Book Review :: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, by Holly Black

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
ISBN: 0316540889
Series: The Folk of the Air #3.5
Also in this series: The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing, The Stolen Heir
on 2020-11-24
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Magic
Pages: 173
Goodreads

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. Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame's enigmatic high king, Cardan. This 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 installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, 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 old.

Last updated on 10 November 2021

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My thoughts on How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

Finally, we’re swept back into the land of the Folk of the Air Series, as Holly Black, queen of Faeries, brings us short stories in How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories.

Broken up into short stories and told across Cardan’s life, we learn more about the Prince of Elfhame’s life, his background, his story before the events in The Cruel Prince. Each story is illustrated beautifully by Rovina Cai and adds to the mystical land of Elfhame. Some of the stories are interwoven, overlapping as characters enter and leave the pages as we read them.

“Having a heart is terrible, but you need one anyway.”

But there is very little of Jude. So don’t get your hopes up if you’re wanting an entire short story collection just about Jurdan. You won’t get it.

What you do get, however, is nothing short of magical. Black’s faerie tales are full of creativity and whimsy, and even if you had never read the Folk of the Air Series you could enjoy this book. I don’t recommend that, of course, but I hope you see what I mean. The short stories, sitting on their own as they do, tell of tales that have morals and lessons to be learnt. They are full of characters who have been thought through, who compliment each other and clash with each other. They are strong, they are weak, but they are wonderful.

“A heart of stone can still be broken.”

If you have read the Folk of the Air Series, then picking up How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a must. Also, Cardan drinks bubble tea.

Have you read How the King of Elfhame Learnt to Hate Stories? What did you think?