Happily-ever-after turned upside down, inside out, and completely over the top! Christian is gaga for Princess Marigold. He's just a commoner, though, and no match for royalty. Heck, he lives in a cave with a troll! And now he's discovered another reason to put his love-soggy heart on ice: Queen Olympia is scheming to take over the kingdom-and she'll bump off Marigold to do it! Can Chris foil her diabolical plans?
Carrington MacDuffie's perfect once-upon-a-time voice fits this fairy-tale love story and adventure. Her narration acknowledges that this is a story escaping its genre boundaries as she captures its humor and satire. Both book and performance succeed because of the story's unique characterizations. Christian lives in the forest with Ed, his stepfather, a troll who can't get clichés quite right. Carrington gives Ed a rumbly voice. When Christian falls in love with Princess Marigold, Carrington plays up the drama with pacing and strong characterizations. The pace increases as Christian discovers dastardly plots by Queen Olympia, Marigold's mother, whom MacDuffie portrays with a piercing timbre and chilling tones. Overall, though, MacDuffie sustains listeners with a calming narration that promises a happily-ever-after ending. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
