Trouble is brewing in the first book of the Tales from the Five Kingdoms series. The sorceress Lady Lamorna wants a skull-studded gown of deep black velvet but finds her treasure chest empty of gold. That doesn't stop her from kidnapping, blackmailing, and using more than a little magic to get what she needs. Will all her best-laid plans be foiled by the heroic Gracie Gillypot, two chatty bats, a gallant (if rather scruffy) prince, the wickedest stepsister ever, a troll with a grudge, and some very Ancient Crones?
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"Her evilness Lady Lamorna decides that she would like a new gown with skulls. When the time comes to pay for it she determines that she has no gold. Thus begins her plans to turn the neighboring prince and princesses into frogs and offer up her skills to turn them back. This story has the charm of a fairy tale and includes the characters of true of heart Gracie Gillypot, a prince, a wicked stepsister, a troll and the very Ancient Crones. There are even two bats who seem rather "dodgy." Entertaining story with a nice mixture of characters and very cute illustrations. I will certainly be looking for the next in the series."
— Brenda (4 out of 5 stars)
" I thought this was a really great adventure to read out loud to my daughter. "
— Kittiya, 2/2/2014" Remez was reluctant to give this a shot so I read it first and recommended it to her. ; ) "
— Sraedi, 1/29/2014" I loved this book. I liked how it was funny and clever. The illustrations are so cool!!!!!!! "
— Panda, 1/20/2014" I'm just reading this to my daughter and we are having a rollicking good time. A little bit of Diana Wynne Jones mixed with Lemony Snickett. The right book that we found at the right moment - a rarity when a child's interests and abilities in reading can change so rapidly. "
— Clare, 1/19/2014" I read this out loud to my kids (good idea, Angela!), and they loved it. It wasn't written super well, but it was fun. "
— Rachel, 1/10/2014" This was a fun book that combines fantasy, adventure and royalty. I thought that the book might be dark given the cover, but it was not like that at all. I think that kids will really like this book. "
— Ingrid, 12/26/2013" A little kiddish but it was good! "
— Elysa, 12/15/2013" This was a pretty funny book. The cover makes the book appear to have a darker story inside, but the story is great fun. I am reading it to my kids right now and they are enjoying it. "
— Ang, 12/10/2013" The title and cover were far better than the story itself. "
— Darshan, 12/9/2013" Evocative of Dahl, entertaining humorous fantasy for 4-5 graders. The beginning of a series, unsurprisingly. "
— Kristin, 11/15/2013" I remember loving these series when I was a kid. *wide smile* "
— Danny, 9/13/2013" I absolutely loved this book, I think it was very entertaining. It's a quick enjoyable read for a large span of ages. :) "
— Katherine(:, 9/2/2013" Cute and funny. I think it's suitable for a younger audience, but I don't think I'd lump it in the "children" category alongside Mercer Mayer and Dr. Seuss. Older kids and younger teens, I guess. "
— foo4luv, 7/15/2013" This book is a very sort of magical book it seems to me very much like a taste for red. "
— Chloe, 5/10/2013" This story was kind of like Coraline mixed with a fairy tale. There are several interesting characters, one being a talking bat, that have different problems, but ultimately collide with each other in the end. If you like fantasy and fairy tales, you'll like this one! "
— Jane, 1/27/2013" Had fun reading this :) light reading. "
— Chloe, 10/22/2012" The boys enjoyed this book more than I did. I bought it because it seemed humorous but the humor didn't hold up as well for me. Some nice word play and a fairly decent story with slapstick humor. "
— Jacqueline, 5/9/2012" Lovely! A mix of Matilda, Harry Potter, and The Phantom Toll Booth! Nice, slightly macabe illustrations and several amusing, intertwining stories full of talking bats, blood read petticoats, old crones, and frog princes. And in the end, good triumphs over evil, as it should in such a fairy tale! "
— Treasure, 3/1/2012" So-so. A decent mid-grade fantasy. I actually got a little bored with the story progression and ended up skimming quite a bit, but I can see how this would appeal to younger readers. The story language was well done; it was the plot itself that bored me a little (as an adult reader)... "
— Nicole, 1/5/2012" A fast read that is full of magic, evil, and a cast of characters that you won't forget. This is listed as the first tale from the five kingdoms. I hope that there are more books in this series. "
— Catherine, 7/8/2011" Darkly humorous fractured fairy-tale for children. Very enjoyable! "
— MB, 6/26/2011" I saw this book in our middle school library and had to read it. I laughed out loud at the antics of the main characters, and loved the way it tied in to the Weaver myths. It was great! "
— Pammie, 5/16/2011" A bit reminiscent of E.D. Baker's series-- this first in a series is funny and the illsutrations are a nice touich. A great read aloud for third grade and up. Am digging into the second one now. "
— Annamaria, 4/23/2011" I would not have chosen this book based on the cover art. But, hey, the cover art is kind of misleading, so good thing I picked it up! This is an entertaining and enjoyable fractured fairytale, <em>not</em> a story about a creepy lady obsessed with death and/or skulls. "
— Heather, 1/7/2011" I had a hard time getting into this book. Mainly written for a younger audience. It had a good meaning though. "
— Tiffany, 12/7/2010" I really like it and I think you will too. "
— Mas5thgrade2011, 11/10/2010" i loved this book so much that i read it twice! victoria lee gave it to me to read and it was one of the best books i've read. when I pick it up i'm in a wonderful world of trolls wearwolfs and other things like that <br/>If you like fariy tales this is more than your best book. "
— Miriam, 9/29/2010" A fast read that is full of magic, evil, and a cast of characters that you won't forget. This is listed as the first tale from the five kingdoms. I hope that there are more books in this series. "
— Catherine, 9/20/2010" Reminded me a bit of Clover Twig. I would give it 3.5 stars "
— Ann, 7/21/2010" Fun, entertaining, imaginative. The first in a series that I think fans of SPIDERWICK, and THE EDGE CHRONICLES would enjoy. "
— Amber, 6/1/2010Vivian French is the author of more than two hundred books, including the first four books in the Five Kingdoms series, as well as Polly’s Pink Pajamas; Yucky Worms; Caterpillar, Caterpillar; Growing Frogs; T. Rex; A Present for Mom; and I Love You, Grandpa. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Renée Raudman is an actor and Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. She has performed on film, television, radio, and on stage and can also be heard in several video games and hundreds of television and radio voice-overs.