August 2009, Walker
208 pages
Review copy
Some tense moments, some humour
Out of preference, I'd rather not read the third in a trilogy without reading the previous two books. However, in theory I should still be able to understand a story and enjoy whatever installment it is. That point is no longer hypothetical; apart from the characters knowing each other really well without really meeting each other for the first time, I wouldn't have known this was book 3 of 3.
Princesses are sweet, gentle, kind [insert positive adverbs]. Not if you're Princess Marigold who steals her sister's wedding dress, rushes off because she's convinced Prince Marcus likes her (he doesn't) and attempts to have a safe adventure. No adventure is safe.
Prince Marcus has more pressing concerns like making sure that Gracie Gillypot, a Trueheart (ok, this was the major point which had me at a disadvantage because I hadn't read the previous two books. I think a Trueheart is someone special, whose heart remains pure. Being a Trueheart certainly affects evil beings), gets found. For she's disappeared, and no-one quite knows why.
Of course, strange things normally happen in the Unreliable Forest. Combine that with dwarves desperate to get enough gold for the upcoming marriage of Princess Marigold's sister Fedora that they make a pact with the trolls and trouble is found.
*deep breath* If that wasn't enough, there is this rather cool (in a creepy, weird way) character called Oolie who sets traps for Gracie. There are the talking bats, who had me in laughter with their go-get-them attitude; Professor Scallio, who isn't an ordinary tutor - he can fly...but not in the way you're probably thinking.
What will be the end scenario which makes Princess Marigold, whose heart is dead set on Prince Marcus, happy? Will Gracie see the light of day again? Where does the glass heart feature in all of this? Read the book for answers.
If you can, I recommend reading the previous two books The Robe of Skulls and the Bag of Bones prior to this one.
Vivian French can be found here with details of all her books.
Liked this? Try Spell Fall by Katherine Roberts
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