Using a certain classic fairy tale (no spoilers here!) as a jumping off point, the author has engaged her prodigious imagination in creating this entirely original picaresque character, King Lillian. Each of Lillian's adventures reflects facets of fairy tales and myths that reside in the collective consciousness, and each encounter has lightly woven into it a lesson on what it means to be a human of the optimistic, big-hearted, truth-searching type. It's a lovely antidote to the cynicism, negativity, and division that are so much in the air these days. The voicing is a tour de force. Ms. Plakson interprets Lillian and seems to be having a ball creating all of the countless characters she encounters along the way, each one specific, original, and in service to the story. A joy!

"The Return of King Lillian" by Suzie Plakson is an audiobook triumph. The author, as narrator, captivates the listener with a virtuoso performance in the best tradition of Grammy Award winner Jim Dale. This hilarious, cinematic and soulful Hero’s journey dares to awaken in us a deeply embodied memory of hope, innocence, and identity as a resistance to these cynical times. Long live The Return of King Lillian!

Where has this book been all my life? The Return of King Lillian has the "once in an era" magic of The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland -- and now here it is for us . It is charming, captivating, engrossing -- but more -- it is a healing journey that you and your loved ones can take together. It is so rare to find a story that works on so many levels and thus appeals to three generations -- something that can be experientially shared, like old-time radio. And the story is as profound as it is imaginative. Who hasn't drifted into the "Forest of Forgetfulness?" Who hasn't faced the challenge of going to the edge? Who hasn't yearned for a horse of a different color? This book is filled with mythical truth, whimsical characters, unexpected twists and turns, heart-melting moments, and more, as Lillian bravely sets out to meet her unknown Destiny. All we have to do is surrender to the web of this wonderful story. It is so beautifully read and performed by the author Suzie Plakson. Drop everything that you think is important and treat yourself to the beautiful images, the joy of well-crafted words, and the living dream of The Return of King Lillian.

I just finished listening to the audio book of “The Return of King Lillian” by Suzie Plakson. I WANT MORE!!! What a remarkable storyteller Plakson is, effortlessly spinning images, leaving no detail unpainted. To be able to weave a tale and keep an audience enraptured throughout, now that is a true heavenly talent. She is a Bard, a Griot, a true Storyteller. With every word, she embraces and validates humanity and give us a hug of love. Thank you for captivating me, and thank you for King Lillian!

When you drop a pebble in the water, the ripples spread out in every direction. This story awakens the ripples of imagination in every direction. You are allowed the pure joy of being washed way to another place and time that touches what I thought was gone in me, childlike curiosity and a once familiar innocent wonderment. And the pebble that starts it all is Suzie Plakson. Her narration sets the stage of the theater of the mind, and her voice is a welcomed friend.

I have spent quite a bit of time with King Lillian of Everywhere. I have read about her exploits, written in her own hand; I have listened as she’s regaled me with stories of her vagabond life, with such perfect timing and exquisite mimicry of the characters who cross her path that I have laughed out loud in public places (don’t say you weren’t warned….). So yes, I have spent quite a bit of time with her, and here is what I know: she is one of a kind, and she is extraordinary. Brilliant, thoughtful, hilarious, with a greater appreciation for life in all its facets and detail than any other character who has graced my eye (or ear) for a very long time. Early on in the story, Lillian reminds me of Pippi Longstocking, whom I met and adored in my childhood. Having passed through the Forest of Forgetfulness, Lillian embraces the blank slate that is her life going forward with downright effervescence. An adventuresome, delightful force to be reckoned with, she is - but never forget, this is a hero’s journey, and from the beginning, the undercurrent of her loss, the fervency of her wish to find her home at any cost, her trust in Destiny, all these add levels of depth that will take the breath away of grown-up readers and listeners, especially those who take in the world with a child’s heart.

Author and Storyteller Suzie Plakson knows her Lillian, and she knows – in exquisite, delicious detail - the Whole Wyde Whirld that Lillian encounters on her way to regaining her throne. Marvelously imagined, wonderfully constructed, this first novel is a true tour de force.

And really, don’t get me started on the audio book. Just listen to it. But not in the quiet car of the train.

With "The Return of King Lillian" Suzie Plakson has done the impossible, telling a tale that at once seems both like a timeless classic and something modern, fresh, and entirely new. And her audiobook performance is a joy in its own right. Suzie casts you under her spell as she inhabits the character of Lillian, as well as every other magical creature and person Lillian encounters along her journey. This impeccably-produced recording is guaranteed to brighten your day and lift your spirits!

The adventures of Lillian are so captivating that anyone with a beating heart will love them. I started with the audio version, and let me tell you it's difficult to maintain one's macho standing when you're openly weeping while mowing the lawn. If I could give this six stars I would, and I suspect anyone reading this review will, too. (time passes) I wrote the above when I was about halfway through the story, and now that I've finished it I realized I didn't praise this book enough. Every time I turned it on I was run through such a spectrum of emotions from elation to despair to hope to terror to serenity and finally to joy, and never once did I feel manipulated or forced into these feelings. And as I saw that I was approaching the end I kept trying to will that counter to start going backward, but alas, all good things, eh. This was truly a joyful noise in my ears, and I encourage anyone who loves a rollicking good story told with love and passion to pick up this book.

To say that "King Lillian" thoroughly enchanted me and left me spellbound would be the understatement of the century. I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and "King Lillian" is my favorite of all. Suzie Plakson's voice is velvet mixed with grit mixed with enchantment. It takes you into another realm -- into the mystic.