Holly Black is not finished with Faerie.
The bestselling author behind The Cruel Prince has agreed to write four new books set in her interconnected Faerie universe. The deal includes one young adult novel planned for 2027 and three adult novels, giving readers several new opportunities to return to the dangerous world associated with Elfhame.
Before those novels begin arriving, Black will release A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters: Illustrated Tales From Elfhame on November 3, 2026. The illustrated collection includes six stories featuring characters and conflicts from across her Faerie books.
The announcements make it clear that The Prisoner’s Throne was not the end of this world. However, many important details, including the titles, characters and release dates for most of the newly announced novels, remain secret.
Here is everything confirmed about Holly Black’s new Elfhame and Faerie books.
How Many New Elfhame Books Is Holly Black Writing?
Holly Black has sold four new books set in her larger Faerie universe as part of a reported high-seven-figure publishing deal.
The deal consists of:
- One young adult Faerie novel scheduled for 2027
- Three adult novels set in the Faerie universe
- Publication through Alvina Ling Books and Hot Key Books for the young adult novel
- Publication through Grand Central Publishing and Del Rey for the adult novels
The titles and plots of the four books have not been revealed. Release dates for the three adult novels have also not been announced.
That distinction matters because these books have sometimes been described collectively as new Elfhame novels. The original report specifically identifies them as books set in Black’s broader Faerie universe. That universe includes The Folk of the Air, The Stolen Heir duology, the Modern Faerie Tales and The Darkest Part of the Forest.
Elfhame could still play an important role in the new books, but readers should wait for official plot descriptions before assuming all four will take place primarily in the High Court.
People’s announcement confirms that the young adult book is expected in 2027, while the adult novels are currently undated.
When Will Holly Black’s Next Elfhame Book Be Released?
The next confirmed Elfhame book is A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters: Illustrated Tales From Elfhame. It will be released on November 3, 2026.
According to Little, Brown, the book will be 272 pages and will feature full-color artwork by Frostbite Studios.
This is an illustrated short-story collection rather than the beginning of the newly announced four-book deal. It nevertheless gives readers a substantial return to Elfhame while they wait for the next full-length novel.
Elfhame’s upcoming release schedule
| Book or project | Release date | What is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters | November 3, 2026 | Six illustrated Faerie stories |
| Untitled young adult Faerie novel | 2027 | Part of Holly Black’s four-book deal |
| Untitled adult Faerie novel | To be announced | First of three adult novels |
| Untitled adult Faerie novel | To be announced | Second of three adult novels |
| Untitled adult Faerie novel | To be announced | Third of three adult novels |
| The Cruel Prince graphic novel | Spring 2028 | First graphic adaptation of the trilogy |
What Is A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters About?
A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters contains six illustrated stories from Holly Black’s Faerie universe. The collection combines previously published material with two never-before-seen stories.
The new material includes:
- A story exploring Madoc’s life while he is in exile
- A story showing the moment High King Cardan realizes what he wants most
The publisher’s description also teases stories about a reluctant king confronting turmoil after a girl is taken by the Undersea, an exiled redcap trapped in the mortal world, a human girl who makes a terrible sacrifice for a faerie lover and a small sprite whose actions endanger the High Court.
These descriptions suggest that the collection will not focus exclusively on Jude and Cardan. Instead, it appears designed to show several corners of Black’s shared universe while revisiting familiar figures.
For longtime readers, the two original stories will be the greatest attraction. Madoc remains one of the most complicated characters in the series, while any new insight into Cardan is likely to make the collection essential for fans of The Folk of the Air.
Is the 2027 Book a Sequel to The Prisoner’s Throne?
That has not been confirmed.
Holly Black’s next young adult Faerie novel is scheduled for 2027, but its title, main characters and place in the reading order have not been announced.
There is reason to believe the story could follow unresolved developments from The Prisoner’s Throne. On her official FAQ page, Black says that she has not left Elfhame behind and that the ending of The Prisoner’s Throne offers a major clue about what could happen next.
That statement makes a continuation feel likely. It does not confirm whether the new novel will follow Oak and Wren, return to Jude and Cardan or introduce another protagonist affected by the changing balance of power in Faerie.
The safest conclusion is that the 2027 book will expand the same shared universe while potentially building upon the political consequences of The Stolen Heir and The Prisoner’s Throne.
Readers hoping to avoid spoilers should finish the existing Elfhame books before studying theories about the new novel.
Why the Three Adult Faerie Novels Are a Major Development
The announcement of three adult Faerie novels may represent the biggest change in Holly Black’s fictional universe.
Most of the books associated with Elfhame have been published as young adult fantasy. Adult novels could allow Black to explore different protagonists, older characters or more complicated parts of Faerie society without being tied to the expectations of a young adult series.
That does not necessarily mean the books will be dramatically more explicit. An adult publishing label can reflect the age of the protagonists, the intended readership, the story’s themes or the way a publisher plans to market the series.
The adult classification also raises intriguing questions. Could the books revisit Jude and Cardan at a later stage of their reign? Could they move outside Elfhame and examine other courts? Could characters from the Modern Faerie Tales become central again?
At the moment, those possibilities are theories rather than confirmed details. Still, three adult novels give Black enough space to create a larger continuing story rather than a brief return to familiar territory.
Will Jude and Cardan Appear in the New Books?
Holly Black has not confirmed whether Jude and Cardan will star in any of the four new novels.
The characters will remain present in upcoming Elfhame material, however. Cardan has a new story in A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters, and the collection’s other descriptions suggest that the High Court and the Undersea will continue to matter.
Jude and Cardan also appear throughout the wider Elfhame story beyond their original trilogy. Their positions as High Queen and High King make it difficult for major political events to occur without affecting them, even if another character becomes the main protagonist.
Fans should therefore separate two questions: whether Jude and Cardan will appear and whether they will be the central point-of-view characters. An appearance seems possible, but another novel led entirely by the couple has not been announced.
Where the New Books Fit in the Elfhame Reading Order
Readers who want to prepare for Holly Black’s upcoming books can follow this order:
- The Cruel Prince
- The Lost Sisters
- The Wicked King
- The Queen of Nothing
- How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
- The Stolen Heir
- The Prisoner’s Throne
- A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters
The Lost Sisters and How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories are companion works, so readers can skip them if they only want the main plot. However, both provide additional character context.
The Modern Faerie Tales, Tithe, Valiant and Ironside, take place in the same universe and introduce characters who later connect with The Folk of the Air. The Darkest Part of the Forest also shares this world.
Those earlier novels are not required to understand Jude’s original trilogy, but they could become more relevant as Black expands her Faerie universe through both young adult and adult fiction.
The Cruel Prince Graphic Novels Are Also Coming
The new novels are only one part of the expansion.
Graphic novel adaptations of The Cruel Prince trilogy are scheduled to begin publishing in spring 2028. The three adaptations are expected to arrive annually and feature manga-inspired artwork by Irene Díaz Miranda and Laura Moreno Fernández.
The project will give readers a new interpretation of Jude’s arrival in Faerie, her conflict with Cardan and the political schemes that transform both characters.
These graphic novels are adaptations, not sequels, and should not be counted among the four newly announced Faerie novels.
Elfhame Is Expanding Beyond Books
Holly Black’s Faerie universe is also growing through games, collectibles and screen development.
Announced projects include:
- Holly Black’s Faerie Tarot Deck and Guidebook
- Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame, a strategy card game
- An Elfhame cookbook
- Official Folk of the Air Funko Pop figures
- Graphic novel adaptations
- A Folk of the Air screen project in development
Amazon Studios has acquired adaptation rights to The Folk of the Air, with Scott Free Productions attached. That is promising news, but acquiring rights is only an early step in the adaptation process. A cast, production schedule and release date have not been announced, so readers should not treat the project as a guaranteed television series or movie yet.
What We Want From Holly Black’s Next Faerie Story
The most exciting part of this announcement is its scope. Four novels allow Black to expand the world instead of simply returning for a single nostalgic sequel.
Elfhame works because it feels beautiful and threatening at the same time. Its bargains have consequences, its rulers rarely possess clean motives and power always comes at a cost. Any new installment should preserve those qualities while opening another part of the world to readers.
The unresolved political situation following The Prisoner’s Throne offers an obvious foundation. The Undersea, the relationships between the courts and the future of the High Court could all support a new series. Moving into adult fantasy could also allow familiar characters to change as they grow older and face problems that cannot be solved through another fight for a crown.
Whatever direction Black chooses, the new books should be more than an encore for Jude and Cardan. The best outcome would be a larger Faerie saga in which familiar characters still matter but new rulers, monsters and betrayals are allowed to take center stage.
Holly Black’s Faerie Universe Is Far From Finished
Holly Black’s upcoming publishing slate gives Elfhame fans plenty to anticipate.
A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters will arrive on November 3, 2026, followed by an untitled young adult Faerie novel in 2027. Three adult novels are also planned, although their titles, plots and release dates remain unknown.
The lack of details will inevitably inspire theories, especially after Black pointed readers toward the ending of The Prisoner’s Throne. For now, the most important fact is also the simplest: Elfhame’s story is continuing, and its next era could be much larger than one sequel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holly Black writing more Elfhame books?
Yes. Holly Black has sold four new books set in her Faerie universe: one young adult novel and three adult novels. She has also confirmed that she has not left Elfhame behind.
What is Holly Black’s next Elfhame book?
Her next confirmed Elfhame release is A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters: Illustrated Tales From Elfhame, arriving November 3, 2026.
When will the next full-length Elfhame novel be released?
An untitled young adult Faerie novel is scheduled for 2027. A specific release date has not been announced.
Will the new Elfhame book be about Jude and Cardan?
Holly Black has not revealed the protagonists of the 2027 novel or the three adult books. Cardan will appear in one of the new stories included in A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters.
Are the three adult books part of The Folk of the Air?
They are confirmed as books within Holly Black’s Faerie universe, but their exact relationship to The Folk of the Air and Elfhame has not been disclosed.
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