Daniel Haack

This follow-up to the picture book [Prince & Knight] is just as delightful as the first. The prince and the knight, who saved each other and married in the first book, in this volume go on a quest to save the kingdom from the darkness brought on by the Shadow King. When they get to the Shadow King's lair, the knight falls into the water and is saved by the prince. The Shadow King witnesses this, rejoices in their love, and reveals that he never meant to bring the darkness--it's just that show more when he fell in love with his squire, he was told his love was wrong. The prince and the knight tell him he should be who he is and love as he likes and takes him home to the kingdom where he is accepted. And the darkness is gone. Is it a little on the nose? I guess. Do I care? I do not. It's such a lovely story with a great message, and when I tell you that I gasped and then grinned when I realized what the Shadow King's deal was, know that I am not exaggerating. And the art is a delight, especially at the end when the darkness lifts and there's just so much color. Recommended. show less

Loved this take on the classic royalty-must-get-married imperative, told in rhyming text. The illustrator has a background in animation, which is apparent in the style. (I have to say, I love the knight's stubble.) Though, on many re-readings, we noticed some errors and inconsistencies (where did the giant coil of rope come from?). However, this should not detract from the wonderful, inclusive tale of a prince finding his perfect partner - and his parents and all the villagers rejoicing show more along with them.

(See also Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan, for tweens/teens, for a similarly refreshing not-a-big-deal attitude toward same sex romance.) show less

Author Daniel Haack, whose same-sex picture-book fairy-tale romance, Prince & Knight, came out last year (2018), joins forces with co-author Isabel Galupo in this return to the form. Invited to the prince's ball, the eponymous maiden, who fights alongside the prince as a warrior, and considers him a brother, isn't initially inclined to go, until her mother convinces her to give it a try. Once at the ball, the maiden feels pressured by the other attendees, who seem to think she would be the show more perfect wife for him. Escaping to the balcony, she meets a beautiful stranger with a kind voice, and is immediately smitten. It turns out that the maiden has met her match, not in the form of the prince, but in the princess...

Although its heart is in the right place, somehow Maiden & Princess just didn't win me over, the same way that Prince & Knight did. The occasional instances of awkwardness in the rhyming text that I perceived in the earlier book seemed more frequent here, and were distracting. I'm not sure why it was necessary for Daniel Haack to have a co-author for Maiden & Princess, or what effect that had upon the text - perhaps having two authors made the weaknesses I perceived in the first title more pronounced? Whatever the case might be, I definitely noticed the textual hiccups more frequently here. Leaving that issue aside, I also found the artwork, done by British illustrator Becca Human, rather unappealing. It was colorful and expressive, but somehow the style didn't suit me, and felt distracting. In trying to articulate why that is, at first I thought that perhaps I simply preferred the work of Stevie Lewis, who illustrated Prince & Knight. While this is certainly true, I think it's also that Human's style was reminiscent of the old Prince Valiant comic strip, if a overly pink and purple rainbow had thrown up all over it. That is, perhaps, too harsh a criticism for illustrations that simply didn't appeal to me, but there you have it. This was a two-and-a-half-star title for me, although I would still recommend it to those seeking same-sex fairy-tales, given the dearth of other options. show less

In rhyming text, first-time author Daniel Haack spins the tale of a prince who looks in vain for love, until he finally finds it in the gallant knight who helps him defeat the dragon threatening his kingdom. Although his parents, determined to have him happily settled, attempt to find him a bride at first, it soon becomes clear that he isn't interested. He's looking for something different in a partner, the narrator tells us, and eventually he finds it, to the joy of all...

A sweet same-sex show more fairy-tale, Prince & Knight pairs a fairly engaging narrative from Haack with cute illustrations from artist Stevie Lewis, who has previously worked as an animator. There were times I felt that the rhyme scheme here was a little forced, throwing off the rhythm when reading aloud, but overall this makes for a pleasant read. It will be an especially welcome one, I would imagine, for those looking for fairy-tales featuring same-sex couples. Recommended to young fairy-tale lovers in general, and to anyone looking for picture-books with an LGBT theme. show less