The Princelings of the East Series

The Princelings of the East is a trilogy relating the adventures of unlikely heroes Fred and George. Two innocents abroad, they solve problems caused by unintended consequences, commercial greed, and blind prejudice—and still find time to engage in troubled love affairs and nearly blow themselves up with their own inventions. The opening of The Princelings and the Pirates, the second book in the series, finds Fred and George happily pursuing their interests and enjoying the hospitality of Castle Buckmore. When Prince Lupin of Buckmore announces his unhappiness with the wine, they set off to discover what has gone wrong at the winery. Captured by pirates, shipwrecked, and in danger for their very lives, the heroes are drawn into the Battle of Dimerie, where Fred meets his true love and George gets more than he bargained for. Suitable for confident readers ages 10 and over, The Princelings and the Pirates is a fantasy adventure where guinea pigs rule the world. It combines a generous amount of swashbuckling with a dash of concern at society's ills spiced with the stirrings of a first love interest. This second book in the series is available in print as part of the Princelings of the East Trilogy - see link for details. Praise for Princelings and the Pirates: “Princelings and the Pirates opens with a Princess being abducted by smelly pirates on a foggy night. Oh no! Then we switch to our heroes, Fred and George, enjoying a leisurely lifestyle at Castle Buckmore... they soon get embroiled with the pirates and this leads them into plenty of adventure. In this second story in the trilogy we meet plenty of old friends but also make new ones. I particularly like Haggis and Neeps. It's good to see Victor adding his unique comedy touch again. What a star he is!” AmazonUK reviewer “Kira is one of the strongest female characters I've seen in young-adult fantasy fiction, and I'd recommend the book on the strength of her character alone... The action draws the reader in from the start, and the dialogue is intelligent and full of subtle humor. This book is suitable for children, teens, and adults, and I'm confident that all readers will thoroughly enjoy it.” Amazon.com reviewer

The Princelings of the East is the first of a trilogy telling of the adventures of Fred and George. Over three stories they solve problems caused by unintended consequences, commercial greed, unprincipled actions and blind prejudice yet still find time for troubled love affairs and disastrous inventions. Book 1 opens with our Princeling heroes at the Castle in the Marsh. When the King's Birthday feast is ruined by an unnatural power drain, they leave their scientific experiments to set out in search of answers. They encounter the enigmatic businessman Hugo, the impressive Prince of Buckmore, the wise Lady Nimrod, the irrepressible barkeeper Victor, but find themselves threatened by those with vested interests. The scene shifts from a rural, feudal setting to the towers and heights of the curious Isle of Hattan, but where, or when, are they? Time is of the essence in solving this puzzle, and our heroes must keep their wits sharp and their heads clear if they are to survive. Suitable for ages 10 and over, The Princelings of the East is a fantasy adventure with the charm of the Wind in the Willows in a complete world reminiscent of Anne MacCaffrey's Pern. The 2nd Edition amends the longer sentences but leaves the long words which kids liked. Some conversations which were described in a paragraph are now detailed in up to two pages, especially for the discussions of the time tunnel. I hope you like the changes. The trilogy is also available as a single paperback - see link for details. The Buzz "The Princelings of the East is an enchanting tale that will delight boys and be very much enjoyed by girls. This fourth to sixth grade chapter book will keep young readers enthralled for hours on end. You will find well-rounded characters, an interesting plot and many adventures within the pages of this book. I truly enjoyed the tale and loved the telling. It relates a completely new idea in a medieval fantasy setting. The plot will be enjoyed by all the inventors or thinkers in your home. It will be a welcome volume in any home, school, or library shelves. " - Reader's Favorite "The Princelings of the East is a suspense-filled mystery strong on character development, with a deliciously complex and engaging plot, that is sure to be enjoyed by older tweens and adults alike." - Mother Daughter Book Reviews

The Princelings of the East is a trilogy relating the adventures of unlikely heroes Fred and George. Two innocents abroad, they solve problems caused by unintended consequences, commercial greed, and blind prejudice — and still find time to engage in troubled love affairs and nearly blow themselves up with their own inventions. In the third book, The Princelings and the Lost City, Fred has made a commitment to his true love, Kira, but must win her father’s approval. George, meanwhile, is near to fulfilling his destiny, but gets sidetracked by the arrival of a new flying machine. A simple journey to introduce Kira to their home castle turns into a case of kidnap, mistaken identity, heartache, and the discovery of a totalitarian society hidden in the forest. The Princelings series is a fantasy adventure for good readers age 10 and upwards, that combines the charm of The Wind in the Willows with a world reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey's Pern. It will be enjoyed by animal lovers as well as those who enjoy an imagined world where power struggles, self-interest and prejudice can be overcome by hard work, friendship and a little bit of talent. The Princelings and the Lost City is available as a paperback as part of the Princelings of the East Trilogy - see the link for details. THE BUZZ "The Lost City, Book Three of The Princelings trilogy is a great read for those who love fantasy with young male protagonists. The plot is new, interesting, and will engage your mind in the story. A great work was created by the author with this trilogy. I enjoyed the well-developed characters and their many adventures. In all, this is a very nice piece of writing. The trilogy has been completed without leaving any loose ends. I would have to say that this has been an overall enchanting trip into a fantasy realm." - Readers Favorite

Humphrey is on the run. He has no friends, no past, no purpose, and no future. He’s just a guinea pig trying to find his way west in a world of dark forests, wild hills, strong castles, and assorted vagabonds and other things that might or might not begin with the letter V. White Horse Castle has a proud past but an uncertain future. The new king, Benson, is trying to hold his realm together against the avaricious intentions of his neighbour, Lord Colman of Castle Deeping. Fortunately, White Horse Castle has a secret. It knows that there are special guinea pig people out there... people who need a purpose... people with skills and talents that could be put to good use. The trouble is, how to find them? In the fifth book in the Princelings series, we find the young outcast from the Lost City of Arbor travelling west as his mother suggested. He is rounded up amongst other exiles, but escapes, and finds himself among people that could be his friends, something he has never had before. But they are under threat, and Humphrey’s adventures twist and turn as he is called to his destiny by an unknown force, one that calls to his special hearing skills. He meets other talented individuals and learns to be a team, to work with others for the common good. It’s a tale of greed, of fighting, of cruelty and of a darker place than the ones we’ve met so far in the Princelings world. Heroes and heroines emerge from the unlikeliest of places to find laughter and friendship and a place where they belong. The Talent Seekers is a fantasy adventure story with paranormal influences and some pitched battles. It is set in the months between the Prologue and the Epilogue of the Princelings and the Lost City, but with otherwise little connection to the previous stories in the series so can stand alone. It’s suitable for readers aged 13 and upwards. “Another intricately woven story in the land of the Princelings. This time we journey with Humphrey. A gentle and trepid soul with a talent for listening to things above and beyond the realms of the everyday... Humphrey is tested beyond anything he has ever known, unsure of who is friend or foe. Using every ounce of knowledge from his books, combined with his unique and special talents, he bands together with his unit. They must prevail against a force so evil, that it threatens the livelihood of the entire land of the Princelings.” Julie Grasso

The fourth book in the Princelings series takes us back to Castle Hattan. Lord Mariusz, peeved at being cast as the villain in the first book, attempts to set the record straight. He narrates, in his own Humphrey Bogart fashion, how he found the time tunnel, and his adventures when he started to exploit the business opportunities he found on the other end. He explains how he came to master the art of time travel and why he has been the easiest person to blame for all the assassinations, supernatural phenomena, and industrial espionage he has seen on his adventures. From his first morning at the Inn of the Seventh Happiness, where he has introduced himself as Hugo del Novo, he feels a strange disorientation. What is going on in this world? The papers are twelve years out of date, they speak with a strange accent, and write dates the wrong way round. The barkeeper’s cute hyperactive son tips him off as to the best stagecoach to take to start exploring, and then his troubles really start. Trouble could have been Hugo’s middle name, since he certainly attracts it. Murder, vampires, dodgy business people, secret agents... Mind you, the upside is that he attracts beautiful females, too. And all the while he’s just trying to work out how to sell his drinks – and how to get them shipped down the time tunnel, stored in a safe and secret place, and keep his trusty agent Willow from falling asleep on the job. What is the secret of Vexstein’s bottling plant? Who knows what shady deals have been done before Hugo arrived? And how many contracts have been taken out on him while he’s just been trying to get contracts for drink deliveries set up and signed? Meet old friends as their younger selves and make new ones as you follow Hugo’s adventures in the Princelings world – before Fred and George had even dreamed of leaving Castle Marsh! The Traveler in Black and White is a fantasy mystery for ages 10 (PG) to 110. Since Hugo (or Lord Mariusz) comes from Hattan, the book is written in US English. Review by DHR: This book is set earlier than The Princelings of the East Trilogy and rather than following Fred and George it follows Mariusz, Lord of Hattan, also known as Hugo. The entire book is from his perspective and is appropriately quite different in style to the other books. The excellent writing, exciting plot and brilliant characters are all very much still here! Mariusz/Hugo is a tougher character than the earnest Princes, but his caddish charm and guile make him just as appealing.

Bravo Victor is the sixth in The Princelings of the East series, and stars Victor, keeper of the Inn of the Seventh Happiness, a much-loved character in four of the previous books. Victor has grown up but, in spite of his ambitions to be a business guru, he’s still running the Inn of the Seventh Happiness more or less single-handed. Always enthusiastic, he has a new project – a velocipede, an early form of bicycle – and he’s looking for a partner to work with. While he’s doing that, he stumbles on some odd information, and seeks advice from King Fred at Castle Marsh. Fred has his own problems, since his brother George has not returned from a flying festival. Victor joins Sundance, a secret agent, to help him unmask a criminal in the Rhinelands and at the same time search for George. What he finds is a web of intrigue, involving numerous versions of a well-known soft drink, two people who profess to own it, and a flying machine that may or may not hold the key to the future. And Victor’s biggest headache comes from meeting an old friend... who is no older than he was when Victor was just a wee lad. Originally written straight after The Traveller in Black and White, Bravo Victor changed over time from a whodunnit to a gentler mystery, and pulls together some loose ends from books 1 and 4. New inventions are foremost in people’s lives, while unrest in the Realms is in the background, showing itself in subtle ways through changing attitudes and resistance to traditional authority. Business studies students, would-be smugglers, budding inventors and aviation enthusiasts will all enjoy the insights into life the Realms, and it’s never too early to find out about money – as Victor discovered many years ago! And just how many brands of cola are going to appear before the end? Lovers of the series will enjoy this latest adventure, and newcomers will be pleased to find a chronology of major events in earlier tales relevant to this book as well as a cast of characters. It’s a mystery adventure in a world not quite like ours, suitable for age 12 and upwards.

The Princelings of the North is the eighth in The Princelings of the East series. Princelings Dylan and Dougall, who live in the far northwest of an island off the northwest coast of the Realms, rescue an exiled prince, and battle against the odds to restore him to his birthright. Irrepressible Dylan and steady Dougall are inseparable denizens of the tiny castle of Haunn, so far away from the rest of civilisation that it’s almost off the map. And maps are one of the key elements of this intricate adventure. Dylan finds a treasure map inside a bottle washed up on the shore – and he reckons he knows where X is. Instead of treasure, he finds the exiled Prince Kevin of Castle Deeping, antagonist in the Talent Seekers, bit-player in Bravo Victor, and mystery prince in Willoughby the Narrator. Kevin has had time to realise what a fool he’s been, and now wants vengeance and his castle back, which is just the sort of adventurous challenge that Dylan craves. Dylan and Dougall have both appeared in print already; they star in tales in the two BookElves Anthologies. The novella Dylan’s Yuletide Journey, which appeared first, is also available as a free ebook. These two lovable characters finally get their own full-length adventure, something they’ve always threatened, and they travel virtually the full length of the Realms to achieve it. Check the series website for maps of the Realms to download. Prince Kevin has an equal part in this adventure; he’s been hoodwinked by his evil uncle for so many years it takes a summer of isolation for him to come to his senses, although whether his plans are entirely sensible are for the reader to judge. Lovers of the series will devour this latest adventure, but newcomers may find it best to start with the box set of books 1-3 or book 5; book 7 links to Kevin's disappearance. This is a mystery adventure in a world not quite like ours, suitable for age 10 and upwards. The series is set to conclude with book 10.

Willoughby the Narrator is the seventh in The Princelings of the East series. Willoughby first appeared in the Talent Seekers, as a mysterious ninja and mentor to Humphrey. As might be expected from a Narrator, Willoughby tells his story with style and panache, starting with his somewhat surprising arrival in the Realms. The first part of the book takes us from the realisation that he was stuck here, through his adventures as he finds a way of making a living until he can return to where he belongs. That all ends when he falls from a high tower at Castle Deeping during the battles between Deeping and White Horse, as detailed in the Talent Seekers, and not elaborated on in his tale. Willoughby concentrates on the new story – what happened next, what he got up to as an itinerant narrator, and how he eventually compromised his career with undercover work for the rich and powerful, and had to start again. He treats us to a number of his special tales in the process, all the while reporting the changes in the social structure of the Realms as the Troubles deepen. Where will it all end? Willoughby demanded that his story should be told. I more or less completed part one, wondering whether to retell his role in the Talent Seekers, or to give a modest summary, which is what my Willoughby eventually did. ‘Eventually,’ because nearly two years went by before I took up his story again. Once I realised where the story ended, for now, I could get going again. Willoughby’s story becomes entwined with that of Fred and George, the original Princelings, so there will be more to hear from him before the end of the saga. Lovers of the series will enjoy this latest adventure, but newcomers may find it easier to start with book 1 or book 5. It’s a mystery adventure in a world not quite like ours, suitable for age 10 and upwards.

The Princelings of the East are now King Fred and Prince Engineer George. Gone are the years of innocence when they travelled for adventure and uncovered time tunnels and pirate plots. Now Fred, assisted by his queen, Kira, has the responsibility for his people, his lands, and for persuading the lords and kings of the Realms to act together for the common good. George just has to work on his inventions, always thinking of a final goal: to fulfil the promises made to Lord Mariusz so long ago. Neither has an easy task. Fred decides to write a history of his reign, starting with the joy of his inheritance, and documenting how technological progress is not necessarily the key to communal good. Chronicles of Marsh is book 9 of the Princelings of the East series, and fills a gap between previous books and the final one, Princelings Revolution. It takes us from Fred’s first days as king, to the loss of the latest and most promising flying machine, a period of 8 years. The pressures of modern life will be familiar to readers, even if the princelings world doesn’t have the internet or mobile communications... yet. Lovers of the series will enjoy these adventures, but newcomers may find it easier to start with book 1, book 5, even at book 7. It’s a fantasy sociological and technological adventure in a world not quite like ours, suitable for age 10 and upwards.

Jasmine's birthday party ends in disaster. George seems to have lost a phial of highly dangerous liquid. And Fred, well, King Fred is battling politics, relatives and self-serving dignitaries in his aim to give the people a better way of living. The planes are crashing, the people are angry at the changes and shortages. King Fred puts democracy to the test and finds it's not all it's cracked up to be. And things are going from bad to worse... Above all this there is a promise Fred wants to keep. A promise to an engaging chap he made when he was a mere stripling, when he persuaded Lord Marius of Hattan to stop the Great Energy Drain. What will happen if he fails? The tenth and final book of the Princelings of the East series brings our heroes to the brink of disaster. The Realms will never be the same again - but how will Fred, George, Jasmine, Willoughby and all the others fare? An intriguing fantasy mystery adventure for readers aged 10 and upwards.