Image via Van Ryder Games
Author Holly Black is well known for her fantasy novels, from YA titles like Tithe and The Cruel Prince to her latest foray into adult fantasy with Book of Night. But now, the author has designed her own card game. Based on the popular Elfhame series, Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame originally launched via Kickstarter. Now, the game has found a publisher partner to bring it to a store near you!
Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame is set to release online and in game stores this winter from Van Ryder Games. This publisher has created several notable tabletop games, including Final Girl and Hostage Negotiator. Now, they’re adding Holly Black’s card game to their roster with a brand-new retail edition.
How Holly Black’s Card Game Translates Fantasy Novels into Gameplay
If you’re wondering what a card game based on fantasy novels looks like, you’re not alone. Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame features all the strategy and deception you’ve come to expect from the dark fantasy world of Elfhame. Holly Black recorded a trailer for the Kickstarter that shows off the vibes and look of the cards, which you can check out below:
Gamers will collect beautifully illustrated cards as they bluff their way through game sessions designed to last around half an hour. To win the game, players need to assemble their “court” of specific card types. Naturally, you can do this by stealing and betraying other players. Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame is geared towards 2-4 players.
On the game’s Kickstarter page, Black shares her inspiration and goals for the game. She wanted to create a game that’s easy to learn, quick to play, and feature vicious betrayals and plot twist. All of this while including pretty pictures, naturally. The game is based on the Folk of the Air books, but doesn’t require in-depth knowledge of the series to play.
The cards are foiled and lavishly illustrated, featuring characters from and artwork inspired by Holly Black’s series. This new, retail edition of the game will improve upon the original Kickstarter version, which backers received as a reward for supporting the project. The price hasn’t yet been revealed. Gamers can look forward to getting a copy of Enemies & Lovers: The Crown of Elfhame when it releases in winter 2025.
Looking for more card game goodness? Check out our preview of Riftbound, the upcoming League of Legends TCG.
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