Regina

"...'What great Champion is this, ' the Court Magician breathed, 'that even his handmaiden can wield the Test blade!' 'Don't you think she might be the Champion?' Tickle asked, looking a little nervously at the point Regina was waving around. 'That could never be!' the man declared passionately. 'No maiden could ever take up arms in our Circle! It would be against Nature, Custom, and The Proper Order of Things.' ..." Young Lady Regina-Valerie, spoilt only child of a wealthy Lord, is gorgeous, brilliant academically, artistically and musically, and outstanding at individual sports (avoiding team ones). Unfortunately she puts everyone off by seeming too perfect and by masking innate shyness with razorblades-in-honey politeness. Her only friend is her Siamese, Tickle. In constantly warring Warrior Magic Circle land, a creeping evil is detected. White-hot magic reveals where to find a Champion Knight to oppose an expected Warlock Dark Champion, and Regina and her cat are at the designated place. They enter the Circle to discover, during adventures with War-prince Peal and bullied handmaiden Princess Chime, that an already repressive society is indeed worsening savagely. Returning home to seek the foretold Champion, Regina recruits school rival Alistair who stutters in her presence unless using a Scots accent. Alistair fails the 'Test' challenge. To everyone's consternation, Regina doesn't. Back in the Circle they are attacked by giant Army Ants, as the first of many battles against vile Warlock creatures while they seek a prophesied Key, vital for success but fatal to the user. Various quest-themed journeys and adventures teach and change them - as they themselves teach and change the society. Surprises constantly arise. Humour, excitement and sheer fun interlink throughout. How can the adversary be identified and confronted? If successful in this, who must die using the Key - and where do they find it? These questions are spectacularly answered, and several final twists round off a truly magical experience.