This is the first book of the series that includes A Prince Among Frogs. Which I read out of order, so now I am remedying that. It was a fun read. Similar in theme to Frogged. Princess Emeralda doesn’t want to meet the prince her parents are trying to introduce her to (arranging a future marriage) so she sneaks out of the castle and goes to her favorite spot- the swamp behind the castle. Where she meets a frog who demands a kiss, saying he’s really a prince. Emma is reluctant, but finally gets talked into kissing the frog- and is turned into one herself. Said prince is still a frog, too. They can’t imagine why the reversal didn’t work how it was supposed to, and the only way to find out is to locate a witch. Preferably the one who transformed this prince Eadric in the first place. Getting anywhere is difficult, being frogs they are in constant danger from predators, curious or mean boys, dogs, and any larger animal or human just walking around. Emma has to learn how to hop and swim and (ugh!) eat insects. She is constantly pestered by this Eadric to kiss him again, but refuses, worried that it will work some other transformation. They journey to find the witch, only encounter a different witch instead, who wants to use their frog body parts for a spell. They’re trapped with a bunch of other creatures in her cottage and with some help from a bat, finally get free again. Emma discovers that she actually has a knack for magic, and can be braver than she ever thought. Eventually they make their way back to Emma’s castle, to seek help from her aunt who is also a witch. (So I found out- yes, this fantasy world has plenty of witches, and the magic runs in families, including Emma’s). There’s lots of funny asides, like the dog who was once accidentally turned into a duck and is now (being a dog again) mortally afraid of them. There’s also a horse that got turned into a dog, and an otter that was once a man (seems witches enjoy turning anyone who annoys them into animals), and a nasty-tempered fairy. Emma and Eadric slowly build a friendship as they go through their trials as frogs, and at the end it looks like this might even turn into a romance someday.
Borrowed from the public library.
