When I first looked at the cover, I was reminded of the artist of Final Fantasy XII and Bravely Default. It fits considering Little Princess in Fairy Forest contains a very common video game storyline: save the kingdom from a coup.
In many ways, Siegfried’s attempt is a rousing success. He has killed the current monarchs and has control of the castle. Unfortunately, his plan hits a major roadblock: only one who has been blessed by the spirit realm can actually reign. Since six-year-old Princess Lala is the only one left who fits the bill, Siegfried has only one option:
Marry the princess!
And no, he’s not waiting.
Eeeesh. Good thing Lala has managed to escape thanks to Gideon, the kingdom’s last knight.
Now, with a setup like this, you may expect Gideon and Lala to lead a bunch of ragtag loyalists to quell Siegfried’s army. Instead, the pair gain one major ally: a dragon named Spike. (No, he’s not small and purple.) The three end up living in the woods, biding time until the fated moment when they must confront Siegfried.
Yes, despite the “fairy forest” part of the title, the light novel doesn’t spend the bulk of the story on having the young, sheltered heir meeting a bunch of spirits. This isn’t The Ancient Magus’ Bride, which is ironic considering Gideon’s title is the Thorn Knight — very similar to the Elias’ title of Thorn Mage. However, like that series, Little Princess in Fairy Forest is inspired by classical English fairy tales and mythos.
The illustrations are old-fashioned sketches, and the story makes several references to rules like knights and dragons being mortal enemies and assisting damsels-in-distress. Everything is so much like a medieval fantasy story that I might not have pegged this as a Japanese light novel. Even the fact that the novel is a complete adventure covering Lala’s escape, the group’s life in the forest, and the return to the castle gives it a Western feel, and it’s paced very well.
Plus, it isn’t often that a Japanese light novel focuses on a young girl and a middle-aged man instead of teenagers. Oh, and one dragon. Spike and Gideon are the best part of the story, a couple of de facto Musketeers who like to squabble and reaffirm their devotion to Lala. Spike is learned in the ways of the world (and strong to boot), and Gideon is neither an anti-hero who was forced into his role nor a infallible warrior. Both have regrets, and this makes their oaths all the more meaningful. Their dialogue also contrasts with Lala’s, as her sections are written in short, childish phrases. It is more realistic, but it’s also not the most engaging read. Fortunately, even at her young age, she has the noblesse oblige of a royal, but I’d still rather have the story kept in third person point-of-view with an omniscient narrator.
The final developments also rely on a particular individual who is not loyal to Siegfried. In fact, the heroes luck out a couple of times because he doesn’t have any loyalists to his cause. His only ally is his daughter, Megan, whose soul he sold to the devil. If that sounds disturbing, there is an even more horrifying event in the novel that will likely grip readers. The confrontation with Siegfried is a textual spectacle, but I didn’t like how one of the mercenaries gave a critical assist. At least the small cast means that the light novel can tightly tie everything together, leaving room for a spin-off. (More Gideon and Spike, please!)
I really do hope we can visit these characters again, as Little Princess in Fairy Forest proves that all fairy tales involving princesses don’t need to be solved with true love’s kiss. Sometimes, all a princess needs is a knight past his prime and one oversized flying lizard.