Holly Black

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology by #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black.

The Stolen Heir Duology #2

The Prisoner's Throne

Eimear O'Connor 

"Crawl to me." Her eyes shine, fever bright. Again, Oak's body moves without his permission.

Maybe Oak and Cardan aren’t so different

Still, dressed this way and with the hood of the cloak pulled forward to hide his face, he might be able to walk straight out the door of the Citadel, as though he were going on patrol. It would serve her right for never coming to see him, not even to use the bridle and command him to stay put.

Oak expected his sister to be angry, but she only laughed. "That must be what you like about me." "That you're terrifying?" he asked, his drawl becoming exaggerat edly languorous, almost a purr. "I adore it." She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes. The king's arms came around her, and she shivered once, as though letting something fall away. 

She squeezed back, swift and punishingly hard. "You are heir to all of Elfhame," she said as though he might have missed that bit. "It's time to start behaving like someone who could rule. Never forget that you must inspire fear as well as love. Your sister hasn't." Oak's gaze went to the crowd. He had three sisters, but he knew which one she meant.

Alli

“Do not think I will be flattered because you think me a better opponent and therefore set me a more careful romantic riddle to solve. I need no protestations of your feelings. Love can be lost, and I am done with losing” 

Cassidy Nolan

“Then I’ll have to marry you, Prince Oak of the Greenbriar line,” Wren says, with a sharp-toothed smile. “Just to make you suffer.”

“…I adore you. I want to play games with you. I want to tell you all the truths I have to give. And if you really think you’re a monster, then let’s be monsters together.”

Jude looks surprised but then shrugs. “I’ll be outside, yelling at people.”

“Try not to enjoy it too greatly,” says Cardan as she goes out.

 Jude tells him. “You are recovering from being stabbed - or rather, throwing yourself on a knife.”

“You would have done the same for me,” he says airily.

“You can’t just keep throwing yourself at things as though you don’t matter.”

Oak couldn’t count how many times someone said that to him. He isn’t sure he ever listened.

“I want,” she says. “That’s my problem. I want and I want and I want.”

“What do you want?” he asks, voice soft.

 Charm me. Rip me open. Ruin me. Go too far.”

He shudders as her words, shaking his head against them.

She goes on, whispering against his skin. “You cannot understand. I am a chasm that will never be full. I am hunger. I am need. I cannot be sated. If you try, I will swallow you up. I will take all of you and want more. I will use you. I will drain you until you are nothing more than a husk.”

“Use me, then,” he whispers, mouth on her throat.

Then her lips are against his, and there is no more talking for a long time.

She is very beautiful, and Oak very much wishes she would go away.

ignoring his own issues to fixate on fixing his friend’s. he’s so me

 Maybe Oak’s romance is doomed, but that doesn’t mean someone else’s can’t succeed.

“I love you,” Oak says, because he needs to say it simply, so she can’t find a way to see a lie in it. He’s smiling because he feels ridiculously happy. “Come have a picnic with me.”

Jude rolls her eyes. “He’s probably arguing with Grima Mog’s second-in-command.”

 to watch, that’s different, obviously,” Cardan says.

“Oh, my darling, my sweet child. Not everyone needs to love you.” She sighed.

“…Drown whatever lingering feelings you have for me in a new love, or ten.” She says the last bit with some asperity.

He puts a hand to his chest. “Have you no feelings to drown?”

Wren looks down. “No,” she says. “Nothing I have would I ever want to give away.”

“Like a cat lazing in the sun. No one expects it to suddenly bite.”

“I am not the one fond of biting,” he says, and is gratified when she blushes, the pink coming up bright enough to show through the pale blue of her skin.

 strategy behind his offer, but he feels more like a hopelessly besotted ninny than a master strategist. He’d marry her, and happily.

“Why does anyone want anyone else?” Tiernan answers. “We do not love because people deserve it - nor would I want to be loved because I was the 

 of some list of candidates. I want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. I want to be forgiven my flaws.”

“I find it harder to forgive your virtues,” Hyacinthe tells him, a smile in his voice.

A flush creeps up Hyacinthe’s neck. “You,” he says.

“Be flattered.” Oak wipes blood off his chin. “I think we were fighting over you.”

He would tell her that he wants to stay with her, that he wants to be her friend again, wants to feel her teeth against his throat, but how can he possibly convince her of his sincerity? And even if she did believe him, what would it matter when his desires didn’t keep her safe from his machinations?

“You need not love me,” she tells him.

“What if I did? If I do?” Oak has proclaimed his love to people before, but that felt like play and this feels like pain. Maybe it’s because she sees him, and no one else has. The illusion he wears is much easier to love than what’s underneath.

It has a lot of ‘how can you ever trust me’ and ‘i’m a monster’ (both sides!! Oak and Wren) and at some point I just lost interest in that. 

I still have to think about this story a bit longer to figure out why, but the plot also felt a bit all over the place, slow and vague? 

And I don’t really get why Oak and Wren love each other to be honest 🫣. 

I loved book 1 and Wren’s pov. But in this book, idk, her character felt a bit random or something? There was a lot of distance between Oak and Wren. And I don’t think it really fits Wren’s character to use the bridle on Oak.

Taryn

I guess I’m disappointed 

It has a lot of ‘how can you ever trust me’ and ‘i’m a monster’ (both sides!! Oak and Wren) and at some point I just lost interest in that. 

I still have to think about this story a bit longer to figure out why, but the plot also felt a bit all over the place, slow and vague? 

And I don’t really get why Oak and Wren love each other to be honest 🫣. 

I loved book 1 and Wren’s pov. But in this book, idk, her character felt a bit random or something? There was a lot of distance between Oak and Wren. And I don’t think it really fits Wren’s character to use the bridle on Oak.

it was just GOOD. writing is amazing, character arcs are great, plot twists just keep coming, and the ending was so sweet. can’t wait to read the next one!

Maddy T

it was boring and then the last 100 pages picked up. i fear this duology wasn’t necessary and we could’ve left it out of elfhame. 

ariana :)

switched from Wren's first person POV in The Stolen Heir to Oak's third person POV here... dnfed with around a hundred pages left, just lost all interest in how the journey ended

Taylor Grace

Does not quite compare to the original Cruel Prince trilogy but I enjoyed it nonetheless 

Emma

It really took me a while to get into this book but then when I did, I loved it. I loved reading from Oak's point of view. I really saw parallels between how smitten Oak was for Wren from Cardan and Jude’s relationship in the Original TFOTA series. I liked that it was high stakes and thought Wren's power was an interesting change.

It did frustrate me from time to time that they were kind of just misunderstanding each other and felt there wasn't a need for some of their conflicts. A lot, a lot of politics and is very heavy in this regard, but I enjoy that but I know some wouldn't.

Overall, very enjoyable. I always love Holly Black's writing style. She could write about anything and I'd read. I also just especially love Elfhame which helps. I think Holly nicely set up for another series surrounding Nicasia with the ending of this Duology, with Jude and Cardan being invited to see who takes her hand AND the inevitability with all the discussion of this series that they will have an heir in the near future (that's not Oak).

It really took me a while to get into this book but then when I did, I loved it. I loved reading from Oak's point of view. I really saw parallels between how smitten Oak was for Wren from Cardan and Jude’s relationship in the Original TFOTA series. I liked that it was high stakes and thought Wren's power was an interesting change.

It did frustrate me from time to time that they were kind of just misunderstanding each other and felt there wasn't a need for some of their conflicts. A lot, a lot of politics and is very heavy in this regard, but I enjoy that but I know some wouldn't.

Overall, very enjoyable. I always love Holly Black's writing style. She could write about anything and I'd read. I also just especially love Elfhame which helps. I think Holly nicely set up for another series surrounding Nicasia with the ending of this Duology, with Jude and Cardan being invited to see who takes her hand AND the inevitability with all the discussion of this series that they will have an heir in the near future (that's not Oak).

Juardn really saved the day for this one 

Stella 💫

Both school starting and a reading slump hit me like a freight train so this took forever to finish. Lowkey forget what happened in the first half of the book but still loved it. 

Oak and me are the same person except his delusions actually came true.

sophie <3

Both school starting and a reading slump hit me like a freight train so this took forever to finish. Lowkey forget what happened in the first half of the book but still loved it. 

Oak and me are the same person except his delusions actually came true.

Tbh i only read the book for jude. Like yeah wren oak whatever i like the dynamic of oak with his family I WANTED JUDE TO LITERALLY KILL EVERYONE LIKE WDYM CARDAN ALMOST GOT KILLED. WHILE I WAS READING THAT PART I CLOSED THE BOOK AND WALKED FOUR FIVE MINUTES IN MY ROOM CAUSE WTH. i serisouly wanted jude st the end ti just slice bogdanas throat and call it a day. Why imprisoning if murder is an option?

But yes i want more jude and cardan i did not care at all for wren in the second book.

Tbh i only read the book for jude. Like yeah wren oak whatever i like the dynamic of oak with his family I WANTED JUDE TO LITERALLY KILL EVERYONE LIKE WDYM CARDAN ALMOST GOT KILLED. WHILE I WAS READING THAT PART I CLOSED THE BOOK AND WALKED FOUR FIVE MINUTES IN MY ROOM CAUSE WTH. i serisouly wanted jude st the end ti just slice bogdanas throat and call it a day. Why imprisoning if murder is an option?

But yes i want more jude and cardan i did not care at all for wren in the second book.

This book was so good! I loved seeing the continuation of Wren and Oak’s story as well as seeing more of Cardan and Jude. The plot was super addicting and the last 100 pgs had me in a chokehold. The last few paragraphs of the book was great as well. I think it is a great close to Wren and Oak’s story. 

Hannah Williams

Looking forward to more books in this series. Not sure if there will be another based on the ending but I hope so. 

Leah Diaz 

sophie bastow

AHHHH it was so good 

 jurdan scenes >>>

I love Oak & Wren so much. This was not the strongest book in the series - it felt like the conflicts were resolved too easily and the first half dragged on while the second half felt rushed. BUT this is such a comfort series for me that none of that really bothered me too much, I’m just happy to be in the world with all my favorite characters. AND it was nice to get answers after that massive cliff hanger in the first book.

Some loose ends in this book too - I’m smelling another Elfhame duology?! 

I love Oak & Wren so much. This was not the strongest book in the series - it felt like the conflicts were resolved too easily and the first half dragged on while the second half felt rushed. BUT this is such a comfort series for me that none of that really bothered me too much, I’m just happy to be in the world with all my favorite characters. AND it was nice to get answers after that massive cliff hanger in the first book.

Some loose ends in this book too - I’m smelling another Elfhame duology?! 

Bethany

showstopping amazing no notes bow down to holly black she can do no wrong in my eyes

gracyn neely

And so, when she kissed him, it felt as though he was being kissed. Perhaps for the first time. And he loves the way she’s watching him now, as though he fascinates her. As though she’s drawn to him. As though he’s got a chance. 

This duopoly was so good. The tension was great. I loved the way we got Wren’s pov in the first book and then Oak’s pov in the second. I would’ve loved Wren’s pov of this book though because there was probably so much going through her head. 

I loved seeing all the old characters from the Folk of the Air series. 

I felt so bad for Oak when he found out that the Ghost was his mother’s murderer. But I was also so sad when the Ghost was poisoned. I really hope he is able to recover from that. I don’t want him to be a tree forever. 

Alexandria New

And so, when she kissed him, it felt as though he was being kissed. Perhaps for the first time. And he loves the way she’s watching him now, as though he fascinates her. As though she’s drawn to him. As though he’s got a chance. 

This duopoly was so good. The tension was great. I loved the way we got Wren’s pov in the first book and then Oak’s pov in the second. I would’ve loved Wren’s pov of this book though because there was probably so much going through her head. 

I loved seeing all the old characters from the Folk of the Air series. 

I felt so bad for Oak when he found out that the Ghost was his mother’s murderer. But I was also so sad when the Ghost was poisoned. I really hope he is able to recover from that. I don’t want him to be a tree forever. 

Z♡ 

3★
the first 60% felt really long and dragged out but the rest of it was so fun and i really enjoyed seeing some of the characters from TFOTA make an appearance! it took more than half the book but i eventually got over my dislike of Wren, too

I absolutely adore Wren and Oak together. I really enjoyed their story. 

Veronika

This was SO GOOD!

I absolutely adore Wren and Oak together. I really enjoyed their story. 

Oak might just be one of my fav characters now,,,

 ☆RoRo☆

holly black you’ve done it again i absolutely cannot 

alexys <3

abi a

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology by #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black. (Exclusive Barnes & Noble Edition)

I did dread a lot of this book because i truly didn’t want anything to happen to Jude and Cardan, which made me scared to read it altogether. However i loved it, i loved the chemistry between the main characters and i adored being able to see old characters again and have snippets of them. The book was very short, which i was confused about but nevertheless i enjoyed it and nothing felt rushed. It was an easy and quick read, but not a 5 star because of how scared i was going into it unfortunately.

Aimee :)

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology by #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black. After the shocking events of The Stolen Heir, Prince Oak is in deeper trouble than ever before. As his situation grows more precarious, Oak is desperate to find a way out, before all of Elfhame is caught in the coming storm.

The Prisoner's Throne The Stolen Heir Duology #2

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