The wonderful Holly Black chats with us about all things The Prisoner's Throne and more!
A&U: Hey Holly! Thank you so much for agreeing to chat with us! We’re super excited for The Prisoner’s Throne. Can you tell us a little bit about the book?
HB: It's a delight to be speaking with you! The Prisoner's Throne is the sequel to The Stolen Heir, told in Oak’s point of view. This allows us to better understand his motives and some of the backstory regarding the first book. The Prisoner’s Throne begins with Oak in the dungeon of the Ice Citadel, which Wren now rules. High Queen Jude, Prince Oak's sister, wants him back at any price, leaving Oak to navigate a path that doesn’t lead to these two very powerful and dangerous women going to war.
A&U: How did you approach writing Oak’s story vs Jude’s in the Folk of the Air trilogy?
HB: Jude’s story is one of someone striving to carve out a path in a world not made for her and finding kinship in the last person she would have ever considered as a possible ally. Oak’s story is about being born to a destiny that he doesn’t want and how to allow his true self to be seen when he’s spent so many years hiding it.
Both, however are stories about navigating power. Jude has to find hers and Oak has to accept his, which is quite literally a part of him. And they both need to decide how far they are willing to go to get what they want.
A&U: You write such amazing relationship dynamics, like Oak and Wren, and Jude and Cardan. How do you approach crafting these incredibly complex relationships?
HB: Thank you! To me, the most romantic thing in the world is to be seen for who you really are, monstrous parts and all, and being loved for all of. I usually write about characters with flaws, who make mistakes, and who have experienced some level of trauma and remade themselves in that crucible of that trauma. And so, being seen and understood and cared for is hugely important to them.
I think it’s also important to figure out why these people don’t necessarily see themselves as being suited for one another. The dynamic between them is partially what draws them together, but it’s equally what pushes them apart.
And lastly, I think the strength of a relationship comes from characters who are compelling and interesting individually.
A&U: Now that Oak’s story is complete with the release of The Prisoner’s Throne, is there any chance you’ll be returning to Elfhame again anytime soon?
HB: Once you read the end of The Prisoner’s Throne, I think you’ll have a very good idea what’s next for Elfhame.
A&U: Can you give us a spoiler for The Prisoner’s Throne… but without giving us a spoiler? Something that when we’ve read it, we can go “Oh, THAT’S what Holly meant!”
HB: Here’s one:
“Wren has given me quite a gift. I will have to think long and hard about what to give her in return.”
A&U: And lastly, if you could offer some advice to writers out there, what would it be?
HB: I have two pieces of advice. One is to read voraciously, in lots of different genres. And the second is to find peers will give you honest critiques and talk story with you. The third is to write a lot, and write to the end. It takes many words to find your voice and the texture of your prose. And it takes writing stories all the way through to learn how to conceptualize plot.
The Prisoner's Throne
by Holly Black
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.
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