Lickiss, Rebecca. Never after.Berkley, Ace. 262p. c2002. 0-441-00907-7 $6.50. JSA JSA - Japanese Standards Association. This witty tale begins with gallant Prince Althelstan having hacked his way into a thorn-encrusted castle, past dusty sleeping people, only to find at the top of the tower three sleeping princes, rather than the enchanted en·chant tr.v. en·chant·ed, en·chant·ing, en·chants 1. To cast a spell over; bewitch. 2. To attract and delight; entrance. See Synonyms at charm. princess he needs to wed. Nearby is a female person of royal heritage, but she's as sound asleep as everyone else and his ardent kisses do nothing. Frustrated but undaunted, he goes back to enlist the aid of his cousin, the Princess Vevila, who is avoiding marriage with mincing noblemen mostly by sliding over balcony railings and nipping nip·ping adj. 1. Sharp and biting, as the cold. 2. Bitingly sarcastic. nip  ping·ly adv.Adj. off down the road. Prince Althelstan offers Vevila her choice of the dozing triplets. At first she spurns his offer as testily tes·ty adj. tes·ti·er, tes·ti·est Irritated, impatient, or exasperated; peevish: a testy cab driver; a testy refusal to help. as the marriage proposals her parents foist foist tr.v. foist·ed, foist·ing, foists 1. To pass off as genuine, valuable, or worthy: "I can usually tell whether a poet . . . upon her, but then she is tempted by the chance for an exciting adventure at last. He also gains the doubtful aid of three traveling wizards: treasure-seeking Zenpfennig, overly helpful Mazigian and jolly, hungry Rueberry. This is a good idea as the "evil witch" (as Athelstan calls her) or the "fairy godmother" (as Urticacea describes herself) is foiling every attempt to awaken her adored princes, cursing Mazigian in an erudite er·u·dite adj. Characterized by erudition; learned. See Synonyms at learned. [Middle English erudit, from Latin fashion. Urticacea claims to be protecting the princes, demanding a "princess test" to prove Vevila's worthiness and locking her in a room to spin straw into gold. When a funny little man shows up and offers to do it for her, she readily agrees. Opening the room the next morning, Athelstan is jubilant, the wizards are ecstatic and the witch/fairy godmother is flabbergasted flab·ber·gast tr.v. flab·ber·gast·ed, flab·ber·gast·ing, flab·ber·gasts To cause to be overcome with astonishment; astound. See Synonyms at surprise. [Origin unknown. . The wizards suggest another night of testing while they bundle up the gold nuggets, despite Vevila's furious protests. A snag ensues when another "princess" arrives looking to prove herself and Urtecca decides to do it with 20 mattresses and a pea, with hilarious results. When a stepmother and her two homely daughters show up at the gate to invite Prince Althelstan to a ball, things really begin to pick up speed. The creative twists on familiar fairy tales are fun and extremely clever, with a most satisfying ending. Enjoyable for all ages. Liz LaValley, Independent Reviewer, Mattapoisett, MA |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion