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The Folk of the Air Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Holly Black
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Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start The Folk of the Air by Holly Black with "The Cruel Prince", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The Folk of the Air is a young adult fantasy series following the journey of mortal girl Jude Duarte and faerie prince Cardan Greenbriar as they navigate the world of Elfhame, filled with hate, betrayal, contempt, and complex feelings for each other.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Cruel Prince"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The provided Reddit comments do not contain any discussion, recommendations, or reading order advice for "The Folk of the Air" series. The conversation focuses primarily on the r/Fantasy Bingo card, tracking spreadsheets, and recommendations for other authors like Lois McMaster Bujold, Robin Hobb, and NK Jemisin."

Key Reddit Advice

No reading order advice for "The Folk of the Air" can be determined from this specific set of comments.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Folk of the Air conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Folk of the Air. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Cruel Prince" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Folk of the Air" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "The Cruel Prince"Explore all by Holly Black

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order1 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

The Cruel Prince

Pub: 2018

**GUARD YOUR MORTAL HEART.** JUDE WAS SEVEN WHEN HER PARENTS were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for tricker and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. From #1 *New York Times* bestselling author Holly Black comes the first book in a stunning new trilogy filled with twists and enchantment, as one girl learns the meaning of true power when she finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue. This description comes from the publisher. *The Cruel Prince* is the first book of the Folk of the Air trilogy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Folk of the Air series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Folk of the Air?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Cruel Prince" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Holly Black intended.

Can I read The Folk of the Air books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Folk of the Air universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.