The Prisoner's Throne

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, child abuse, and death.

Oak is the 17-year-old protagonist and third-person limited viewpoint character in The Prisoner’s Throne, as well as the heir to the throne of Elfhame. At the story’s beginning, Oak is viewed by those around him as a prince who has spent much of his life avoiding the weight of responsibility that comes with his royal lineage. Oak embodies the archetype of the charming prince: He is described as having golden curls and amber eyes. Like many of the Folk, he possesses animal features, such as small horns and hoofed legs. 

Part of his charm comes from his gancanagh nature, which he inherited from his birth mother, Liriope: He can “turn his words to honey” (106) and charm people, including other members of the Folk. His family and the Court still view him as the mischievous child depicted in The Folk of the Air trilogy. In reality, he has spent years rooting out conspiracies against Jude and Cardan while also keeping them in the dark about his actions. Despite being incapable of lying, Cardan describes Oak as having the ability to, “twist the truth so far that I am surprised it doesn’t cry out in agony” (345).