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The introduction to this book is interesting, as we find there is something of a path to this second book that leads through another book on to another. Essentially, Wrede wrote a sequel, then wrote a book in between (this one), and was told by her editor that she needed to write one between this and the original sequel.

The novel itself manages to keep a lot of the same tone as the first book, but has a different feel because we have a different main character. Cimorene was (is) a no-nonsense princess in a world of fairy-tale tropes, so her arc is very much rebellion against social authority, and something of an Andre Norton-like finding (or more making) a place where you fit in properly. Mendanbar has a place—he is King of the Enchanted Forest—though he does have problems with fitting in with his expected role. And, sympathetically enough, wants nothing to do with the silly princesses that populate most fairy tales.

Really though, my biggest complaint about him is that name. “Mendanbar” does not roll off my tongue, and more trips down the stairs.

Despite his problems, Mendanbar is also nearly unconsciously competent, and starts causing problems for the villains without realizing it. Since it’s somewhat obvious something is afoot, this does make him come off as a bit of a dunce, and he fails to ask important questions early on, but he does catch up to the plot, and is properly genre-savvy.

Of course, when a king who doesn’t like your typical fairy-tale princess, and a princess who doesn’t like your typical fairy-tale prince meet, its obvious where things are going to go, and there are no surprises here. Thankfully, we don’t get books upon books of romantic melodrama either, and the relationship is well done.

The main plot is back to the Society of Wizards causing problems. And the characters get to loop around trying to find out what and where things are happening, which does drag out for me, despite how entertaining the characters are. (My favorite part is where everyone, even the most unlikely characters, are trying to get themselves into the final mission to put things right.)

Overall, it was enjoyable for many of the same reasons as Dealing With Dragons, but I did like that one better. Generally, I liked Cimorene better, and find Mendanbar a bit of a grump in comparison (and then there’s his name). And there is a relative lack of dragons, though a number of good secondary characters are introduced.