PAGE TURNER: ‘Stolen Heir’ continues Elfhame saga

Novel: The Stolen Heir

Series: An Elfhame Novel

My rating: ♦♦♦♦◊

  Four years after the release of the last book of the Folk of the Air series, New York bestselling author Holly Black released a new book, The Stolen Heir. 

  The novel is set in Elfhame and follows Wren, also known as Suren, and the Prince of Elfhame, Oak, eight years after the end of The Queen of Nothing.  

  The Court of Teeth is still upset with the turn of events, with Lady Nore leading them with the control of ancient, powerful remains. With its power, she plans her revenge on the High Court. But the ironic thing is, Wren is Lady Nore’s runaway daughter and queen of the Court of Teeth. 

  After fleeing her abusive mother years ago, Wren lives in the woods of the mortal world. Disregarded by the faerie world, Wren lives alone, trying to help mortals by breaking unsuspecting curses. That is until a storm hag finds her and attempts to kill Wren before she is saved by Oak, who also happens to once be her once betrothed.

  Oak is first seen as a child in Black’s book The Cruel Prince and is the younger step brother to the trilogy’s main character Jude, but now he is no longer a little nine-year-old boy, and no longer the person Wren used to know. Seeking to confront Lady Nore, Oak plans to journey north to the Court of Teeth.

  In need of Wren’s help, Oak asks her to join. Now in Elfhame, Wren must always be on guard, for the truth is never clear, and she faces the horrors of what she tried to run from. 

  I really liked this book. It had an interesting plot, and in true Holly Black style, the plot twists throughout. 

  Black, again, gives a strong female lead who overcomes many of her struggles throughout the story. Unlike Black’s other series, The Stolen Heir gives a faerie’s perspective. Because faeries aren’t able to lie, the book gives a more in-depth view into how they think and interpret what others say. 

  One fault with The Stolen Heir is that it starts off slowly. World and character building does take a bit of time, so this book has to be read with patience and commitment. Another weird thing was that little baby brother Oak from The Cruel Prince was all grown up. It didn’t take long for me to get used to older Oak, and this book really developed his character.

  While reading the Folk Air series isn’t needed before reading The Stolen Heir, I would encourage it because there are references to events from the trilogy and major spoilers.

  With only one book in the duology published so far, I do still like Black’s first series better. However, I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the sequel’s release next year.