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Prince & Knight #2
Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King
This follow-up to Prince & Knight is an inclusive, modern fairy tale for young readers!
Praise for Prince & Knight:
"Victorious . . . the premier queer-friendly fairy tale." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"An illuminating fairy tale for young readers to be able to see that not every prince would like to marry a princess." -School Library Journal
"A colorful and entertaining tale exploring sexuality, acceptance, and young love." -Booklist
Have you heard the thrilling tale
of the prince and his dear knight?
Their love for one another
inspired everyone in sight.
Our brave and dashing heroes, the prince and the knight, are happily married and their kingdom is prospering, but soon, a fog of darkness that blocks the sun spreads across their land. They get word that the cause of this is a dark and mysterious Shadow King, and they rush off to find and stop him, but encounter many obstacles along the way. Will they be able to restore the light to their kingdom?
Praise for Prince & Knight:
"Victorious . . . the premier queer-friendly fairy tale." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"An illuminating fairy tale for young readers to be able to see that not every prince would like to marry a princess." -School Library Journal
"A colorful and entertaining tale exploring sexuality, acceptance, and young love." -Booklist
Have you heard the thrilling tale
of the prince and his dear knight?
Their love for one another
inspired everyone in sight.
Our brave and dashing heroes, the prince and the knight, are happily married and their kingdom is prospering, but soon, a fog of darkness that blocks the sun spreads across their land. They get word that the cause of this is a dark and mysterious Shadow King, and they rush off to find and stop him, but encounter many obstacles along the way. Will they be able to restore the light to their kingdom?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
About the author
Daniel Haack
5 books114 followersDaniel Haack began writing at a young age, although much of his earliest work centered exclusively around his desire to be a swashbuckling hero. Like the Prince and the Knight, he just wants to save the day and get the boy, too. He has since written for various publications and collections, and Prince & Knight is his debut children’s book. He graduated from Ithaca College and is a Saul Zaentz Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He currently works in children’s educational media, for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award. Originally from Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and formerly a New Yorker, Daniel now lives in Los Angeles, California. Find out more about Daniel at danielhaack.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
May 15, 2026
"Have you heard the thrilling tale of the prince and his dear knight?"After a lively courtship, including the imprisonment of a dragon, Prince and Knight were wed and crowned by the king. At first the kingdom is bubbling up with joy, but soon a shadow crosses the land.
With the kingdom's crops and livelihood in danger, Prince and Knight set off to confront the Shadow King.
"It started with just a wisp that slowly veiled the sky.
But when daylight did not return, prince and knight could not stand by."
But things are not quite what they seem, and the Shadow King is hiding more than they know in the darkness.
First off - let's just throw out how wonderfully transparent this book is! Seriously, hats off to the queer representation. There's no beating around the bush, there's no allusions, this book is out and proud!
I LOVE how the author boldly shows the characters holding hands, referring to each other as husbands, and showing how much they love each other.
I was also quite taken with the plot. I rather liked how the Shadow King - it was a refreshing take (and twist) on villainy. I also appreciated how Prince and Knight .
The overall message - of being true to yourself and treating others kindly - was perfect for this story.
The art (of course) was absolutely beautiful in this one - the play with light and shadows made it pop...and gosh dang is the character design fabulous.
Such a satisfactory follow-up to one of my favorite picture books. I really hope there's more!!
February 5, 2023
Distinctly queer rep in kids lit is so refreshing. The prince and knight are referred to as husbands and the love of their life. This is not generally used for queer relationships. even in some diverse books where the language is still coded. They hold hands ON THE COVER, they kiss, and they hold each other. It's just very exciting. And the shadow king being an exiled queer elder who learned to hate the world because they were hated bUT THEN SEEING POSITIVE REPRESENTATION AND LEARNING TO LOVE AGAIN AND REDEEMING HIMSELF??????? The artwork is gorgeous as ever.
May 30, 2021
Did I buy this for my 3 month old son? Yes.
Am I showing him that love is love at an early age? Yes.
As a queer parent, it’s so important to show our children that they will be loved unconditionally no matter how they identify or who they love. I love that children’s books are now becoming more inclusive of that.
Am I showing him that love is love at an early age? Yes.
As a queer parent, it’s so important to show our children that they will be loved unconditionally no matter how they identify or who they love. I love that children’s books are now becoming more inclusive of that.
September 22, 2021
Daniel Haack returns with Prince and Knight, facing off against the feared Shadow King.
Prince and Knight's kingdom is happy and prosperous until a dark cloud moves in over the land. It is the Shadow King, wishing to turn everything to darkness.
Prince and Knight journey together and find that the Shadow King is...not the horrid villain you would expect.
Featuring Cartoonish, colorful and fantastical illustrations by Stevie Lewis (whose artwork you may recognize from Where is our Library) rivals that of some Disney Animators;
Enjoy this heartfelt tale of making family, friendship, acceptance and hope!
Prince and Knight's kingdom is happy and prosperous until a dark cloud moves in over the land. It is the Shadow King, wishing to turn everything to darkness.
Prince and Knight journey together and find that the Shadow King is...not the horrid villain you would expect.
Featuring Cartoonish, colorful and fantastical illustrations by Stevie Lewis (whose artwork you may recognize from Where is our Library) rivals that of some Disney Animators;
Enjoy this heartfelt tale of making family, friendship, acceptance and hope!
June 18, 2021
Haack and Lewis came together for the first time to bring us Prince & Knight in May of 2018, and only a few months ago they came out with a this follow-up. Both are immaculate.
When I picked up Prince & Knight, I was so pleased to know that it had a sequel story. Tale of the Shadow King is a triumphant story about how people can help restore the light in one another’s life through love and acceptance. The book opens with Prince and Knight, who are now married and incredibly happy, but suddenly there is a looming darkness that could overcome their kingdom entirely. They are informed that the cause of all the darkness is the mysterious Shadow King. Their journey is long and dangerous, and readers are left to question if they will overcome it all and bring back the light to their kingdom.
(Spoiler Alert: They do that and much more!) Oh my god, I LOVED Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King! The art and writing is on par with the first book, which is beyond beautiful, and there are more sweet moments between the couple and more action. I also really love how in the first and second book, the ‘villains’ are handled with care. The dragon is not slayed, but is instead made less of a threat. The Shadow King is humanized as not just someone to defeat, but someone the couple helps out of their own darkness—one brought on by hatred that came with the King’s queerness. This story showcases empathy, inclusiveness, and understanding.
Overall, both books are wholesome, sweet, and most of all push towards ensuring open, unapologetic queerness, which is so needed—forever and always! Honestly, I could read many more works from this duo. I highly recommend picking these books up for their gorgeous and detailed artwork, as well as for how cute these stories are.
When I picked up Prince & Knight, I was so pleased to know that it had a sequel story. Tale of the Shadow King is a triumphant story about how people can help restore the light in one another’s life through love and acceptance. The book opens with Prince and Knight, who are now married and incredibly happy, but suddenly there is a looming darkness that could overcome their kingdom entirely. They are informed that the cause of all the darkness is the mysterious Shadow King. Their journey is long and dangerous, and readers are left to question if they will overcome it all and bring back the light to their kingdom.
(Spoiler Alert: They do that and much more!) Oh my god, I LOVED Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King! The art and writing is on par with the first book, which is beyond beautiful, and there are more sweet moments between the couple and more action. I also really love how in the first and second book, the ‘villains’ are handled with care. The dragon is not slayed, but is instead made less of a threat. The Shadow King is humanized as not just someone to defeat, but someone the couple helps out of their own darkness—one brought on by hatred that came with the King’s queerness. This story showcases empathy, inclusiveness, and understanding.
Overall, both books are wholesome, sweet, and most of all push towards ensuring open, unapologetic queerness, which is so needed—forever and always! Honestly, I could read many more works from this duo. I highly recommend picking these books up for their gorgeous and detailed artwork, as well as for how cute these stories are.
June 5, 2021
A fantastic sequel that deals with how older generations relate to their queerness. 5/5 stars.
June 19, 2021
Spencer rated it 4 stars.
June 2, 2021
Fun to revisit these characters and see what comes after the "happily ever after"! It's a bit didactic toward the end, but the adventure and fairy tale of the beginning and middle make it so you don't really care. It's a partnership with GLSEN, so it makes sense that it's making its point directly. And considering that Prince & Knight is the only read aloud I've ever had challenged by multiple parents, it's obviously a necessary message - one of acceptance for who each individual is.
Read
June 17, 2021Haack and Lewis came together for the first time to bring us Prince & Knight in May of 2018, and only a few months ago they came out with a follow-up titled Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King. Both are immaculate.
When I picked up Prince & Knight, I was so pleased to know that it had a sequel story. Tale of the Shadow King is a triumphant story about how people can help restore the light in one another’s life through love and acceptance. The book opens with Prince and Knight, who are now married and incredibly happy, but suddenly there is a looming darkness that could overcome their kingdom entirely. They are informed that the cause of all the darkness is the mysterious Shadow King. Their journey is long and dangerous, and readers are left to question if they will overcome it all and bring back the light to their kingdom.
(Spoiler Alert: They do that and much more!) Oh my god, I LOVED Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King! The art and writing is on par with the first book, which is beyond beautiful, and there are more sweet moments between the couple and more action. I also really love how the ‘villain’ is handled with care. The Shadow King is humanized as not just someone to defeat, but someone the couple helps out of their own darkness—one brought on by hatred that came with the King’s queerness. This story showcases empathy, inclusiveness, and understanding.
Overall, these books are wholesome, sweet, and most of all push towards ensuring open, unapologetic queerness, which is so needed—forever and always! Honestly, I could read many more works from this duo. I highly recommend picking these books up for their gorgeous and detailed artwork, as well as for how cute these stories are.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
When I picked up Prince & Knight, I was so pleased to know that it had a sequel story. Tale of the Shadow King is a triumphant story about how people can help restore the light in one another’s life through love and acceptance. The book opens with Prince and Knight, who are now married and incredibly happy, but suddenly there is a looming darkness that could overcome their kingdom entirely. They are informed that the cause of all the darkness is the mysterious Shadow King. Their journey is long and dangerous, and readers are left to question if they will overcome it all and bring back the light to their kingdom.
(Spoiler Alert: They do that and much more!) Oh my god, I LOVED Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King! The art and writing is on par with the first book, which is beyond beautiful, and there are more sweet moments between the couple and more action. I also really love how the ‘villain’ is handled with care. The Shadow King is humanized as not just someone to defeat, but someone the couple helps out of their own darkness—one brought on by hatred that came with the King’s queerness. This story showcases empathy, inclusiveness, and understanding.
Overall, these books are wholesome, sweet, and most of all push towards ensuring open, unapologetic queerness, which is so needed—forever and always! Honestly, I could read many more works from this duo. I highly recommend picking these books up for their gorgeous and detailed artwork, as well as for how cute these stories are.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2021
After finding love, the Prince and Knight ruled the kingdom in prosperity. But as darkness clouded the land, they are fret as the land started to fail. Learning that the Shadow King is responsible for this darkness, the rulers set out with troops to defeat the King to save their kingdom. And while they prepared for war, it is through the power of love that they overcome the darkness of the Shadow King and allows a happily ever after for everyone.
The book follows the same style as the first one, including the more poetic text. And while the writing is still simple, it still has the same effectiveness in conveying the story and underlying themes of celebrating one's uniqueness and the power of love. Surprisingly, this is one fairy tale where a battle fight does not give a happy ending but an act of forgiveness and compassion wins the day. If that is the one thing a reader will get out of reading this, then this story is a winner!
The book follows the same style as the first one, including the more poetic text. And while the writing is still simple, it still has the same effectiveness in conveying the story and underlying themes of celebrating one's uniqueness and the power of love. Surprisingly, this is one fairy tale where a battle fight does not give a happy ending but an act of forgiveness and compassion wins the day. If that is the one thing a reader will get out of reading this, then this story is a winner!
October 30, 2021
A charming sequel to Prince & Knight, but not quite as enchanting. This doesn’t quite have the same spark as the first book, but it does continue with similar themes and concepts.
May 19, 2021
I read this at work today and it was just adorable, a wonderful book indeed
June 22, 2021
I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying.......
July 25, 2021
Gorgeous! A wonderful message and story that sadly needs to be said. I believe this is a great book to teach acceptance and empathy.
November 3, 2023
Very fun, easy reading!
December 25, 2021
Le chevalier embrassa le prince, plein de reconnaissance.
- Tu as risqué ta vie pour me secourir. Merci pour ta vaillance!
- Tu as fait la même chose pour moi,
dit le prince, tout ému.
Nous nous aimerons toujours,
toi et moi, j'en suis convaincu.
J'en veux d'autres!
- Tu as risqué ta vie pour me secourir. Merci pour ta vaillance!
- Tu as fait la même chose pour moi,
dit le prince, tout ému.
Nous nous aimerons toujours,
toi et moi, j'en suis convaincu.
J'en veux d'autres!
September 15, 2021
Daniel Haacke’s Tale of the Shadow King follows the story of Prince and Knight as they fight to protect their kingdom from the Shadow King. By listening to the Shadow King’s story, Prince and Knight help the King overcome his inner turmoil through love and acceptance, ultimately bringing light back to the land. This story’s rhyming format draws young students in and allows the book to serve as a mentor text for students, exemplifying the power of ABAB rhyme. Furthermore, it represents LGBTQ+ relationships in a positive light and shares the power of listening to and accepting others.
May 3, 2021
This follow-up to Prince and Knight was one of my most anticipated titles of 2021, and it exceeded my expectations. Like Prince and Knight, Tale of The Shadow King is another modern inclusive fairy tale and continues the story of the prince and knight after their wedding.
In Tale of The Shadow King, our heroes have a big problem to solve—a fog of darkness is covering their kingdom, blocking out all the light. We follow along as our brave heroes set out to find the source of this darkness—the Shadow King. Along the way, they save each other from harm, mirroring the first book of the series. After traveling the land and fighting off monsters, our heroes find the Shadow King only to discover that he’s not at all what they expected.
I won’t spoil anything, but I will say this one has a happy ending, like most fairy tales. I really appreciate that the “bad guy” isn’t really a bad person. By offering the Shadow King’s backstory, Tale Of The Shadow King encourages empathy, acceptance, and understanding for young readers.
Though Prince and Knight had no challenges to the couple’s queerness, Tale of The Shadow King discusses the queer experience with a bit more nuance. It touches on both the harm caused to queer folk when they are not accepted for who they are and highlights the health and happiness that comes from living authentically. I believe Tale of The Shadow King will be a wonderful conversation starter about the way we should love our queer friends, family, and neighbors.
Once again, the illustrations by Stevie Lewis are wonderful! I loved seeing the familiar faces of the prince and knight, but the way she captured the Shadow King is so beautiful. I think he might be my new favorite character in the series.
Daniel Haack is a children’s book author and Emmy Award-winning children’s media executive. To learn more about him and his work, please visit his website at www.danielhaack.com.
To learn more about Stevie Lewis and her other work (including one of my recent favorites, Fatima’s Great Outdoors), please visit her website at chocosweete.com.
I want to thank Little Bee Books not only for providing me with a review copy of this wonderful book but for the continued dedication to promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance through children’s books. As a queer person, it means the world to me for my son and all the other little ones growing up right now to have these books at their fingertips. These were not resources I had as a kid, but I am so grateful for them now.
In Tale of The Shadow King, our heroes have a big problem to solve—a fog of darkness is covering their kingdom, blocking out all the light. We follow along as our brave heroes set out to find the source of this darkness—the Shadow King. Along the way, they save each other from harm, mirroring the first book of the series. After traveling the land and fighting off monsters, our heroes find the Shadow King only to discover that he’s not at all what they expected.
I won’t spoil anything, but I will say this one has a happy ending, like most fairy tales. I really appreciate that the “bad guy” isn’t really a bad person. By offering the Shadow King’s backstory, Tale Of The Shadow King encourages empathy, acceptance, and understanding for young readers.
Though Prince and Knight had no challenges to the couple’s queerness, Tale of The Shadow King discusses the queer experience with a bit more nuance. It touches on both the harm caused to queer folk when they are not accepted for who they are and highlights the health and happiness that comes from living authentically. I believe Tale of The Shadow King will be a wonderful conversation starter about the way we should love our queer friends, family, and neighbors.
Once again, the illustrations by Stevie Lewis are wonderful! I loved seeing the familiar faces of the prince and knight, but the way she captured the Shadow King is so beautiful. I think he might be my new favorite character in the series.
Daniel Haack is a children’s book author and Emmy Award-winning children’s media executive. To learn more about him and his work, please visit his website at www.danielhaack.com.
To learn more about Stevie Lewis and her other work (including one of my recent favorites, Fatima’s Great Outdoors), please visit her website at chocosweete.com.
I want to thank Little Bee Books not only for providing me with a review copy of this wonderful book but for the continued dedication to promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance through children’s books. As a queer person, it means the world to me for my son and all the other little ones growing up right now to have these books at their fingertips. These were not resources I had as a kid, but I am so grateful for them now.
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December 6, 2022
Incontournable Juin 2021
Et oui, voici la suite du "Prince et du chevalier"! Je vais être honnête, c'est une sacrée surprise, je ne m'attendais pas à une suite, mais quand il m'est arrivé sous forme de service de presse, ça a fait ma journée!
Nous retrouvons donc notre prince et son nouvel époux chevalier dans ce nouvel opus plus sombre. Alors qu'ils coulaient des jours heureux, le royaume se retrouve assombrit par la magie ténébreuse d'un Roi des ombres. Les récoltes se meurent, les habitants sont en péril, il faut donc aller à la rencontre de cet individu. Plongeant dans la région la plus obscure, ils se retrouvent face aux sbires du Roi des ombres et se battent vaillamment. Le chevalier passe même à deux doigts de la noyade, mais est récupéré par le Prince. Alors qu'ils parviennent à la grotte du Roi, celui-ci s'agenouille, las de cette noirceur qui leur dévore le cœur. Mais si vous vous attendez à voir ne ce roi un être ténébreux et maléfique à la Sauron, détrompez-vous.
Comme je le disais, une suite plus sombre, qui fait écho à ces gens qui ont été rejetés et stigmatisés en raison de leur orientation sexuelle, qui contrairement aux deux protagonistes, auront eu une fin malheureuse.
D'ailleurs, le Roi des Ombre est assez différent de ce qu'on voit traditionnellement. Il m'a fait penser aux elfes de Tolkiens, avec ses beaux habits en couleur, ses longs cheveux blancs et ses oreilles pointues. Rejeté des siens pour avoir aimé son écuyer, il a sombré dans la colère et la rancoeur.
Une bonne suite, qui connait un dénouement heureux et qui table, évidemment, sur la tolérance et l'ouverture d'esprit.
P.S J'aime bien la nouvelle armure du Chevalier.
Catégorisation: Album Fantasy, littérature jeunesse préscolaire, 4-5 ans
Note: 8/10
Et oui, voici la suite du "Prince et du chevalier"! Je vais être honnête, c'est une sacrée surprise, je ne m'attendais pas à une suite, mais quand il m'est arrivé sous forme de service de presse, ça a fait ma journée!
Nous retrouvons donc notre prince et son nouvel époux chevalier dans ce nouvel opus plus sombre. Alors qu'ils coulaient des jours heureux, le royaume se retrouve assombrit par la magie ténébreuse d'un Roi des ombres. Les récoltes se meurent, les habitants sont en péril, il faut donc aller à la rencontre de cet individu. Plongeant dans la région la plus obscure, ils se retrouvent face aux sbires du Roi des ombres et se battent vaillamment. Le chevalier passe même à deux doigts de la noyade, mais est récupéré par le Prince. Alors qu'ils parviennent à la grotte du Roi, celui-ci s'agenouille, las de cette noirceur qui leur dévore le cœur. Mais si vous vous attendez à voir ne ce roi un être ténébreux et maléfique à la Sauron, détrompez-vous.
Comme je le disais, une suite plus sombre, qui fait écho à ces gens qui ont été rejetés et stigmatisés en raison de leur orientation sexuelle, qui contrairement aux deux protagonistes, auront eu une fin malheureuse.
D'ailleurs, le Roi des Ombre est assez différent de ce qu'on voit traditionnellement. Il m'a fait penser aux elfes de Tolkiens, avec ses beaux habits en couleur, ses longs cheveux blancs et ses oreilles pointues. Rejeté des siens pour avoir aimé son écuyer, il a sombré dans la colère et la rancoeur.
Une bonne suite, qui connait un dénouement heureux et qui table, évidemment, sur la tolérance et l'ouverture d'esprit.
P.S J'aime bien la nouvelle armure du Chevalier.
Catégorisation: Album Fantasy, littérature jeunesse préscolaire, 4-5 ans
Note: 8/10
June 12, 2024
old post reposted
I'm in the process of adding my blog/IG posts onto Goodreads, and I learned that there was a sequel to Daniel Haack's (author) and Stevie Lewis's (illustrator) "Prince & Knight." This one is called "Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King."
["Have you heard the thrilling tale
of the prince and his dear knight?
Their love for one another
inspired everyone in sight.
Our brave and dashing heroes, the prince and the knight, are happily married and their kingdom is prospering, but soon, a fog of darkness that blocks the sun spreads across their land. They get word that the cause of this is a dark and mysterious Shadow King, and they rush off to find and stop him, but encounter many obstacles along the way. Will they be able to restore the light to their kingdom?"]
The book was, under the surface No, there wasn't a subtle thing about it. This book was about acceptance of being who you are (even if its not who you're "supposed to be") and loving who you love (even if its not "the norm").
"Like the colors of the rainbow, I'm glad we're not the same."
It was beautiful!! I wish it were longer (but maybe there will be a third book?). But the fact that this book (and the original) even exists is something that I didn't think was possible ten years ago (and DEFINITELY wasn't possible 30 years ago). Our world is shit (let's me honest), but there are moments and pieces of it that are glorious and need to be shared (like this book).
They also wrote a sapphic book called "Maiden & Princess" that I need to get to buying/reading.
#princeandknight #princeandknighttaleoftheshadowking #taleoftheshadowking #danielhaack #stevielewis #childrensstory #picturebooks #lgbtrepresentation #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
I'm in the process of adding my blog/IG posts onto Goodreads, and I learned that there was a sequel to Daniel Haack's (author) and Stevie Lewis's (illustrator) "Prince & Knight." This one is called "Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King."
["Have you heard the thrilling tale
of the prince and his dear knight?
Their love for one another
inspired everyone in sight.
Our brave and dashing heroes, the prince and the knight, are happily married and their kingdom is prospering, but soon, a fog of darkness that blocks the sun spreads across their land. They get word that the cause of this is a dark and mysterious Shadow King, and they rush off to find and stop him, but encounter many obstacles along the way. Will they be able to restore the light to their kingdom?"]
The book was, under the surface No, there wasn't a subtle thing about it. This book was about acceptance of being who you are (even if its not who you're "supposed to be") and loving who you love (even if its not "the norm").
"Like the colors of the rainbow, I'm glad we're not the same."
It was beautiful!! I wish it were longer (but maybe there will be a third book?). But the fact that this book (and the original) even exists is something that I didn't think was possible ten years ago (and DEFINITELY wasn't possible 30 years ago). Our world is shit (let's me honest), but there are moments and pieces of it that are glorious and need to be shared (like this book).
They also wrote a sapphic book called "Maiden & Princess" that I need to get to buying/reading.
#princeandknight #princeandknighttaleoftheshadowking #taleoftheshadowking #danielhaack #stevielewis #childrensstory #picturebooks #lgbtrepresentation #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
February 14, 2022
A sweet, wonderful and action-packed sequel to the amazing and revolutionary 'Prince & Knight'.
The illustrations are as beautiful, adorable, and full of life as ever. This time, however, there is also darkness. A cloud, a toxicity, that is more threatening and dangerous than any dragon.
But there is a little rainbow at the end of it all. A rainbow of hope. And change and acceptance.
'Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King' is ultimately about depression, and self-love and acceptance, and how social norms must change, for the happiness and light of everyone. It is more, well, violent than its predecessor - there are warriors going out to battle with the Prince and the Knight, with swords, shields and armour, and there are higher stakes and heavier perils - but its heart, its pacifist and antibigotry message, are not lost; the ending is a teary, heartfelt, comforting, healing, cathartic and exultant accomplishment.
Only, are there any female warriors in the book? I can't really tell by the artwork. I think a couple of the Prince's warriors are meant to be women? Or genderfluid? I hope that gender equality and LBGTQ representation extends to this in 'Tale of the Shadow King'. But I'm not sure it does, as it isn't made clear.
However, an extra bonus is that same sex couples, other than the now-married Prince and Knight, are shown at the beginning, inspired and encouraged as they are by those fabulous two, to express themselves and their love in public. Could have shown more of them at the end, too, though.
Oh well. Still a great LGBTQ children's picture book with an important message. The poetry is as gorgeous as the art and the story, as well.
Love is love.
Another bonus is this not-so-hidden lesson: crossdressing and people wearing whatever they want is a good thing. Deeper, conscientious inclusivity like this, yes please!
Click here for my review of 'Prince & Knight'.
Final Score: 4/5
The illustrations are as beautiful, adorable, and full of life as ever. This time, however, there is also darkness. A cloud, a toxicity, that is more threatening and dangerous than any dragon.
But there is a little rainbow at the end of it all. A rainbow of hope. And change and acceptance.
'Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King' is ultimately about depression, and self-love and acceptance, and how social norms must change, for the happiness and light of everyone. It is more, well, violent than its predecessor - there are warriors going out to battle with the Prince and the Knight, with swords, shields and armour, and there are higher stakes and heavier perils - but its heart, its pacifist and antibigotry message, are not lost; the ending is a teary, heartfelt, comforting, healing, cathartic and exultant accomplishment.
Only, are there any female warriors in the book? I can't really tell by the artwork. I think a couple of the Prince's warriors are meant to be women? Or genderfluid? I hope that gender equality and LBGTQ representation extends to this in 'Tale of the Shadow King'. But I'm not sure it does, as it isn't made clear.
However, an extra bonus is that same sex couples, other than the now-married Prince and Knight, are shown at the beginning, inspired and encouraged as they are by those fabulous two, to express themselves and their love in public. Could have shown more of them at the end, too, though.
Oh well. Still a great LGBTQ children's picture book with an important message. The poetry is as gorgeous as the art and the story, as well.
Love is love.
Another bonus is this not-so-hidden lesson: crossdressing and people wearing whatever they want is a good thing. Deeper, conscientious inclusivity like this, yes please!
Click here for my review of 'Prince & Knight'.
Final Score: 4/5
April 6, 2026
The moral here is basically "representation matters," which is delightfully meta on a children's book about a gay prince.
Prince and Knight, now happily married, set out to deal with the shadow crawling over the kingdom. (Is it in the East? Is it Sauron? Could be.) They talk to folks about it and, age-appropriately, it's pretty nebulous other than "bad for things" like crops and such. Kids aren't subjected to "and this evil villain led bloody wars." It feels a little like the creeping mist in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, actually.
Prince and Knight find (how? by sailing toward it, which is kind of the villain to have left such an obvious address card) the villain who, it turns out, was in love and was spurned. This is such an easy, honest, repeated fairy tale trope that works here precisely because it's easy and repeated. This is every villain-reparation movie Hollywood has been spinning out to keep royalties on franchises reinvent old classics with new ideas, and it's super short but also deeply important to see the redeemed villain who just needed to be told he was okay.
Kids will get that. Trust me, the message "you are not other, you belong" is something every kid needs and wants to hear, no matter what flavor of "other" they feel they are.
The art is beautiful, although I dislike that this continues the notion that dark/shadow/shade is intrinsically linked with bad. Hats off to Stevie Lewis threading the line of making the art not creepy but clearly different from the accepted kingdom portion.
It isn't perfect but it's good, and I'll be keeping this for my library, not least because representation does matter; if you see that you're not alone, so much can open up.
Prince and Knight, now happily married, set out to deal with the shadow crawling over the kingdom. (Is it in the East? Is it Sauron? Could be.) They talk to folks about it and, age-appropriately, it's pretty nebulous other than "bad for things" like crops and such. Kids aren't subjected to "and this evil villain led bloody wars." It feels a little like the creeping mist in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, actually.
Prince and Knight find (how? by sailing toward it, which is kind of the villain to have left such an obvious address card) the villain who, it turns out, was in love and was spurned. This is such an easy, honest, repeated fairy tale trope that works here precisely because it's easy and repeated. This is every villain-reparation movie Hollywood has been spinning out to keep royalties on franchises reinvent old classics with new ideas, and it's super short but also deeply important to see the redeemed villain who just needed to be told he was okay.
Kids will get that. Trust me, the message "you are not other, you belong" is something every kid needs and wants to hear, no matter what flavor of "other" they feel they are.
The art is beautiful, although I dislike that this continues the notion that dark/shadow/shade is intrinsically linked with bad. Hats off to Stevie Lewis threading the line of making the art not creepy but clearly different from the accepted kingdom portion.
It isn't perfect but it's good, and I'll be keeping this for my library, not least because representation does matter; if you see that you're not alone, so much can open up.
May 27, 2021
I did not like this as much as the other books by Daniel Haack. The theme, while important (it is okay to be you and no matter who you love, you deserved to be love, and the depression that can follow when this basic need is not met), seemed at times a bit heavy handed and was being forced. Some of the "darker elements" also felt too mature for the picture book crowd. The pages are literally dark in several places and (spoiler) one character almost drowns. And though I understand all ages can feel the emotions presented, I personally felt it could have been handled in a different manner. This would be good for a novel format and at this level of "maturity" it would be good for the 10 and up crowd. However, I still enjoyed the illustrations with their hidden gems throughout.
July 25, 2022
Daniel Haack and Stevie Lewis create a magical world in which two men run the kingdom and are seeking a mysterious, dangerous Shadow King that has brought darkness and blight to their land. In an interesting twist the mission results in allowing for love and understanding and being true to yourself to win.
The book is a good read and needed for many as there are not enough places students with same gender parents can find joyful characters in children's books. Stevie Lewis is a master at the Fairy Tale images I expected in this traditional tale. I like that she included so many scenes that connect readers to both books and movies in their spirit. Daniel Haack, your words and story are strong and I am glad you brought these characters to light.
The book is a good read and needed for many as there are not enough places students with same gender parents can find joyful characters in children's books. Stevie Lewis is a master at the Fairy Tale images I expected in this traditional tale. I like that she included so many scenes that connect readers to both books and movies in their spirit. Daniel Haack, your words and story are strong and I am glad you brought these characters to light.
April 15, 2022
I loved the second book of the series! I hope there is a part 3! I still love the illustrations. The story was a bit predictable. However, this is a fairy tale: it follows a formula and pattern. The evil king vanished in a way I figured would happen. I previously stated it is a fairytale. Therefore there is plenty of hope, love, and acceptance for winning/saving the day. The message is great and true. Those who came before acceptance is learned are treated poorly. Those people can become bitter and sometimes need someone to just say, "Hey, I accept you." Sometimes that is what is needed to start the healing process.
August 23, 2022
Just as excellent as the first book. The land of the Shadow King is dark, and dreary, and monsters roam. But after being crowned Kings the Prince and Knight set off to fight this darkness and chase it from their realm. However, in a bad battle the knight almost drowns, but his loving prince rescues him. This is seen by the Shadow King who comes out from hiding to tell his story and find his rainbow. This book was so good. It is a great metaphor on how seeing others being able to live the happy you were denied can help bring the happy back and find the right place for one if life. As with the first book the illustrations are bright, colorful, and amazing.
September 5, 2022
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So happy to see Prince and Knight back for another adventure! A lovely story about acceptance, understanding, forgiveness, and love's power to inspire and bring people together.
As with the first book, the artwork is amazing. Great use of color and contrasting light and dark.
I always have a soft spot for a misunderstood villain so this story was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the sympathy expressed and the celebration of differences.
A beautiful example of how the light can shine through the dark when there is love and acceptance.
So happy to see Prince and Knight back for another adventure! A lovely story about acceptance, understanding, forgiveness, and love's power to inspire and bring people together.
As with the first book, the artwork is amazing. Great use of color and contrasting light and dark.
I always have a soft spot for a misunderstood villain so this story was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the sympathy expressed and the celebration of differences.
A beautiful example of how the light can shine through the dark when there is love and acceptance.
October 5, 2023
This book was so cute. It went through the adventure of the knight and the prince as they are trying to fight this shadow that has just covered their kingdom. In the end they found the sources of the shadow. I was someone who couldn't love who they wanted to and took it out on the kingdom. They told her about their love and told here that it is okay to love who you want and they become friends. I would love to put this in my classroom library for older elementary schoolers. Like 5th grade so that if they are identifying as LGBT then they can learn form this book.
December 28, 2024
This is a fairy tale with the message given that it is OK to be yourself, be different, love who you love and the world will be a better place. That's it. It's sweet and pretty simple. The rhyming text doesn't work for me but I appreciated the message. The Shadow King's monsters are a little scary. This IS a same sex romantic story and there are nobles who love peasants, men who wear skirts, women who wear wide leg pants. There are rainbows and love wins. That's it. There's one kiss. It's not explicit..
July 25, 2025
This is a solid sequel.
I appreciate how this second book builds upon the themes of both acceptance and inclusiveness from the first book while also expanding upon them to discuss overcoming shame and living with pride.
I think this book does a good job of demonstrating to young readers and beyond that non-acceptance only breeds hate and that the only balm to hate is creating a world where everyone can feel safe to be themselves.
I can’t recommend this series enough—to young readers and beyond. It’s a really lovely and thoughtful read that is also beautifully illustrated~
I appreciate how this second book builds upon the themes of both acceptance and inclusiveness from the first book while also expanding upon them to discuss overcoming shame and living with pride.
I think this book does a good job of demonstrating to young readers and beyond that non-acceptance only breeds hate and that the only balm to hate is creating a world where everyone can feel safe to be themselves.
I can’t recommend this series enough—to young readers and beyond. It’s a really lovely and thoughtful read that is also beautifully illustrated~
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