The Gratitude of Kings

It's an interesting scenario - the beautiful princess who isn't, the scheming (and very sexist - pro-female) handmaid, and the highly-superficial prince; the wandering magician, the wandering were-dragon (and the magician's worries about why the dragon is wandering), and the minor fire-mage with useful insights. I don't really like Lythande - she drives me kind of nuts in most of her appearances (this one's not bad, but my opinion is colored by previous acquaintance). Eithne is great, as are the salamanders. Beauty is...peculiar - I think she's joking most of the time, but it's hard to tell. The story is a little scattered - the problem with Velvet's appearance and her handmaid's schemes should be the major matter, but Lythande spends show more more time worrying about whether Beauty is bound by the lute and if so, whether she objects. Then we're distracted back to Velvet, and that matter is more or less taken care of - I suspect Velvet won't have many mirrors around, but Lythande's clever words should keep - Alexander? Not sure of the prince's name - treating her well. But the conclusion is all about Beauty and whether or not she's bound. I like most of the parts of this story, but the whole thing is a trifle unfocused. Which is really odd in such a short work, but that's my feeling about it. show less

Its a cute fairy tale story about how the Magician, Lythande, saves the future queen from her maid. Its cute - its short, it has a bit too much backstory that is unnecessary to the story. The Magician's origin and her mystery is unnecessary, even a bit insulting. However - the characters themselves were well written. They actually talked to each other and made plans. No silliness with the characters, which is always a good.

I think this short volume would actually have been better if it had illustrations. But, for the most part, it is a fun little story that at times, seemed to go on too long.

jolie histoire dommage que la morale finale soit qu'il faut uniquement être belle pour pouvoir être aimée

A tiny story observed by the mage of the blue star and the candlemaker with salamanders. Were-dragons and a bad nanny witch - the spider bit isn’t really addressed - don’t get on well together.

favola su re e maghi

Magicienne depuis des temps immémoriaux, Lythande a un secret : elle est une femme, mais aucun homme ne doit le savoir, sans quoi elle perd tous ses pouvoirs.
Lythande est appelée au château par le seigneur Tashgan à l'occasion de ses noces. Il la désigne comme son champion pour une joute magique qui doit être le clou
des festivités. Au château, elle retrouve son amie Eirthe, la fabricante de chandelles, accompagnée de ses salamandres. C'est grâce au don magique de cette
dernière pour la sculpture de figurines de cire qu'elles découvrent anguille sous roche : la princesse Velours, superbe promise de Tashgan, ne montre pas son vrai
visage ; quant à sa femme de compagnie, dame Mirwen, sa réelle apparence est celle d'une immonde show more araignée !
L'arrivée d'une nouvelle magicienne, dame Beauté, superbe créature mais en réalité dragon-garou, va achever de compliquer la situation : décidément, les noces de
Tashgan risquent bien d'être mémorables... show less

Eine hübsche, irgendwie nichtssagende Erzählung, die sich zwar unterhaltsam liest, aber doch irgendwie ein bißchen enttäuscht. Die Charaktere sind, typisch für die Autorin, gut gezeichnet und füllen sich rasch mit Leben, und der Aufbau der Erzählung gelingt gut und baut eine gewisse Spannung auf. Doch das Ergebnis und die Folgen wollen so gar nicht zu dem passen, was sonst typisch für MZB ist und so viele ihrer Werke ausmacht.