I’ve always loved The Princess Bride. The story is a great mix of humor, adventure, and romance. So, when I discovered that there was a book based on this classic, I knew I had to pick it up. I also knew you would want a review. The Princess Will Save You includes many of these classic tropes, but it didn’t always play out in an interesting and engaging way. Let’s talk about this book!
DON’T MESS WITH THE CROWN.
When her father dies, Princess Amarande is given an ultimatum: marry the leader of a neighboring kingdom or lose her crown―and possibly her life. To force her hand, her beloved, the stableboy Luca, is kidnapped. But Amarande was raised to be a warrior, not a sacrifice. And nothing will stop her from saving her true love.
World, Characters, and Plot
The Princess Will Save You follows a princess who risks her kingdom in order to save the man she loves. The intention is to present a twist on the classic tropes… instead, the story tends to follow very conventional plot lines. I saw a lot of the main storyline coming at least a chapter or two before it was “revealed.” The setting was basic fantasy, including multiple kingdoms, an untravellable desert, and a group of lovable thieves. Instead of Princess Bride, I felt like this story had more Aladdin stems.
Princess Amarande, one of the main characters, is very difficult to like. She has an arrogance about her countenance that had me wishing her POV would end. I much preferred Luca’s character. He had both humility and kindness, making him much more likable than Amarande. Both of these characters struggled with having more than one dimension, each having their minds set on one goal. The side characters, even the villains, seemed much more well-rounded. I especially liked reading the POVs of the villains; these chapters added a lot to the book.
This book was pretty quick. If I didn’t have all 351 pages of proof, I would wager that it was a short story. I think that may be part of the reason I did not absolutely love The Princess Will Save You; there wasn’t enough plot to stretch the whole book. I did, however, love the end. I think that the twist was intriguing enough to encourage me to pick up the next book next time I’m at the bookshop.
PAGED IN: There is minor profanity in The Princess Will Save You. There is no innuendo, but there are a few scenes that get a little violent (think torture and death). The Biblical connection can be made when discussing a spirit of bravery. Throughout the story, both Amarande and Luca have to push past their fear and make a brave choice. 2 Timothy 1:7 says this: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We can find our bravery in God. There’s no reason for us to be afraid when we have unlimited access to the ultimate source of light.
Conclusion
The Princess Will Save You has a beautiful cover, an interesting title… and an okay story. While it was an enjoyable read, the single plotline and somewhat arrogant main character did not place this book in my favorites that I’ve read this year. I was drawn in by the cover art, but I walked away with little to no lasting impression of the actual story. I would suggest it if you were looking for a book that rings of tropes you’ve read before… and I would suggest that you find a different book if you were looking for something fresh.
You can buy The Princess Will Save You here.
Marie