The Princess and Curdie
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fantasy, Fiction, Review
Tags: Animals, George Macdonald
Our rating: 
About a year after the events in The Princess and the Goblin, Curdie is sent by the older princess Irene to the city of Gwyntystorm, where the king and his daughter are now living. The old princess gives Curdie two things to help him complete his unknown task: Lina, the frightening animal, and a way to tell the true character of any person. On his arrival at Gwyntystorm, Curdie finds that the whole city hates the king and is excessively evil. Even the king’s courtiers are planning to take over the kingdom by poisoning the king. With only three loyal people in the palace, not counting the young princess Irene, Curdie must administer justice to all the wrongdoers in the king’s household.
In case you skipped the first part of the review, The Princess and Curdie is the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. Younger readers may enjoy the story, but older readers will most likely catch the more subtle facts that a younger reader would miss. The young princess doesn’t appear in the story until about halfway through the book. I may have enjoyed The Princess and Curdie a little more if she had been in the story longer. However, it is still a very good, memorable read and Lina helps to make up for the princess’ smaller part.
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Girl Detective said:
I followed you here from Semicolon. I didn’t mind Irene’s late entrance since I felt this was more Curdie’s book, as the last one was hers. I think both volumes are great further reading for those who love Narnia and fantasy, and a good example of Christian teaching fiction that is able to be enjoyed by all–didactic, but not proselytizing.
Becca said:
I agree with you that this was more of Curdie’s book. I like Irene and I wish that there was more room in the story for her, but I’m also glad that George MacDonald didn’t try to squeeze her in where she didn’t fit.
SmallWorld said:
Both of these books are two of my favorites from childhood. They were read to me as a child and then I read them later as a teen, and as an adult to my children. Love, love, love them!
hopeinbrazil said:
I loved reading the Princess and Curdie books outloud to my boys. I think I enjoyed them more than the boys because of the subtle hidden truths. One of the most powerful images of all is when the “Lady of the Silver Moon” tells Curdie to thrust his hands into the fire of roses. After it seems that his hands have burnt off Curdie discovers that they are actually white and smooth and that the old woman has been weeping along with him in his suffering. Talk about layers of meaning!
Carrie (Reading to Know) said:
I recently read all of MacDonald’s fairy tales. I found them highly enjoyable. It’s nice to see other people reading them also. Thanks so much for your review which I enjoyed!
Sara said:
i thought this book was a little weak. not as good as the princess and the goblet some parts were odd and too mythical so i got bored easily and threw the book away princess irene should have been more involved in this book. all i know is her and curdie get married in the end which is all that matters