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Prince Adam never loses. In all of the kingdom of Leftovria, he is both the undefeated champion in every competition imaginable and the heir to the throne. When a dragon arrives in the kingdom, along with rumors of death and destruction, he proudly volunteers himself for the challenge set forth: destroy the beast responsible for the kingdom's unrest. With Minnow, the legally appointed apprentice bard whose task it is to honestly record these adventures, Prince Adam sets off on his grand quest. Along the way, he is tested by the three brother trolls (Trasher, Smasher, and Thrasher), the court of the Troll King, the Lost Causeway, and more than one dragon. And while Minnow may offer the insight of Truth innate in all true bards, it is up to Prince Adam to decide whether the story will end as history, tragedy, or comedy.
In Walsh's satire of entitlement and justice, witty trolls and wise dragons poke at the perspective of a crass prince and his short-sighted motivations with their trials of humility, intelligence, and Truth. All the while, it is Minnow who shines where Adam fails. Using her fierce devotion to Truth, musical pursuits, and women's equality, she captures the admiration of all who meet her. This tale is rife with classic fairy-tale tropes, pop-culture references, and unsettlingly familiar characterizations. Through it all, Walsh never misses an opportunity for a gag, a bit, a pun, or easy wordplay. Nary a joke is missed. And in the end, Prince Adam gets everything that's coming to him.