A father and daughter from modern-day New York are thrust into a parallel realm where fairy tale legends exist as tangible, often dangerous realities. Virginia and Tony Lewis find their mundane lives upended when they cross into the Nine Kingdoms, a world governed by magic and ancient curses. They must navigate this treacherous landscape alongside a man-wolf and a cursed prince trapped in the body of a golden retriever. Their primary objective is to thwart the machinations of an evil queen, requiring them to adapt to the bizarre logic of a world that mirrors and mocks their own reality.

This novel serves as a direct literary adaptation of the television miniseries, capturing the same blend of humor and dark fantasy that defined the original production. The narrative relies heavily on the chemistry between the central human characters and their fantastical companions to ground the more absurd elements of the plot. Readers often note the book's ability to translate the visual spectacle of the screen into a readable, fast-paced adventure. The work remains a notable example of late-nineties fantasy television tie-in literature that attempts to balance adult satire with traditional fairy tale wonder.