Figuring out The Cruel Prince series order can get confusing once you realize it’s only the beginning of a bigger story. Between the main trilogy, companion books, and Holly Black’s wider Elfhame world, it’s not always obvious what to read next or what’s actually essential.
This guide breaks down The Cruel Prince series order in a clear, easy-to-follow list so you can start in the right place and keep going without second-guessing yourself. Whether you’re brand new to Jude and Cardan or coming back for a reread, you’ll find the best reading order here.
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The Cruel Prince Books in Order
You do not need to read the companion books to enjoy the main story. If you want to stick with the core trilogy, start with these three books.
- The Cruel Prince (2018)
- The Wicked King (2019)
- The Queen of Nothing (2019)
Complete Folk of the Air Reading Order
If you want the fuller Elfhame reading experience, add the companion books as well. This is the recommended reading order for the main trilogy and its related side books.
- The Cruel Prince (2018)
- The Lost Sisters (2018) (Novella)
- The Wicked King (2019)
- The Queen of Nothing (2019)
- How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (2020) (Story Collection)
- A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters (2026) (Short Story Collection)
Do I Need to Read The Lost Sisters?
The Lost Sisters is a short companion novella that works best between The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King. You should not start the series with it, since it revisits events from the first book and assumes you already know what happened.
The story is told from Taryn’s perspective, which means it adds context to choices and secrets that sit in the background of The Cruel Prince. It does not change the main reading order, but it does give you a fuller view of the family tension and court politics surrounding Jude’s story.
So no, you do not need to read The Lost Sisters to understand the main trilogy. Still, it is a worthwhile extra after The Cruel Prince if you want more insight into Taryn before moving on to The Wicked King.
Should I Read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories?
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is best read after The Queen of Nothing. While it includes stories from before The Cruel Prince, it also goes beyond the end of the trilogy, so reading it earlier would spoil major events.
The book is told from Cardan’s perspective, which gives you a very different view of Elfhame and adds more context to his character than the main trilogy alone. It also includes illustrations, which makes it feel more like a special companion book than a standard follow-up novel.
You can skip it and still fully understand the main trilogy. Still, readers who finish the series and want more time with Cardan and the world of Elfhame will probably find it worth reading.
There are also connections across Black’s broader faerie books, so longtime readers may notice shared worldbuilding between The Darkest Part of the Forest, The Folk of the Air, and Modern Faerie Tales.
Is The Darkest Part of the Forest Connected to The Cruel Prince?
Yes, The Darkest Part of the Forest is connected to The Cruel Prince. Both books are set in the same faerie world, even though they follow different characters and different storylines.
That said, The Darkest Part of the Forest was written as a standalone novel, so you do not need to read it before starting The Cruel Prince. Still, readers who want to explore more of Holly Black’s faerie world may enjoy picking it up alongside The Folk of the Air books.
There are also connections across Black’s broader faerie books, so longtime readers may recognize overlap between The Darkest Part of the Forest, The Folk of the Air, and the Modern Faerie Tales world.
The Stolen Heir Duology
The Stolen Heir duology is Holly Black’s return to Elfhame after The Folk of the Air trilogy, but it follows Oak and Suren (Wren) instead of Jude and Cardan. It connects to the earlier books while telling its own story, with a new central romance and a darker fairy tale feel. You’ll get the most out of it after finishing the main trilogy first.
- The Stolen Heir (2023)
- The Prisoner’s Throne (2024)
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more fantasy authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Fantasy Books in Order index.
One thought on “The Cruel Prince Series Order: Complete Reading Order”
Hello,
I am trying to find out how to get an autographed book by Holly Black. I need it as a gift for my 13 year old granddaughter.