The Three Heads in the Well: A Magic Beans Story

Sep 22, 2024 2:34 AM

Author:Susan Gates

When the King remarries, his beautiful daughter is forced to leave his castle by her mean-spirited stepfamily. Laden only with bread, cheese and kindness, the Princess seeks her fortune and finds three friendly heads in a well. When the stepsister follows, however, it is clear that the three heads may be either friend or foe . . .

This story is a magic bean. It may not look much like a bean, but I can promise you that it is. For if you plant it in a young mind, it will grow into a love of story and reading. These beans are favourite fairytales and legends that will delight, thrill and thoroughly entertain. Each story has been brilliantly crafted by one of the best-loved writers for children.

This story was published by David Fickling Books as part of the Magic Beans anthology. The complete anthology is available in hardback and in ebook format.

Reviews

A fairy tale, but also a long, leisurely, sophisticated narrative which makes no linguistic compromises. . . . Spindle's End's subject is magical perils, but as a novel it is an almost utopian love story. A curious and distinctive book

—— Books for Keeps

A skilful retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. . . . This is electrifying story-telling, a must-read for fans of quality fantasy of any age

—— Anne Marley , Financial Times

I would recommend very few of the novels written for teenagers that pass through my hands to a discerning adult reader. So this is a bit of a find. An extraordinarily imaginative retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, McKinley's book is genuinely enchanting but emotionally tough

—— Guardian

Written with rich inventiveness, good characters and real stylistic skill and flair, it is a fat treat in which to lose yourself

—— Nicolette Jones , The Sunday Times

Charming in every sense of the word. Beautifully written and at times highly comic, it is an extraordinary achievement

—— Books for Keeps

Sure to be as popular with both children and adults as all his other books

—— Croydon Advertiser

Lively wit, sly wisdom and compelling narratives

—— Leicester Mercury

Pratchett's usual mix of uproarious comedy and deceptively serious thought

—— Southern Daily Echo

He's probably the funniest writer in English today . . . great themes with huge doses of comedy

—— South Wales Evening Post

Funny and winning as ever

—— Nottingham Evening Post

Crackles with energy and humour

—— Leicester Mercury

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