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

Updated: Oct 7, 2021

But no one chooses a future. You choose a path without being certain where it leads

A (relatively) new addition to the infamous Folk of the Air trilogy by the award-winning author Holly Black.

Everyone appears to be quite thrilled for the release this illustrated backstory of one of the main characters of the said trilogy. I'll be frank with you all and come clean about the fact that I'm yet to read the trilogy... but I came across this book at the bookstore and got it for a friend of mine (who was getting desperate with her search for it!).. and I managed to read the whole thing within two days! (It is around 170 pages or so)... she doesn't mind!

Choose a future, Balekin had commanded him when he’d first brought Cardan to Hollow Hall. But no one chooses a future. You choose a path without being certain where it leads. Choose one way and a monster rends your flesh. Choose another and your heart turns to stone, or fire, or glass.

Anywho, back to the task at hand! So first of all, the illustration on the cover is Quite appealing! Rovina Cai <3 You are a GEM! The story is about Cardan, his childhood and how he came to be who he is, the high king with a stone-cold heart and with some moments from the Folk of the Air narrated from Cardan's PoV.

It's short, sweet and I dare say, an excellent pavement for my comeback to YA fantasy! Oh, how I adore this genre! I'm certain that a lot of events have been revealed to me through this novella from events that took place in the Folk of the Air trilogy, to which I'm aloof to recognise. Nevertheless, I appreciate the easy language used in this book. Just the right dose of magical faerie dust to take my soaring into a Cardan's realm.

Everyone finds different lessons in stories, I suppose, but here's one. Having a heart is terrible, but you need one anyway.

Short Analysis:

Book cover: (4.5 stars)

I am absolutely in love with the illustrations on the cover of the book!

Writing style: (3 stars)

I'm not sure if it's just me and the fact that I've been away from YA fiction for so long, but the language used for this book is somewhat simple with the occasional smarty-pants wording. Similarly, it's a light read you can devour within a day (or two).
Let's not forget the illustrations! My favourite books start with a map! And the map was how this book started XDDD I just adore the illustrations added within the story! They add a little more magic to it! Be it the full-on scenes or the doodles on pages. Makes reading a pinch more fun :)

Story structure and content: (4 stars)

The story was a bit incohesive at the start, with a scene where Cardan and Jude were flying in the mortal world (maybe it's because I haven't read the trilogy... maybe it would've made more sense... idk).
We then jump to a scene in Cardan's childhood where he meets Aslog, the troll woman, who proceeds to tell him about the prince with the heart of stone.
Cardan was not loved by either his parent, his siblings or anyone else at all. Throughout the story, Cardan meets various other creatures along his journey, which ends where he meets Aslog again, this time, He is telling her the story about the prince with the heart of stone... and it gets kind of cute with Jude being around and all. Subtle (most importantly) but cute.

Plot: (4 stars)

This is the backstory of Cardan, the hated child by his parents, siblings, and everyone around him. The story of Cardan and how he became who he is, the cruel prince, the heartless high king... and the undoing of it all...

Ending: (4 stars)

The ending was just right! It made sense for this short story. Although a bit more to it wouldn't have done anyone any hard ^^"

Final rating: 3.9 stars /5

Yes, I love this novella! I recommend reading it even as a standalone! (You may correct me if I'm wrong with this statement). But I'm definitely going to read the Folk of the Air Trilogy!