Book Review: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black (The Cruel Prince series)

by The Book Pup on March 9, 2026

Blurb for the book (on Goodreads):

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 . Revealing a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan, his 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.

My Summary:

Ever wondered what made Cardan into the cruel, complicated prince we met in The Cruel Prince? This collection of stories takes us into Cardan's past, revealing the boy behind the wicked king.

Through a series of interconnected tales, we explore pivotal moments in Cardan's life—his difficult childhood, his complicated family relationships, and the experiences that shaped him into the character we know. We also get glimpses of moments beyond the trilogy that fans have been dying to see.

Perfect for readers who can't get enough of Cardan and want to understand the layers beneath his cruel exterior.

My Review

I went into How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories with pretty low expectations—honestly, I was thinking maybe 2 stars at best. But this turned out to be a PLEASANT SURPRISE! 🎉📚

Holly Black delivered something genuinely entertaining and worthwhile, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance! 💫

What I really loved about this collection were the mini stories! 📖 They're bite-sized glimpses into different moments of Cardan's life, and they work beautifully. Each story is focused and purposeful, giving us specific insights without dragging on. The format keeps things fresh and engaging—just when you finish processing one revelation about Cardan, you're onto the next moment in his journey.

Learning Cardan's backstory was FASCINATING. 🎭 We finally get to see the experiences that shaped him and the loneliness that made him into the person he became. Black doesn't excuse his behavior, but she gives us context that makes him even more complex and compelling. Understanding why he developed his sharp tongue and cruel facade adds so many layers to his character from the trilogy. 💔

The writing is perfectly Holly Black—dark, beautiful, and wickedly sharp. She captures Cardan's voice perfectly, whether he's a child trying to navigate Elfhame's cruelty or the king we know from the trilogy. ✨

Now, here's my one complaint (and it's the reason this isn't a 5-star read): I REALLY wished there was more Cardan x Jude content! 😭💕 The backstory is great, but what I was most excited for were the glimpses of Cardan and Jude together. I loved seeing them interact in the small moments we did get—their dynamic is electric and complicated and perfect. But there just wasn't ENOUGH of it for my Cardan/Jude-loving heart.

The moments we do get of them together are chef's kiss, which honestly makes me wish there were more! Their banter, the way they challenge each other, the complexity of their relationship—it's all there in the brief scenes we get, and it left me wanting so much more. If you're picking this up primarily for Cardan/Jude content, just know it's limited.

Despite my craving for more Jude interactions, this collection is very entertaining overall! 🎪 It's a quick, engaging read that adds depth to one of my favorite characters. The pacing is great, the stories are well-chosen, and it enhances the main trilogy without feeling like unnecessary cash-grab content.

If you loved The Cruel Prince series and want to understand Cardan better, this is absolutely worth reading. It exceeded my expectations and reminded me why I fell in love with this world and these characters in the first place. Just go in knowing it's more about Cardan's journey than Cardan/Jude romance, and you'll have a great time! 💫

4/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾

You can find the book on Goodreads here!

Who I think this book is for: Fans of The Cruel Prince trilogy who want deeper insights into Cardan's character, readers who love villain/anti-hero backstories, anyone curious about what made Cardan into the wicked king, and people who don't mind limited Cardan/Jude content.

Reading order: Definitely read The Cruel Prince trilogy first! This is supplementary content that's best appreciated when you already know and love these characters. (You can find my reviews for The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing on my blog!)

What to expect: Cardan backstory and character development = excellent! Cardan x Jude interactions = limited but delicious when they happen. 💕

Cheers, and happy reading!

The Book Pup

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