The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde

The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Walker Books)

HC RRP $19.99

ISBN 9780763665135

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

This is the second book about the double life and adventures of Princess Magnolia, aka the Princess in Black, and her trusty unicorn steed Frimplepants, aka Blacky.

Filled with excitement at the array of food to be found at brunch with Princess Sneezewort, Princess Magnolia and Frimplepants are dreadfully disappointed when the glitter-stone ring gives out the monster alarm. But nothing takes priority over a challenging battle with monsters!

Duff the goat boy is in trouble. His paddock is invaded by bunnies which have exited the underground where monsters dwell. They are eating the grass which his goats need to graze. Princess Magnolia sees no threat, only cute little bunnies until they devour all the grass, then the trees, then everything in sight. Hordes of them appear and seem to increase.

What can be done? Can the Princess in Black draw on her strategies when fighting monsters to end the cute bunny attack before everything is eaten, including the Princess herself? Or will it be the courageous and resourceful Blacky who finds the answer?

The extraordinary call-outs the Princess in Black and Blacky face will appeal to many younger readers. Some will love the bits about the bunnies having to eat lizard scales, toe nails and monster fur. But the visual aspect of the book alone will win and keep its readers following what happens next. This chapter book series has stunning illustrations and is presented with a magnificent jacket. This is what will initially draw attention to it on the shelf. Ideal for 6+ readers.

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party  by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 17.99

ISBN 9780763665111

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Princess Magnolia has an alter ego that surfaces when she gets into the broom closet and slides down the chute as the Princess in Black! Even her trusty steed has a secret life. His metamorphosis takes place in the hollow of a tree that leads to a secret passage. He enters as Frimplepants and exits as Blacky.

Magnolia is anticipating the perfect Princess party. She’s put a lot of work into creating the perfect day. As she waits for the guests to arrive, her glitter-stone ring warns her of a monster attack.

The twelve invited Princesses are on their way to her party. In fact, they are at the gates. With her magic sceptre she fights the goat-eating monsters, and quickly jumps on Blacky and flies back to the party.

But each time they start to open the presents, Magnolia’s ring goes off, and off she goes giving some excuse for her sudden departure.

Will the smart and observant Princess Sneezewort catch her out? With all her monster battles raging, will her perfect Princess party have a happy ending?

Pink and frothy, funny and entertaining, these girlie thirteen chapters are ideal for 6+ readers. It can be read all at once, or picked up and put down. The illustrations are gorgeous and so is the bewitching Princess Magnolia. It is beautifully presented with a jacket cover and ideal for a special gift.

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party  by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 17.99

ISBN 9780763665111

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Princess Magnolia is anticipating the perfect Princess party. She’s put a lot of work into this perfect day and as she waits for the guests to arrive, her glitter-stone ring warns her of a monster attack. Princess Magnolia has an alter ego that surfaces when she gets into the broom closet and slides down the chute as the Princess in Black!

Even her trusty steed has a secret life. His metamorphosis takes place in the hollow of a tree that leads to a secret passage. He enters as Frimplepants and exits as Blacky.

Twelve Princesses are on their way to her party. In fact, they are at the gates. With her magic sceptre she fights the goat-eating monsters, and quickly jumps on Blacky and flies back to the party.

But each time they start to open the presents, Princess Magnolia’s ring goes off and off she goes giving some excuse for her sudden departure.

Will the smart and observant Princess Sneezewort catch her out? With all her monster battles raging, will her perfect Princess party have a happy ending?

Pink and frothy, funny and entertaining, these girlie thirteen chapters are ideal for 6+ readers. It can be read all at once, or picked up and put down. The illustrations are gorgeous and so is the bewitching Princess Magnolia. It is beautifully produced with a jacket cover and ideal for a special gift.

Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice

Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice by Shannon Hale (Scholastic Inc)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-001-4

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The Devourer and his conquerors are getting closer. Conor, Abeke, Meilin and Rollan and their Great Beasts must continue to seek the talismans as they are the Chosen Ones - the children and their spirit animals who must protect Erdas. And time is running out.

In Fire and Ice they journey to Artica, the far north, to search for a legendary city of ice, and the talisman of Suka the Giant polar bear. On this journey they have the help of Tarik, a Greencloak leader and Maya, who has the ability to create fire from nothing, but their enemies are also closer. And this time the betrayal is more personal than it ever has been before.

Spirit Animals is an engrossing and enjoyable series. Each title is written by a different author and they manage to keep the worlds of Erdas solid and consistent.  The characters are also held well and are solid and realistic children who continue to grow throughout the series. The action is fast and exciting but there are breaks in the frenetic pace to allow the reader to take a breath.

Shannon Hale is a well established and best-selling author who writes, among other things, wonderful retellings of fairy tales for a teen readership. Her skill with writing fantasy characters, imagined places and her storytelling ability all shine through in this tale which is mostly set in a flat white landscape of ice and snow.

This is a series which will suit middle grade readers, especially lovers of fantasy, action and animals. The books are supported by an action role-playing game online where players can create a spirit animal of their own at www.spiritanimals.scholastic.com