Holly Black - How the King of Elfhame Learned How To Hate Stories

Holly Black - How the King of Elfhame Learned How To Hate Stories (The Folk Of The Air #3.5)

4⭐

Genre: Fantasy, YA, Fiction, Short Stories 

Pages: 156

Format: Kindle 

Publisher:  Hot Key Books 

Date Published: 24th November 2020

 

Book Blurb: 

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame.

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue.

Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. Revealing a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan, his tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective.

This new instalment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humour, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-colour art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and the old.

My Review: 

This is a collection of short stories involving Cardan. Each story is from a different time in Cardan’s life, from meeting Nicasia to meeting Jude to moving to Balekin’s care, etc. It's mainly a collection of stories set before The Cruel Prince, so we get a bit more information on Cardans personality and upbringing. Also, each story is from Cardan’s perspective, so we as readers get more of a glimpse into his Fae mind, as well as how he started to think more and more of Jude and how finally she took over his mind and feelings.

I loved that each short story was somewhat related to the other and for me the whole book reads more like a novella, rather than a collection of short stories. I just wished there were more of the stories, especially post The Cruel Prince timeline and maybe even covering events of The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing. To be fair, I just want The Folk of the Air Series but just from Cardan’s POV.

I adored the illustrations! I mean it didn’t give them the justice that I read this book on Kindle but I can imagine how even more gorgeous they all would look on paper.

Overall: A beautiful novella-length book, with gorgeous illustrations and short stories about Cardan. I loved reading them and just wish there were more of them, but then again, I can’t ever get enough of Elfhame and Faes. This book fits beautifully with the rest of The Folk of The Air series. Also, if you love Cardan as much as I do, you will definitely love this book! 

About the Author:

Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.

https://blackholly.com/