Wicked Marigold

Mechanically minded 11-year-old Marigold, the princess of Imbervale, lives in the shadow of her "perfect" older sister Rosalind, despite Rosalind having been kidnapped by the evil Wizard Torville before Marigold was born. So, when Rosalind escapes captivity and returns to the kingdom, Marigold chafes at being ignored and overlooked. Dubbed a "wicked child" after a party mishap, Marigold takes it to heart and runs away to Wizard Torville's keep, determined to become his apprentice. But her attempts to prove her wickedness backfire, transforming Torville into a sentient--and cranky--pile of glop. With the imminent arrival of assorted evildoers anticipating their regularly scheduled feasting and mayhem, Marigold must find a way to undo her magical handiwork while maintaining the pretense that the wicked wizard is fine, simply indisposed. Carlson (The Door at the End of the World) tempers astute depictions of Marigold's experience in trying to live up to unrealistic expectations with capricious magic, strange monsters, and complex characters. Humorous subversions of traditional fantasy tropes make this an insightful tale of nature versus nurture and good versus evil. Marigold is depicted on the cover with brown skin. Ages 8-12. Agent: Allison Hellegers, Stimola Literary Studio. (July)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Putting aside the magical mayhem, colorful characters, and surprisingly high stakes, the book ultimately works because at its core is a genuinely moving story of a girl learning about self-worth.

A witty and engaging anti-fairy-tale adventure.

A richly imagined middle-grade examination of sibling dynamics with plenty of endearing fantasy elements. —PEOPLE

A witty and wise tale of wickedness (with a twist). . . . Caroline Carlson offers an accomplished, rib-tickling take on princess stories. . . . The smart prose hums along, and this fresh look at familiar tropes is a real winner. —Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Full of snappy humor, delightful wordplay, and quirky characters—a tentacled, people-eating creature called the Thing, a spiffy imp, and a reticent blob—this book is a whimsical exploration of belonging and sibling relationships. . . . A witty and engaging anti-fairy-tale adventure. —Kirkus Reviews

Carlson seems perfectly at home with this comical fairy tale fantasy, setting a lovely balance between humor and heart, her language as playful as the world she's built. Putting aside the magical mayhem, colorful characters, and surprisingly high stakes, the book ultimately works because at its core is a genuinely moving story of a girl learning about self-worth. —Booklist

Carlson's deftly told story tackles questions of good versus evil and sibling bonds with a cast of oddball creatures and lots of humor. Clever, quirky, and cozy. —The Horn Book

Princess Rosalind is so delightful that flowers spring up in her footsteps. . . . But this is not Rosalind's story. This is the very funny, slightly spooky, thoroughly entertaining story of her not-so-perfect sister Marigold. . . . The great joy of this novel is in the saucily funny details of life in the service of evil (or, truthfully, in the service of the somewhat naughty), and readers will be cheering for Marigold — and wishing for a longer stay in her magical world. —The Virginian-PIlot

Warm, classic, and utterly hilarious, Wicked Marigold is an absolute delight. —Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and The Raven Heir

A hilarious, heartwarming, and whimsical adventure reminiscent of Howl's Moving Castle. —Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times best-selling author of Rump

Wicked Marigold is a magical and enchanting romp. I adored Princess Marigold, loved her hilarious companions, and followed her escapades with delight. If you like stories about fairy-tale princesses' little sisters (and who doesn't?), this book is for you. —Leah Cypess, author of the Sisters Ever After series

Wicked Marigold is a delightful blend of whimsy and wisdom, a fairy-tale caper that delves into the heart of what it means to be good and what it means to be wicked. Caroline Carlson cleverly plays with this dichotomy, illustrating with humor and wit that we are not simply one or the other, but a mix that makes us wonderfully human. The novel isn't a heavy-handed morality tale, though, but a playful romp that young readers will find fun, cozy, and relatable. Filled with warmth and charm, Wicked Marigold is an insightful fantasy adventure that puts an enchanting twist on the classic tale of princess and witch. —Soman Chainani, New York Times best-selling author of the School for Good and Evil series

A delightfully different kind of fairy tale, Wicked Marigold is chock-full of blobby and tentacled creatures, sublimely silly evil wizards, and a perfectly imperfect princess you can't help but root for. I was completely charmed! (Just don't let them hear that I said that.) —Tara Dairman, award-winning author of All Four Stars and The Girl from Earth's End