The bestselling fantasy author brings readers six illustrated tales of dangerous faeries, familiar characters, and two never-before-published stories.
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The world of Elfhame is opening its doors again, and its inhabitants are as charming, dangerous, and unpredictable as ever.
Bestselling fantasy author Holly Black has released A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters: Illustrated Tales from Elfhame, a new collection featuring six stories from her popular faerie universe.
Published November 3 by Alvina Ling Books, the 272-page hardcover features full-color illustrations by Solenne Songer, the artist behind Frostbite Studios.
Six Stories of Faeries and Monsters
Readers familiar with Black’s The Folk of the Air series will recognize Elfhame, a magical kingdom where beautiful faeries can be ruthless, bargains are dangerous, and appearances are rarely trustworthy.
The new collection revisits characters and settings from that series and Black’s earlier Modern Faerie Tales books.
Among its six stories are two never-before-published adventures.
One follows Madoc, the formidable redcap general, during his exile from Elfhame. The other explores a pivotal moment in the life of High King Cardan, revealing when he realizes what he desires most.
Other tales feature a reluctant king whose enemy is kidnapped by the Undersea, a mortal girl who sacrifices part of herself for an undeserving faerie lover, and a tiny sprite whose determination threatens the entire High Court.
It’s a world where even the smallest magical creature can cause enormous trouble.
Fantasy Stories Brought to Life
What distinguishes A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters from a conventional short-story collection is its artwork.
Solenne Songer’s full-color illustrations accompany Black’s stories, bringing the creatures, characters, and magical settings of Elfhame to life.
For readers who enjoy fantasy art as much as fantasy fiction, the illustrated format offers another way to experience Black’s imaginative world.
The collection also provides an opportunity for longtime fans to revisit familiar characters while discovering previously untold moments in their lives.
Where to Find the New Book
A Conspiracy of Charming Monsters is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook editions.
Readers unfamiliar with Elfhame may want to begin with The Cruel Prince, the first book in Black’s The Folk of the Air trilogy, before exploring this collection.
For longtime fans, however, the new book offers a welcome return to a kingdom where beauty and danger often go hand in hand.
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