(How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories) is an illustrated novella by Holly Black that serves as a companion to the The Folk of the Air trilogy. Rather than a single linear story, it is a collection of 11 short stories and vignettes that explore the life of Prince Cardan Greenbriar before, during, and after the events of the main series.
After becoming High King, Cardan visits the mortal realm with his wife, Jude Duarte. They hunt a monster that turns out to be Aslog herself. This time, Cardan takes control of the narrative, explaining that one must have a heart despite the burden, and that whoever tells the story determines who the hero is. Key Moments and Perspectives
The novella provides several "behind-the-scenes" glimpses from Cardan's point of view that were previously only mentioned or seen through Jude's eyes:
The Central Narrative: The Tale of the Boy with the Wicked Tongue
The book's structure is anchored by a recurring fairy tale told to Cardan at three different stages of his life by a troll woman named .
As a neglected child living in the palace stables, Cardan meets Aslog. She tells him the story of a boy with a "wicked tongue" and a "heart of stone" who is eventually eaten by a monster because he cannot love. This teaches Cardan that stories—and the roles they assign—are cruel and inescapable, causing him to "hate" them.
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