Tag: The League of Princes

Hardcover, 516 pg.
Walden Pond Press, 2014
Read: April 2 – 6, 2015
I started talking about the last book in this series by noting that it wasn’t as good as the first. So I should start off here by noting that this is at least as good as the first book.

It’s somewhat criminal that after reading 900 or so pages of this before that I didn’t mention Todd Harris’ art work. The covers are great, but the interior art is what seals the deal. It’s the perfect match for tone and content of writing. Not since Mary GrandPré decorated the Harry Potter books (maybe you’ve heard of them), have I enjoyed illustrations in a book so much. He’s at his best in these pages.

Following the events of Storming the Castle, our friends have scattered, (for the most part) returning home and to their lives as they knew it. They’ve had a rough go of things the last couple of years and have earned a little normalcy.

Until bounty hunters show up hunting them. Which tends to shake things up.

So it seems that that Brair Rose is dead — killed. And who else would anyone suspect but the League of Princes and the Princesses so closely associated with them? So large bounties were put on their heads, and they’ll need all the skills, courage, panache and dumb blind luck they can muster to evade capture and find the people truly responsible.

Meanwhile, the villains that the League, etc. were sure had died at the end of the last book? Yeah, well . . . maybe not. Put the two of these storylines together, add in some pirates, bards and a ghost and you’ve yourself a heckuva read.

Like the best kids’ entertainment, this includes a few reference and jokes fit for adults while sailing right over younger heads (without slipping into innuendo). My favorite example was when the (however temporarily) imprisoned Princesses met the imposing woman Val Jeanval who stole a baguette in order to use it as a weapon.

I started to list off all the goodies this book contains, when I realized my list sounded like someone else’s, so I’ll just borrow Grandpa’s: “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love . . . ” throw in pirates, ghosts, and witches and a lot more royalty than that other book, and you’ve just about described this. It was a fun series, with a fittingly great end. Grab it for your kids, and when they’re not looking (if they won’t share), give it a read yourself.

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4 Stars

The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

By HCNewton

On June 25, 2014

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle

by Christopher Healy

Hardcover, 477 pg.
Walden Pond Press, 2013
Read: Jun 17 – 20, 2014

This is not as good as The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, let me get that out of the way. But it’s hard to stay fresh with this time of humor. Still, it wasn’t stale, it was still a fun — sometimes very fun — adventure and a good story for the young — or those that can act young while reading a good book.

After their last adventure, the heroes find out that even in Fairy Tale Kingdoms, you only get 15 minutes of fame. No longer hailed as greats, their loser status has been restored and their lives are pretty much what they were before they banded together. So they all jump at the chance for further excitement, even if it comes in less-than-favorable ways. This time, the band is off to steal

We get all the characters from the first book back (at least the ones that anyone would notice), plus a few new faces — most of which I want to see again. In particuar, the character of Smimf the messenger was a great addition to the cast — he’s the proper mix of ridiculous and impossible. I could’ve used a little more of him — but not too much, I think he’s one of those characters that would grow old pretty quick.

I really enjoy Healy’s way of looking at the world and describing things, I know I posted some quotations last time, so I’ll limit myself to just one taste from this book where he explains the origin of the very nasty Warlord of Dar:

Some peole say Rundark was born out of a mad alchemist’s attempt to distill the essence of pure evil. Others claim he emerged fully grown form an erupting volcano. Although it’s also possible that he was the son of a used-cart salesman from Nebbish Village — they didn’t keep very good records in Dar.

I don’t care what age level you’re writing for, give me paragraphs like that, and I’ll read.

The last thing anyone should think about while reading this is Game of Thrones, but I couldn’t help myself. Someone needs to make a movie of this series, and they cast have to those of Maisie Williams and Rory McCann as Lila and Ruffian (quickly, before Williams grows up even more). If you watch the HBO series, I don’t know how you can read this without seeing the two of them with your mind’s eye as you read this.

I did chuckle at the tip of the cap The Princess Bride — so few in the target audience are going to get it, but for us Moms and Dads out there, it was a nice touch.

Last, but not least: Kudos to illustrator Todd Harris — his drawings are full of life and mirth. They’re the perfect accompaniment for the writing.

A lot of fun, almost as fun as the first book in the series, and well worth your time. I note there’s a third book in this series, and I really look forward to it.

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3 Stars

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

By HCNewton

On August 10, 2013

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like to think that I’m an involved parent — with a finger on the pulse of whatever media my kids are consuming (and, yeah, occasionally slamming my foot down on it. But I do have some trouble when it comes to my daughter — sure, I promote her Whovian impulses, I’ve encouraged her to petition her guitar teacher to help her with some Coulton songs, she’s the only one of my kids to read The Chronicles of Prydainon her own — but there’s no way I can listen to an entire One Direction album; Sam & Kat doesn’t interest me at all; and I just can’t bring myself to read The Dork Diaries, no matter how much she implores me. So when she comes to me and tells me I should read The Hero’s Guide…, I was pretty relieved that it looked interesting.

And, as you’ll have seen earlier this week, I thought the opening paragraphs were great — I almost typed in the whole Prologue, but I’m too lazy and worried about how much I can safely cite. The voice and story-telling method are instantly charming, it reminded me of The Princess Bride almost instantly and draws you in so effortlessly that you know Healy worked hard to pull it off. In many ways, this is Jim C. Hines’ Princess books for the MG crowd — but this is far more amusing, and doesn’t border on the preachy or sanctimonious like Hines’ can.

We first meet Ella and her Prince Charming, she’s relishing her new-found freedom and ability to do many of the things — both ordinary and extraordinary — that she’s been dreaming of for years. He’s been raised in the contemporary equivalent of a bubble. He’s to be safe, to look good, and live an uneventful life. Despite their affections for each other, they aren’t suited to live together and so Ella goes off seeking adventure — with Frederic chasing after her, in his own pathetic way.

While Ella finds adventure, as well as Zaubera, the witch who’d been holding Rapunzel. Frederic runs into another Prince Charming — Gustav, the youngest of a (very) large family, doing all he can to step out of the looming shadows of his brothers. He’s brave, reckless, and not terribly bright. But he gives his all to rescue Rapunzel, and help out others in his land. It doesn’t always work out for him.

To help them with their quests, these two track down the help of Liam. This is a Prince Charming who’s taken the whole hero thing very seriously. He’s devoted his life to becoming everything he’s supposed to be — a wily warrior who can rescue any damsel in distress. Even if she doesn’t deserve it, like Briar Rose, a sleeping beauty when awakened shows that her beauty is all on the outside.

Can’t forget Duncan, the clumsiest — and luckiest — Prince Charming around, who wanders his way into the story while giving Snow White a little break from his enthusiasm for . . . well, everything.

These four Princes Charming, and their respective princesses (including Liam’s plucky, brainy sister) are off to save Kingdoms, their nations’ entertainment/news industries, and very existences from bandits, monsters, Zaubera and even a band of outlaws run by The Bandit King.

It’s a nice read — written so that almost any child could enjoy it, and even entertain any adult who stumbles on to it. Lots of action, adventure, a touch of romance (just a touch, the cootie-wary need not be scared off from this). I laughed more than a few times, and grinned at lines and jokes even more often. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon or two.

The ending clearly sets up a sequel or three. I’m in. My daughter did good putting this one in my hands — and its one that I can feel good about her reading.

a slightly briefer version of this appears on goodreads.

Tag: The League of Princes

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