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The Stolen Heir Duology #1-2
The Stolen Heir Boxed Set
#1 New York Times Bestseller!
Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, in this gorgeous hardcover boxed set from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black.
A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, in this gorgeous hardcover boxed set from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black.
A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
736 pages, Hardcover
Published May 7, 2024
22 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Holly Black
171 books128k followersHolly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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April 20, 2025Well, Holly Black has impressed me again, despite these novels containing many elements that are not my favourite.
I’m not handing these to teens any time soon, but as a writer I’m very interested by the way she redeems couples by having them confront problematic habits in their relationships. She writes about deeply dysfunctional and traumatised people from messed up families who don’t know how to love each other, but still (after a lot of betrayal, backstabbery, and unsavoury behaviour) show up for each other and get to work fixing their past mistakes. For that reason, I feel like I learn a lot from her about writing complex characters.
The second book of this duology had me laughing aloud due to the Sir Percival Blakeney-type behaviour of Oak. I personally preferred this duology to the Folk of the Air trilogy because the main characters were more likeable to me. This is probably where I’m not really Black’s target demographic as I suspect what draws a lot of people to Jude and Cardan is what made it hard for me to read them. I also preferred the quest type narrative here more than the court intrigue/bully elements of TFOTA, and I was happy about the absence of the whole Locke/Taryn subplot which was icky to me (yes yes I know it was meant to be icky, but it definitely impacted my enjoyment of the trilogy).
As usual for Black, the folklore aspects and pacing are excellent.
There is a fade to black scene and edgy sexual tension. Probably don’t read these if you prefer sweet to angsty.
I’m not handing these to teens any time soon, but as a writer I’m very interested by the way she redeems couples by having them confront problematic habits in their relationships. She writes about deeply dysfunctional and traumatised people from messed up families who don’t know how to love each other, but still (after a lot of betrayal, backstabbery, and unsavoury behaviour) show up for each other and get to work fixing their past mistakes. For that reason, I feel like I learn a lot from her about writing complex characters.
The second book of this duology had me laughing aloud due to the Sir Percival Blakeney-type behaviour of Oak. I personally preferred this duology to the Folk of the Air trilogy because the main characters were more likeable to me. This is probably where I’m not really Black’s target demographic as I suspect what draws a lot of people to Jude and Cardan is what made it hard for me to read them. I also preferred the quest type narrative here more than the court intrigue/bully elements of TFOTA, and I was happy about the absence of the whole Locke/Taryn subplot which was icky to me (yes yes I know it was meant to be icky, but it definitely impacted my enjoyment of the trilogy).
As usual for Black, the folklore aspects and pacing are excellent.
There is a fade to black scene and edgy sexual tension. Probably don’t read these if you prefer sweet to angsty.
July 14, 2024
Not as highly rated at The Cruel Prince, but a decent enough fix to help me with my Carden and Jude hangover.
March 1, 2026
I find that the Elfhame books are best rated together... also because it took me a while to read both... (also, there are no spoilers in this as it's about the vibe).
Book ONE "The Stolen Heir" - Wren's perspective
It's definitely hard not to compare these to the Cruel prince series which is a long story told over 3 books which feels very complete.
This series kinda felt a little like a story tacked onto the end of that series, UNTIL the second book. I think this is because the first book does a lot of "hey, remember when this happened in the first series? Yeah, that is why this thing now is happening" which tends to take you out of the story a little. There are also a lot of flashbacks to things we never knew happened, which is fine because they help us understand everyone's feelings towards each other, but again, makes you not feel super connected to the story. A lot of action in this book so it kinda felt like a whirlwind... BUT maybe that's because it was Wren's perspective... maybe that's the whole point 🧐😉
Book TWO "The Prisoner's Throne" - Oak's perspective
I really loved Oak's perspective. I thought this book felt a little more natural and steady like the Cruel Prince series. We also got to see more characters from TCP so that was nice :)
This book felt complete and well thought out and was the perfect ending to the duology.
This is a true YA story. There is no language, one suggestive scene, and a homosexual relationship.
Worth the read if you couldn't get enough of Elfhame.
Book ONE "The Stolen Heir" - Wren's perspective
It's definitely hard not to compare these to the Cruel prince series which is a long story told over 3 books which feels very complete.
This series kinda felt a little like a story tacked onto the end of that series, UNTIL the second book. I think this is because the first book does a lot of "hey, remember when this happened in the first series? Yeah, that is why this thing now is happening" which tends to take you out of the story a little. There are also a lot of flashbacks to things we never knew happened, which is fine because they help us understand everyone's feelings towards each other, but again, makes you not feel super connected to the story. A lot of action in this book so it kinda felt like a whirlwind... BUT maybe that's because it was Wren's perspective... maybe that's the whole point 🧐😉
Book TWO "The Prisoner's Throne" - Oak's perspective
I really loved Oak's perspective. I thought this book felt a little more natural and steady like the Cruel Prince series. We also got to see more characters from TCP so that was nice :)
This book felt complete and well thought out and was the perfect ending to the duology.
This is a true YA story. There is no language, one suggestive scene, and a homosexual relationship.
Worth the read if you couldn't get enough of Elfhame.
May 5, 2025
This is one of those series I read before I thought about writing reviews, so all thoughts are in retrospection:
Ah, another Holly Black banger. I found myself apprehensive about moving away from Jude and Cardan, but I quickly adjusted, finding myself so interested in Suren and Oak. Stolen Heir was great, I loved seeing Suren coming out of her shell and coming to trust the world, yet also seeing her doubt herself and the world around her, not knowing who to trust and traumatized from her past. Black does such a good job in developing characters and having them have behaviors that are truly reflective of their personality. That was great.
Oak is so charming, I ignored the fact that he was blonde. He's funny too. I almost don't know who I like more, Cardan or Oak. I loved seeing how Oak views his family as a whole, something we didn't see from Jude, and that's because Oak struggles with the need to pay them back for all they've done for the sake of his existence. Again, Black makes great characters you come to love and empathize with.
My only qualm with this series is in The Prisoner's Throne. While I do love Oak, I do wish we got to see Suren's perspective. I think having that book be both Oak and Suren's perspective would've been more enjoyable and more cohesive of a story. It felt like Oak's perspective needed hers to be a full, complete story.
Ah, another Holly Black banger. I found myself apprehensive about moving away from Jude and Cardan, but I quickly adjusted, finding myself so interested in Suren and Oak. Stolen Heir was great, I loved seeing Suren coming out of her shell and coming to trust the world, yet also seeing her doubt herself and the world around her, not knowing who to trust and traumatized from her past. Black does such a good job in developing characters and having them have behaviors that are truly reflective of their personality. That was great.
Oak is so charming, I ignored the fact that he was blonde. He's funny too. I almost don't know who I like more, Cardan or Oak. I loved seeing how Oak views his family as a whole, something we didn't see from Jude, and that's because Oak struggles with the need to pay them back for all they've done for the sake of his existence. Again, Black makes great characters you come to love and empathize with.
My only qualm with this series is in The Prisoner's Throne. While I do love Oak, I do wish we got to see Suren's perspective. I think having that book be both Oak and Suren's perspective would've been more enjoyable and more cohesive of a story. It felt like Oak's perspective needed hers to be a full, complete story.
May 22, 2024
We return to Elfhame for another fairy tale adventure with politics, rivalries, and a love-hate romance. Little Prince Oak has grown into quite the player, charmer and heartbreaker, or so it seems. Then we meet Suren, the queen from a rival court and sink into a story to find out if she has imprisoned him or stolen his heart. Plotting and intrigue lace around an unconventional flirtation. There are cameos from familiar characters in this charming duology that allows readers to reconnect with the fun of The Folk of the Air Trilogy. For anyone looking to start their first adventures in Elfhame, I'd start with the original trilogy but those looking to continue the adventure and especially those who want more of the young prince Oak, The Stolen Heir Duology is a delight. (3.5/5)
April 19, 2025
It was a little hard stepping away from my precious Jude and Cardan. But nevertheless, Oak and Wren are still lovely. Oak turns into such a twisted and complicated character. Wrens childhood literally makes my heart hurt and it’s so sad that so many people brush her or her story off. It was hard not seeing Jude and Cardan though they do appear in the second book. I immensely enjoyed this story and again the way there were twists and leads and dead ends made it so much more exciting
September 9, 2024
Both books were amazing. The adventure and telling of the backstory makes you feel more immersed in the life of the characters. The retelling isn’t upfront leaving intrigue and drama. Great read
September 15, 2024
Js the first one reread
August 19, 2025
Loved to read this after the cruel prince series to stay in this world, because I got homesick.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews