What is your opinion?
A wonderful piece of magic!
"Do you remember those time when your parents used to read or tell you a story when yu can't fall asleep? This is exactly like that! It's not just a story which you read, it's a story that brings along with it its homely, comfy, warm feeling you get while lying in bed and listening to the magic unfold before your eyes. In its own simple way, the author manages to capture the dreams and fantasy of the readers. This story is truly magical, and I personally love it!"
Magical
"What an apt title, as the tale itself is quite magical. The style is wonderful, seeming more like it is being told than read, conversational, relaxed, whimsical, and fun. The story itself is very nice and evocative, and I found myself feeling quite invested in the outcome of the plans of the Prince and Princess, hoping they'd succeed. The little branches into the details of the lands and peoples were also a delight, giving more depth to the feel. A very nice fairy tale."
What Childhood Really Felt Like...
"This is a charming, wide-eyed, enthralling fantasy yarn in the old style. It reminds me of the old stories of Hans Christian Andersen (esp. something like The Snow Queen) on the one hand, and more updated Middle-Reader fantasy lore like the Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell. This is very tongue-in-cheek fantasy, which literally speaks to the reader as if he/she is a small child listening along, hanging on the storyteller's every word. The author plays this up, and interrupts the narrative to question the reader or make fun digressions such as "oh, we didn't tell you about that, did we?" Nadja knows exactly how to balance drama and excitement with a sense of childish wonder, and the metaphors she uses make it feel safe and comfortable, even when the narrative gets potentially frightening. Yet it's all in good fun, and her great writing carries it along effortlessly. While die hard fantasy readers might find it too simple, it clearly isn't for them in the first place. This is a great introduction to fantasy literature for a young reader, and I can imagine it starting a life-long appreciation for lands in the back of beyond. Of course, it will also ruin them for other books which simply lack her sense of fun and imagination. As a narrator, she nailed the presentation and there are few stories for Middle Readers which don't condescend to their audience or just sound silly. This story manages to speak at their level while still saying, "hey, we're all children at heart." A very enjoyable, thrilling little story to share with your kids--or those of us who can still remember what that feels like."
