
- Tithe (2002)
- Valiant (2005)
- Ironside (2007)
Black’s debut series, set in a contemporary New York with a visible fae underworld. Darker and grittier than Folk of the Air; the fae are genuinely threatening. Not connected to the Folk of the Air continuity but shares the same fae rules (iron hurts them; they can’t lie but can deceive; glamour).
The Book of Night
Black’s first adult novel (2022). A thief in a world where shadows have power. More adult in content and tone than her YA work; shares the same fascination with systems of power and moral compromise.
The Book of Night Connection
The Book of Night exists in its own world, not the Faerie of Folk of the Air. However, readers who love Black’s fae fiction consistently find The Book of Night satisfying — she brings the same interest in underworld politics, power, and morally ambiguous protagonists to a new setting.
Why BookTok Loves It
The Folk of the Air trilogy has several BookTok hallmarks:
- Enemies-to-lovers built on genuine antagonism rather than surface tension
- A mortal in a supernatural world — Jude’s vulnerability alongside her determination is endlessly compelling
- Political complexity — the fae court intrigue gives the romance weight and context
- A compelling villain-love-interest — Cardan works because he’s genuinely cruel before he becomes something else
The series is also short — three novels at around 350 pages each — which makes it easier to recommend as an entry point than longer romantasy series.
Where to Start
Read The Cruel Prince first. It drops you efficiently into the world, establishes Jude’s situation, and the fae court politics are immediately clear. The ending of Book 1 sets up Book 2 — have the second one ready.