Waiting on Wednesday (128)

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How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

The Folk of the Air Series

By: Holly Black

Release Date: November 24, 2020

Publisher: Little Brown Books

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Book Synopsis:

An illustrated addition to the New York Times bestselling Folk of Air trilogy, that started with The Cruel Prince, from award-winning author Holly Black. 

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame. 

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.

Why I'm Eagerly Waiting:

I love beautiful books, and I can just imagine the beauty and whimsy that will be crafted for this illustrated guide!  I have enjoyed this series immensely, and am looking for any excuse to dive right back in to this enchanting, adventurous, and magical world!

What are you waiting on?

Waiting On Wednesday (75)

The Queen of Nothing

The Folk of the Air #3

By: Holly Black

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Release Date: January 7, 2020

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Book Synopsis:

The finale to the New York Times bestselling Folk of Air trilogy, that started with The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King, from award-winning author Holly Black. 

After being pronounced Queen of Faerie and then abruptly exiled by the Wicked King Cardan, Jude finds herself unmoored, the queen of nothing. She spends her time with Vivi and Oak, watches her fair share of reality television, and does the odd job or two, including trying to convince a cannibalistic faerie from hunting her own in the mortal world. 

When her twin sister Taryn shows up asking of a favor, Jude jumps at the chance to return to the Faerie world, even if it means facing Cardan, who she loves despite his betrayal. 

When a dark curse is unveiled, Jude must become the first mortal Queen of Faerie and uncover how to break the curse, or risk upsetting the balance of the whole Faerie world.

Why I'm Waiting:

I am in LOVE with The Folk of the Air Series!  Addicted!  I really miss the characters and am dying to see what happens next.  By the way, I just saw the cover and love it!!!  

What are you Waiting On? 

Book Review: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black

The Wicked King
The Folk of the Air #2

By:
Holly Black

Published:
January 8, 2019

Publisher:
Little Brown 
Books

Source:
Purchased

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Book Synopsis:

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring. 

The first lesson is to make yourself strong. 

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished. 

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

The Folk of the Air Series:

My Review

My Review

My Thoughts:

Ok, Ms. Black, you have killed me with that ending!!!  When, oh when do I get to read the next book?  I don't think I can wait another year.  You are most definitely a queen of surprises.  This series just keeps getting better!  

I love Jude!  She has a warrior's spirit.  No matter how difficult, painful or challenging things get, she rises to the occasion.  She is so smart and an excellent strategist.  I enjoyed being inside her head, seeing how she would get out of dangerous situations and complex conundrums.  It was awesome watching her outwit, outsmart, and outmaneuver her enemies.  

I also love how Cardin is so much more than he appears or let's others see.  He plays the lazy, overindulgent king so well, and yet he is witty and a master at plotting and planning as well.  The absolute best thing about this book though is that Jude and Cardin have met their match in one another.  They challenge each other, and make such a great team; if only they could trust in each other, and not get in their own way.

The Wicked King had more danger, deceit, manipulation, magic, action, strategy, and romance then it's predecessor, and I loved every moment of it!  What an adventure!  I feel like I was part of all the highs and lows that Jude experienced in Faerieland!  Boy, am I exhausted!  

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble  

About the Author:

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare) and The Darkest Part of the Forest. 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 currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door.

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Book Review: The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5) by Holly Black

The Lost Sisters
The Folk of the Air # 1.5

By:
Holly Black

Published:
Oct. 2, 2018

Publisher:
Little Brown Books

Source:
Purchased

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Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

Sometimes the difference between a love story and a horror story is where the ending comes... 

While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke. 

Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal. 

The Lost Sisters is a companion e-novella to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince by master writer Holly Black. 

The Folk of the Air Series:

My Book Review

My Thoughts:

The Lost Sisters is the second book in The Folk of the Air Series.  It is a short little novella, and I read it in about an hour.  The Lost Sisters is told by Taryn, Jude's twin sister.  She is apologizing to Jude for her betrayal, and justifying her disgraceful actions.

I strongly disliked Taryn in The Cruel Prince.  My opinion of her in The Lost Sisters didn't change one bit.  I still think she is selfish, callous, immature, lacks all self-respect, dignity, and accountability for her actions.  I enjoyed this Novella though, because it took me back to the plot of The Cruel Prince and the land of Faerie.  I also liked the fact that it filled in what happened between Taryn and Locke, as well as what was going on in Taryn's mind, and why she did what she did.

If you enjoyed The Cruel Prince, this is the extra cherry on top of the metaphorical ice cream sundae.  Now I'm ready, and oh so excited, to continue Jude's adventure in, the next book in the series, The Wicked King!!!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo 

About the Author:

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare) and The Darkest Part of the Forest. 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 currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door.

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Book Review: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince
The Folk of the Air #1

By: 
Holly Black

Published:
January 2, 2018

Publisher:
Little Brown Books

Add to: Goodreads

Source:
Purchased

Book Synopsis:

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. 

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. 

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. 

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. 

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

 

The Folk of the Air Series:

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My Thoughts:

Originally, I was drawn to The Cruel Prince by the book cover.  However, when I picked it up and started reading, I quickly fell in to the storyline by the the way the author began to weave such a captivating delight inside of my head. I was mesmerized, and turned the pages rapidly.  I quickly became fascinated with the characters and pulled in to this dynamic plot.

This is the first book that I've read by author Holly Black.  She is a master storyteller, and I felt like I was in Faerie alongside the main character, Jude, and her sisters.  The story begins with Jude's parents being murdered by Madoc, a powerful general and the High King's right-hand man.  He came to take his child, Vivi, Jude's half-sister back to Faerie alongside Jude and their other sister, Taryn.  He had found out that his first wife, the girls mother had faked the her death and their child, Vivi's.  She then, remarried and had Jude and Taryn.  From this point in the story, Madoc whisks the girls off to Faerie, to raise all three children alongside his wife Orianna, and their young son Oak. 

The Cruel Prince is an intricate story filled with intrigue, deceit, manipulation, lies, danger, violence, and the unexpected.  It is a colorful tale filled with exotic, beautiful, and terrible creatures.  Once Ms. Black pulled me in to her story, I did not want it to come to an end.  Jude was an interesting character.  She was strong, resilient, brave, and willing to sacrifice whatever she thought was necessary for what she believed to be the greater good.  Her sister, Taryn, was weak, disloyal, and without scruples.  Her main goals were to fit in to Faerie, and fall in love. Vivi, the oldest sister, and half-faerie wanted nothing more than to return to the human world.  She hated her father Madoc, and all that Faerie represented.

The Cruel Prince was a great beginning to The Folk of the Air Series.  I can't wait to see what happens next, and love the fact that this story has so many surprises and is unpredictable.  

Mostly, I enjoyed Jude and her interactions with Cardin, one of the princes of Faerie.  These two had an interesting dynamic.  They hated each other, and yet their was an electric pull and attraction that they had towards one another.  I can't wait to see how everything ends up playing out between the two of them.  If you enjoy stories of fantasy, Faeries, and great imagination, The Cruel Prince needs to be added to your TBR pile!!!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

About the Author:

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, the Curse Workers series, Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, the Magisterium series (with Cassandra Clare) and The Darkest Part of the Forest. 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 currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret door.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr