Happy MMGM with a review of Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson

Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format:  Paperback ARC
Number of pages:   256 pages
Publishing:   July 16th, 2024
Source:  Publisher

Opening Line: "Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Imbervale there lived a princess who was perfectly good."  

On her third birthday, Princess Rosalind was kidnapped by Wizard Torville.  The whole kingdom mourned her disappearance.  A few years went by, and then the King and Queen had another daughter, Marigold.  Marigold grew up in her "perfect" older sister's shadow, never able to compare to her beauty and grace.  Then just as Marigold entered her eleventh year, Rosalind escaped her captor and returned to the castle.  Upon her return, there were celebrations, royal holidays and parties.  Poor Marigold once again took a back seat to her older sister.  Even her best friend, Collin was too busy in the kitchen preparing the feasts for Rosalind's balls and luncheons.  

Exasperated with all of the attention Rosalind's been receiving, Marigold confides to Collin that she wishes the wizard would come and steal her back.  Collin instead suggests that she talk to Rosalind, try to get to know each other more.  But Rosalind too responds that she's busy with all her royal duties.  When Marigold finds her bathtub filled with songbirds singing praises to Rosalind, she throws them all out along with a bucket of water, which lands on Rosalind's head and spoils the party, angers the Queen and King and leads her to run off feeling like the wicked child that the royal steward claimed her to be.  

Eventually Marigold finds herself at the doorstep of Wizard Torville's fortress and she tries to convince him to take her in.  But Torville isn't convinced that she is as wicked as she says and instead proposes to put Marigold to a test.  If she can prove her wickedness in seven days to Petti fog, Torville's imp, she can stay.  Life in the evil wizard's fortress is more difficult than Marigold thought and proving her wickedness proves to be a challenge.  Torville attempts to tutor her in casting a curse, which only leads to a mishap with the spell causing disastrous results.  Soon Marigold is teaming up with Collin and Petti fog to prevent the Wizard's Council from enacting Big Magic against the ten kingdoms and their attempts to develop a harmonious pact.

I always enjoy a twist on a fairytale, or characters that don't behave as you thought that they might.  In this case we have one sister who is perfect in every way, and another who is determined to be wicked and learn to cast curses.  She's very angry that she can't compare to her sister and feels mistreated by the comparisons.  This slightly reminded me of The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horwitz.  They both have lots of humor and play with this twist nicely.  

Marigold made me laugh a time or two, especially when she's trying to get Torville to tutor her in casting curses.   It's even more amusing when Torville thinks that she can't do much harm and he ends up as a yellow blob of glop.  There are subtle messages about a person's intent and that even if a person is considered wicked it doesn't mean that they can't do good if they choose to.  Marigold is inquisitive, adventurous and crafty and I think she wants to be considered "good enough."  A truly sweet girl, if a bit insecure.  I also quite enjoyed Torville's siblings, the Miseries who really fit their name, and it isn't a wonder that most of the wizards on the council despised them too.  Overall, a very enjoyable story that can be read as a standalone, but I truly hope to see more adventures for Marigold in the future.   

 **I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE   **