Once upon a time there was a boy with a wicked tongue... Before Cardan was a cruel prince or a wicked king; he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. In this sumptuously illustrated tale; Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame's enigmatic high king. This tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince; an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing; and familiar but pivotal moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy; told wholly from Cardan's perspective. This new instalment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance; danger; humour and drama that enchanted readers everywhere.