Review by Frank Plowright

This sequel doesn’t adapt a Jonathan Coulton song like The Princess Who Saved Herself, but has the bonus of Coulton himself collaborating with Greg Pak on the follow up.

As before it’s a simple tale told in rhyme with Takeshi Miyazawa’s illustrations keeping time. Given the design work put in on the previous book, you may imagine much of Miyazawa’s work is done, and it’s just a matter of renewing acquaintance with the cast from last time, but as this is a battle of the bands there’s whole new bunch of characters to be created. They need to be slightly edgier, and Miyazawa again creates wonders, especially the banjo playing dinosaur.

In the first book, while Princess Glory enjoyed playing her guitar, it was out of tune, and once that was fixed there was harmony throughout the land as her band played. Here the plot concerns the reasons for playing music. Is it for fun, or is it for acclaim and recognition?

The ideas are a little more complex than last time, but not so difficult a young child won’t grasp them with a couple of explanations, and the idea of a battle of the bands with a cake as a prize is an absolute charmer. The only slight drawback is the Princess herself having a far smaller role. She remains the most important character as the primary decisions are hers, and she might be young, but is already aware that being loyal to your friends and supporting them ought to be a priority.

Perhaps that’s just being too picky when so much is so good. Anyone who loved the first book should enjoy looking back in on the Princess and her friends.