The Princess and Curdie

The Princess and Curdie is a children's classic fantasy novel by George MacDonald from late 1883.

The book is the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. The adventure continues with Princess Irene and Curdie a year or two older, and having to overthrow a set of corrupt ministers who are poisoning Irene's father, the king. Irene's grandmother also reappears and gives Curdie a strange gift, and a monster called Lina to help his quest.

Summary

It's been two years after the last book. Princess Irene and her father went to Gwyntystorm while Curdie, the princess's friend and a miner boy stayed home with his mother and father. As the years gone by, Curdie began to hunt for pleasure and slowly begin doubting Irene's story of her great-great grandmother. One day, he shot down a white pigeon. Curdie then remembered Irene's tale of her grandmother's pigeons and assumed the one he shot down was one of them and became aware of his folly. A light was seen at the roof of the castle, and Curdie followed it.

There, Curdie met the Grand Old Princess, who appeared small and withered, as opposed to the descriptions told by Irene. She gently told Curdie of his wrong thinking and he confessed. As now he believes, the pigeon got well. Curdie was then told to keep his bow and arrows and use them for good instead of bad things. The Grand Princess then told Curdie to meet her again soon, whom he trusts.