The Princess, the Knight, and the Lost God: A Chess Story by Victoria Winifred is an engaging children’s fantasy about Princess Kassie, the twelve-year-old daughter of the chess goddess Caissa, and Mars, the god of war. She lives in the kingdom of Chess Mountain, a happy place populated by living chess pieces. It is her birthday and she’s anticipating a grand celebration. The festivities are canceled because war is declared on them by Euphron, the god of sports, whose son Dimitri, last spotted in Chess Mountain, is missing. Dimitri is also her best friend. To protect her, the young princess is sent to Earth and is tasked to fulfill her twelfth-year mission. What follows is a series of adventures as Kassie lives undercover as a student in a school in New York. Can she fulfill her mission on Earth and safely return to Chess Mountain?

Victoria Winifred’s The Princess, the Knight, and the Lost God is a unique story where the author has created a world focused on chess. She weaves a fantastic tale about chess lovers and how the game influences their lives. The characters are very interesting and the plot is exciting, especially for young chess lovers. I find Princess Kassie’s character easy to empathize with as she is thrust into an alien world composed of humans. Confronted with strange habits while watching out for the Chess Mountain rebels who might harm her, she is a vulnerable character. Princess Kassie manages to make friends and deal with bullies, taking care that her true identity is not revealed and this makes the story thrilling. Children and young adults should find this book highly entertaining.

The Princess, The Knight, And The Lost God: A Chess Story by Victoria Winifred is a children's book based in the fantasy land of Chess Mountain, where the chess boards and the game pieces are all real creatures. Kassie is the twelve-year-old protagonist of the plot. She's the daughter of the king and queen of the land. To become a goddess of her land, she has to fulfill three tasks - experience everyday life, teach chess to someone, and change someone's life for the better. As the story advances, her best friend Dimitri goes missing, and the possibility of war looms over the nation. Kassie is sent to earth to stay safe and search for Dimitri. While settling into the life of humans in New York, she unravels many secrets which shape her entire journey. Will she be able to use her chess tricks to find Dimitri in time and stop the war?

This is such an inspiring and remarkably well-written book. The author creates a vivid pictorial representation of the plot. The description of Chess Mountain and the hustle and bustle of the New York streets gives an idea of the setting, which makes it easy for readers to follow the storyline. Every character plays a significant role in shaping the plotline. Kassie's parents represent a strong, tightly-knit family. Sheena and Dimitri add the element of friendship, while Natalie has the crucial task of helping the princess fulfill at least one of her goals through chess. Maurice portrays loyalty and honesty. The narration of the storyline is smooth and flows with simple language. I liked how the story is built around chess and children; it could inspire kids to develop a keen interest in this game that nurtures the mind. Beautiful illustrations make it more inviting. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Princess, The Knight, And The Lost God: A Chess Story by Victoria Winifred.