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Reviewed by Ann Linus for Readers' Favorite
The False Queen is a fitting title for this fable by Tuula Pere. One drizzly morning, Viola steps onto Swing Island, wearing a white lace dress and a toy crown, and by midday, the little fairy island population had convinced itself that a queen from a distant land was vacationing there. Soon the islanders were throwing themselves at Viola’s feet. Fairy gentleman Smithson gave her his late mother’s villa, Mrs. Florence Fields became her business partner, and other islanders gave her all sorts of gifts, from exotic foods to free manpower. And “Queen” Viola put on the show of a lifetime so that the island was the liveliest it had ever been. But a web of lies can only be spun for so long. Away on the highest point in the island sat a shy young observer who took account of everything that happened in Swing Island, and he had the most revealing things to say about the charade.
The False Queen is another story showing that Tuula Pere is a fantastic storyteller and writer. The story is a fairytale drama, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I loved that the story was both lighthearted and suspenseful—the dramatic charade and the inevitable revelation. I also liked that the story was unique, set on a sleepy fairy island. I especially liked the characters. Through their relationships, they demonstrated friendship, love, jealousy, malice, and forgiveness. The False Queen is a good blend of action, characters, and emotions. The biggest lesson I learned from it is that there is always room for improvement and forgiveness. I loved every bit of this tale, and I highly recommend it.