Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
The daughter of a king and a fairy, the Princess Niamh is glorious fair—perhaps overly so. Her incredible beauty proves a curse for no man can withstand even a moment in her presence without running mad. Suitor after suitor is turned away, since no one regardless of family name or credentials, is able to approach the Princess without suffering intense burning. The kingdom’s only hope rests upon a most unusual bridegroom: the Hermit. With the claws and wings of an eagle, and the head and tail of a lion, the mystery of a magician, and the piety of a saint, he alone may hold her—that is, if he can find his bride before she is led to perdition by the wicked Count and his shadowy minions. Written in the evocative lyric style of Lord Dunsany, Niamh and the Hermit is an exploration and exultation of the classic fairy tale, blended seamlessly with all the imaginative complexity of a Tolkien-esque subcreated world. The author weaves fantasy and fable together in a beautifully written tale of love and deception, valor and weakness, hope and fury.
Is Niamh and the Hermit appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
This classic fairy tale features a cursed princess and a heroic hermit with mythical features battling against a wicked villain. The lyrical, formal prose style and religious themes make it suitable for middle grade readers who enjoy traditional fantasy.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include captivity, deception, and manipulation.
Who'll love this
A magical princess under a curse can only be saved by a mysterious hermit who is part eagle and part lion in this beautifully written fairy tale adventure.