I was expecting something written to take advantage of the current popularity of My Little Pony, but as the Unicorn barely appears, fans may be disappointed. Instead this is the story of a kingdom being ravaged by plague and a young girl, Fatima, who loses her parents and has to leave the city to find a new home.

This is definitely written for children, with simple sentences and little graphic description. However, this isn’t really a bedtime story and possibly not really one for other times or young children. The early sections are descriptions of the plague sweeping through a country and everyone dying. It is also quite specific as to which plague – The Black Death – which can raise awkward questions and tears if a curious child asks for details (or worse, searches for images). Rather cynically, one of our members referred to the ending of the book as setting up the Masque of the Red Death.

The plot is short, but the problem is that this book ends where most start. The traditional beginning to many fairy tales has the protagonist’s parents die and they set out to seek their fortune, with the story only starting once they reach the castle, which is where this story ends. It is also almost all world-building and Fatima actually does very little, reacting to circumstance instead of acting. In the club it was summed up as: “Once upon a time there was a young girl named Fatima. When she was eleven Fatima’s parents died of plague, leaving her homeless. She set out to seek her fortune, and walked until she met a princess. The princess took her in. The end.”

It might appeal to children fond of darker stories, but with all the early deaths it is probably is not for the very young or easily upset which will limit its audience.