Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

“You don’t think monster girls and wicked boys deserve love?”

I will never have enough of Carden’s POV. I need an entire rewrite of Cruel Prince from his POV because this was delightful.

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. It was QUITE as good as the rest of the series, but it was fun, memorable, filled with backstory tea, and provided good insight into why Carden is the way he is.

Content warning: Abandonment

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tanvi45's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious 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

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maple_dusk's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.0

It was nice to get a bit more backstory on Cardan, and even his perspective in certain scenes. The ending was okay too. :)

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avaeast's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Favorite Quote:

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

Honorary mention:

It turned out that Cardan didn’t have a heart of stone after all. As he removed his shirt and sank to his knees, as he fisted his hands and tried not to cry out when the strap fell, he burned with hatred. Hatred for Dain; for his father; for all the siblings who didn’t take him in and the one who did; for his mother, who spat at his feet as she was led away; for stupid, disgusting mortals; for all of Elfhame and everyone in it. Hate that was so bright and hot that it was the first thing that truly warmed him. Hate that felt so good that he welcomed being consumed by it.
Not a heart of stone, but a heart of fire.

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watsontheslytherin's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad 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

4.75

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andra_mihaela_s's review against another edition

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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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kenzie_simone789's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

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