The Stolen Heir By Holly Black

Description

For sixteen years, Judalynn “Jude” Duarte has lived with humanity, far from the dazzling courts of Elfhame where she was born. Jude’s mother is a fairy queen and her father is a human. Her mixed blood should make her either the kingdom’s best chance or its biggest danger. She is suddenly plucked from the only life she knows and put into the deadly world of the Unseelie Court, where relationships change swiftly and every smile hides a knife.

Jude comes to take her place as the next king or queen, but the court is dangerous. She needs to outsmart a variety of people, such Prince Oak, the crown prince who is very courteous but has a burning desire to be king and a dark secret about how he got his authority.

Prince Locke, his very faithful twin, who seems to love him but truly craves power and is ready to kill his own brother.

Lady Keturah is the queen’s most trusted counselor. She whispers counsel in dark halls that transforms people’s lives and makes deadly plans.

Jude needs to learn how to deal with faerie politics without the comforts of her human life. She needs to learn how to handle insults, use rumors to her advantage, and seem courteous even when she’s terrified and upset. Jude agrees to secretly take up the crown prince’s duties after a surprise attack on the royal court leaves him seriously hurt. She wants to prove herself. She walks through the halls of power dressed as Prince Oak, gaining friends and discovering betrayals that go deeper than she ever believed possible.

As Jude discovers more about the court’s darkest secrets, like blood-bound loyalty, old blood feuds, and a sorcerous conspiracy to bring back a king who has been dead for a long time, she realizes that her faerie ancestry is both her greatest power and her worst weakness. Every spell she casts brings her closer to a world she was never meant to be in. Every secret she learns gets her closer to a grave betrayal that the queen is hiding in her own shadow.

Under the starry arches of the palace’s moonstone courtyard, Jude needs to make a choice that will make your heart race. She can either tell the truth about who she is and ignite a civil war that might destroy Elfhame, or she can keep lying, which could get her killed and the people she loves most killed. Holly Black writes about ambition and identity with prose that is both beautiful and sharp as steel. She shows that the strongest people are those who have the courage to be who they are.

Holly Black’s Kingdom of Elfhame series starts with The Stolen Heir, which takes place in Crescent City. If you like dark court fantasy, untrustworthy relationships, and heroines who learn that to survive in a world of faeries, you need a mortal’s heart tempered with steel, this is a terrific book for you.

About the Author

Holly Black is a #1 New York Times bestselling author renowned for her masterful dark fantasy, including The Cruel Prince, The Folk of the Air series, and The Wicked King. Known for her intricate world‑building, morally complex characters, and sharp dialogue, she has captivated millions of readers around the globe.

Product Details

• Title: The Stolen Heir

• Author: Holly Black

• ISBN-13: 9780316592697

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

• Published: June 2025

• Pages: 384

• Binding: Paperpack