This title from the author of the Harry Potter series is darker than many will expect, especially with it being sold as a “fairy tale” for children, which will lead many to think of Disney movies and princesses. That is certainly not the case here. Throughout this story there are lies upon lies, deaths upon deaths. This is no children’s story. This is especially not a story for Christian Children.

It begins in the kingdom of Cornucopia whose king, Fred the Fearless, is really a timid, effeminate man who is obsessed with his clothes, pastries and the approval of his subjects. He is manipulated by 2 lords whose evil plans result in the deaths of many and the ruin of a previously prosperous kingdom. There has long been a legend of the ‘Ickabog”, a monster who purportedly kills people and though most people don’t believe in its existence, the 2 lords use the people’s fear to cover up a killing and to exhort taxes for protection from the beast.

The first death, but certainly the last, to occur is that of the royal seamstress (mother to Daisy) who is literally worked to death sewing an outfit for the king. There is no hope of heaven given. Bert (Daisy’s best friend) comments that he could hardly imagine how he would feel if his mother had “disappeared into the cold, hard earth.”

Children are stolen from parents and taken to live with Ma Grunter, an evil old woman who abuses and starves them. All the children are called “Jane” or “Jack” and told that their parents are dead. Ma Grunter is paid handsomely by the 2 lords. The children sport cuts and bruises because of Grunter’s drunken temper, “some of her charges didn’t last long on a diet of cabbage soup and cruelty. While endless children poured in the front door, a little cemetery at the back of the building became fuller and fuller.”

There are frequent instances of drunkenness. In fact, a whole town (Jeroboam) is famous for its wines and for its citizens being drunk in the streets.

There is repeated use of the word “bally” which is a British curse word equivalent to “damn”, as well as the use of “damn”. When Lord Flapoon accidently shoots and kills Major Beamish, he exclaims,” My God, my God what shall we do?” There is a comment made that “The children were wiser than the adults”.

Finally, don’t let the beginning deceive you. Like we see often in books with a lot of concerning content, the very start does not reflect what your child will read as the book gets going. This title certainly gets darker as you go along, despite its initial lighter setup.