Abigail, Queen of Natronia

Author: Darrel Case
Genre: Children

From the moment Abigail is born,it is clear that any beauty she possesses must be on the inside. Abigail’s face and body are deformed, so much so that the nurses cover her so she won’t frighten the other patients. Bullied in school and shunned by the people of her village, Abigail nevertheless sees the good in life. Alone and isolated in her room, she anonymously writes tales of love and compassion. Despite being denied happiness because of her appearance, Abigail finds a special joy through her writing.

Natronia’s King Billwick is distressed. His son, Prince Phillip refuses to take his proper place in the kingdom. Hoping it will inspire the young prince, King Billick leaves a book of Abigail’s fairy tales onthe saddle of Phillip’s favorite steed. Mesmerized by Abigail’s writing, Phillip gains confidence and begins to take his rightful place as heir to the throne. Believing the unknown author of such wonderful books must be a beautiful lady, he commands the Royal Mandarin to find her. When the official fails in his quest, Philip undertakes his own search. In a twist of fate, Prince Phillip and Abigail discover each other. Their story is written in the chronicles of Natronia.

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Reviewer: Margaret Welwood

She was born in the natural way, but Abigail’s appearance at the time of her birth was anything but ordinary.

The wisdom of the ages shines forth in the fairy tales that endure—the handsome prince rescues the beautiful and virtuous lady, evil is discovered and punished, and all’s well that ends well.

But Darrell Case’s spin on “The Ugly Duckling” swims past showing kindness to those who look different, and not judging people by their appearance, into the transformational power of kindness to both the giver and the receiver. I can see this book being an inspiration to tweens who are all too aware of their imperfections.

The plot is complex, with twists and turns that don’t make the happily-ever-after ending readily apparent, and the characters are interesting and relatable.

Thank you for the privilege of reviewing this lovely story.

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Reviewer: Hanna Olsson

Abigail, Queen of Natronia is a heartwarming fairy-tale with a beautiful message that should suit every young girl! The story unfolds in good pace with vivid illustrations on every page. 

It’s simplistically written (as children’s books ought to be), yet teaches an important lesson about confidence, bullying, and that beauty on the inside is what matters!

All in all, it’s a sweet fairy-tale with a magical royal wedding in the end! 

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