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With the birth of Princess Agatha, Queen Julia provides the kingdom of Xana with an heir to her throne. Agatha's fairy godmother visits the newborn to instill in her the special "gifts of wisdom, compassion, and perception of character." The fairy godmother urges Queen Julia to keep her daughter close and "teach her wisdom so that she may understand the world as it is. Teach her to perceive the true character of all people whom she meets. Teach her compassion so that she may love and understand her people. Teach her the strength to stand for the truth against those who would destroy it with lies." After admonishing the queen to teach these concepts to her daughter, the fairy godmother vanishes, leaving Queen Julia with her newborn heir.
As the princess grows older, she displays all the attributes bestowed upon her. She shows herself to be intelligent, compassionate, and wise. Ready to step in to solve any problems among her subjects, she speaks with authority and fairness. Agatha is loved by her people, and they learn to trust in her judgment. She becomes a champion of the common people by helping them to establish businesses without having to pay the exorbitant interest rates of the moneylenders. The people of Xana grow to love their future queen, and all seems well in the kingdom. Unfortunately, during the reign of Queen Julia, the antagonistic Magi attacks the kingdom and kills the queen. Agatha must summon all her courage and gifts to rule her people.
After Xana is devastated by the Magi, Agatha's fairy godmother tells her of the nearby kingdom of Wan, which the Magi has also destroyed. "Olaf the Crown Prince of Wan survives. He will come to you, but he cannot identify himself to you. If he does, all is lost for both Xana and Wan. You must choose him correctly from all the many young men who aspire to become your prince." She is told she will only have one chance to identify Prince Olaf by using the gifts bestowed on her by her fairy godmother. Will Matilda recognize her crown prince, or will both their kingdoms perish?
This story encompasses all the beloved elements of folklore and fantasy, featuring fascinating worlds, intriguing characters, and a battle between good and evil. Agatha is a strong female protagonist who knows her own worth. This fantasy novel offers a glimpse at a kingdom ruled by fair play and progressive ideas. As the two kingdoms grow and prosper due to their wise rulers. Pilcher incorporates the use of a narrator—a traveler who, on his journey, retells the legends and deeds of the beloved queen. This technique is reminiscent of ancient stories, such as the Anglo-Saxon tale "The Seafarer," in which the narrator tells the "true" story of the seafarer's time at sea. This use of a narrator helps to elevate and enhance the story through its first-person account of the tales told by the farrier to the traveler.
As readers are brought into an almost idealistic merger of the two kingdoms, Agatha and Olaf rule their kingdoms with compassion, fairness, and common-sense diplomacy, which all the more endears their queen to her people. Readers are invited to listen to the narrator retell the farrier's stories through which is revealed the almost idealistic merger of the two kingdoms. Despite its fairy tale elements, the book is geared more towards an adult audience as it contains sex scenes. It is, nevertheless, a mesmerizing read that grabs one's imagination and never lets go. This is the perfect read with which to round out the summer's reading list.