The Stolen Heir

It’s been a while since I visited Elfhame and it’s complicated fey politics, but what a way to end out the reading year / start the new one! Holly Black doesn’t waste any time with this novel, and throws us into the story in full media res - expecting us to remember the events that got Jude and Cardan the the High Crowns of Elfhame, and filling in the blanks as we go with what happened to the princeling-in-waiting (Oak), all while trying to figure out where our new protagonist fits in. We are introduced to Suren (Wren), an outcast from the Court of Teeth, midst exile as she is hunted by the Storm Hag and picked up as a prisoner/bait/potential ally by Oak and company as they search for a way to defeat the rebellious fey Lady Nore, show more Wren’s mother. The whole story is immediately complex, which seems to be an increasing mode of Black’s the further she gets into exploring Elfhame with us, and reading this story felt like the action was taking place at such a speed that it was a challenge to keep up. The lore is intricate, and I love the detailed double twists that were slowly revealed by the final pages, but would it have killed her to slow it down just a touch to give us a little more time with the narrative?! The politics are decent at a fast clip, as things move fast in the fey world, but the unfolding of the romance themes felt a little choppy (the cast are young, but it doesn’t feel like typical teenage lust is actually a driver) and the physically slow journey that Oak and Wren take from the human world to the Ice Needle Citadel clashed somewhat with the quickness of the text’s tone. After the group make it inside the Citadel (Wren’s traumatic childhood home, so fun themes there), the pace picked up to become even more frenetic to the point where I feel like I’m definitely going to have to re-read it for the details before picking up book 2. Everyone betrays everyone else, but they’re all doing it for the right reasons, and it kind of all works out to a point where we can see a happy ending coming at some point in the near future, but damn was it all over the place to get there! Wren’s final moments are bloody and magical, with a revelation that isn’t entirely unexpected if you were paying attention going along, but inevitably left us on a cliffhanger that annoyed me immensely. What’s the point of her being animated by the heart of a betrayed daughter, besides power, because there must be one in Black’s story; are the two fey court heirs going to end up together; or is Holly Black in over her head with this evermore political story style? Here’s hoping that she has a plan for the story to all wrap up neatly (she must, since the second book is due out later this year) and that she takes the pace down a notch or two - no need to rush it, I’ll happily read an extra 100 pages if it means getting more quality lore, character development, and intrigue! show less

Unlike some Folk of the Air lovers who were disappointed in the lack of Cardan & Jude or a similar relationship dynamic, I was blown away by Black's ability to formulate a completely captivating story with far less use of such a dramatic love duo. I personally think Oak and Suren are a lovely duo, albeit less romantically present in their story than Jude & Cardan were in theirs. I actually think it's much harder to write a great story without the easier elements such as romance/sex & violence, so this book was next level in my opinion. I found myself hurting for Suren so many times to the point that I actually teared up, loving her adherance to kindness, and pleasantly surprised by plot elements. And the casual drops/updates about show more Jurdan and their reign? Love that. I just love Elfhame so much. I hope Holly Black keeps writing about it.

I give Saskia Maarleveld 5/5⭐️. Her narration was great, with distinction between characters and what I thought was a wonderful depiction of Suren's character through cadence & voice choices. Additionally, unlike many women narrators, I didn't find her male vocal imitation to be cheesy or too much. It did kind of bug me that she said soo-ren instead of sir-ren though. show less

Holly Black has an amazing talent to write engaging and especially emotionally gripping characters.
I don't know what this says about me but I just love these characters that make my heart bleed in this way.
But she was never good at avoiding very common and very obvious tropes to steer the plot and the emotional rollercoaster.
And this one is no different. The entire story hinges on some really obvious and stupid misunderstanding that could easily have been avoided if the protagonists had like 2 functioning brain cells. The most frustrating part about this, which also applies to her other books, is that these characters are generally very smart, and even the mistakes they make feel relatable and not just tstl. But then there are just a show more few of these inexcusably bad setups where the author just couldn't be bothered to figure out a more natural and believable solution. I am probably way too sensitive with such things but it feels like an insult to the reader to throw bullshit at them and expect them to just take it.
This has ruined many a book for me. show less

I've read most of Ms. Black's books and enjoyed them all, so it's especially nice to start the new year in the land of Fairie once more. Suren, or Wren, has left the land of Fairie to hide in the human world near the family that once adopted her. Once a queen, now she's living feral in the woods, eating garbage and spying on her former sister. Oak, the heir of Elfhome, finds her to help him on a mission to rescue Madoc, his Redcap father, from Wren's mother, who is up to her usual tricks.
If you've read Ms. Black's other books, these are familiar characters, but I don't feel they're necessary as a preface to this book. You can pick up the story and the characters fairly well without knowing them beforehand. Wren is pitiful, abused by her show more parents and the rest of Fairie, yet she can't find a place in the human world. Oak is charming and tricky, untrustworthy though Wren tries hard because of their childhood bond. Multiple other fey appears, some horrific and others beautiful, but all cruel in their way, as one would expect.
One of the things I enjoy most about Ms. Black's books is that she portrays fairies as what they are in most folklore, bloodthirsty and callous. She writes in the traditions of Lord Dunsany, Terri Windling, Charles de Lint, or Brian Froud. There are a few dark moments in this book, especially at the end. I can't wait for the sequel. show less

I can always count on Holly Black to take me exactly where I want to go. Her work is (almost) the only YA I read, and I always enjoy my time in Elfhame. She knows what she’s doing. Her characters, especially our main characters, are always dynamic and fun to follow with complicated histories. Her worlds are full of enchanting names and settings. It’s a great time, fast paced, transporting.

Wren is a wonderful POV and glad to have another book with her, and Oak.

It is rare for me to buy books on release day. Usually, I pick my books based on what's on offer on the Kindle store. But I was so excited about this that I couldn't help but pay full price to get my hands on it immediately. Of course, I got busy and wasn't able to get around to reading it until now.

I'm... so upset at how much of a disappointment this was for me. I'm actually quite glad that I wasn't able to read it on release day, as experiencing this when I was so hyped for it would have stung a whole lot more.

It was just bland. Bland characters, bland settings, bland story. Where was the chemistry? It feels incomplete, like this is only half of a book.

Probably won't be picking up the next book :(

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.6 stars)

Back in Elfhame we go—and while I wanted to fall head over heels like I did with The Folk of Air series, this one didn’t quite sweep me off my feet. That said, it still offered a captivating return to a world I’ve missed!

🧚🏻‍♀️ Summary:
This first book in the duology follows Wren, a feral and cursed changeling queen, and Oak, the charming (and complicated) prince we watched grow up in the original series. Together they embark on a dangerous journey full of riddles, secrets, betrayal, and some truly dark twists.

✅ What I Liked:
• Being back in the world of Elfhame —Magic and Menace!!
• Oak and Wren’s dynamic — not a swoon-fest, but there’s definite intrigue and complexity show more between them.
• The ending was wild 🤯 brought the drama and twists I was hoping for! — pulled me back in after a slower middle.
• Oak? Complicated and charming.
• Wren grew on me —quiet strength, inner conflict, and growth. Poor Wren, she has a lot of childhood trauma.

🤷‍♀️ What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The pacing was off. Teetered on boring at times.
• While the writing was still beautiful, I didn’t feel the same obsession I had with TFOTA.
• Some characters and scenes felt underdeveloped.

🎭 Themes & Vibes:
* Abuse
* Trauma
* Found family & identity
* Betrayal & political scheming
* Power, control, and the masks we wear
* Darkness with a hint of fairytale whimsy

💭 Overall Thoughts:
Not quite the addictive whirlwind of TFOTA, but a solid setup for what’s to come. I’m intrigued to see how this all wraps up in the second book. I just hope it finds a better rhythm and leans into the sharp edge that made Elfhame unforgettable. Here’s hoping for more chaos, more Oak-Wren development, and yes—more Cardan-level sass and savagery in book 2. 🖤

Would I read book 2? —YES.
Was this as good as TFOTA? —No.
Still had fun? —Absolutely. show less