Synopsis
Mangan Tighe had been the perfect regent. Having sufficiently provided for the future peace and prosperity of Esphania and for the smooth ascension to the throne of his young prince, Jamas, the wizened old Mangan had quietly passed away - with a grin upon his face. For the very clever Mangan had left behind an extraordinary guardian to help Jamas bear the new and heavy burden of leadership: Niffy the cat.
Niffy, no ordinary feline, will accompany Prince Jamas everywhere, perusing every document and decree, and - in her own peculiar way - offering guidance.
And it is guidance that the prince desperately needs. The realms and kingdoms that now include Jamas's Esphania are a belligerent and unruly lot, constantly jostling and fighting for local mastery. The worst of them is ruled by a greedy king and his treacherous usurper queen, who scheme to annex Esphania and crush its royal household. And as young Jamas falls hopelessly in love, compounding the court conspiracy that surrounds him, the sharp-eyed, nimble Niffy may be the only one capable of preventing total disaster and her noble master's untimely demise.
Reviews
In an enchanting and sophisticated fairy tale for adults and intelligent children alike, a cat who may be more than a cat guides a young prince through the perils of ruling and loving. After the death of Esphania's wise regent, young Prince Jamas finds that the regent's cat, Niffy, seems to have the ability to cause him to have second thoughts when he considers actions that might lead to war or other unpleasantness. When King Egdril of nearby Mauritia appears to be casting an acquisitive eye on Esphania, Jamas, instead of waging war, invites the monarch on a hunting trip to demonstrate the martial skills of the Esphanian nobility. Egdril turns out to be quite a good fellow; it's not until Jamas falls in love with his niece, Willow, that the prince discovers the real source of evil behind the Mauritian throne. After Jamas and Willow are wed, it takes all of Niffy's cleverness to save them, Jamas's princedom and Willow's relatives. McCaffrey (the Pern chronicles; An Exchange of Gifts) weaves another lively, lightly enjoyable tale, one that's likely to sell well during the holiday season.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Romantic fantasy from the author of Freedom's Landing (1995), etc. When wise old Mangan, the Regent of Esphania, dies, many of his skills and qualities seem to have been transferred to his beautiful and intelligent cat, Niffy, who at once attaches herself to the new ruler, Prince Jamas. Egdril, the bluff, hearty king of the neighboring kingdom of Mauritia, seems keen to forge an alliance with Jamas, allowing the prince to marry his niece, Willow--but the real danger is Yasmin, Egdril's wicked wife, who poisons everyone she dislikes or suspects of interfering with her ambitions. So Niffy must guide Jamas through a thicket of difficulties to save the prince and the principality. But by this time Yasmin has murdered Egdril and made her monstrous infant son heir; somehow, Jamas and Niffy must stop her if evil is not to triumph. Thin and brief but quite appealing; McCaffrey is, as always, pleasant company. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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