A Novel of Elfhame Book 1: The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

Novel of Elfhame Book 1

Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this first book of a captivating new duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black. 

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

 

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

 

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years. 

 

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61209246-the-stolen-heir

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars 

Been waiting a while to dive back into this world! And this time we get Oak and Suren's story. The last we saw these two, they were just children in the middle of a war. Oak, our prince and heir to the throne of Elfhame. Being protected the best he could by Jude and Cardan. And Suren was a child queen with a bridle on her head. Now, years later so much has changed. Suren was freed of the bridle and fled to the mortal world where she holds memories of those she called her family before the Court of Teeth dragged her away. And when it looks like the storm hag, Bogdana comes to fetch her to bring her back, Oak appears. And he comes with a surprise. He needs her help. He is on a quest north to the Court of Teeth and Suren is his best chance to gain what he seeks. Such a wild ride and crazy ending. I need the next book as soon as possible! It's such a fun world to be in and it was so interesting to see Oak all grown up. Gone is the small child and in his place, someone who has learned the ways of the fae and raised by those he calls family. I loved also seeing the flashbacks of Wren and Oak when they were kids and their first meetings. There is a friendship that was built so many years ago, but it's hard for both to find the trust that had easily come back then. Lots of twists in turns in this one, but that is always to be expected when it comes to the world of fae. Definitely looking forward to the next book where I'm hoping we'll see some other familiar faces rather than just hear about them.