I recently read the 'Folk of the Air' trilogy, and I am looking forward to seeing how the story progresses further with this new duology. The first three chapters were intriguing and I liked getting the backstory of Suren and her relationship with Oak. I hope the rest of the book expands upon the worldbuilding of Elfhame, and learn more about both Suren and Oak (and see their dynamic developed further).

What can I say, Holly Black has done it again and I was happy to return to the world of Elfhame. These three chapters has me waiting for more and I am on the edge of my seat to see where the story leads; I was instantly pulled back into there world and I remembered why I love the world of The Folk of Air.
Holly's writing draws you in with here interesting characters that are strong, flawed and whimsical, I can't wait to read the whole story and find out what the future holds for Oak and the rest of Elfhame.
Thank you Netgalley and Hotkeys for providing a sampler for my honest review and opinions.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five stars

This is the first time I have read this author and this sample seems to be part way through a series. What I read was good but would I read more?? I am still on the fence.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

What an amazing introduction to what I am sure will be another success story for author Holly Black. Suren has a unique perspective to share and getting to meet Oak as an adult after being introduced to him in FOTA is wonderful. Can't wait to read the full title.

This has to be my most highly anticipated release for next year, so I was extremely excited to be able to read the sample of this.

I enjoyed this as much as I have anything else I have read by Holly. She is the true queen of Faerie. Where a lot of other people write the Fae in a way that is too human, Holly keeps them as they are suppose to be, capricious, malicious and dark. This sample was no less than than.

Our return to Elfhame is through the journey of Suren the Queen of the Court of Teeth and Oak the prince. The first two chapters give us some insight into Suren’s life before and after the events of the Battle of the Serpent in FOTA. Before introducing us to Oak, a prince who is on a mission that Suren is the only person who can help him succeed at.
I really can not wait to see how this story will play out, I am sure there will be as many twists and turns as there often are in Holly Black’s faerie novels.

I was extremely sad to reach the end of the sample and am now even more excited and desperate for the rest of the book to come out.

THE EXCITEMENT IS REAL!! I cannot wait to get further stuck into this series after reading this wee snippet, Holly Black does it again!

Incredible preview of one of the most anticipated 2023 reads.
This is going to be so so good.
A must read for any Holly Black fans! Excited to read the full book.

So excited for the rest! I loved the cruel prince series and need the rest of this book in my hands immediately

Thank you to #Netgalley for this 3 chapter sampler of #TheStolenHeir.
A return to the world of Elfhame 8 years after the Battle of the Serpent. Suren Queen of the Court of Teeth is barely surviving in the human world when Oak finds her. He brings news of her mother Lady Nore who has launched a war against Elfhame. Suren is the only one who can stop her.
I was instantly reimmersed into the world of Elfhame. The cruelty of parents and the lasting links of childhood friendship are abiding themes in Holly Black's books & The Stolen Heir is no different.
I can't wait to read the complete book.

I cannot wait to read the full book! Fantastic return to the Folk of the air series. I loved learning Suren’s story and how she came to be in The Court of Teeth. Holly Black paints a terrifying picture of the Fair Folk.

Oh, I am so very excited about this. I have been since I knew it was happening, and reading this little sample has only increased my excitement.
I am super intrigued by Wren's character, I can't wait to learn more about her after this little taste - right now, she's appearing as a little morally grey, she wants to help but is fighting some trauma and natural instincts. I am predicting some opportunity for great character development.
Oak is similarly a big question mark - we have known him through the first books, but only as a child - from the little snippets of his character I've already read here, I'm wondering just how much of his character has changed and grown since we last saw him.
I am so excited to see Oak's relationship with Wren develop, given the complexities of their past interactions. The first three chapters set us up for a journey through Elfhame, to eventually confront Wren's mother, Lady Nore. I think it's going to be a tense journey and I can't WAIT to see how it plays out.
So excited!!

This was so thrilling to be reading!! Wren's character touches my heart on such a personal level, and her story is so emotional, contrasted with the snide remarks and borderline charisma of Oak, until the very end of that sample which shocked me in terms of the moment they were having prior to it!
I love love love these characters, and you can definitely see the influence Cardan has had on Oak, for example, Wren referring to him with an 'emotionless' look on his face, and her persona is so fierce and feral, the characters surrounding her deem it as dangerous and threatening, but to me, it makes her empowering and strong, similar to Jude, but if Jude was not mortal.

I am so excited to see if there is any features of Jude and Cardan and how their lives are at the minute, since Oak is the Prince of Elfhame, as well as Vivianne.

The best part of this sample was the sweet fluff moments between Oak and Wren when describing their similar moments in the mortal world, like when she saw he had Uno in his room, so cute!!

Not sure it has the same hook as Jude/Cardan’s books. The writing style doesn’t blow me away and never has. Probably won’t read the whole book.

I received a sampler copy of the epilogue and the first 3 chapters through NetGalley. I really enjoyed these few chapters of The Stolen Heir and cannot wait to read the entire book. Having been a fan of Holly Black’s books for a few years now, I am absolutely thrilled to read what happens next in this book!

I forgot how much I loved the cruel prince but this 68 pages not only reminded me, but completely ensnared me. oak and surel being miniature Jude and cardan was SO FREAKING CUTE and I absolutely can't wait to learn more about their relationship (and surel's biting obsession)

one of the things I loved most about the tcp series, and Holly's other books is her writing and this did not disappoint. it was lush and evocative, and just the first few paragraphs took me away from my warm place on the sofa and into the dangerous world of Elfhame. which is good. I think.

overall- I CAN'T WAIT

:)

This was an incredible first three chapters. I’ve never read Holly Black before, and I really want to read the complete book. As a reader, you are thrown straight into this beautifully crafted world, and yet, it’s fully accessible and explained with intricate descriptions. I felt Wren’s emotions, It’s a really immersive read. Huge thank you to the publisher for this gorgeous ARC via NetGalley.

Only three chapters in and I’m already completely captivated by Suren and her story. Having only reread Queen of Nothing recently everything is so much more vivid! Holly Black as always doesn’t disappoint in her descriptions, bringing the magic to life.
I need more now!

I have loved the Cruel Prince Series for years and was incredibly excited to learn there would be a new book in this world revolving around Oak.

This sampler has me even more excited to read this book, I love Wren's character so far and I am excited to see the dynamic between her and Oak.

I finished this sampler within an hour or two this morning. I have this already on preorder but I am hoping for the full version to be on Netgalley to request soon.

Holly Black never misses!

This has me SO excited for this fresh look into elfhame. I would read holly black’s shopping lists, so maybe I’m biased. But I’m so intrigued by this new direction in a familiar loveable world. Can’t wait to read the rest and chat to friends about it.
Will post review of full book on good reads when I have a copy

This is such an intriguing beginning to the Stolen Heir, leaving you pre-ordering immediately. It reads as quite a dark faerie tale with some sinister creatures and follows the story of Wren who has been stolen from the mortal world, only to discover that she was never mortal.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for access to the first three chapters of The Stolen Heir.