So many sibling books end with - they never fought again. Well, not this one. I appreciated the relationship here. ( )

Will be curious to see how this reads aloud to kids. Lots of potential. ( )

Brother and sister team Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm, the creators behind such popular comic series as Baby Mouse and Squish, join forces once again in this picture-book exploration of sibling rivalry. The eponymous Evil Princess likes to play mean tricks, while her brother, the Brave Knight, enjoys rescuing anyone in distress. When their play leads to a quarrel, their magic mirror separates them. But is it really as fun, playing by themselves? Can they learn to play together...?

Although I did appreciate some things about The Evil Princess vs. the Brave Knight - the importance of imaginative play, the fact that the sibling rivalry was occasionally interrupted by sibling cooperation - in the end I found the book mostly uninspiring. The artwork simply wasn't appealing - it felt too cartoon-like, and even unfinished at times - and the story, although clearly meant to be humorous, didn't really amuse me. My funny bone can be difficult to find, so perhaps I just wasn't the right audience for this one. Recommended to fans of the Holms, and to anyone looking for new picture-books about sibling rivalry. ( )

A Brave Knight and an Evil Princess live in a castle together; the castle, accordingly, is not a peaceful place. The siblings have their own rooms, but they both prefer one another’s company to comparatively dull solitude. Naturally, the two don’t get along very well—the Evil Princess plays evil tricks, the Brave Knight retaliates, the Magic Mirror is exasperated, and the manky cat has no peace—but sometimes that’s just how life is in a castle!

A new collaboration between the rival Holm siblings of Babymouse fame, this book portrays an energetic sister and brother who find moments of sympathy now and then, their near-perpetual state of feud notwithstanding. Simple but spirited pencil-and-watercolor illustrations bring the unruly pair to life; Holm’s use of color is harmonious and striking without being garish. Since the Knight presents as black while the Princess appears Asian, the story also serves to validate and normalize racially mixed families. The book ends on a note of more quarreling, rather than reconciliation, but could anyone really believe that a pair like this would allow calm to prevail for long? Balance must be restored to the kingdom!

This book is an entertaining, lighthearted story that suggests families can still be strong even though they may not be wholly harmonious. Readers with annoying siblings will find the characters refreshingly familiar, but those who lack a sense of humor may wish to look elsewhere for more serious reading fare. ( )