Synopsis
Those wicked wizards are back—and they've become very smart. (Sort of.) They intend to take over the Enchanted Forest once and for all . . . unless Cimorene finds a way to stop them. And some people think being queen is easy.
BookList
In the third book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, following "Dealing with Dragons" (1990) and "Searching for Dragons" , the Society of Wizards steals King Mendanbar's magic sword, which helps maintain the spell that protects the Enchanted Forest from sneaky wizardly incursions. Since Mendanbar must remain in the forest to keep the spell working, it is up to his queen, Cimorene, to retrieve the sword, for only a member of the royal family can wield it. Accompanying Cimorene on the quest are the witch Morwen and two of her nine feline companions (each of which has a distinct personality and expresses definite opinions on just about everything), Telemain the magician, Kazul the dragon king (whose princess Cimorene once was), and an enchanted rabbit, now a blue, winged donkey. Time is of the essence, because out of the forest, the sword leaks its magic; hence, the kingdom may be doomed. What ensues is another fantasy in which the bold crew encounters assorted adventures and misadventures before they confront the villains, take possession of the sword, and return to the Enchanted Forest, where they find that all is "not" well. As in the earlier episodes in the series, the emphasis is on the zany and the humorous, some of it quite madcap. Combining suspense, playfulness, and witty repartee, the story is just good fun. And the epilogue hints at things to come.