Princess Anya goes questing to fulfill a promise to her sister.When Princess Anya's stepstepfather, evil Duke Rikard, transforms her older sister's latest love into a frog, the self-possessed white royal promises to transform him back. Alas, the Transmorgification Reversal Lip Balm is depleted in kissing the wrong frog, and Anya is forced on a dual quest to escape death by Duke Rikard and gather supplies for more balm. The third-person narration chronicles the high jinks that ensue as Anya sets off with her faithful talking canine companion, Ardent, and the transformed prince. Anya and company fall in with various intriguing characters: Bert (short for Roberta), the strong, capable, dark-skinned leader of the Association of Responsible Robbers (think Robin Hood), who challenges Anya to examine her princess privilege; the powerful and also dark-skinned and female Good Wizard; and the Wizard's teacher, who's both Merlin and Snow White (just one way Nix cleverly and hilariously turns fairy-tale tropes upside-down); as well as the Seven Dwarves. The characters are so enjoyable readers are sure to miss them when the quest (and book) ends. Refreshingly, there's no romance plot here, and just as refreshingly, the two dark-skinned women are both beautiful and benevolent. Nix takes inspiration from classics and improves on them: he doesn't fall into negative tropes and masterfully infuses the weight of first recognizing one's privilege with humor. Great fun with heart. (Fantasy. 10 & up)

Gr 8 Up-Anya, a 13-year-old princess, loves nothing more than reading in her favorite chair. But after she makes a "sister promise" to her elder sibling to turn a frog back into a prince, she finds herself on a quest for a magic lip balm that sends her far from her beloved castle library. Along the way, she learns that wizards offer help but only when asked; witches like trickery, so it's better to strike a modest bargain with them; and giants are nearsighted, but their noses are so sensitive that they can smell lies. This delightful fantasy pits the small but mighty Anya against a sorcerer, Rikard, for control of the kingdom Trallonia. Nix grounds readers with practical asides, such as how to go to the bathroom without embarrassment when there is no toilet. He also has a gift for imaginative names, settings, dilemmas, and resolutions. Best of all, he invites readers to question the adult world along with his protagonist. Ardent, a talking royal dog, is as restless and uncertain as Anya, but he helps guide her. Not that she's asking for assistance: "I don't expect to need rescuing," she tells him once before a particularly dangerous separation. "I'm not that kind of princess." VERDICT With wonderfully inventive creatures, challenging vocabulary, and a captivating story, this fantasy is recommended as a first purchase for YA collections.— Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School, Long Island City, NY

Princess Anya is in a bind. Her stepstepfather Duke Rikard (who happens to be an evil sorcerer) is plotting to steal the crown, her older sister's suitor has been transformed into a frog, and Anya has promised to help turn him back into a prince t she's fresh out of the transmogrification-reversal lip balm she needs for the job. There's nothing for it but to embark on a quest to gather the hard-to-come-by lip balm ingredients and hopefully devise a way to stop the duke while she's at it. Anya is accompanied by Ardent, an eager (talking) royal dog, and it isn't long before their journey takes on a more significant purpose. Playing on fairy tale tropes and conventions, Nix (Newt's Emerald, 2015) delivers a delightful adventure stuffed with absurdity, magic, and a spirited young heroine. Beneath these entertaining trappings lies a heartfelt message of justice and fair treatment for all. As for Anya, there's always room for leading ladies like her: "I don't expect to need rescuing. I'm not that kind of princess."

Princess Anya sets out to acquire ingredients for an anti-transmogrification lip balm to turn a frog back into a prince. Serious concerns underlie this quest's silliness--after learning of the kingdom's corruption and class inequality, Anya vows to oust evil Duke Rikard and reinstate the democratic "Bill of Rights and Wrongs." Nix smartly subverts fairy-tale and fantasy-genre tropes while exploring timely social justice issues.

Princess Anya goes questing to fulfill a promise to her sister.When Princess Anya's stepstepfather, evil Duke Rikard, transforms her older sister's latest love into a frog, the self-possessed white royal promises to transform him back. Alas, the Transmorgification Reversal Lip Balm is depleted in kissing the wrong frog, and Anya is forced on a dual quest to escape death by Duke Rikard and gather supplies for more balm. The third-person narration chronicles the high jinks that ensue as Anya sets off with her faithful talking canine companion, Ardent, and the transformed prince. Anya and company fall in with various intriguing characters: Bert (short for Roberta), the strong, capable, dark-skinned leader of the Association of Responsible Robbers (think Robin Hood), who challenges Anya to examine her princess privilege; the powerful and also dark-skinned and female Good Wizard; and the Wizard's teacher, who's both Merlin and Snow White (just one way Nix cleverly and hilariously turns fairy-tale tropes upside-down); as well as the Seven Dwarves. The characters are so enjoyable readers are sure to miss them when the quest (and book) ends. Refreshingly, there's no romance plot here, and just as refreshingly, the two dark-skinned women are both beautiful and benevolent. Nix takes inspiration from classics and improves on them: he doesn't fall into negative tropes and masterfully infuses the weight of first recognizing one's privilege with humor. Great fun with heart. (Fantasy. 10 & up)

Princess Anya just wants to be left alone to study magic, but her feckless older sister, Morven, keeps falling madly in love with visiting princes-until their -evil stepstepfather,- Duke Rikard, transforms the suitors into frogs. Now Rikard is threatening to usurp the crown and send Anya off to a boarding school from which she-s unlikely to return. What-s a princess to do? In this rollicking comic fantasy from Old Kingdom creator Nix, Anya sets off on a quest to find allies and revert the transformed royals by assembling the ingredients for -Fairly Reliable Transmogrification Reversal Lip Balm,- accompanied by her sister-s most recent suitor, Prince Denholm (currently a frog); her faithful if overzealous dog, Ardent; and a boy-turned-newt named Shrub. Along the way, she-s dogged by Rikard-s weasel assassins and a series of journalists, all named Gerald the Herald, who constantly shout headlines like -The Frogkisser Sets Forth! Herald Detained by Druid Accomplice! More News to Come!- Well-developed characters, an unfailing sense of humor, and polished prose make Nix-s uproarious adventure a pleasure to read. Ages 12-up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Grinberg Literary Management. (Feb.)

When their evil stepfather, Duke Rikard, turns Princess Morven’s suitor, Prince Denholm, into a frog, Princess Anya promises she will change him back. Since “true love” is a requirement for the transforming kiss, Anya applies a transmogrification lip balm. When it does not work, more lip-smacker potion—comprised of witches’ tears and other exotic ingredients—will have to be concocted. Rikard, meanwhile, is scheming to send Anya far away to school, neutralize Morven (now enthralled by a singing prince), and control the kingdom of Trallonia. Acting on the advice of Tanitha, the wise leader of the Royal Dogs, Anya leaves with Royal Dog Ardent and frog-form Denholm, secure in a wire basket, on a quest for the ingredients she needs. After numerous harrowing adventures, including encounters with a dense giant, thirteen witches, and more, Anya formulates the proper balm. Along with her assorted band of companions, Anya eventually defeats the duke, changes Morven into a magpie to join her transformed singing prince, and becomes queen of Trallonia. Nix has stirred up an intoxicating brew in Frogkisser! Reluctant heroine Anya is sometimes petulant, but always steadfast in her promises, quick-thinking, and courageous enough to kiss a frog. The colorful adventures, full of fairytale familiarities seasoned with humor and twists, employ weasel warriors, wizards, witches with add-on warts, druids, librarians “going owl,” and flying carpet rides. When the Bill of Rights and Wrongs is reestablished in the kingdom, all ends happily—exactly as a fairy tale should. Readers will want a sequel.—Barbara Johnston.