Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

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

30 reviews

culzean's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Abandonment, Blood, Drug use, and Alcohol

quinn_07's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The artwork is absolutely stunning - my favourite part of the book. I also enjoyed seeing more of Cardan's backstory and understanding his character a little better. However, some stories were filler stories and didn't add much. A nice short read though

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Child abuse

Moderate: Bullying and Violence

Minor: Drug use and Sexual content

leonormsousa's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting

alexifairbanks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Hands down, one of my all time favourite books 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Death

kynthebookworm's review

adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I think this was a great addition to this world. I love the writing and I really liked the stories told and how they tied into Cardan's own actions and development. 
I also loved seeing the tidbits of them in the mortal world and the amazing little dynamic the characters all share as a family now.
I would have liked to see a bit more about Cardan and his interactions with the court and his siblings when he was younger but I do understand they more than likely weren't included for the sake of telling the overarching story across all the shorts in this book.
Overall a great read if you enjoy the original trilogy and very quick I finished it in 4 hours.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Confinement

raypaws's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual content

km_reads_and_edits's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Tonally, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories was like an eerie, grimdark fairytale. Both the story and the artwork were beautiful and unsettling and magical all at the same time. Getting immersed in this book truly felt like stepping into a land of messed-up fables (and I loved every minute of it). Also, the artwork is giving Where the Wild Things Are vibes, which was my favourite picture book as a child.

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is book no. 3.5 in Holly Black's The Folk of the Air Series. Before reading it, you will want to have already read the following:
1. The Cruel Prince
1.5 The Lost Sisters (not worth reading as Taryn's POV adds very little to the story, in my opinion)
2. The Wicked King
3. The Queen of Nothing

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Infidelity, and Child abuse

andra_mihaela_s's review

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I'm really glad I managed to get my hands on this add-on from Holly Black! ^_^

These collection of "stories" are well thought off and in perfect sync with the rest of "The Folk of the Air" series!

It gives us some answers to why our "Cruel Prince" behaved as he did, without actually trying to absolve him of the things he did and said! Well done!

Without spoiling the stories, I want to say the following: we have a coursive narrative, we receive answers as to why some things/ behavior was part of Cardan's character, and more than that, we get to see his mind evolving over time and how he interprets life and himself in different stages of it!
I'm happy with the way in which fairytales were incorporated and the different ways in which they evolve..from one interpreter to another, from one conclusion to another and from one purpose to another! Really liked this clever use of ever-changing story!

I really enjoyed this short book and I'm hopefull we'll someday get one on Madoc...

I don't think it is a shock to say that we have Jude make an appearance...but, thankfully, Cardan seemed to be his own person..without the tragic truth of many heroes/ love interests - with only one character trait...to be our MC's lover...>..>

In the end, I can only say that, for me, it was cathartic to see this side of the tale, to be in Cardan's shoes for a minute and explore his view on things!

Gladly recommend to anyone who enjoyed the original series!
Enjoy 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Abandonment, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Slavery, and Racial slurs

teagstime's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A short, interesting look at Cardan's backstory + feelings from the first book/post-canon ! I just enjoyed getting to see more of him idk ^^

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Abandonment, and Child abuse

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content and Violence

lady_moon's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Child abuse, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Cursing