Everything ticked along nicely in the castle, until an Unfortunate Incident that the cat could not prevent.” If your house had been destroyed by a fire-breathing dragon, where would you go? The cat and the king opt for Number 37, Castle Close, which involves quite a bit of downsizing, not to mention a complete change of outlook.
With the cat’s support, the king learns how to do the really important things (like washing-up and waiting in queues), and although he misses his banquets and his marching band, the cat lays on a programme of activities with a suitably royal flavour and everyone is happy. Until the dragon reappears, that is, and threatens to blowtorch everything…
Will there be another ‘incident’? Or will an unexpected hero save the day?
The neighbouring family has some useful talents that might come in handy, and – spoiler alert! – the peril is soon averted. But tension is hardly the point in this gently humorous novel that will appeal to children who like stories reflecting themselves and their concerns, yet still appreciate a touch of quirky eccentricity.
And there’s nothing more enjoyable, of course, than being ‘one up’ on an establishment figure, even when he’s as sweetly naive and optimistic as the king.
