Holly Black and Solenne Songer have proven to be a match made in faerie thanks to their past collaborations together including the Enemies and Lovers card game that we are 100 percent still obsessed with. So when it came to bringing six stories to life with some stunning art, it was the ultimate no-brainer for author to work with the artist—who also goes by Frostbite Studios—again to bring their incredible artwork back to Elfhame. And now fans will get the chance to revisit the world in a brand new collection that also includes some special new surprises.
Cosmopolitan has an exclusive first-look at A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters by Holly Black with illustrations by Solenne Songer, which is set to be released on November 3, 2026. The new short story collection not only brings together some of our previously released favorites together in one world, but it also introduces us to two new stories that features Madoc and Carden. Here’s some more info from our friends at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers:
From the brilliant mind of #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes a collection of short stories, gorgeously illustrated in full color and set in the Faerie world, where beauty can be monstrous and love can be capricious….
A reluctant king is thrown into turmoil when the girl he loves to hate is stolen by the Undersea.An exiled redcap, trapped in the mortal world, must rediscover his inner monster.A mortal girl sacrifices the other half of herself for an unworthy faerie lover. A tiny sprite’s determination to prove herself puts the entire High Court in danger.
In this collection, #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black combines her signature wit and lush world-building with stunning full-color art by Frostbite Studios in six irresistible tales that return readers to the world of the Modern Faerie Tales and Elfhame, including two never-before-seen stories: one revealing the interior life of Madoc while in exile and the other featuring the moment that High King Cardan realizes what he most desires.
And if you haven’t seen Solenne’s stunning artwork of these characters just yet, prepare yourself, because you’re going to want this on your shelves ASAP!
“Reuniting with Solenne to work on this book has been a delight and I feel very lucky to have her as part of the project,” Holly exclusively told Cosmopolitan. “She has reflected these stories back to me in her illustrations, making me see different facets of the characters and their journeys. We all know her artwork is gorgeous, but it is also thoughtful, narrative, and emotionally resonant.”
Check out the official cover below:
So grab some ragwort and prepare for an incredible trip back to Elfhame! We plan to return on November 3, 2026.
A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters, by Holly Black and art by Solenne Songer (Frostbite Studios) will be released on November 3, 2025 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice:
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