Plot Summary

Smart, confident and soon to become Queen, Princess Aiwen has no use for Colonel Shakne, a tame and dandified suitor.  When she is kidnapped by demons with a secret, sinister plan and Colonel Shakne rushes to her rescue, the only thing he accomplishes is nearly getting himself killed, and ultimately the princess must save him.

Tang, a Buddhist monk sent on a pilgrimage by the Emperor of China, arrives in the court of the distraught king.  The king learns that the only person who can save the princess is Monkey King, a legendary superhero and Tang’s mischievous former disciple.  Monkey King’s extraordinary accomplishments include terrorizing dragon kings, bullying the Emperor of Heaven, and fighting epic battles against the reclusive and powerful demigoddess Maaya.  But having recently been ousted from the pilgrimage by Tang for unruly and violent behavior, will Monkey King eschew his pride and violent tendencies out of loyalty to Tang, and lend a helping hand on Tang’s terms?

The princess’ plight becomes personal to Monkey King when the demons put a curse on Tang.  As he pursues the demons into a neighboring country, playing various pranks on them along the way, Monkey King makes shocking discoveries that foreshadow a dire fate for the princess and her country: a king possessed by evil, a people tyrannized by demons plotting to ensnare him with magic, and an opponent more powerful than any he has fought before.  To save the princess and her country, Monkey King must use all the wits and magical powers at his disposal while trying to keep his impossible promise to Tang—that he will not kill.  He must also learn humility and accept that he cannot triumph over the demons without the assistance of Maaya and a couple of mere mortals—the resourceful princess and her devoted colonel.

“Monkey King and the Princess of Precious Elephant Kingdom” is a new take on an ancient Chinese classic, “Journey to the West.”

First 250 Words

“Miss! Miss!”

Maaya made a muffled sound from under her blanket in response to her housekeeper Ayi’s call. If she hadn’t been so sleepy, she would have told the old woman to “shove off.” But as it was, she only groaned and burrowed her head deeper into one of the plush pillows.

“Miss!”

“Ugh… It’s not even noon yet—is it?” muttered Maaya indistinctly, frustrated with Ayi’s insistence. Maaya regarded getting up before noon as sinful—her housekeeper did not share this view.

“No, Miss, but… Monkey King is here. He wants to see you,” drawled Ayi.

Maaya sat up abruptly and arched her eyebrows. “Did you say Monkey King? Did he say why he came?” she gabbled with a nasal voice thick with sleep. Without waiting for an answer she shot Ayi an annoyed look, and yelled, “Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

“Yes, Miss. He said he came for a personal visit,” answered Ayi, ignoring Maaya’s last question. She was used to her mistress’s petulance.

Like a storm Maaya flung off the blanket, leapt to the dresser at the far end of the room and started yanking out clothes from the drawers and pulling them on, all the while barking, “Tell him I will be down in a minute! No, give me five minutes!… no, just tell him I will be down…”

As Ayi turned to leave, Maaya suddenly stopped putting on her clothes. Her face turning a little red, she cried sullenly, “Some friend he is! Shouldn’t