November 28, 2022 by Aditi Singh (’24)
Warning: This review contains spoilers
An installment in the “Folk of the Air” series, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories, gives the reader a peek into Prince Cardan’s life before, during, and after the series takes place.
During the series, Cardan is shown as a spoiled brat. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories gives context to why he behaved the way he did by discussing a childhood of neglect. Cardan was often used as a means to an end and only was seen as worthy when he became friends with the Princess of a powerful neighboring kingdom. For those who thought his behavior was unjustifiable in the series, this book might convince them otherwise. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories also dives into Cardan’s inner thoughts that occurred during the series, which paint him as a more sympathetic person, rather than a cold-blooded villain. The book reveals how Cardan never wanted to hurt the protagonist of the series and how he was forced into the role of a villain. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories also provides a brief chapter on life after the series ended, and how Cardan has changed because of all he has gone through.
My opinion on this book is very biased since I absolutely loved the “Folk of the Air” series. But I thought it was a solid read. Cardan’s character is a complex one, so the insight this book provided helped me understand why he acted how he did during the series. It gave more depth to his character, revealing his motives and emotions, and showed how much his character developed throughout the series. If you are a “Folk of the Air” fan, I would definitely recommend this book. However, if you haven’t read the series or didn’t like it, I would find something else to read.