Emerald and the Elf King

by Becky Biggs

If you like a twist on traditional fairytales with a young, strong female role-model, then you'll love Emerald and the Elf King!She’s a princess. She’s fifteen years old. She has a wardrobe full of pretty dresses and is next in line for the throne. Life should be perfect, right?

Not exactly. Emerald longs for adventure, but her parents think she should leave the hero stuff to the boys. She can’t complain about this to her best friend, Maple, because, guess what? Maple’s been banished from the kingdom. Worst of all, she is being forced to marry a prince she barely knows (gross!).

When Maple returns to beg for help saving her kingdom from an evil elf king, Emerald decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with a bow and arrow and a fierce desire to prove that a princess can be a hero too, Emerald sets off on the adventure of a lifetime. She quickly finds herself immersed in a world of trolls, unicorns and plenty of magic.

Will Emerald overcome her own self-doubts and save her best friend’s kingdom? Or will her ambition cost her everything and everyone she’s ever loved? Find out in Emerald and the Elf King.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2018

About the author

Becky Biggs is a loyal subject to the pen and an adventurous princess at heart. She has been imagining new worlds and fun characters since she could first write. Her Emerald series was inspired by a story she wrote and illustrated for a seventh-grade art class. That book lay buried in a trunk for twenty-some years before it magically captured her imagination again. She recently unleashed the enchanted characters and worlds of Eseland and Medina with the first book in her series, Emerald and the Elf King.

When she’s not writing, Becky enjoys setting off on international adventures. Her worlds are inspired by her travels around the globe, particularly through the time she spent living in France and Germany. She is married to her own Prince Charming and is the mother of two royally darling children.

If you want to continue to follow Emerald’s adventures, visit www.beckybiggs.com and sign up for the mailing list.

Reviews

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Warm-Hearted Fairytale-Style Fantasy

This is a warm-hearted fairytale-style fantasy which is well written and thoroughly enjoyable. Emerald is a princess in a mundane world which lives alongside a magical one. As a princess and not a prince she is not allowed to learn to fight or have adventures. But Emerald is not going to settle for that. So when her best friend Maple needs help she rides to the rescue. As well as the usual teen issues she has to cope with magical issues as well. Dealing with trolls (of the magical and not the internet variety), dragons and unicorns whilst showing the value of courage, loyalty and friendship.
I found this an unexpectedly delightful read. It has its faults in that it is maybe a little too predictable and formulaic, but then I am an adult and the target audience for the book may not be so jaded. The writing style is fluid and the touches of humour leaven the whole giving it an uplifting feel.
A feel-good fantasy in fairytale style which is aimed at girls, but I think has enough in it to appeal to all who enjoy reading fairytale-fantasy. I loved it.

[Ed Morawski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable fantasy tale intermingling a magical kingdom and a human one where Princess Emerald lives. Although geared toward Young Adults – and especially girls, I found that never got in the way of the good story. I especially appreciated the angle of female empowerment all though the book. Although her mother is deadest against it (little girls must behave like little girls – especially princesses), Emerald is determined to learn to ride, shoot (arrows), and sword fighting. When my granddaughter is a little older, say ten, I will gift her this book because I’m sure she’ll enjoy it.

[Liz Sweetlove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a story that features a sassy girl hero, and Princess Emerald is just that.
Turning her back on convention and all things boring, Emerald sets out to fight evil and save a friend. She has many adventures along the way.
Aimed at an audience of younger readers, Emerald and the Elf King is also a delight for adults who possess a sense of fun.
I liked the strong messages for younger readers: the value of friendship and loyalty, the rewards of bravery, the satisfaction gained by helping others, and that cool things happen when you dare to dream big.
Four stars

[Adrienne Nairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the true sense of a fairytale, a princess escaping the constrictions of palace life, setting out to save a neighbouring kingdom from an evil prince. Predictable maybe, but enchanting nevertheless. Emerald encounters imps, dragons, trolls and even a helpful unicorn. A charming story probably suited to young girls rather than boys. It looks like there will be more adventures for Emerald.

[S.W. Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun fantasy for younger readers where the borders between southern humans and northern fairy folk allow seamless lessons in bravery, compassion, tolerance, and the love of reading. Potter and Pixar's Brave fans will devour this, although older readers will likely crave a bit more grittiness in their mythic menagerie ala Del Toro's memorable film Hellboy 2: The Golden Army or at least The Hobbit.

[Jeffrey A. Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely younger read

Definitely a read for a younger age, clean and easy to read. A coming of age story with a happy ending.