Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

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

53 reviews

picaresquedreamer's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Bullying, and Abandonment

Minor: Violence and Child abuse

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Grief

smuttymcbookface's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's hard to rate such a short book, but Holly Black packed an immense amount of history and character development into it. It's hard not to feel sorry for the prince forced to live like a stable beast, and Holly Black doesn't shy away from showing that Cardan is cruel, yet redeems him all the same. The illustrations were also gorgeous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content

sxndaze's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Abandonment

Moderate: Violence and Infidelity

Minor: Murder and Sexual content

camiclarkbooks's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

5.0

Ever since I finished “Stolen Heir,” I’ve been chomping at the bit for more (too soon?)!

Thankfully my library hold for “How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories” came through in the nick of time to fill that Holly Black gap in my life. 

It’s a novella so it wasn’t quite long enough for my taste, but it was that perfect blend of the dark and whimsical parts of fairyland. I also loved that it gave us a peek into Carden’s past. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infidelity and Bullying

aseel_reads's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Just a fun little collection of short stories set in this world, was cool to get bit more of Cardin's pov and childhood experiences. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, and Alcohol

themichellegray's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

2024 Re-Read - 5 stars
A must-read for any fan of The Folk of the Air series! It adds so much context to an already rich story and remains one of my all-time favorite novellas!

Original 2021 Read - 5 stars
This is probably the best novella I've ever read.

It was interesting to learn more about Cardan's upbringing and details that led to the events of The Cruel Prince. Holly Black developed such incredibly complex characters within this series who shined through her incredible storytelling. The cleverness of this story's craftsmanship is what really stood out the most.

This was both a simple yet brilliant addition to the main character's stories and I hope we will one day get more content set within this world!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, and Infidelity

Moderate: Violence, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Classism

amy_in_the_city's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Drug use, Child abuse, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Bullying

rafacolog's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, and Bullying

madalina0_0's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Violence, and Bullying

Minor: Sexual content