Exactly how steamy is this story?
G
Because The Tale of Despereaux is aimed at a younger audience, it's totally appropriate for children and involves no steamy romance whatsoever. Even though Despereaux falls desperately in love with Princess Pea the minute that he sees her, it's more devotion than romantic love. Their relationship is definitely platonic.
Kids might want to be warned that there are some very frightening parts of the book, though: threats of violence, visions of mouse corpses, and dungeons.