Oh how I love a good collection of short stories that make me return to a well-loved world.

The Folk of the Air trilogy has been one of my favorite series ever since. I devoured each book as soon as it came out, and have spent months and months and months obsessing over the characters and their sometimes frustrating intrigues against each other. So when Holly Black announced this collection, I couldn't wait to return to the world of Elfhame.

Unlike the three books in the series, this novella focuses on the life of Cardan instead of Jude. We get to see glimpses of the cruel prince throughout his life - before, during and after the events that happen in the trilogy. And yet, the stories read themselves like one as they come to a full circle. The fact that there has been a repetitive thread throughout the story did a great job in linking each story to the other.Each one of them has a meaning of why it is told, leading up to a moment in Cardan's life that is relevant for the bigger picture. Not only do we learn how the King of Elfhame learned to hate stories, but we are able to dive deeper into the character of Cardan, getting a better understanding of his development, while being presented with a full story on its own.

Each page is stunningly illustrated, and emphasizes the magic of the stories. Very often I found myself just looking at the gorgeous artworks, or going back and forth comparing some (which you might understand why when if you have read it *wink*).

If you're a fan of The Folk of the Air series and Cardan, this is a book that needs to be on your shelf. It's not just another addition of stories, but a whimsical story of its own.