10 must-read new SFF book releases to cozy up with this November
By Lacy Baugher
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories – Holly Black
An new novella set in the world of Holly Black’s megapopular Folk of the Air series, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories focuses on the enimagic life of the faerie high king, Cardan. Set both before The Cruel Prince and after The Queen of Nothing, the story promises new details on the faerie child Cardan used to be, and the ruler he ultimately grows to become. There are also vignettes that retell important moments from within the Folk of the Air trilogy from his perspective, rather than Jude’s.
Given how popular Black’s trilogy is, we’re sure that fans everywhere are eager for even just the briefest return to the world of this story, and would be happy with just the barest of scraps. But Black has never been that kind of storyteller, and is unlikely to become so here.
The official synopsis describes the novella as follows.
"Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue. Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone . #1 New York Times bestselling author, Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan. This tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective. This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old."
How The King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is available on November 24.