Princess Hynchatti & Some Other Surprises
Here are twelve tales of princes and princesses (six of each) setting off to seek their fortunes in the finest tradition of fairy tale. Their quests take them through lands that are the stuff of legend, but somehow in spite of wizards and enchantresses, fairy-godmothers and wicked aunts, talking birds and dragons strewn along the way, things do not turn out quite right.
To be sure each prince finds a princess and vice versa, virtue is rewarded and ill-doers receive their just deserts, but nothing is quite what it seems. These heroes and heroines muddle their way through situations where it is common sense and a cheerful heart that are indispensable. Magic merely supplies the Surprises.
Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee (1947-2015) was a British writer of science fiction, horror and fantasy. She was the author of over 90 novels and 300 short stories, a children's picture book (Animal Castle), and many poems. She also wrote two episodes of BBC science fiction series Blake's 7. She was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award best novel award (also known as the August Derleth Award), for her book Death's Master (1980).
She also wrote under the pseudonym Esther Garber.