



His Royal Whiskers
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- £2.49
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- £2.49
Publisher Description
Something bad has happened to Prince Alexander, the only heir to the mighty Petrossian Empire.
Something worse than kidnapping.
Something worse than murder.
Somehow, the Prince has been miraculously transformed into a fluffy-wuffy kitten.
Why has this terrible catastrophe happened?
Who are the boy and girl brewing secret potions down in the palace kitchens?
And how are they possibly going to avoid getting their heads chopped off?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fantasy and fable intermingle in this whirling story set in the fictional Petrossian Empire, ruled by a bombastic czar with a "ceaseless appetite for conquering." Disgusted that his six-year-old son, Alexander, lacks "bloodthirst" and "butchery" and instead has a "stubborn streak of kindness," the czar turns apoplectic when he learns that his heir has morphed into a kitten. Two young palace residents Pieter Abadabacus, a number-obsessed "mathemagician," and Teresa Gust, a budding alchemist are responsible for the transformation, after accidentally dousing the prince with a potion concocted for the czar. An ancient and kind sorceress plays a key role in the escalating battle between good and evil, which leads to a beheading and a visit to the afterlife that melds comedy and the macabre. Gayton (Hercufleas) spices his sprawling narrative with puns, invented words, fairy tale allusions, and tongue-in-cheek footnotes that make for funny and high-energy reading. Yet this fantasy remains firmly grounded in meaningful messages about identity, loyalty, and friendship. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8 12. Author's)