One of the best-written fantasy romances that deliver well on all fronts, The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black is a beautiful, engaging miracle for all fantasy lovers. In this article, we will be giving a spoiler-free review of the whole Folk of the Air series.
About The Folk of the Air
Title: The Folk of the Air
Author: Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Type: Series
No. of Books: 3
Books in it: #1 The Cruel Prince, #2 The Wicked King, #3 The Queen of Nothing
When Jude was seven, her’s and her sister’s lives changed. They were taken from the world they knew and were brought to the Court of Faerie, land filled with beautiful, enchanting, and deceptive immortals. It’s been ten years since then, and Jude wants nothing more than to belong to this world. But the cruel creatures constantly remind her that she is mortal, beneath them all. Jude hates it, but it’s Cardan, the young prince, the evilest of them all, whom she hates the most. But an opportunity to make a place for herself arrives for her, and as she finds herself a key player in the inner court conspiracies, she starts to realize her knack for betrayal and manipulation. Maybe there isn’t much difference between her and them after all.
If you are a fan of books like Shadow and Bones by Leigh Bardugo, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and The Selection by Kiera Cass, you would adore The Folk of the Air Series.
The Folk of the Air Series Review
I don’t even know where to begin because I loved this series so much. It’s one of those books that has everything—a world so rich, characters that are impossible to forget, and twists that’ll leave readers reeling.
First off, the titles. They’re pretty straightforward in terms of who’s who, but somehow, Holly Black still manages to make them feel symbolic. And the covers? Genius. From a crown stuck in a branch to one that’s broken, the designs aren’t just pretty—they actually reflect the conflict at the heart of each book. It’s the little details that show how well thought out this world is.
The pacing of the books is another thing that really stands out. It starts fast, but then switches things up when needed. Sometimes it slows down, giving you a breather from the tension, and other times it picks up at a thrilling pace. Honestly, I found that balance pretty cool. It kept me hooked without making my brain explode.
The world-building? Immaculate. Holly Black clearly put in a lot of work creating all the creatures and magic systems. Each one felt well-researched, like it actually belonged in this world. The characters were similarly complex. Everyone’s hiding something behind a mask, which makes the story so much more interesting as you peel back those layers.
Now, the writing. Sigh. I loved it. Holly Black’s style is super easy to follow, but it’s also lyrical in a way that makes the story flow naturally. Even though the book’s told in the first person through Jude’s eyes, it doesn’t feel like you’re just stuck in her head. You really get a sense of what every character is feeling, even when Jude is clueless. That’s one of the things I really loved about her character—she’s figuring things out, just like us.
Speaking of Jude, her growth throughout the series is hands down my favorite part. At the start, she’s a little weak and vulnerable, but she’s also smart. She uses her flaws as weapons and grows into this total badass. It was so satisfying to watch her develop.
The ending was mostly perfect—lots of loose ends tied up. But, and here’s the catch, it leaves so much room for side characters to have their own stories. I’m not complaining, but I’d love to see more of them! My only critique? The last half of the third book felt a bit predictable. The first half was chef’s kiss—but the second half? Eh, I saw where it was going. Still, not enough to ruin the whole experience.
Overall, it was a perfect fantasy read.
If you want to read the first book in the series, The Cruel Prince, click on the link below:
And below, we have given a mini-review of each book in the Folk of Air Series:
The Folk of the Air: #1 The Cruel Prince
About the Book
Title: The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 370
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
The first book in The Folk of the Air series follows Jude’s journey from a ridiculed and bullied mortal human in the faerie world to the tactician behind the shadows who plays with the fate of the entire kingdom. As Jude willingly participates in court politics and tries to find a place to belong, she realizes that if she can’t make the faeries respect her, she would have to become someone that they would fear. Maybe then she would finally be able to out-win her eternal rival, the arrogant and beautiful prince Cardan.
Mini-Review
Love, love, loved it! The characters are all super interesting, and by the end, I was so into Jude and Cardan. And to think, I absolutely hated Cardan at the start. I mean, he was horrible to Jude. But then his character develops, and suddenly, I’m cheering for the bully to get a happy ending. Honestly, I’m not even ashamed. That’s how good this book is.
Rating: 4.5 / 5; Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Even if you’re not feeling it at first, keep going—the next books will totally change your mind.
The Folk of the Air: #2 The Wicked King
About the Book
Title: The Wicked King
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Goodreads rating: 4.3/5
As a mortal in the faerie world, Jude suffered greatly to get where she is. She is now the main force behind the throne, but only from the shadows. Dealing with her new position in the court would have been a lot easier if Cardan could be in control. But every day, he spirals more and more out of Jude’s grasp even as his infatuation and attraction to her appear clear to everyone. But there is someone close to her gearing up to betray her, and the more she tries to save the people she loves, the more she risks losing herself.
Mini-Review
Oooof, the romance, the politics, the palace drama… everything was on point. And the family dynamics? Beautifully complicated. The only problem? The ending. Cliffhanger. Big one. Honestly, if I had read this when it first came out, I’d have probably died waiting for the next book. Lucky for me, I binge-read the whole series. Jude’s growth is amazing, but seeing her struggle with her feelings for her mortal enemy? Chef’s kiss.
Rating: 5 / 5; Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: Heck yes! This one’s even faster-paced than the first.
The Folk of the Air: #3 The Queen of Nothing
About the Book
Title: The Queen of Nothing
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 300
Goodreads rating: 4.3/5
After the betrayal Jude suffered, she’s left with her wounds in the mortal world. But when her sister comes to her for help, it’s an opportunity to return to Elfhame and get the answers she deserves. But her kingdom isn’t the same place as she left it. And a war is brewing on the borders. As she gets swept away in the conflict, again, she soon realizes that there is more to this land than she thought. Then, as a deadly curse is released, Jude is forced to choose between her life and her heart.
Mini-Review
The first half of this book? Literal perfection. Perfect. The second half, though, wasn’t quite as strong. There’s a war, a curse, power struggles, alliances… honestly, it felt like too much sometimes. I still loved it, but it was a lot to process.
Rating: 4 / 5; Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: Absolutely. Just be patient, and you’ll get one of the most satisfying endings you’ve ever read.
Conclusion of The Folk of the Air Series
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Recommendation: 100% recommend. This is a must-read for fantasy lovers.
And hey, there’s an afterword book called How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories. It’s got extra scenes from Cardan’s point of view, and let me tell you—it’s a gift. One we didn’t know we needed, but totally did.
Also, this line? “By you, I am forever undone.” How is anyone supposed to not fall in love with that?
So, yeah. Go read it. You won’t regret it.
About the Author
Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy writer and editor. She has written over 30 books for children and young adults. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award and has been awarded Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor, both for her book Doll bones. Her most popular books include The Folk of the Air Series, Modern Faerie Tales, and The Darkest Part of the Forest standalone. Born in New Jersey, she currently lives in New England with her husband and son.
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