How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air #3.5)

I dont know what I was expecting this book to be, or what content it would containbut let me tell you; I am thoroughly pleased I bought it. Not only does it include a few stories of moments weve already read through Judes POV (like the river scene) in Cardans POV, but it also gives a little more insight into Cardans character, more depth to his backstory, and a more fleshed out explanation for why he is the way he is. It also contains beautiful illustrations and art work of the characters/scenes scattered throughout the book.
All in all, it is beautifully and masterfully written with my only complaint being that it isnt very long.
Thanks again Holly Black, for creating another masterpiece.

I LOVE Cardan. He was always my favorite and I have been waiting for this book for months. Woke up and finished before breakfast. I knew it would be a fast read, but I still wish there was more because I could spend all day with my favorite guy. It was a fun read, although I still have questions about Taryn, and day to day life at the palace, but I can imagine for myself I guess. I’ll read it, I’m sure, a few more times.

While I was hoping for a whole lot more of the secret declarations of love for Jude, this was such a wonderful jump back into the world of Elfhame and The Folk of the Air.

Told completely from Cardan’s point of view, we get snapshots and moments throughout the series (and earlier in his childhood). This was a peek into his brain, and while it was wonderful while it lasted, it wasn’t nearly enough. This has only made me love Cardan even more. And, along with his stories and memories, we get these gorgeous illustrations on just about every single page.

This more than I ever thought I’d get and not enough all at the same time. Reading it in one sitting took little over an hour. It is absolutely one I could read again and again.

When I began reading, I expected a prequel to the series showing Cardan’s early life. However it is not exactly that, or not only that. It is a kind of surround-quel. Some of what is recounted here does indeed occur before The Cruel Prince. However, some of it occurs after The Queen of Nothing. Thus we get a little look at married life with Jude and Cardan. I had predicted that they were not the types to settle down into quiet contentment, and in that I was not wrong. It was satisfying. And some of this book recounts the events of The Folk of the Air from Cardan’s point-of-view.

From what I have said so far, you might think that this is a Cardan-centric version of The Lost Sisters, which shows events of The Folk of the Air from sister Taryn’s point-of-view. But it is very different. Unlike other Folk of the Air books, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is not told in the first person. It is told in the third person, although exclusively from inside Cardan’s head, a very different place from the inside of Taryn’s head.

Also, and this is a huge difference: the illustrations. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is lavishly illustrated by Rovina Cai. Cai clearly loves Cardan. If you were never quite able to picture Cardan with a tail, Cai has you covered. You will also see what Jude looks like, though I have to say that if Cai loves Jude as much as Cardan, she conceals it well.

The whole is quite short. It is longer than a typical short story, but short for a novella.

I NEED MORE!!! I need more Cardan and Jude, i need another Elfhame adventure with our adorable crazy couple, their miscreant Court of Shadows, their cute and annoying family and a full on save the world story.

This was an absolutely wonderful addition to the world of Elfhame. Cardin has such a wonderful and original voice and view. It was so lovely to catch glimpses of events that shaped him. I so desperately wish Holly Black would re-write all 3 books from Cardan’s viewpoint, as so much happened that Jude wasn’t exposed to.

If you’re a fan, you will love this short but sweet look at pre and post Jude’s Cardan;)

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