The Queen and the Nobody Boy, A Tale of Fontania by Barbara Else

Hodie does maintenance work around the castle.  Nobody sees him so he's a nobody boy.  He's lucky if he gets a few scraps from the kitchen.  He waits on the back stoop hoping for handouts each day.  He sleeps in an old shed.  And he's content with that until someone steals the bag that contains the only goods he owns from his mother.  Then he's determined to get them back!

Gekko Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this ebook for review (thank you).  It was published October 1st, so you can grab a copy now.

Hodie is only in the grand hall of the castle to steal food.  He crawls under the table and takes what falls to the floor.  When the princess sees him under there, she sneaks food to him.  The best thing they do is not eat the special pudding the other king has provided.  It puts everyone to sleep!

Hodie discovers they have taken his mementos of his mother, who died when he was young, and he's going after them.  He doesn't get far before the princess has joined him.  He tries to get rid of her, but you know how girls are.  She's going and he needs her.  He thinks not, but he's glad she's with him as the story progresses.

There's lots of adventure, they get involved with the revolutionaries, the other princess aids them, and it makes a great fantasy tale.

There was an earlier book in this series, The Travelling Restaurant, which I haven't read.  Ms. Else writes a good story and I'm going to look for that one and it to my TBR file.  I enjoy well thought out tales.

Happy reading.