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The Trials of Bardly Whitsend #9
Practically Perfect Princess
The title of the tabloid—Little Miss Squabble—said it all. And more importantly, it said who: Princess Penelope, whose alleged bedroom-destroying tantrum has become Jestoria's juiciest scandal of late. The ice-veined Lady Maldrith couldn't be more pleased… or more suspiciously well-informed.
But there's more at play than just gossip and lace. Bardly, Elphyra, and Mr. Whiskers are on the case, and with some help from Tornge the demon and a very angry ostrich named Bert, they uncover a deeper stolen funds, scandalous lingerie, unregistered magical devices, and perhaps most shocking of all—an order of poison delivered straight from Hell!
As Princess Penelope is buried under a wave of public shame, Bardly and the gang race to clear her name, chasing crooked ledgers and scandalous advertisements all the way to the castle roof—and back down again. But Lady Maldrith is two steps ahead, and her true identity might be more infernal than anyone bargained for!
But there's more at play than just gossip and lace. Bardly, Elphyra, and Mr. Whiskers are on the case, and with some help from Tornge the demon and a very angry ostrich named Bert, they uncover a deeper stolen funds, scandalous lingerie, unregistered magical devices, and perhaps most shocking of all—an order of poison delivered straight from Hell!
As Princess Penelope is buried under a wave of public shame, Bardly and the gang race to clear her name, chasing crooked ledgers and scandalous advertisements all the way to the castle roof—and back down again. But Lady Maldrith is two steps ahead, and her true identity might be more infernal than anyone bargained for!
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2025
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2 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Hess
26 books16 followersAuthor of:
The Withering Dawn, At Break of Daylight, and This Veil of Night - a look into a Heaven plagued by sickness and the threat of war - and the angels who must not only fight to save Heaven, but also to convince the Creator that they are ready to lead Heaven on their own.
The Trials of Bardly Whitsend - a humorous sendup on fantasy that is sure to please fans of Robert Asprin and Piers Anthony! Featuring the following books:
The Dragon of Dire Verses
Demons and Griffons and Grizzlies, Oh, My!
A Chaos of Couriers (And Faeries, Too!)
He's Bardcore!
In Another Castle
My Carrot-Sized Wife
Spectres and Stockings
Hell Hath No Faerie
Practically Perfect Princess
Say Yes To The Princess
Note: I write strictly fiction.
The Withering Dawn, At Break of Daylight, and This Veil of Night - a look into a Heaven plagued by sickness and the threat of war - and the angels who must not only fight to save Heaven, but also to convince the Creator that they are ready to lead Heaven on their own.
The Trials of Bardly Whitsend - a humorous sendup on fantasy that is sure to please fans of Robert Asprin and Piers Anthony! Featuring the following books:
The Dragon of Dire Verses
Demons and Griffons and Grizzlies, Oh, My!
A Chaos of Couriers (And Faeries, Too!)
He's Bardcore!
In Another Castle
My Carrot-Sized Wife
Spectres and Stockings
Hell Hath No Faerie
Practically Perfect Princess
Say Yes To The Princess
Note: I write strictly fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 22, 2025
One hundred (plus ten) years beyond the Perils of Pauline. Fifty five years beyond the Perils of Penelope Pitstop. Now...The Perils of Practically Perfect Princess Penelope! We have a nefarious interloper with designs on more than interloping causing all sorts of problems for Penelope, and by extension, Bardly et al. More raucous than the previous book, definitely evoking Piers Anthony's latter ribald days, snark and double entendres, and a blistering pace give the reader a lot to play with (and yet, still so little time has passed) in this penultimate series entry. I'll be bummed when it is all over.
April 26, 2025
I thought the other books were crazy in the series. This one was EPIC. Bardly and Elphyra are no longer married. The Princess is still dealing with problems and King Reginald doesn’t believe her, just his advisor, Lady Maldrith. We find out the answers of who has been causing the problems and why. Things get crazy and scary and Bardly, Princess Penelope, Mr. Whiskers, and the rest of the gang, all work together, even Drakkar & Marigold. In fact, Marigold plays a big part in this one. I was impressed. Mr. Gnarlwick is great as usual. The crazy just keeps on giving. Tornge and Bert show up and Bert is hilarious with his potty mouth. So many answers and the Egg Ball Match is being set up again. Looks like we are getting ready for a doozy of a match. I love these books! Also, Bardly and the Princess are spending loads of time together. That is worrisome, because the King is one scary dude. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Btw. Lady Maldrith is eviler than I thought she was. lol.
April 25, 2025
What would a lazy weekend be without a Bardly Whitsend book? This series has become such an addiction for me. In this one, we see the end of Bardly's ill-fated marriage and the foreshadowing of a more suitable one (with one of his own species). It's handled with grace and aplomb, and Bardly, without losing his identity as a bumbling hick, yet manages not to put a foot wrong in navigating the change and to emerge as an unspoiled mensch.
The only criticism I had of this book was that I'd have liked to see more of my favourite character, Mr Whiskers.
The only criticism I had of this book was that I'd have liked to see more of my favourite character, Mr Whiskers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews