Author
Holly Black
7 books here
Doll Bones
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 740L · 2015
A genuinely eerie ghost story that works as both adventure and emotional excavation — kids talk about the scariness, but parents see the real throughline about grief and friendship fracture.
The Prisoner's Throne
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2024
A darker, more complex sequel that deepens the moral murkiness of its antagonist; if your teen liked The Cruel Prince, they'll find genuine stakes here, though the pacing is slower and more introspective.
The Darkest Part of the Forest
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 770L · 2019
Holly Black's Shaun Cassidy energy wrapped in genuine stakes—dark enough to earn teen respect, romantic enough to sustain interest, and Hazel's voice remains unflinchingly hers.
The Wicked King
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 850L · 2019
Darker and more political than *The Cruel Prince*; Jude's ruthlessness calcifies, and the romance feels genuinely conflicted rather than triumphant—which is exactly what makes it compelling.
The Cruel Prince
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2023
A dark, addictive court fantasy with real stakes—Jude's ruthlessness and moral ambiguity complicate the typical chosen-one arc, and the writing is sharp enough that the slow-burn romance lands.
The Stolen Heir
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2023
Black's most grounded fae novel—darker and slower than Cruel Prince, with a protagonist whose moral compromises feel earned rather than convenient, though the ending gambit strains credibility slightly.
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2020
A sharp, melancholic origin story that recontextualizes a beloved antagonist; best read after The Cruel Prince, but stands alone for older teens who like morally gray fae politics and unreliable narrators.