A princess with a lust for blood. A foolish prince. An untrusting soldier. This is no fairytale.

Holly Black continues her bestselling series, The Folk of Air, in the sequel novel set in the same world, The Stolen Heir. Wren, the runaway princess from the Court of Teeth, must form an alliance with those who have betrayed her, including the charming and seductive prince of Elfhame, Oak. Wren is forced to come to terms with the idea that she is the only one who can stop the queen of the Court of Teeth, someone she used to call mother. Although Wren had known Oak as a child, he is no longer the innocent little boy she used to play games with. With no intention of undergoing a long and treacherous journey with the boy who had betrayed her as a child, Wren becomes painfully aware of the threats looming in on her. Frightened by the thought of being captured by her Court’s armada of spies and soldiers, including the terrifying storm hag and its army of mythological creatures, the princess is forced to make friends with people she can never fully trust. When the prince of Elfame offers her a deal that ensures her chance at getting even with the people she had been forced to call family, she has no choice but to accept. 

This novel crafts darkly enticing new realms with creatures dying to trick you into an irresistible world of fae. Readers will become enraptured in forbidden romance as Wren struggles to remember all the reasons she has to hate Oak, while trying to resist his unyielding charm. Fans of the well-known fantasy novels Throne of Glass and Shadow and Bone will immediately rejoice at the irresistible works of Holly Black. Prepare to be swept away by the enrapturing fae societies and swoon-worthy heroes as they fight terrifying evils. The romance is electrifying and the unlikely friendships that form are heartwarming. This world of fae, delicately woven by Black, is stunning enough to escape to and seductive enough to entrap you. Cuddle up with a mug of steaming tea and enjoy your date with the charming prince of Elfhame.

Oak may give off the appearance of a classic fairytale hero, ready to sweep the princess off her feet, but there are secrets beneath those luscious curls and dreamy eyes. Neither Prince Oak nor Princess Wren are willing to fully trust one another, especially when the stakes are higher than that of life or death. Wren must battle the fear of being once again held captive by the Court of Teeth if her prince were to betray her, as well as with the ever-growing feelings for Oak that were doomed to resurface ever since he stepped back into her life. With the help of Tiernan, a moody knight from Elfame, and a cursed soldier from the Court of Teeth, Oak and Wren must embark on a treacherous journey to the same place from which Wren was forced to flee. It soon becomes apparent that Oak and Wren are inherently playing different games. Each having entirely different motives, each unwilling to trust one another, both Wren and Oak will have to find a way to make it out alive, together or not at all.