What do you do when your seven-year-old is obsessed with faeries and you need something to keep you sane during the 47th viewing of Frozen? You steal her audiobook recommendation, apparently.
Okay, so technically Emma found Holly Black through the Spiderwick books, and I'd been hearing about this whole Elfhame series for ages. But The Stolen Heir was calling to me from my library app during one of those brutal weeks where Sophie refused to nap and I was surviving on cold coffee and sheer desperation. Ten hours felt ambitious. I finished it in six days. That's basically a speed record in mom time.
The Voice That Got Me Through Carpool
Saskia Maarleveld. I need to talk about her. Because this woman carried me through three school drop-offs, two grocery runs, and approximately fourteen loads of laundry. Her Suren has this raspy, wounded quality that just—ugh, it got me. Here's this feral girl living in the woods, traumatized and angry and trying so hard to be tough, and Maarleveld makes you feel every bit of that damage without overdoing it.
And Oak? The charming, manipulative prince who you know is bad news but you can't help rooting for anyway? She nails him too. There's this confidence in her performance that's almost insufferable—in the best way. Like that one dad at school pickup who knows he's attractive and you hate that you noticed. (We all have one. Don't pretend.)
The AudioFile Earphones Award makes total sense. This is narration that hooks you and doesn't let go.
Survived 47 Pauses and Still Made Sense
Here's my biggest concern with fantasy audiobooks: can I follow this thing when I'm also making PB&Js and refereeing sibling arguments? The answer is mostly yes. Mostly.
Look, I'll be honest—there are moments where the plot gets a little twisty. The Court of Teeth, the Ice Needle Citadel, monsters made of sticks and snow... it's a lot. I definitely rewound a few times when Sophie decided that exact moment was perfect for a meltdown about her sippy cup. But the core story—runaway queen, reluctant prince, dangerous quest, enemies-to-maybe-more tension—that stayed clear even through the chaos.
Fair warning though: this assumes you know the Elfhame world. I'd read The Cruel Prince series ages ago (pre-Sophie, back when I had free time and brain cells), so I was fine. If you're going in totally fresh, you might be confused about some references. Just roll with it. The emotional beats still land.
The Dark Parts (A Mom's Perspective)
So here's where I put on my mom hat for a second. This is technically YA fantasy, and Emma's been eyeing my audiobook collection. This one? Not for her. Not yet.
There's violence. There's brutality. Suren's backstory involves some genuinely dark stuff—the Court of Teeth wasn't exactly a nurturing environment. It's handled well, not gratuitous, but it's there. I found myself grateful I was listening alone in my car and not with little ears around.
For me, an adult who sometimes needs escapism with teeth? Perfect. For my seven-year-old who still thinks faeries are all sparkles and wishes? We'll wait a few years.
Slow Burn That Fits My Bandwidth
The slow burn romance is exactly my speed right now. Court of Thorns and Roses has that same enemies-to-lovers tension, though honestly the faerie politics here feel sharper. I don't have the emotional bandwidth for instant love declarations or constant drama. Suren and Oak circle each other, suspicious and drawn together and fighting it the whole way. It's satisfying in that "I know where this is going but I want to watch it happen" way.
Did I ugly-cry at school pickup? Almost. There's a moment near the end that hit harder than I expected. I had to sit in the parking lot for an extra five minutes pretending to check my phone.
The ending sets up the next book in a way that's frustrating but not cruel. I immediately put The Prisoner's Throne on hold at the library. Three weeks wait. I'll survive. Probably.
Who This Is (and Isn't) For
Listen if: You're a busy adult who loved The Cruel Prince series and wants dark faerie drama you can follow during errands. Bonus points if you need escapism with actual stakes.
Skip if: You haven't read the original Elfhame books and hate feeling lost, or you're looking for something to share with younger kids. This one's got teeth.
Small Mercies
My book club would love this—if I ever have time for book club again. It's got enough depth for discussion but enough romance to keep everyone engaged. And honestly? Sometimes you just need a story about a damaged girl finding her power and a pretty prince who might actually be worth trusting. Not groundbreaking, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need ten hours of dark faerie drama to remind you that your life, chaotic as it is, doesn't involve evil ice queens or being promised in marriage at age eight.
Small mercies.
