2019 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner
2019 Readers' Favorite Award Winner
2019 Independent Author Book of the Year Award Winner
"A whimsical and philosophical fairy tale for the modern age."
When Lillian, the one-and-only heir to the throne, is cast out of her kingdom by malevolent forces, she accidentally wanders into the Forest of Forgetfullness, where she is rescued by wolves and raised by an eccentric old wise woman. When Lillian comes of age, she is called by Destiny to return home. The trouble is, when she steps out of the Forest, she has no memory of who she is or from whence she hails. Undaunted, the spirited, self-reliant young woman sets off into the unknown, determined to rediscover her long lost self and to reclaim her stolen birthright. Most of the tale is told by Lillian herself as she chronicles her extraordinary adventures.
This offbeat debut novel, written and narrated by multi-media artist Suzie Plakson, is an allegorical saga full of comedy, calamity, and a host of colorful characters. Reviewers have compared it to such classics as THE ALCHEMIST, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, STARDUST, and THE WIZARD OF OZ.
"With THE RETURN OF KING LILLIAN, Suzie Plakson has done the impossible, telling a tale that at once seems both like a timeless classic and something modern, fresh and entirely new. And her audiobook performance is a joy. Suzie casts you under her spell as she inhabits the character of Lillian, as well as every other magical creature and person Lillian encounters along her journey. Impeccably produced!"
— David Briggs, sound editor, TALES OF THE CITY, DIVORCE
"To say that KING LILLIAN thoroughly enchanted me and left me spellbound would be the understatement of the century. I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and KING LILLIAN is my favorite of all. Suzie Plakson’s voice is velvet mixed with grit mixed with enchantment. It takes you into another realm — into the mystic."
— Kelly Sullivan Walden, author, IT'S ALL IN YOUR DREAMS
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"This audiobook journey is truly extraordinary and completely transporting. I was having a very challenging day as I began to listen, and I remember that the moment the narration started, I was taken back to a feeling of nostalgia and - dare I say? - safety. A place inside my mind I hadn’t experienced since I was very young. At first, I was afraid this story was going to be too YA for my tastes, but I was nevertheless totally sucked in and swept gently along through a tale in which every chapter is full of such rich resonance, and I understood why it said “for dreamers of all ages” in the description.Suzie Plakson (the narrator and author) has a emotionally subtle voice that's extremely evocative and compelling. She plays so many other characters in the book, and I was very impressed at her ability to clearly project them all. Some characters sound like they’ve stepped straight out of a 1940’s movie, others sound like they were in fractured fairy tales, but all felt very real to me.You know, there’s something about this story that feels as if it’s risen from several different eras, different times and places that all somehow all amalgamize into one. It's full of laughter, and also by turns mystical, tragic, and transcendental (in the Ralph Waldo Emerson sense), and I was so often so absorbed by what was happening that I was forced to stop doing anything else but listen. So, be forewarned, you may have trouble multi-tasking while listening to this story. Which is probably the highest compliment I can give!"
— Erica Boone (5 out of 5 stars)
" I almost never write reviews, but this audiobook is so incredible, I just have to take a moment to endorse it. I just finished listening last night and I was devastated when it was over. This story (and the author's reading of it) totally transports you into the most magical, mystical world. It's almost like another dimension, really. A dimension so beautiful, you just want to stay there forever. Do listen to this audiobook if you can. It's a true masterpiece! "
— Roxanne, 11/8/2019" This is a truly spectacular story, brimming with creativity and sparkling with life. On the surface it may seem like a light fairy tale—and, indeed, it is quite charming and funny—but underneath it all there’s some deep stuff here, and I found myself quite caught up in Lillian’s journey and all her extraordinary experiences throughout. I finished listening to the audiobook several days ago, but find myself still thinking about different moments in the story. It really sticks with you. While I do love the written word, I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook on this one. I heard some audio samples on the author’s website, so decided to listen instead of read, and I’m very glad I did. The author/actress does such a great job narrating this tale and portraying all these wonderful characters, she totally transports you to what feels like a timeless, transcendent place. Honestly, listening to this audiobook reminded me of how it felt being read to as a child, which was so delightful and somehow very soothing. For anyone who loves fairy tales and fables, this is truly a “must-listen.” "
— Lucy P., 9/23/2019" I purchased King Lillian because it was described to be similar to my favorite book and movie, The Princess Bride. I wasn’t disappointed. The story is filled with fast-paced fun, great adventures and memorable characters. I can only hope this book is made into a movie!!! Maybe one night I can Netflix and chill to a double feature of The Princess Bride and King Lillian – now wouldn’t that be grand! "
— Delilah H. , 9/3/2019" A good friend recommended this audiobook and I'm so grateful. This is an enchanting story, funny and wise, beautifully narrated by the author/actress, who brings this magical world and all these wonderful characters to life. Each chapter is its own unique experience, its own little fable. And when at the end we find out who Lillian really is...well, all I can say is its truly delightful. Warning: This is not a sword and sorcery, swashbuckling type fantasy tale with lots of murder and mayhem. Its more introspective and inspirational. Its the story of a girl who was lost as a child in the forest of forgetfulness and sets off to find her way home, and while on her journey she records all her wild and wonderful experiences and her philosophical musings in her journal. Lillian is an amazing, iconic new heroine and I think this book is a classic. Obviously I'm a huge fan. But if your looking for lots of action and plot, this isn't the book for you. This story is all about the journey. "
— Isabella Lee, 8/25/2019" Let me first say I am not an audiobook person, I am an avid reader, but I’ve been recovering from an operation and too woozy to be able to read without feeling ill so I thought I’d take a chance and get some audiobooks to get me through. I do love literary fantasy and classic fairy tales, so this was the first book I listened to, and the journey through this land of wonder seen through Lillian’s eyes was such a comfort to me as I was lying there, I can’t begin to express how much. I saw, really SAW this magical world through her eyes and felt everything, and laughed so much. Maybe it was the painkillers (HA), but I do think it is because I felt so soothed and uplifted by the love of nature and animals in the story, and Lillian’s spirit and her bright, philosophical outlook. And when it got to the last part of the story and its revealed who Lillian really is, I was completely surprised. I’m not sure if the experience of audiobooks is now open to me or spoiled for me, as this author (who is also the narrator and plays all the characters) was so delightful a storyteller. But either way, listening to this book has truly been a healing experience for me. As Lillian says, "I may indeed be wounded, sire, but I am not dead after all. No, sir." No, sir, indeed. "
— B.R. Rabin, 8/14/2019" I loved this story. It was such a wonderful escape. And there’s something about the narrator’s voice as Lillian, especially, that spoke to my heart. I can’t explain why, really, but there’s something so pure about her voice, as Lillian grows older and wiser, that I laughed with her and cried for her and felt like I was inside the story experiencing it all with her. This book is pure magic. "
— Monica M., 8/4/2019" This is a fantastic story with an amazing performance by the author, who is also an actress. I was curious to listen to this audiobook because I read some stuff about it on a blog and it sounded really interesting, and I've seen Suzie Plakson on TV and I thought she was very funny. So I thought this might be a really good audio book, but, honestly, it went far beyond my expectations. It's just such a deep and wonderful journey through this fantastical world, with so many amazing characters and adventures. If you're looking for a great escape, I recommend this big time! "
— Kailey Simpson, 7/29/2019