A young princess must be given everything she wants in this original fairy-tale, or else the curse put upon her by the Lord of the Night will lead to the death of her parents and the ruination of her kingdom. Realizing one day that she must set out to find what she really wants, the girl takes to the road on her swift white horse that can traverse the length of the kingdom in a day. Accompanied by her walnut-brown dog who understands speech, her ash-gray cat as swift as a blink and as clever as six professors, and her ink-black crow who can recite every poem in the world, and carrying her blue invisibility cloak, the princess parts with each of her animals to help people she meets along the way. Eventually she even gives away her cloak, receiving in return a magical ring that will aid her in obtaining her heart's desire: freedom from the Lord of the Night's curse...

Published in 1994, The Princess and the Lord of the Night is, as far as I know, the only picture book ever produced by author Emma Bull, who is better known for her fantasy fiction for adult readers. The story itself is a wonderful tale, one in which generosity and courage are rewarded, as the eponymous princess finds that she wants others to be safe, happy and healthy more than she wants to hold on to the wonders which belong to her—a state of affairs which results in her winning her freedom from the curse holding her, her family and her kingdom captive. The accompanying artwork from illustrator Susan Gaber, done in watercolor and colored pencil, is just lovely, capturing the beauty and magic of the princess, her companions and her journey. I have encountered Gaber's work before, in Heather Forest's Stone Soup, and in her The Baker's Dozen, and have enjoyed it, but I think the illustrations here far surpass what can be found in those two other titles. In any case, this is one I greatly enjoyed, and which I would recommend to young fairy-tales lovers, and to picture book audiences who enjoy fantastical stories. ( )

good girl's story. ( )