The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Under the Bed
By Patrick Ruthfuss
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Humor
Published Oct 31 2012
Pages: 80
Summary: It looks like a
children's book. It has pictures. It has a saccharine-sweet title. The
main characters are a little girl and her teddy bear. But all of that is
just protective coloration. The truth is, this is a book for adults
with a dark sense of humor and an appreciation of old-school faerie
tales.
There are three separate endings to the book. Depending on where you stop, you are left with an entirely different story. One ending is sweet, another is horrible. The last one is the true ending, the one with teeth in it.
The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle is a dark twist on the classic children's picture-book. I think of it as Calvin and Hobbes meets Coraline, with some Edward Gorey mixed in.
Simply said: This is not a book for children
There are three separate endings to the book. Depending on where you stop, you are left with an entirely different story. One ending is sweet, another is horrible. The last one is the true ending, the one with teeth in it.
The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle is a dark twist on the classic children's picture-book. I think of it as Calvin and Hobbes meets Coraline, with some Edward Gorey mixed in.
Simply said: This is not a book for children
Review:
I am short for words for
this one, especially without spoiling anything. The author is quite
correct in stating this is NOT for children. While the black/white
cover may look like a creepy kids book, and the other look all 'sunshine
and rainbows,' they are not.
This is a three part story. The first part is relatively light-hearted,the second part creepier and the third....well read for yourself. I highly advise watching where you leave this book lying around if you have young children. Seriously. They can probably read the first part, maybe the second but I advise against the third part.
What I will say is fans of Calvin and Hobbs, Charlie the Unicorn, South Park and Robot Chicken will likely enjoy this. When I finished reading this (not paying any attention to other reviews) I just sat there, shocked a bit, then I went through the book again to look for hints. It was worth the second look through. But read it normally once, for full effects then go back and pay attention to the pictures. Have fun!
This is a three part story. The first part is relatively light-hearted,the second part creepier and the third....well read for yourself. I highly advise watching where you leave this book lying around if you have young children. Seriously. They can probably read the first part, maybe the second but I advise against the third part.
What I will say is fans of Calvin and Hobbs, Charlie the Unicorn, South Park and Robot Chicken will likely enjoy this. When I finished reading this (not paying any attention to other reviews) I just sat there, shocked a bit, then I went through the book again to look for hints. It was worth the second look through. But read it normally once, for full effects then go back and pay attention to the pictures. Have fun!
I won this book as a raffle win from Momma Says Read. The review is my fair/honest opinion and no compensation was received. This review was written by my own free will and choosing.
I still totally plan on getting this one - but then I think it costs a butt ton right now.
ReplyDeleteWow! You are right! I just looked up the boo. Sheesh, that is a bit high...
DeleteI LOVE this book by Patrick Rothfuss. But I may be a little biased. He is my favorite author! If you haven't read Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear, I highly suggest you do so immediately!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I own this book and I push it off on anyone willing to read it! Once, I read it to a group of our friends while they were sitting in a circle around me (think kindergarden story time). When I got to the end, E-V-E-R-Y jaw dropped!
Oh...and Rothfuss has a Sequel to the Princess' story coming out soon - this time, it involves her little brother!
I will have to look into those 2 books! Thanks!
DeleteWait? The princess has a brother? Oh boy.... :)
I def would have thought by cover it was a kids book. Thanks for reivew
ReplyDeleteNo, not a kids book. I was going to donate it to the library now that I have read it (and am very limited on space to keep books) but I fear they would just stick it in the kids area and that would be bad.
DeleteHa ha, I have a bit of a dark side with a touch of humor thrown in for good measure. This book looks to be right up my alley! (a dark alley?) I'm off to hunt it down!
ReplyDeleteThen you will probably like this. Lots of twisted fun!
DeleteWhat a cute book :) I might have to check this out! I love cutsie books and this sounds like it would be so adorable that it makes me melt! Thanks for letting us know of its existence.
ReplyDeleteCute is not the word I would use but I hope you like it either way.
DeleteI've got a dark sense of humor, I'll have to check this out! :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy :)
Delete