The Kings Decree + Giveaway
The Kings Decree (Fractured & Fabled)
Torina Kingsley
Published March 8, 2021
42 Pages
Middle Grade Level
A sixteen-year-old princess with depression wonders if anyone else understands how it feels to feel nothing.
The teenage princess’s dark days are brightened by an unlikely friendship in this spin on an old Russian folktale.
When Princess Devina turned fifteen, she struggled to get out of bed each day. Things that used to bring her joy—playing, laughing, dancing, painting—suddenly didn’t. It was as if all her emotions had disappeared, leaving her with a terrible emptiness—and sadness—inside. Her father, the king, vows to help his daughter by issuing a decree for her sixteenth birthday celebration: anyone in the kingdom who is able to make Devina smile will win her hand in marriage. So begins the middle-grade story The King’s Decree, a modern-day spin on the Russian folktale, The Princess Who Never Laughed, masterfully told by author Torina Kingsley.
Princess Devina stays in bed all day, curtains drawn in her dark room, so she knows neither if it’s day or night, not that it matters to her; the only emotion she knows is indifference. As she lays and stares at the beautiful tapestry on her ceiling, she thinks to herself that nothing in it— not the prancing unicorns, or dancing satyrs, or colorful fields of flowers—is new to her. And she determines that’s how life feels to her: like she has seen it all already and has tired of it. She wonders if anyone else feels this way and if anyone else understands how it feels to feel...nothing.
In the kingdom’s peasant village, lives yet a different teenage girl, Yasmin, who loves her humble surroundings and the people in it. Yasmin’s father has become too old to continue working in the fields and needs her help: he has asked Yasmin to take a job working in the kitchens of the castle. An unlikely encounter with the princess sparks a bond between the girls that runs deeper than friendship. Over a period of weeks, Yasmin spends time with the princess, just listening or providing quiet companionship. Often this is just what Devina needs: someone who simply understands her and helps her to feel less alone—someone she deeply loves.
When tragedy strikes and Devina’s mother passes away, the princess is plunged further into despair and depression. She finds herself running to the person who makes her feel whole, who doesn’t judge her, who accepts her:
“And my heart, as heavy as it was—as heavy as it still is—felt buoyed by Yasmin’s friendship, by her love. Just knowing that she wants to be by my side makes me want to keep standing.”
Author Torina Kingsley expertly weaves a tale that relays the heartbreaking struggle that many teens face today, but that is often left undiscussed: teenage depression. The King’s Decree is a courageous story about depression and love that shines a light on the importance of acknowledging this prevalent illness and supporting the people we care about who are living with it.
My Review
Princess Devina suffers from depression and anxiety. Her father and mother are concerned for her. So her father comes up with a plan. He decrees that any prince who can make Devina smile can marry her. It has been so long since Devina has smiled or laughed that she does not know if she can do either.
Yasmin loves to tell stories and has a lovely personality. At first she is not keen on the idea of working in the kitchen at the castle but she is excited about meeting the princess. This is because she will have met someone close to her own age.
It is not long before Devina and Yasmin become friends. In fact, the more time they spend together, the stronger their bond becomes. Before you know it, Devina actually laughs and smiles.
Originally, I thought the recommended age range for this book of 10 to 16 year olds were off; after reading this book, I think it is right. The reason I thought it might be off in the beginning was because of Devina's age of sixteen. Most younger children can't relate to this age. Yet, the lesson this story teaches is what is the most important. Young children of ten could relate and actually need a book like this.
This book addresses depression and anxiety in a way that can help young children express their feelings and start the important discussions needed for help. I loved this book. I want to be friends with Devina and Yasmin.
Where the book is available:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56900911-the-king-s-decree
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-kings-decree-torina-kingsley/1138608825
Look for the second book Beyond the Birch on Amazon
Author bio: Torina Kingsley has always dreamed of becoming a published writer. By the time high school came around, her mind was swirling with tales ready to be told. She finds inspiration for her stories from viewing things from a different perspective, including her most recent book The King's Decree, a chapter book that is a spin on the well-known Russian folktale, The Princess Who Never Laughed.
Kingsley believes that a great story needs to be relatable and completely captivating, that it needs to drop the reader into a whole new world. She hopes that her young readers are made to think by her stories. For instance, Kingsley has seen that, although very few children's books reflect characters afflicted with depression and anxiety, it's something that kids and teens deal with every day, and she wanted to share that in her story. It is also important to Kingsley that characters are diverse characters who can fall in love with anyone, not just those who one might expect. As an author of Hispanic heritage, representing a diverse audience in her books is meaningful to her.
When she isn't writing thought-provoking and socially conscious young adult stories, Kingsley teaches music and loves working with her students. She lives with her husband and two rescue dogs in the Chicago area where she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
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