From School Library Journal
Grade 5–8—This sequel to Ferris's beloved
Once upon a Marigold (Harcourt, 2002) shifts its focus from Christian and Marigold to one of the less-savory characters. At the end of the first book, the evil-plotting Queen Olympia falls into a river, allowing everyone else to live happily ever after. Now, she has arrived downstream in Granolah and, suffering from amnesia, starts a new life as "Angie." It's only when she snaps out of it and wants her throne back that trouble starts. With her friends as her companions, she treks back to Beaurivage, resumes her reign, and jails King Swithbert and Ed, the troll who raised Christian. When Marigold realizes what has happened, she cooks up a plan with Christian, her father, and Ed. But just as they've deposed the queen, Olympia turns back into Angie. Realizing they're much better off with Angie, they bring in a wizard to rid her body of any traces of Olympia, and the whole kingdom returns to its happily-ever-after mode. In focusing on Olympia and introducing a plethora of new minor characters, Ferris moves away from what was so endearing about the first book: Marigold and Christian. Throughout this one, they are settling into marriage and bickering, which becomes monotonous. Still, the sequel shines in its more witty moments, as when Marigold discovers knock-knock jokes. Fans of the first title will surely want to read this novel, but it does not stand alone.—
Jennifer Barnes, Homewood Library, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Not many novels based on the fairy-tale tradition extend beyond the conventional happy ending, but Once upon a Marigold (2002) was never a conventional example of the genre. In this sequel, which takes place one year later, young Queen Marigold and King Christian of Zandelphia are having a minor quarrel when they are suddenly united by a common enemy. Marigold’s mother, wicked Queen Olympia, has returned to the neighboring kingdom to the despair of her subjects and her family. Although violence isn’t the whole answer to overthrowing Olympia, it never hurts to have the palace guards on your side or, for that matter, a wizard’s elephant with an unconventional cure for disagreeableness. Appealing new characters and fresh plot twists give this sequel a life of its own, though fans of the earlier book will enjoy the continuation of its story line, wry humor, and offbeat sense of fun. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan
