1
of
1
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air series)
The perfect gift for fans of Fantasy Fiction
Series: The Folk of the Air
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 255,953 ratings, 28,669 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3299
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Ai...
$3299
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame from bestselling Folk of the Air author Holly Black, with stunning full-colour illustrations by Rovina Cai.
An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame from bestselling Folk of the Air
author Holly Black
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Before becoming an infamous king or a cruel prince, Cardan was a faerie child with a heart as cold as stone and a tongue as sharp as any blade. In How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, Holly Black invites readers to delve deeper into the dramatic and enigmatic life of Elfhame's high king, Cardan Greenbriar. This exquisitely illustrated tale grants us an intimate viewpoint of Cardan's experiences, from childhood escapades to the pivotal moments that shaped him, extending the lore of The Folk of the Air series in enchanting ways.
In this spellbinding instalment, Black masterfully interweaves stories that trace Cardan's evolution. We see glimpses of his tumultuous upbringing, understand his motivations, and witness the complexities that make him both captivating and dangerously unpredictable. By exploring life before The Cruel Prince and offering new adventures beyond The Queen of Nothing, this book tantalises with fresh narratives while shedding light on familiar events from the trilogy. Each chapter, rich with heart-racing romance, perilous intrigue, and dark humour, is dedicated to unveiling the complexities of Cardan's character.
The enchanting prose is complemented by lavish, full-colour illustrations that bring the faerie realm of Elfhame to life. Each piece of art is carefully crafted to enhance the storytelling experience, making How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories not just a literary delight but a visual feast as well. This collector's item is perfect for both long-time fans of the series and newcomers alike, offering a unique perspective that enriches the entire narrative of The Folk of the Air trilogy.
Rediscover the allure of Holly Black's world with this captivating and beautifully rendered addition to the Folk of the Air series, and see Cardan in a way you never have before — through his own eyes.
Series: The Folk of the Air
View all-
The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3)
The intoxicating and bloodthirsty finale to the New York Times bestselling series The Folk of the Air, Holly Black's The Queen of Nothing brings the riveting saga to a dramatic close. Having been crowned Queen of Faerie only to be cruelly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude Duarte finds herself navigating the banality of the mortal world. Forced into...Paperback$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black deftly weaves a darkly enchanting tale set in the treacherous world of Faerie. This riveting narrative follows Jude Duarte, a mortal girl whose world is shattered when she and her sisters witness the brutal murder of their parents by a violent Faerie assassin. Despite the trauma, the sisters are abducted to the perilous realm...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2)
Number 1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the Best YA Fantasy Category in the Goodreads Choice Awards. The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black is an intoxicating and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Cruel Prince, also nominated for the CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019. This gripping continuation of Jude and...Paperback$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Stolen Heir
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge. Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air series)
Before becoming an infamous king or a cruel prince, Cardan was a faerie child with a heart as cold as stone and a tongue as sharp as any blade. In How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, Holly Black invites readers to delve deeper into the dramatic and enigmatic life of Elfhame's high king, Cardan Greenbriar. This exquisitely...Paperback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air series)
Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue ... Before Cardan was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. In this sumptuously illustrated tale, Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame's enigmatic high king. This tale includes delicious details of life...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Prisoner's Throne
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means...HardbackSold Out
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories is received as a captivating addition to the series, providing deep insight into the protagonist's past and motivations. The book is praised for its beautiful illustrations and rich storytelling, making it a beloved companion for existing fans of the series.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781471410017
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 24 November 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Hot Key Books
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Rovina Cai
Audience: Teenage
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 15.0mm
Width: 155.0mm
Height: 228.0mm
Weight: 490g
Pages: 192
About the Author
Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Her titles include the Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare) and the Folk of the Air series, which begins with The Cruel Prince in 2018, nominated for the CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019, and winner of the Silver Inky for best International YA book. She has been a a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Award and a Newbery Honor. She lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door. Follow Holly at blackholly.com or @HollyBlack
Rovina Cai is a freelance illustrator who works across a variety of genres. Her poetic imagery has served as book covers, posters and interior art for novels and picture books. She recently won the World Fantasy Award for best artist. Her work has also been recognised by organisations like the Society of Illustrators, and the Children's Book Council of Australia. Rovina works out of a cosy studio in Melbourne, Australia, in an old building that was once a convent and is possibly haunted.
Also by Holly Black
View all-
The Folk of the Air Boxset
Dive into the enchanting and treacherous world of faeries with The Folk of the Air Boxset by Holly Black. This paperback collection brings together all three thrilling novels of the series: The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing. Follow the gripping tale of Jude, a mortal girl who navigates the dangerous politics and power struggles of...Novelty book$5300Elsewhere:$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3)
The intoxicating and bloodthirsty finale to the New York Times bestselling series The Folk of the Air, Holly Black's The Queen of Nothing brings the riveting saga to a dramatic close. Having been crowned Queen of Faerie only to be cruelly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude Duarte finds herself navigating the banality of the mortal world. Forced into...Paperback$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Thief of Night
No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black returns with the second book of her stunning adult duology, Thief of Night, a modern dark fantasy filled with shadowy thieves and secret societies. This highly-anticipated sequel follows Holly Black's dazzling adult debut, the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller, Book of Night. There had always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black deftly weaves a darkly enchanting tale set in the treacherous world of Faerie. This riveting narrative follows Jude Duarte, a mortal girl whose world is shattered when she and her sisters witness the brutal murder of their parents by a violent Faerie assassin. Despite the trauma, the sisters are abducted to the perilous realm...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2)
Number 1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the Best YA Fantasy Category in the Goodreads Choice Awards. The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black is an intoxicating and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Cruel Prince, also nominated for the CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019. This gripping continuation of Jude and...Paperback$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Wicked King (Special Edition)
I have heard that for mortals, the feeling of falling in love is very like the feeling of fear. Jude has tricked Cardan onto the throne, binding him to her for a year and a day. But the new High King does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her, even as his fascination with her remains undimmed. Meanwhile,...Hardback$5400Elsewhere:$6500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Cruel Prince
The Cruel Prince, crafted by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, is a mesmerising opener to a captivating series, weaving the tantalising tale of a mortal girl ensnared in the treacherous realm of faerie royalty. At a tender age, Jude Duarte's life transformed entirely when her parents were brutally murdered, and she, along with her two sisters,...Paperback$4200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Book of Night
#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies. Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists Book of Night is everything delicious and frightening I've come to expect from Holly Black.' - Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House 'Black...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Stolen Heir
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge. Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Prisoner's Throne
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means...Paperback$3299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Modern Faerie Tales Trilogy
Discover the realm of the faerie in Holly Black’s No. 1 New York Times bestselling Modern Faerie Tales trilogy boxset consisting of Tithe, Valiant and Ironside. When Kaye saves an injured faerie knight, her life changes forever. For she will soon become an unwilling pawn in a power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms. Elsewhere, Valerie has run away and...Paperback$5400Elsewhere:$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Magisterium: The Iron Trial
A powerful new fantasy series from global bestselling authors Cassandra Clare and Holly Black. From the imaginations of bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a heart-stopping plunge into the magical unknown. Think you know magic? Think again. The Magisterium awaits... Most people would do anything to get into the Magisterium and pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt....Paperback$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
More from Young Adult
View all-
New ReleaseSong of the Saltings
On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her pony, shattering tradition and anointing her both folk hero and object of suspicion. Now...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseTell Me with Kisses
From New York Times bestselling author and Wattpad sensation Mercedes Ron comes the English translation of the third in the Tell Me series, where Kamila Hamilton is caught between the two Di Bianco brothers after they burst back into her life. From New York Times bestselling author and Wattpad sensation Mercedes Ron comes the English translation of the third in...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Release Me
The searing second volume in a new series set in the #1 global bestselling Shatter Me universe ten years after the fall of The Reestablishment. Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. Now she wants revenge. To save her sister she needs to get back home and destroy the system that created her. Rosabelle’s greatest strength is her ability to deaden her...$2200Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
A Language of Dragons
The most exciting debut of 2025 – an incredible fantasy Dark Academia, perfect for fans of Babel, Fourth Wing, and the Scholomance trilogy. EVERY FIRE STARTS WITH A SINGLE SPARK. Welcome to Bletchley Park… with dragons. London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules,...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Shatter Me: Shatter Me series 1
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is a gripping dystopian novel that plunges readers into a world where society is on the brink of collapse. At the heart of this chaos is Juliette, a 17-year-old girl with a fatal touch—literally. For 264 days, Juliette has been imprisoned in solitary confinement, her only crime being an accidental touch that resulted in death....Paperback$2200Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Cozy Corner
Relax and unwind with this adorable colouring book – it’s time to get cozy! Step into a world of calm and comfort with Cozy Corner, featuring 45 beautiful hand-drawn pages ready for you to colour in. Settle into your very own cozy corner with these brand new colouring pages! This follow-up to Coco Wyo's beloved Little Corner promises a new...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch (a Phoenix Comic Book): the instant number one bestselling book from Jamie Smart, Illustrator of the Year
When Bunny, Monkey and friends discover a glitch in reality, life gets even crazier than normal: Bunny declares himself The Woods' Magical Protector, Pig becomes a superspy, plus there's complete metal Monkey mayhem! Experience the laughs and chaos in Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch (a Phoenix Comic Book), the instant number one bestselling book from Jamie Smart, Illustrator...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty is now a major new TV series on Amazon Prime! If you loved The Kissing Booth and Jenny Han's smash-hit Netflix movie series To All the Boys I Loved Before, then you'll adore this gorgeously funny, romantic story! Everything that happened this past summer, and every summer before it, has all led up to this....Paperback$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is the New York Times No.1 bestselling YA crime thriller that has captivated readers globally. Now adapted into a major BBC series, this intricately plotted and intensely gripping novel is being lauded as a modern classic in young adult literature. Pippa Fitz-Amobi, an intelligent and determined high school student, is looking...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Powerless
OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD! THE INSTANT NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON. ‘Nothing short of epic’ - Rosie Talbot, bestselling author of Sixteen Souls ‘A thrilling fantasy with the most delicious slow-burn romance’ - M.A. Kuzniar, bestselling author of Midnight in Everwood ‘[A] titillating debut’ - Publishers Weekly ‘A masterpiece’ - Goodreads Reader Review ‘Everyone needs to read it’ -...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Free Gift
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
Louise Rennison for the Dork Diaries generation - hilarious, relatable and full of heart. The first book in the hilarious new series for children by the bestselling creator of Hurrah For Gin. The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks follows Lottie Brooks, who is 11 and feels like her life is already officially over. Not only is she about to...Paperback$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Free Gift
Lottie Brooks's Totally Disastrous School-Trip
The fourth book in this hilarious bestselling series full of friendship, family, and first experiences from the creator of Hurrah for Gin. Lottie Brooks's Totally Disastrous School-Trip continues to navigate the many perils of growing up in this fantastically funny illustrated series for a 9-12 audience, filled with friendship, embarrassing moments, and plenty of lols. Woe is me. So much...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Young Adult lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listYoung Adult
Emily's YA Recommendations
The amazing Emily visited Book Hero and made a list of some of her favourite reads - perfect for ages 12 and...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listYoung Adult
Lizzy's Favourite Young Adult Romance
In this list there really is a bit of everything - coming of age stories, magical stories about enemies to lovers, boarding...View the list
