Editorial Content for The Rat Prince

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, right? Wicked Stepmother, Prince Charming, glass slipper etc. But what if it turned out that the stories don’t quite tell the truth, and the truth is even more fantastical than the tale we all know and love?

"Hodder’s reworking breathes new life into the Cinderella story, with a host of great new characters in Char’s court and a good few twists and turns that prevent the story from feeling old and predictable."

Deep in the kitchens of Lancastyr Manor toils the fair Lady Rose, once the treasured daughter of the Lord of the manor but now --- thanks to the scheming and most terribly wicked Wilhemina, Rose’s new stepmother --- Rose has been cast out of the family circle and into the servants’ quarters. Nicknamed “Cinderella,” a cruel joke aimed to demean her further, Rose has very few friends, choosing to turn to the rats for companionship. However, the rats are a little smarter than you might expect and make it their mission to restore Rose to her former glory and protect themselves from Wilhemina and her poisons.

The crowned Prince Geoffrey is to hold a ball to help him choose a wife from the eligible ladies present and, as expected, there is much excitement in the Lancastyr household. Wilhemina’s daughter, Eustacia, though ugly and unpleasant, is just the right age for marrying off and so Cinderella is forced to join in the preparations with no thought of her own invitation and eligibility. However, despite Wilhemina’s best efforts, there are other forces at work that will see Cinderella attend the ball, though with results that the reader may not expect.

The rats’ leader, Prince Char, is a wily, courageous and, yes, I’ll put this out there, loveable rat. The narration, split between Rose’s point of view and Char’s, gives a brand new perspective to a very well-known story. Hodder’s reworking breathes new life into the Cinderella story, with a host of great new characters in Char’s court and a good few twists and turns that prevent the story from feeling old and predictable. There is a plethora of fairy tale reworkings flooding the market at the moment and THE RAT PRINCE holds its own in this arena as a fun and lively fantasy that will surprise and delight in equal measure. Yes, there are some convenient twists in the story but, then again, in the world of fairy tales, this is usually forgivable.

If a criticism had to be made, it would be that the glass slipper element of the story could have been better worked into the narrative. However, if this were to detract from Char’s story or the workings of his court, then the slipper can definitely be given a miss. THE RAT PRINCE is a quick, enjoyable read, perfect for anyone who loves to revisit familiar stories in the hope of finding something new.