The Return of King Lillian is a highly engaging work of fantasy and mythical fiction penned by author Suzie Plakson. A whimsical and philosophical fairytale for the modern age, this intriguing story tells the tale of a young woman by the name of Lillian, child of an Emperor-King who is destined to inherit the crown. Lillian is an outcast from her own kingdom, and her journey to return to its center and take up the mantle of her birthright will see her face dangers and fascinating encounters at every turn. The metaphysical elements of the tale underpin the adventure with philosophies from art, healing and a general openness to culture.
In this reimagining of the fairytale, Lillian’s journey back to her birthright symbolizes many real-world struggles and issues that we face nowadays, holding up an allegorical mirror to conformist society and inspiring others to resist. The plot is a little winding, but that had a charm of its own, increasing the more the book went on, and it became less about a conclusion to the plot and more about an appreciation of each moment of the journey. The narrative is interesting for its artistic variety, and author Suzie Plakson makes use of many traditional storytelling forms, personal narratives, verse and more to make the tale come alive as it progresses. Overall, The Return of King Lillian is a very unusual work that will suit those open-minded dreamers looking for a new way to engage with adventure and allegory.