Fans of Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series, which begins with The Cruel Prince, will be thrilled to learn that they will soon be able to get their hands on a beautifully designed new card game featuring fan-favorite characters and stunning art. Enemies and Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame is a fast-paced, exciting new game of strategy, deception and betrayal set within the world of Folk of the Air. Despite the connection to the series, as Black states, “You don’t need to know anything about my books to play — you need only a troubling lack of morals and an unquenchable thirst for power.”
The Folk of the Air series follows Jude Duarte, a mortal girl living in the faerie world of Elfhame against her will after the tragic events of her childhood. Most faerie possess a strong dislike for humans, and so Jude must learn to navigate a world set against her as she experiences love, hate, betrayal and contempt, all while juggling her complex relationship with the unpredictable faerie prince, Cardan Greenbriar.
Enemies and Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame broke onto the Kickstarter scene in a big way this past May, and was fully funded in just 30 minutes. According to a rep, at the conclusion of the Kickstarter campaign at the end of May, the game had 8,730 backers that pledged $647,058 to help bring this project to life. According to Kickstarter, to quantify these stats, Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame is the 5th most funded Kickstarter in Playing Cards, 6th most funded and 3rd most backed Kickstarter in Fiction, and 4th most funded and 3rd most backed Kickstarter in Illustration.
The game itself is gorgeous. Featuring full-color artwork from the series (Frostbite Studios), a stunning green, black and gold foil back, and exclusive editions with green or metallic gold sprayed edges, the deck is a work of art itself. Cards include the likes of the princes Cardan, Balekin, Dain and Oak, protagonist Jude and her faerie family Madoc, Oriana, Vivienne and Taryn, iconic items from the series like Blusher Mushrooms, everapples, rowan berries, the Crown of Elfhame and more. The final product consists of 45 tarot-sized (2.75 in x 4.75 in) cards on 356 GSM black core cardstock with a linen finish and UV coating on both sides; the deck will be nestled in a thick cardboard tuck box with a sliding drawer.
Not unlike the machinations of the court of Elfhame in Folk of the Air, Enemies and Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame is a game of fast plays, betraying your opponent, and scheming your way to victory. Each player starts with three cards. You have a “hand” for cards that you draw or steal and a “Court” for cards placed face-down on the table. The goal of the game is to assemble your “Court” so that you have one “Coercion Card,” one “Prince Card,” and one “Conspirator Card,” in addition to the “Crown Card.” Once you have a full Court, you will have successfully manipulated your prince onto the throne and won the game!
Along the way you will play a variety of cards, from shields to traps, perhaps poisoning your opponents with Blusher mushrooms or stabbing them in the back, all to gain that coveted throne and crown. The game is for two to four players, and should take 15 to 40 minutes to play, depending on the number of players.
From the artwork to the gameplay itself, everything about this game is a delight, especially if you’re a fan of the series. I couldn’t play just one round, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself playing again and again as you strategize and scheme your way through the Court of Elfhame. Decks from the Kickstarter campaign are set to ship in late August or early September — stay tuned for more information on when the game will hit shelves for the general public.
