Inside LitJoy’s The Stolen Heir Annotated Special Edition

Inside LitJoy’s The Stolen Heir Annotated Special Edition

LitJoy Special Edition Book Tours
October 22, 2025•4 minute read read

Table of Contents

Inside LitJoy’s The Stolen Heir Annotated Special Edition

Return to Elfhame with LitJoy’s The Stolen Heir Annotated Special Edition, a stunning collector’s volume that begins the duology leading to The Prisoner’s Throne.

Fans of Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince and the Folk of the Air series, will fall in love all over again with this haunting tale of broken crowns, icy bargains, and two characters bound by love, betrayal, and fate.

Every detail of this edition was designed to honor Holly Black’s spellbinding storytelling and to perfectly complement The Prisoner’s Throne Annotated Special Edition.

 📖 Ready to complete the duology? Discover the details of Book 2: The Prisoner’s Throne Annotated Special Edition → 

Bringing Faerie to Life

With The Stolen Heir, our goal was to create a volume that captures the beauty and danger of Elfhame itself. Inspired by the rich, golden-age aesthetic of classic fairy-tale illustration, this edition combines elegance, symbolism, and Holly’s personal touch to immerse readers in Suren and Oak’s world.

From the ornate border treatments to the shimmer of the gilded edges, this special edition was crafted for readers who cherish both story and artistry.

The Cover Design

The custom cover by @timbeeren features a symbolic imagery, including a fox, wren, birdcage, oak leaves, and vines. These elements are woven together in a beautiful design

This image shows a close-up view of two hardcover books stacked on top of each other, placed on a surface covered with open pages of other books. The top book has a teal cover with an intricate golden design featuring leaves, birds, and a fox. The title "The Stolen Heir" is prominently displayed in large, golden letters, with the author's name "Holly Black" beneath it. The bottom book also has a teal cover with similar golden designs and the same title and author's name. The background consists of various pages of text, some of which are visible and partially legible.

Endpapers

The character endpapers, illustrated by @annalisejensen, capture pivotal moments that set the scene in The Stolen Heir. Suren, Oak, and their companions come vividly to life through Annalise’s stunning, emotional artwork.

This image shows an open book with a detailed illustration on the page. The illustration depicts a scene with a person riding a horse through a forest, accompanied by another individual. The artwork is rich with colors and intricate designs, including trees and other elements of the forest. The book is placed on top of several other books and papers, suggesting a setting related to reading or study. The text around the illustration appears to be part of a story, with phrases and sentences visible on the surrounding pages.Front Endpapers by @annalisejensen
This image shows an open book with a fantastical illustration on the left page and text on the right page. The illustration depicts a dark, mystical scene with a figure holding a glowing object, surrounded by other characters in a forest setting. The text on the right page appears to be a continuation of a story, with phrases like "the general twists around to" and "the Prophet's sons?" visible. The book is placed on top of several other open books, suggesting a setting rich in literature and storytelling.Back Endpapers by @annalisejensen

Tip-In Artwork

Each of the three tip-in illustrations transforms key story moments into art:

  • Tip-In #1 by @bohemianweasel: Wren sits in the Devil’s Tree, where mortals bargain with a bloodthirsty glaistig. When a man is cursed, Wren uses the dark magic she once suffered under to break the spell and save him.

    This image shows an open book with a fantastical illustration on the right page depicting a figure with long hair sitting on a tree branch. The left page contains text with a narrative style. The book is placed on top of other open pages from different books, suggesting a reading or study environment. The visible book spine in the top right corner has decorative elements and text, including the name "Holly Black," indicating the author. The overall scene suggests an interest in fantasy literature.

  • Tip-In #2 by @jannaphia: Oak and Wren together, a moment balanced between tenderness and danger. Soni Alcorn-Hender’s art captures the spark that ignites between them, even as old wounds threaten to tear them apart.
    This image shows an open book displaying a detailed illustration of a man and a woman in a romantic embrace. The book is placed on a surface with other papers and books visible in the background. The illustration is framed with ornate, golden designs. The book's cover, partially visible in the top right corner, features the title "The Stolen Heir" by Holly Black, with a fox logo and golden floral patterns. The pages of the book contain text, with visible words such as "golden," "invited," and "halls," suggesting a narrative context.

  • Tip-In #3 by Natalia Klimczak: Enraged by Oak’s betrayal, Wren commands him to his knees. Only when she fastens the golden bridle around his neck does Oak realize this isn’t just another game.

This image shows an open book displaying a page with text and an illustration. The illustration depicts a scene with two characters: one is a young boy dressed in red and gold, and the other is a woman with long green hair wearing a dark dress. The text on the page is written in a cursive font and includes dialogue and narrative. The book is placed on top of other books and papers, with one book prominently featuring the title "The Stolen Heir" by Holly Black on its cover. The cover has a green background with gold and white decorative elements.

Each piece was chosen to evoke the themes that make The Stolen Heir unforgettable: love born of trauma, the price of trust, and the struggle to define one’s own destiny.

Holly Black’s Personal Touch

In addition to Holly Black’s digital signature, each edition includes her exclusive handwritten annotations in the margins, giving readers a rare window into her creative mind. These notes reveal inspirations, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and reflections that deepen the experience of reading the story she built.

This image shows a book titled "The Stolen Heir" by Holly Black, which is open to a page with handwritten text. The book appears to be placed on top of several other books, with their pages visible in the background. The handwritten text on the page is partially visible and seems to be a continuation of the story. The book cover features a simple design with the title and author's name prominently displayed.


Collector-Level Craftsmanship

Crafted with the same attention to quality as The Folk of the Air Box Set and The Prisoner’s Throne Annotated Special Edition, this volume includes:

  • Sewn binding for durability and ease of reading

  • Printed on acid-free archival paper to preserve its beauty for generations

  • Ribbon bookmark for an elegant finishing touch

  • Gilded page edges that gleam with magic

  • Custom cover, endpapers, and tip-in art by celebrated artists

  • Annotations and digital signature from Holly Black herself

From the first page to the last, this is a book made to be cherished—an heirloom-worthy piece for every Folk of the Air fan.


Preorder & Price Details

📅 The Stolen Heir Annotated Special Edition is available now for preorder in the LitJoy shop!
 💲 Price: $50.00
 📦 Estimated Shipping: End of 2025


📅 The Prisoner’s Throne Special Edition preorders open with Lunacorn Members Early Access October 28th, and Public Access October 29 at 10am MT!
 💲 Price: $50.00
 📦 Estimated Shipping: Spring 2026


The Stolen Heir Annotated Special Edition is the perfect way to revisit the world of Elfhame—or to step into it for the first time. With exquisite art, Holly Black’s own annotations, and collector-level craftsmanship, it’s a must-have companion to The Prisoner’s Throne Annotated Special Edition and a centerpiece for any Folk of the Air collection.

 Preorder The Stolen Heir Today



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