Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess…
31 July 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Princesses, Tough Travelling
It’s Thursday again which means we’re off travelling through the tropes of fantasy with Nathan from the Fantasy Review Barn. This week we’re taking a look at Princesses:
PRINCESSES come in two main kinds:
1. Wimps.
2 Spirited and wilful. Spirited Princesses often disguise themselves as boys and invariably marry commoners of sterling worth.
My contributions this week below – and don’t forget to check out the other participants – there are usually some pretty good books floating around this event that you might just want to add to your tbr – another one couldn’t hurt – you know you want to!
Princess Miana – King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. Married to Jorg at the tender age of 13 – don’t let her age deceive you. This young lady is no shrinking violet. She has been raised a Princess and she certainly acts like it! She can give Jorg a run for his money.
Princess Aisha – Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. Sister to the Shogun – her initial introduction to the story makes her look like a spoiled and pampered princess with long lacquered fingernails, fancy clothes and ladies in waiting. In truth she is far from this initial impression and for me I would have appreciated the role being developed more. Stormdancer – Japanese steampunk and griffins – oh yes! Plus – look at the gorgeous cover!
Princess Eowyn – this is a slight cheat as I’m not totally sure that Eowyn was a princess. Anyway, it’s LoTR so it has to have an obligatory mention. Eowyn is the niece of King Theoden. She dressed as a man in order to ride with the Riders of Rohan and take part in the battle of Pelennor Fields. She played rather a crucial role as it happens. Suffering the slimy interest of Grima Wormtongue and brought low by the unrequited love of Aragorn – hey lady, take a ticket and join the queue!
Princess Clarice – The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. Clarice dresses as a young man in order to experience travels on her quest to become a master swords woman! Having 11 other sisters requires that all these princesses can hold their own. They’re sent into the wild world to learn a trade. High seas adventures with pirates and sea monsters. Much fun.
Princess Daenerys Targaryen – Game of Thrones by GRRM – no introduction really needed here methinks. And, she has three dragons!!!!
That’s it for this week – stopping at five – but I would like to give mentions to Princess Buttercup – can’t miss an opp to throw in the Princess Bride and also Sarah Pinborough’s fairytale retellings Poison/Charm/Beauty – twisted retellings I might add. Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty like you’ve never seen them before!
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I forgot about Miana, she really may have been the highlight of King of Thorns. Did she get a good role in the final book, anyone know?
Yeah, she’s still a good character – in one respect it would have been good for the role to be bigger but in another I suppose Jorg did take most of the book space. She certainly wasn’t afraid to stand her ground and I thought was a quite ruthless and astute character herself.
Lynn 😀
Another great list . . . of books I really need to read. God, I don’t have time to read anymore list I’ve got to get back to reading. Thanks for the list though. 🙂
Haha, these lists are a terrible strain on the tbr!
Lynn 😀
Some really interesting choices here while I haven’t read most of them but as you know I love Lord of the Rings and I would have totally picked Eowyn as well 🙂
A tiny cheat I think but worth it because she is such a good character.
Lynn 😀
Sounds like you picked some strong tricksy princesses!
Very tricksy! Princesses was a good topic.
Lynn 😀
Oh! Princess Miana! I wish I had thought of her. Great picks!
I quite enjoyed the ‘princess’ topic once I got my brain switched on!
Lynn 😀
So not surprised you included Eowyn 😀 Excellent list!
I know – I really have to stop with LoTR! Although she was pretty forward thinking given when she was created.
Lynn 😀
I like your LoTR picks every week! Definitely, she’s one of the most underrated princesses around in my books.
Yay, I’ve read everything in your list this week! Also, Iove the inclusion of Stormdancer!
I need to read No.2!! I love the covers for those books – they are so eye catching.
Lynn 😀
I’m reading Stormdancer right now (almost done!) and Aisha is AWESOME! Gotta love a conniving royal, right? Very excited to see how her actions play out in Kinslayer.
Yes, I need to pick up Kinslayer – not enough time blah blah blah!
Lynn 😀
I totally agree with the inclusion of Eowyn. She rocks!!!
Yay, she does!
Lynn 😀