"Boys change... And so do stories."
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
Holly Black
Folk of the Air, book three point five
ebook, 200 pages
Published November 24, 2020
ASIN 031654082X
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 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-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old.
A collection of novellas that add on to the story of Cardan and Jude. It is a must read in the series for a full picture of the characters and their motivations.
1. Jude introduces Cardan to how she traveled to and from the mortal world. Cardan is just admiring her the whole way.
She wants to fight monsters, and she wants him for a lover, the same boy she fantasized about murdering. She likes nothing easy or safe or sure.
2. Nine year old Cardan is visited by a troll who tells him a story. This was probably my favorite of the book.
3. Tells the story of when Cardan first comes to live with Balekin and meets the door. I do love his door. Also, it's when he meets Nicasia for the first time.
4. Cardan takes one of Balekin's human slaves back to the mortal world.
5. The early stages of Cardan's obsession with Jude.
6. Cardan and Nicasia visit her realm. Spoiler: He's over it.
7. How Cardan obtained the book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glsss, and the return of the troll. This time she tells a new version of the old story.
"This is most certainly not the story you told me when I was nine," said Prince Cardan, eyebrows raising.
"How better to show that he had no fear?" The troll woman's smile was all teeth.
"Ah, but without the terror, surely it had not half the savor," he returned.
"How better to show that he had no fear?" The troll woman's smile was all teeth.
"Ah, but without the terror, surely it had not half the savor," he returned.
8. The story of Nicasia's betrayal with Locke. In Cardan's own bedroom no less.
Tell me it means nothing, that it was just a bit of fun, he thought. Tell me and everything will be as it was before. Tell me and I will pretend along with you.
But she was silent.
Oof.
But she was silent.
9. Cardan learns of Locke's interest in the Duarte sisters and what follows is a bit of the bullying from book one from his POV.
This one should have been longer.
10. Cardan dines with Jude, Oak, Vivi, and Heather in the mortal world before the tale continues on from the first in this book and comes full circle with the troll woman. Only this time, it is Cardan that tells a variation of the story.
4 out of 5 stars.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
Previously in the series:
2025/51
