Cómo el rey de Elfhame aprendió a odiar los cuentos

The Folk of the Air #3.5

by Holly Black, Jaime Valero (Translator)

Antes de ser un príncipe cruel o un rey malvado, Cardan fue un joven feérico con un corazón de piedra.

Holly Black, la autora superventas número 1 del New York Times, nos ofrece una visión más profunda de la dramática vida del enigmático rey supremo de Elfhame, Cardan. Esta historia incluye suculentos detalles de su vida antes de El príncipe cruel y una aventura más allá de La reina de nada, además de momentos íntimos, vividos a lo largo de la saga Los habitantes del aire, contados desde la perspectiva de Cardan.

Esta nueva entrega de la saga Los habitantes del aire

nos permite experimentar de nuevo el romance, el humor, el peligro y las sensaciones que han enganchado a lectores de todo el mundo. Cada capítulo cuenta con fastuosas ilustraciones a todo color que convierten a este libro en un objeto de coleccionista perfecto tanto para fans como para nuevos lectores que quieran descubrir la saga.

EDICIÓN ESPECIAL EN TAPA DURA CON SOBRECUBIERTA E ILUSTRACIONES INTERIORES A COLOR.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fae, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories

180 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 2020

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.

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

1.) The Cruel Prince ★★★★★
1.5) The Lost Sisters ★★★★★
2.) The Wicked King ★★★★★
3.) The Queen of Nothing ★★★★★

"Hate that was so bright and hot that it was the first thing that truly warmed him."

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is an illustrated novella following Cardan Greenbriar, during many different stages in his life, while we slowly see all the different things that shaped him cruelly. The sound that left me when I opened this book and realized we were going to get present day with Jude from Cardan’s POV… be still, my hopes and dreams and heart.

Rovina Cai’s art is truly so beautiful that it renders me speechless. I was already in love with her and her art because of her work with The Wayward Children series, but this entire book feels like am immersive work of art. From the perfect color palette, to the most perfect details, she executes the vibe of Cardan and his story in a way that I don’t think another artist could.



In this story, Cardan’s life is very much impacted by a troll named Aslong who was wronged by Cardan’s father. She tells a story about a boy with a heart of stone, who finds himself in a predicament with a monster girl who won’t scare him away, until his heart starts beating again. And then all throughout his life, she tells his alternate versions of this same story, each version with a new meaning for a new version of Cardan himself.

"She was the only real thing in a land of ghosts."

We also get to see so much of Cardan’s perspective during The Cruel Prince , much like we did with Tarryn in The Lost Sisters , and it was everything. Nicasia and Locke have much wanted character development in this book, too, and I am literally on my knees begging for Holly to just give us the trilogy in Cardan’s complete point of view. But we see Nicasia being fostered on the land because her mother, Orlagh, Queen of the Undersea, wants to start putting pieces in motion. We get to see Locke, and his empty house and even emptier heart, teach Cardan the word “cruel” on every page. And these two, in addition to a prophecy looming over this young prince, are truly the first catalysts to this story and I was so in love seeing behind the scenes. And when Holly gives us Locke’s perspective one of these years…

"Playing the villain was the only thing he’d ever really excelled at."

Each part, each mini story, we get to see Cardan questioning who he is and who he wants to be. Not to make this too deep, but Cardan very slowly realizes that he is not responsible for the terrible acts his family committed; both to him and to the people they ruled over. He struggles with his identity of a prince who should feel like he has everything, and a boy who feels like he has nothing. But seeing him finally understand that he deserves not only love but unconditional love? Him slowly appreciating that his heart can be warm and beat unapologetically? Truly some powerful stuff.

On a personal note, I think most of you know that Holly Black is an author who means a lot to me. Her fae stories are what first got me into YA when I was young, and it really changed me as a reader and probably a human as well. I know most of you know that 2020 has been a hard year for everyone and everything, very much including my reading, so being able to curl up and read about my emotional support fae, from my emotional support author, just meant a lot to me. I truly think reading this book a day before release (bless you Waterstones and my mail person) was the best reading experience I’ve had all year, and for that alone this book was probably the easiest five star I’ve given in a year of not a lot of five star reads.

"Feels as though she has to earn the crown on her head over and over again."

Overall, this felt like the fairytale of my dreams. Cardan is my favorite character in The Cruel Prince series (or any of Holly’s books, I think) and this truly was such a magical, wonderous, unforgettable addition to this world. I am incredibly biased over this series because so much of my heart and nostalgia are wrapped up within this world, but I honestly think there is just so much to love on every page of this book. I feel blessed to read about each time Holly gives us a new book, and this will for sure be a favorite of mine for all of 2020. Lastly, I cannot believe we really got to read about Cardan going out for boba.

Content & Trigger Warnings: abandonment, bullying, abuse, mention of drug use, humiliation, talk of cheating, and a lot of drinking.

Blog | Instagram | Youtube | Ko-fi | Spotify | Twitch

[Teodora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Black brings THIS back:

My gorgeous wicked boy Cardan gets the spotlight (yet again, of course) and - y'all, my heart is s w e a t i n g

5/5 ⭐

This felt exactly like that one (1) book of fairy tales I had when I was little, filled with drawings and old stories about fairies and kings and queens and witches.
It wasn't much, but it was so comforting my weak heart simply couldn't.

Also, I'm so disgustingly in love with Cardan it isn't even funny anymore.

[chai ♡]

oh haven't you heard? Holly Black released a sneek peak at Cardan's inner thoughts:

repressed trauma incandescent rage JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE self-loathing more incandescent rage JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE revenge more repressed trauma must get drunk JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE so no head? JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE how is anyone supposed to do any work around here with this fucking tail JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE oh that's right I don't have to do any work haha pass me that bottle of wine JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JU-

[✨ Helena ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOO SHORT! TOO SHORT! I DEMAND MORE!!! 😤

While I loved every page of this, Holly Black also managed to exclude every scene that I wanted to see. 🤦🏻‍♀️ So, I’m going to choose to believe that she’s saving them for another Cardan novella in the future! 😁

Regardless, the faery tale-esque vibe and the beautiful illustrations in this novella made for a very cute and fun read! 🥰

[Haley pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so obsessed with this world. It might be my favorite ever.

[may ➹]

sometimes I think about finishing this series and then I remember Cardan is a furry faerie with a tail

[Hamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoes be like: Give me all of JUDECARDAN stories and I like Cardan's tail and I can't get enough of this world!

It is me, I am hoes!

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny how I hate angst until it's Cardan being angsty, and that angst involves him scribbling a certain Jude Duarte's name over and over again while ink drips onto his clothes but he's too busy pining over Jude to care.

Villains were wonderful. They got to be cruel and selfish, to preen in front of mirrors and poison apples, and trap girls on mountains of glass. They indulged all their worst impulses, revenged themselves for the least offense, and took every last thing they wanted.
And sure, they wound up in barrels studded with nails, or dancing in iron shoes heated by fire, not just dead, but disgraced and screaming.
But before they got what was coming to them, they got to be the fairest in all the land.

I was captivated by the way Cardan views the world. He was dismissed repeatedly, even as a child, and endured years of abuse before learning how to build a facade. He pretends to have a heart of stone and is bewildered by attachment, but needs someone to love him anyway. He isn't a warrior or a hero or a savior. He was a villain, then a villain in name only, then a king, but he remains a soft, vulnerable character inside.

Cardan had trusted Nicasia not to hurt him, which was ridiculous, since he well knew that everyone hurts one another and that the people you loved hurt you the most grievously. Since he was well aware that they both took delight in hurting everyone else that they could, how could he have thought himself safe?

This book is magical. The art is stunning and mystical and perfect. The writing is beautiful (as always) and depicts the world with such beauty and danger. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a breath of fresh air—the fairy tale atmosphere, the razor-sharp wit, the allure of the fey.

The contempt made him feel as though she saw beneath all his sharp and polished edges. It reminded him of how his father and all the Court had seen him, before he learned how to shield himself with villainy.
And doomed as she was, he envied her whatever conviction made her stand there and defy him.
She ought to be nothing. She ought to be insignificant. She ought not to matter.
He had to make her not matter.

5 stars

[Cardan Greenbriar]

cause of severe painful death

THIS



^^^ WHOM THE FUCK MADE THIS I-

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

  "So long as you're begging," he says.

YES I'm begging for more because THAT WAS TOO SHORT😭😭😭


This book was both everything and nothing at the same time. Everything because um it's Cardan Greenbriar???🥰

Cardan's inner thoughts.

Cardan in the mortal world.

Cardan drinking bubble tea.

Cardan eating dumplings.

Cardan just being Cardan.🥺

(by @loweana.art)

But it also felt like nothing because the scenes I actually REALLY wanted to see weren't there.😭

I mean who wants to see Cardan and Nicasia together?!?!?! I wanted more JURDAN moments.🥺😭 Instead there were like about 2-3(?) short stories on them out of 11???

My heart is very sad.😞 But I'm hoping this is Holly's secret way of telling us that there will be more Cardan short stories (WITH JUDE) in the future....?

I WOULD SELL MY SOUL FOR MORE.

(by @sallteas)

Ah yes but I LOVED the stories Aslog would tell Cardan.😂 The lessons at the end . . . ahahaha definitely what you should tell kids at nighttime. I actually really liked them.

"A sharp tongue is no match for a sharp tooth."

now HOLLY. PLEASE give MORE CARDAN🙏

at least we now know how he learned to hate stories

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

Pre-read Review:

YASSSSSSS!!!!!🥳

We get a story about Cardan hating stories!!!😍😂

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say this is a must-read for Cardan fans.

I absolutely adored the magical, fairy tale-like quality to this book. It reads almost like a series of short stories, but they are all interconnected and each one unveils details about Cardan's life and background. There's magic and witches and gorgeous illustrations... what's not to like? :)

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly Black. You are a gift. A national treasure.

I would 110% steal you with Nicolas Cage.

[Ali Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh I loved getting to be back in the world of Jude & Cardan. I missed them😫 And it was so nice getting more background on Cardan. It makes his character and other events in The Cruel Prince make so much more sense. And THE ART IN THIS BOOK was so cool. What a fun, quick, & insightful read. I will now be missing Jude & Cardan again 😫

[mahriya➹]

cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella cardan novella

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

charmingly told and stunningly illustrated, this is a wonderful collection of short stories narrating select moments in cardans life before, during, and after the events of the ‘folk of the air’ series.

while i do wish more stories had been included, i love the motion of how each story flows into the next, almost feeling like a novella rather than an anthology. its really effective at building cardans character and expanding upon his development from the series.

fans of the series, cardan, and art will no doubt love this.

↠ 4 stars

[megs_bookrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

((me: closes final page; releases satisfied sigh))



And just like that, my faith in the world has been restored. Thank you, Holly Black. We needed this.

Unsurprisingly, Cardan had me entirely entranced.



How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is a collection of beautifully illustrated short-stories, all told from Cardan's perspective. They span from when he was a little boy, all the way through and after, The Queen of Nothing.

I knew going in that this was illustrated, but my goodness, it is absolutely stunning.



As I was reading, I would often stop to just soak in the illustrations. They truly brought these stories to life and gave them the magical quality of an old-time fairy tale.

Cardan is such a fun character and reading from his perspective provided all new insight into his decisions and motivations. I love him now more than ever.



For true fans of this series, this is bonus content that should not be missed!

Personally, I will pick up anything Black chooses to write regarding these characters, or Elfhame in general. This book is a wonderful collector's piece; one I am happy to add to my collection.

[~Calliope~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A heart of stone can still be broken.”

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

never thought i’d say this before i read the series: i love cardan, i really truly do😭😍

this book only made me wish for dual pov’s in the entire series, and it honestly would’ve made the experience ten times better!

[Mara YA Mood Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Powders were pressed to Cardan’s tongue, and he passed them to Nicasia with a kiss.” 🤭😉

I absolutely adored this illustrated novella!! It brought me back into my favorite world in the realm of Faerie with my most beloved characters of all time!!
12/4/2020



I still haven’t found anything that shook me as hard as this series!! All I want is more, more, more!!! Why can’t we find more like this??? 😭
11/25/2020


Just look at him here! Cardan is baby and I'm crying!




And here!! *screams* He's so precious!!


Basically the fanart I drool over wrapped up into a beautiful, precious full color book with more from my all time favorite series ever!! A gift from my queen, Holly Black!! I can die happy!!! Omg omg omg omg Cardan!!!!!!! I'm so turned on right now hahaha

5/18/2020

[shre ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

alright so next novella WHEN? cause....that was NOT ENUFF.

---------------------------------------------------------------

manifesting getting cardan’s perspective when jude was stuck undersea. when he was writing those letters to jude. when he exiled her and throughout her exile. when she held a knife to his throat. all the time he spent pretending to hate her when he never could. when she pretended to be taryn after coming back from exile. when taryn pretended to be her wearing those earrings. the hug on the beach in qon. MANIFESTING. MANIFESTING. MANIFESTING.

and also his childhood 🥺. his life with his kitten siblings. his life with jude as rulers of elfhame. them in the mortal world. IM LOSING MY MIND.

[Ishika · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new book:
"HOW THE QUEEN OF LAZINESS STOLE NURSERY RHYMES"

Chapter 1:BALEKIN
PART 1:
Twinkle Twinkle the dimest star
How I wonder what a piece of shit you are
May you fall from a cliff so high
Or die by the hands of the High Fae king's wife.

PART 2:
If you want to kill Balekin raise your sword
If you want to kill Balekin raise your sword
If you want to kill Balekin and you really wanna do it
If you want to kill Balekin raise your sword."

Chapter 2:CARDAN
Cardan Cardan, yes my future wife
Will you love me? Never in my life
Telling lie? No baby
Open your favorite book, ah ah ah.

(Sounds so lame Ikr)
A/N:I'm talking about the page Jude finds in Cardan's Alice in Wonderland.

Chapter 3: LOCKE
PART 1:
Locke had a little brain
Little brain, Little brain
Locke had a little brain
His brain cells were less than two

PART 2:
Locke's brain has fallen down
Fallen down , fallen down
Locke's brain has fallen down
My fair lady!

Chapter 4:NICASIA AND LOCKE
A B C D E F G
Nicasia turned out to be a cheat
H I J K L M N O P
Nicasia got cheated by a cheat
Q R S T U V W
Locks I really hate you
X Y Z
Rejoice cause Locke's dead

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This book wouldn't have been possible without Balekin, Locke and Nicasia's stupidness. Special thanks to Jude and Cardan for existing.

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥]

Give me all the Cardan my twisted and wicked faerie heart is longing for! <3
I can't believe Holly Black is blessing us with another book!

I'll never get enough of this world,
I'll never get enough of my kin,
and I'll always love Cardan! Period!

This said I already know who's going to buy this as soon as it's out.
Yes, dear reader, it's me, the faerie next door. ;-P

[• Lindsey Dahling • · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I want is a book where Jude and Cardan flirt, make out, and go to bone town. When does THAT novella come out?

In the meantime, this was very sweet.

[Antje ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought a boy with pointy ears and A TAIL (I'll never let you forget that) could make me FEEL SO MUCH????

[Maryam Rz. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you’re chatting with the Cardan to your Jude and she starts spamming you in revenge ⤵

(GR ruined it, click on image for high quality)

(ಠಿ_ಠ)

I believe I just had a front row seat to what this book is gonna be like so I don’t think I even need to read it anymore. I don’t want to be spammed you know. What do you say I block her and also build a pillow wall between us at night. Or maybe clip that tail...hmmm...





# WE STAN THE TAIL anyone??

Dear Holly Black,

I need the heavens to open and this book to fall into my lap.
Wouldn't mind if Cardan fell into my lap either.
You know, as a side dish.

Your eternal servant,
RL Jude

↑ smol Cardan art to bless yo feed
by rosiethorns88

Companions

Book series playlist: Spotify URL

Books in series:
➳ The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) ★★★★★
➳ The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air, #1.5) ★★★★☆
➳ The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) ★★★★★
➳ The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3) ★★★★☆
➳ How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #3.5) ★★★★☆

[human · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please excuse me while I go scream for a couple of hours.

*clears throat*

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*cough*

*ahem*



To say that I was anticipating this book would be an understatement. I obsessed over how soon it would release for a couple of days, then slowly move away from it. Then, a few weeks later, the obsession would be back in full force, mostly resulting in me screaming over fanart.

(Do I have a problem? Maybe. Probably. That's irrelevant.)

And now, finally, finally, f i n a l l y, I got to read it.

To be honest? I'm feeling a little bit let down.



I was expecting more Jurdan stories. Yeah, sure, I knew it was going to be about younger Cardan, but I really was anticipating more of his interactions with Jude in this. I mean, I can think of at least three scenes from the first book I wanted to see in his perspective.

And I would have been okay with it (mostly) if there was less Nicasia. Like, all together. Sure, she's an important character, and I don't completely hate her anymore because of the third book, but seeing Cardan and Nicasia but not so much of Cardan and Jude? That wasn't it.

So why did I give this book such a high rating?

Simple. Cardan.


credit to Nan Fe!

(Okay, and the illustrations that were included. They were absolutely beautiful and complimented the book perfectly. Oh, and the very last story. Of course.

...

Excuse me while I go scream over that for a couple of hours, too.)

All in all, I loved this. The book was awesome, mostly because I will never get tired of Cardan this world. And yes, I am aware that this is less of a review of the book, and more of an insight to my Cardan obsession nobody asked for.


(Consider this my reassurance to you that I'm well and perfectly sane, thank you very much. In fact, I prefer it this way.)

~~~~~~~~~~~

*rocks back and forth*

*mumbles just one more month over and over again like a crazy person*

~~~~~~~~~~~

*cries in anticipation because cardan*

[Victoria Resco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy ligero y entretenido. Me gustó conocer más a fondo a Cardan y descubrir su perspectiva de la vida y de algunas de las situaciones que ya conocíamos pero solo desde el punto de vista de Jude.

Además… 🛐Cardan🛐

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing ✨

[Maggie]

y'all the good lord blessed us all!!!!!! holly black just saved 2020

[Pine tree leaf stick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Remember, all you really get to control is yourself."

The art? Perfection.
Cardan? Perfection.
Jurdan content? Perfection.

And Cardan is so entirely relatable, it's almost scary.

"The Prince of Elfhame Hates (Almost) Everything and Everyone.”

That is so valid of him, I am the same.

This book is so quotable. There are so many great lines, I wish I could record them all but then I’d just end up spoiling the entire book.

It’s very well written. Stories from another character’s POV can be disappointing due to tone issues and the like, but Cardan’s POV was perfectly executed. It aligned well with his character as we saw from Jude’s perspective in the trilogy.

5/5 this book is (almost) as beautiful as Cardan