The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde: 12/14/16

The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale is the third of the Princess in Black series. In the last book, Princess Sneezewort stumbled upon Princess Magnolia's secret identity. Despite that setback, the two are still friends and today they are having brunch together.

I don't think this series can have a story, though, without an interruption from the monster world. At least this time the monsters are something different — bunnies.

Bunnies as monsters isn't a new thing. It's been done — Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail and of course, Anya the ex-vengeance demon from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But this is the first time I can think of bunnies as monsters in a children's book.

The bunnies are frankly more horrifying than any of the previous monsters. They are destructive. They tear apart the environment. Their population is out of control. They are a danger to Magnolia's land as well as the monsters'. And yet, she shoos them back into the hole. The lesson here, is that Magnolia is overwhelmed by her double duties as princess and warrior. She needs help. She needs recruits. She needs a confidant.

I hope that Princess Sneezewort is that help. She may be shy and unassuming but she is also observant, smart, and just possibly the person Magnolia needs.

Five stars

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