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Princess Quest

Children/Young Adult; Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror; (Market)

Kira, the fearless teenage princess of the mythical kingdom of Latavia, has trained her whole life to rule until her father remarried and a male heir was born. When the new prince is kidnapped, Kira becomes a suspect. Kira and her childhood friend, Henry, must lead a quest through the Forbidden Lands to save her kingdom, prove her loyalty, and discover her heart. They encounter twin trolls that want to eat them, a monstrous mountain that won’t let them pass and a poison snake bridge that threatens their lives. But these dangers are not what they must fear the most.
Reviews
Princess Kira of Latavia is not one to be messed with. She’s quick to draw a sword, has spent her whole life training to be queen, and will do anything for her kingdom. Jerome’s (Sully the Spider Learns to be Nice) Princess Quest follows teen princess Kira as she faces her toughest challenges yet: bonding with her new younger brother Alec and saving him after he’s been kidnapped. Complicating matters is the fact that she’s suspected as the kidnapper.

A colored pencil illustration opens each chapter of this spirited adventure, but there’s otherwise scant description of the physical landscape of Latavia or anywhere else that the heroes journey, which limits the opportunity for immersion in the world. Readers also get few glimpses into the minds and hearts of the characters, so their actions tend to feel reactionary or abrupt, since there’s little indication of how or why they make the choices they do. Upsetting events like the loss of a horse to a monstrous snake pass with little attention paid to the emotional impact on the young protagonists.

While the novel at times is thinly developed, Jerome still executes a compelling quest narrative, complete with trolls, knights, royal intrigue, and fantastical surprises like the mountain that literally needs to eat. The dangers alternate between comic and just scary enough. Most importantly, like all the best quests, Princess Kira’s ultimately becomes a journey of self discovery, despite the novel’s limited interiority. Even if they’re not royalty themselves, young readers will likely enjoy this narrative of how a young princess must find her true strength. Also memorable: the honest (if sometimes a touch harsh) portrayal of sibling dynamics. Fast-paced and full of action,and boasting a feisty lead, Princess Quest sneaks in a bit of heart along the way.

Takeaway: Young fantasy readers will enjoy this fast-paced quest and its strong-willed and feisty main character.

Great for fans of: Shannon and Dean Hale’s The Princess in Black, Ursula Vernon’s Hamster Princess series, Cornelia Funke’s The Princess Knight

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: B
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

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