In this fantasy tale of two cultures, a struggling young artist in London meets the enforcers for the art gallery owner's loan, while an eleven prince finds it's time to grow up and make his way.

TOO MANY FAIRY PRINCES starts off in the cavern where an ensorcelled husk holds the remnants of the old king, who sets his four sons to compete for his throne. The youngest is traditionally the winner in such tales; hearing this, one of the princes arranges for the youngest brother to die. Clearly the gloves are off and the three remaining brothers can trust nobody. Prince Kjartan is horrified by the death, and next has to battle off wraiths... in so doing, he magically travels to the world of men, aboveground and full of painful iron.

Young Joel is cycling around London trying to find the resources to pay off the loan to save his job. The gallery owner was hit by a car and is in hospital, so it's up to him. Joel got taken for a ride once before, when a boyfriend skipped the country with his savings, and what with the cost of flat rental he's not well off. He's got to defend himself against the enforcers, but then stumbles across an elf lying unconscious in rubbish bins. Kjartan is injured, and when he comes around, demands Joel be his servant. Can this day get any worse?

This has to be one of the most unusual stories I've read in some time, with the unpleasantness of the elf land contrasted with the plain honesty and artistry of Joel, and casual violence topped by a visit to the inside of Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty proves a most excellent heroine, I must say, and a welcome guest in the tale.

If you've wondered how it would feel to battle a swarm of goblins, or to fall gradually in love with a proud elfish prince, read TOO MANY FAIRY PRINCES. By turns it's funny and reckless, and it's always entertaining. The best summing-up I can give it is that it's for Roald Dahl fans who have grown up. While it's a gay romance, the alternate sexuality content is a small part of the story and could be read by teenagers.