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And racked by nightmares of failure, he sank into a heavy sleep."
The eternal conflict between Spirit of Good and Fighter for Chaos comes to its temporary conclusion in these final two legends in verse and song. The vicious King Sol and Queen Luna have been given a surprise in the form of a tiny child, which they believe to be theirs despite his impossibly small size. Prince Sol is, in fact, the son of King Heart and Queen Constance of the good-hearted Scraps, given to the River Nation monarchs in order to teach them how to live their lives compassionately and considerately. As time passes, and the behavior of people starts to take a turn for the positive, Fighter has no choice but to send in villainous humans with the strength to snuff out goodness in the world once and for all and create a realm of pure chaos.
The author’s style of relying primarily on a rhyming verse to tell her story creates an evocative atmosphere for the reader, almost making the narrative seem to truly be derived from legends that have been passed down for centuries. The combination of good moral education and a creation myth works to create a story that is entertaining and also something that readers can use to reflect on their own choices. The whimsical Scraps, mice, and rats provide an element of classic fantasy, while the evil Grin and Brood work as perfect foils to Spirit of Good and the well-meaning Scraps. There are full-page illustrations throughout the book depicting important scenes and characters, adding a visual component that bolsters the well-chosen and constructed rhyming language. The sense of whimsy and wonder and the literary style make this story good for reading to children, but the use of clever language and intelligent storytelling is ideal for any reader.