Wisdom's Kiss

August 8, 2011
A delightful kernel of a story sinks from the weight of a complicated format in this fairy tale from the author of Dairy Queen. Told in letters, scenes from a play, and extracts from memoirs, diaries, and encyclopedia entries, the tale revolves around the scheming duchess of Farina, who conspires to grab power by marrying her son to the neighboring kingdom’s Princess Wisdom. Into this main thread enters Trudy, an orphaned, clairvoyant kitchen wench who longs to reunite with Tips, whose acrobatic skills have earned him an apprenticeship with a flashy swordsman. As Wisdom travels through Trudy’s village to her wedding, Queen Mother Ben notes Trudy’s talents and drafts her as a lady-in-waiting. Palace intrigue and a tension-filled romantic triangle enliven the pace by midpoint, but the shifting points of view and encyclopedia entries, in particular, act like stop signs to narrative momentum. It’s a pity, as the clever allusions to fairy tales, wordplay, and an original take on “happily ever after” leave the impression Murdock had fun writing this. Despite its flawed start, readers who get halfway through will find incentive to reach the finish line. Ages 12–up.

Starred review from October 1, 2011

Gr 6-10-Murdock welcomes readers back to Montagne in this companion to Princess Ben (Houghton Harcourt, 2008). This delightful romp, set decades after Queen Benevolence passed the throne to future generations, brings together an unlikely trio of allies: adventure-hungry Princess Wisdom, who would rather turn cartwheels and engage in spitting competitions with the coachman than perform her royal duties; Fortitude, a remarkably gifted young woman who dreams only of her long-absent true love's return; and Tips, a talented circus performer disguised as a soldier, who is caught between the two heroines. Princess Wisdom's future mother-in-law, Duchess of Farina, has devised a diabolical plot to dispose of the current Queen of Montagne and seize the throne. With assistance from an extraordinary feline, the three must put their differences aside to foil the plot and save the kingdom. But can they make their own dreams come true? Murdock weaves together a colorful tapestry of diary pages, correspondence, encyclopedia entries, and theatrical scripts to create this decidedly unique spin on a beloved fairy tale. Richly developed characters, humor, exciting plot twists, and, of course, magic combine to craft a most enjoyable read. Fans of Gail Carson Levine will be charmed by this witty, whimsical fantasy. Exceptional!-Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2011

From the author of the Dairy Queen series comes this ebullient fairy tale, set in a vaguely Teutonic empire of small baronies, duchies and kingdoms.

Charting the adventures of humble orphans Trudy, a kitchen maid, and Tips, a miller's son and object of Trudy's affections, the story's scope soon broadens to include Princess Wisdom and her grandmother, Benevolence, from the female-led ruling family of Montagne, a small kingdom coveted by larger, wealthier Farina (Princess Ben, 2008). All are nominally subjects of Emperor R�diger IV, whose passion is his grand circus. "Told through seven voices" in diaries, letters, encyclopedia entries, self-published family history and a play, the complicated plot unfolds briskly with panache and humor, braiding imperial ambition and marriages of convenience with true love and longing. Trudy yearns for Tips; Tips yearns for Wisdom; Wisdom yearns for the circus; the Duchess of Farina yearns to absorb Montagne. All work out their destinies with gusto and determination (aided or thwarted by witchcraft courtesy of Montagne's royal family). Only the ending, referencing the story's fairy-tale provenance, fails to thoroughly satisfy.

If not quite the sumptuous banquet anticipated, the novel still makes a satisfying, tasty treat. (glossary of terms) (Fantasy. 10 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from August 1, 2011
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* At the start of this delightful fairy tale, Princess Wisdom is betrothed to Duke Roger of Farina. After she and her grandmother set off for her royal marriage ceremony, though, she finds herself falling madly in love with a circus acrobat. Complicating matters, the circus performer has already professed his love to another: Wisdom's lady-in-waiting. Oh, the scandal of it all! This tongue-in-cheek tour de force follows multiple characters; as the book's epigraph states, Truth requires many voices. Included among the captivating cast are Rudy, the forsaken lady-in-waiting; Princess Wisdom, better and appropriately known as Dizzy; Sir Felis el Gato, a master swordsman; Tips, the Circus Primus acrobat; the evil Wilhelmina, Duchess of Farina and mother of the bridegroom; and the Queen Mother Ben and her cat, Escoffier. Readers will find themselves rooting for a happy, if fantastical, ending for all of Murdock's deftly drawn characters, with the exception, of course, of Duchess Wilhelmina, who refreshingly meets her just desserts. Interwoven with the straightforward narration are passages in inventive forms, such as letters and diary entries, a play within a play, and excerpts from The Imperial Encyclopedia of Lax, 8th Edition. Packed with double entendres, humorous dialogue and situations, and a black cat that will capture the reader's imagination, this is a joyful, timeless fantasy that teens will savor.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2012
Murdock's gleeful nontraditional fairy tale stars feisty Princess Wisdom; loyal inn-worker-turned-lady-in-waiting Trudy; and gallant acrobat Tips, who captures both girls' hearts. Letters, diaries, a biography, and--most amusingly--a play are incorporated into the distinctive narrative structure. Royal politics, magic, a nasty villain, and a narcissistic cat combine for a witty, unconventional tale that's highly original.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2011
Literary fairy tales, those stories playing off the familiar tropes of folklore, have been around forever. From Charles Perrault who provided Cinderella with her glass slipper to Gail Carson Levine whose Ella Enchanted (rev. 5/97) was no one's patsy, writer after writer has had a grand time reinventing the form. The latest is Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Princess Ben, rev. 5/08), who gleefully turns tradition on its head here. Instead of the usual hero/heroine duo, she gives us a trio: the feisty Princess Wisdom, about to be married to a duke; the loyal inn-worker-turned-lady-in-waiting Trudy; and the gallant acrobat Tips, who captures both girls' hearts. Going further, Murdock ditches the standard single narrative voice for eight distinctive ones and presents them in letters, encyclopedia entries, diaries, a memoir, a biography, and -- most amusingly -- a play. Royal politics, acrobatics, magic, a deliciously nasty villain, a comfortingly warm grandmother, and a narcissistic cat make for a rollicking and witty tale that, due to its sophisticated language and unusual style, will probably be best appreciated by those with a taste for the unconventional. For literary fairy tale enthusiasts, Wisdom's Kiss is a highly original and exceptionally executed souffl'. monica edinger

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)