A year has passed since Curdie vanquished the goblins, but his true test has only just begun. The young miner is summoned by Princess Irene's enigmatic great-great-grandmother for a perilous mission: the king's own ministers are poisoning him, and only Curdie can infiltrate the palace and stop the conspiracy. What follows is a darker, more intricate tale than its predecessor. Curdie is given a strange companion, the grotesque creature Lina, whose terrifying appearance conceals a heart of fierce devotion. Together, they must navigate court intrigue, magical pruebas, and their own doubts. The story explores what it means to be tested, to be loyal despite fear, and to judge others not by their faces but by their deeds. MacDonald delivers a tale of courage and moral growth that understands children can handle genuine danger and difficult choices.
