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Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
84 reviews
teagstime's review against another edition
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 ^^
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content and Violence
360loverpenguin's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
jessicaludden's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
“‘You told me once, stories change. Now it’s time to change your story.’”
Wow I really missed reading about Cardan and Jude, especially Cardan. I read the Folk of the Air Series a few months ago and miss it so much. This was just what I needed. I love Cardan. He’s one of my absolute favorite characters. He already was before reading this, but after? I love him even more. I didn’t think it was possible for Holly Black to give him even more depth. I loved hearing his inner thoughts. We got to learn some of his motivations for his actions in the Cruel Prince and more detail about the trauma he experienced as a child. I loved hearing about his childhood and some of the events of the Cruel Prince from his perspective. I loved getting a little glimpse into what him and Jude are like as a couple. What I loved most about this was the overarching idea of stories. The multiple meanings of stories, how stories create a certain perception of a character that is dependent on the storyteller, and taking control of your own story. I think it was such a great them for a character like Cardan who, when we first meet him in The Cruel Prince, is kind of the worst, but as the series goes on we learn to love him and we see his character grow. I think this book was a great way to summarize Cardan’s character growth while also giving the reader more perspective on his character that we didn’t get before. I loved everything about it. The individual stories were beautiful, the overall story was beautiful, the art was absolutely gorgeous and I miss it already.
Favorite Quotes:
“…since the hour of Cardan’s birth, he has been alternately adored and despised.”
“So long as you’re begging, he doesn’t mind a bit.”
“They are two people who ought to have, by all rights, remained enemies forever.”
“She feels as though she has something to prove at all times. Feels as though she has to earn the crown on her head over and over again.”
“Having only recently stopped playing the villain, Cardan thinks again of the winding path of decisions that brought him to this unlikely place, here with her, racing over the sky, planning to end trouble instead of making more of 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.”
“He thought of the way she looked at him, brows narrowed in suspicion. Scornful, and alert. Awake. Alive.”
“The odd curve of her ear was what he had noticed first.”
“…as though she was the only real thing in a land of ghosts.”
“Jude, Cardan thought, hating even the shape of her name. Jude.”
“…now that Cardan had committed himself to villainy, he took a perverse delight in the misunderstanding. Everything he could do to get under the skin of his family, every vicious drawling comment, every lazy sneer made him feel as though he had a little more power.”
“Playing the villain was the only thing he’d ever really excelled at.”
“There was absolutely no reason to think of Jude in that moment. She was utterly insignificant.”
“‘A heart of stone can still be broken.’”
“Cardan ought to have been the boy with the heart of stone in Aslog’s story, but somehow he had let his heart turn to glass. He could feel the shattered shards of it lodged in his lungs, making his every breath painful.”
“He could no more lie than any of the Folk, but stories were the closest thing to lies the Folk could tell.”
“Jude looked up at him, and in her eyes, he recognized a hate big enough and wide enough and deep enough to match his own. A hate you could drown in like a vat of wine.”
“But the contempt made him feel as though she saw beneath all his sharp and polished edges.”
“But every night, Jude haunted him… It was too much, the way the thought about her. He knew it was too much, but he couldn’t stop. It disgusted him that he couldn’t stop.”
“Cardan considers that villainy takes many forms, and he is good at all of them.”
“Oak gave up his room so they could sleep there, and although the bed is small, Cardan cannot mind when he takes Jude in his arms.”
“‘Though his heart was as hard and cold as ever, he wondered what he would feel were it not.’”
“‘She would marry him, and he would vow to never pass three nights without being a little afraid.’”
“‘Everyone finds different lessons in stories, I suppose, but here’s one. Having a heart is terrible, but you need one anyway.’”
“‘Stories can justify anything. It doesn’t matter if the boy with the heart of stone is a hero or a villain; it doesn’t matter if he for what he deserved or if he didn’t. No one can reward him or punish him, save the storyteller. And she’s the one who shaded the tale so we’d feel whatever way we feel about him in the first place. You told me once, stories change. Now it’s time to change your story.’”
“‘She’s forever getting me out of scrapes. Truly, I don’t know what I would do without her.’”
“‘There is one thing I did like about playing the hero. The only good bit. And that was not having to be terrified for you.’”
“‘So long as you’re begging…’”
Wow I really missed reading about Cardan and Jude, especially Cardan. I read the Folk of the Air Series a few months ago and miss it so much. This was just what I needed. I love Cardan. He’s one of my absolute favorite characters. He already was before reading this, but after? I love him even more. I didn’t think it was possible for Holly Black to give him even more depth. I loved hearing his inner thoughts. We got to learn some of his motivations for his actions in the Cruel Prince and more detail about the trauma he experienced as a child. I loved hearing about his childhood and some of the events of the Cruel Prince from his perspective. I loved getting a little glimpse into what him and Jude are like as a couple. What I loved most about this was the overarching idea of stories. The multiple meanings of stories, how stories create a certain perception of a character that is dependent on the storyteller, and taking control of your own story. I think it was such a great them for a character like Cardan who, when we first meet him in The Cruel Prince, is kind of the worst, but as the series goes on we learn to love him and we see his character grow. I think this book was a great way to summarize Cardan’s character growth while also giving the reader more perspective on his character that we didn’t get before. I loved everything about it. The individual stories were beautiful, the overall story was beautiful, the art was absolutely gorgeous and I miss it already.
Favorite Quotes:
“…since the hour of Cardan’s birth, he has been alternately adored and despised.”
“So long as you’re begging, he doesn’t mind a bit.”
“They are two people who ought to have, by all rights, remained enemies forever.”
“She feels as though she has something to prove at all times. Feels as though she has to earn the crown on her head over and over again.”
“Having only recently stopped playing the villain, Cardan thinks again of the winding path of decisions that brought him to this unlikely place, here with her, racing over the sky, planning to end trouble instead of making more of 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.”
“He thought of the way she looked at him, brows narrowed in suspicion. Scornful, and alert. Awake. Alive.”
“The odd curve of her ear was what he had noticed first.”
“…as though she was the only real thing in a land of ghosts.”
“Jude, Cardan thought, hating even the shape of her name. Jude.”
“…now that Cardan had committed himself to villainy, he took a perverse delight in the misunderstanding. Everything he could do to get under the skin of his family, every vicious drawling comment, every lazy sneer made him feel as though he had a little more power.”
“Playing the villain was the only thing he’d ever really excelled at.”
“There was absolutely no reason to think of Jude in that moment. She was utterly insignificant.”
“‘A heart of stone can still be broken.’”
“Cardan ought to have been the boy with the heart of stone in Aslog’s story, but somehow he had let his heart turn to glass. He could feel the shattered shards of it lodged in his lungs, making his every breath painful.”
“He could no more lie than any of the Folk, but stories were the closest thing to lies the Folk could tell.”
“Jude looked up at him, and in her eyes, he recognized a hate big enough and wide enough and deep enough to match his own. A hate you could drown in like a vat of wine.”
“But the contempt made him feel as though she saw beneath all his sharp and polished edges.”
“But every night, Jude haunted him… It was too much, the way the thought about her. He knew it was too much, but he couldn’t stop. It disgusted him that he couldn’t stop.”
“Cardan considers that villainy takes many forms, and he is good at all of them.”
“Oak gave up his room so they could sleep there, and although the bed is small, Cardan cannot mind when he takes Jude in his arms.”
“‘Though his heart was as hard and cold as ever, he wondered what he would feel were it not.’”
“‘She would marry him, and he would vow to never pass three nights without being a little afraid.’”
“‘Everyone finds different lessons in stories, I suppose, but here’s one. Having a heart is terrible, but you need one anyway.’”
“‘Stories can justify anything. It doesn’t matter if the boy with the heart of stone is a hero or a villain; it doesn’t matter if he for what he deserved or if he didn’t. No one can reward him or punish him, save the storyteller. And she’s the one who shaded the tale so we’d feel whatever way we feel about him in the first place. You told me once, stories change. Now it’s time to change your story.’”
“‘She’s forever getting me out of scrapes. Truly, I don’t know what I would do without her.’”
“‘There is one thing I did like about playing the hero. The only good bit. And that was not having to be terrified for you.’”
“‘So long as you’re begging…’”
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
psydneigh's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was nice. It showed Cardan’s background from his perspective. Not necessary, but a cute read if you liked the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
zoeelora's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Infidelity
eloisenicolina's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-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? N/A
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
saltycoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Child abuse
karapillar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
space_bandit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
aidamaria_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
Reading an entire book from Cardan’s point of view was exactly what I needed! I have to admit there’s been too little of him falling for Jude in it though, and the time jumps were a little chaotic. I liked the stories within this book a lot, but wish there would have been more. Overall a nice addition to the series although I don’t think you missed out on too many things if you haven’t read this one (yet).
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Infidelity, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse