simetraviolets's review against another edition
2.0
The Prince and The Puppet Thief is a sweet as sugar, satirical fantasy based short novel. Overall, I found it to be a piece of pie that shouldn’t be served with cream but it happens anyways. It’s a brilliant flip on classic fairytales, with true loves kisses and princesses in need of rescue! And the narrative style is a sarcastic tone that feels slightly misplaced and empty, however, many people seem to have enjoyed it, so maybe it’s just not my cuppa earl grey. It is a very fluffy, lighthearted read, that reads with slightly flaky, shallow character development but some good LGBT+ representation including for gender non-binary! Which is reason to read Arnolds work alone!
I received an arc copy for review and leave this view voluntarily
I received an arc copy for review and leave this view voluntarily
eiiiarulaq's review against another edition
5.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily through booksirens.
Simon has gotten the job to steal slippers that apparently is worth so much that selling them will give anyone a life without worry about money ever again. So Simon gets blown with a canon up into the tower where the slippers are supposed to be, when he enters the tower he finds the slippers but what he didn’t expect were to find the prince that Is engaged to the missing princess Isobel. Simon tries to take captive the prince when he realizes that he does not have a way out of the tower and when the king and his guards come up to the tower he sees no other way than to try to force the king's hand but when his attempt on getting out fails and Simon is captured and put into the dungeon below the castle, the prince visits him while everyone sleeps during the night where he decides to help Simon out of the dungeon but with the promise of Simo having to help him find the missing princess and bring her home to him again. There the story begins and many unexpected things are about to unravel once Simon accepts the criteria the prince have laid on him to let him go free even tho he doesn’t know where the princess can be he gives prince Marco his promise to find the princess and to bring her back to him. That’s where the story really starts and it's a twist to the usual princess story and with a mix of magic and many funny moments between the characters of this story. It's a really well-written LGBTQ+ story that I can recommend to anyone to read. I wasn't a fan of the king but I was happy that the princess was written as a strong character that stands up for herself. the villain of the story made the story interesting and was written in such a way that it kept me from putting this story away before I finished it. it's not often I read stories about a thief that gets the main role and it made it a fun read to do as it was a new story character that felt like a legit strong written character. this is a love story with a new twist that makes the story quite fun and quite enjoyable to read. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author soon!
Simon has gotten the job to steal slippers that apparently is worth so much that selling them will give anyone a life without worry about money ever again. So Simon gets blown with a canon up into the tower where the slippers are supposed to be, when he enters the tower he finds the slippers but what he didn’t expect were to find the prince that Is engaged to the missing princess Isobel. Simon tries to take captive the prince when he realizes that he does not have a way out of the tower and when the king and his guards come up to the tower he sees no other way than to try to force the king's hand but when his attempt on getting out fails and Simon is captured and put into the dungeon below the castle, the prince visits him while everyone sleeps during the night where he decides to help Simon out of the dungeon but with the promise of Simo having to help him find the missing princess and bring her home to him again. There the story begins and many unexpected things are about to unravel once Simon accepts the criteria the prince have laid on him to let him go free even tho he doesn’t know where the princess can be he gives prince Marco his promise to find the princess and to bring her back to him. That’s where the story really starts and it's a twist to the usual princess story and with a mix of magic and many funny moments between the characters of this story. It's a really well-written LGBTQ+ story that I can recommend to anyone to read. I wasn't a fan of the king but I was happy that the princess was written as a strong character that stands up for herself. the villain of the story made the story interesting and was written in such a way that it kept me from putting this story away before I finished it. it's not often I read stories about a thief that gets the main role and it made it a fun read to do as it was a new story character that felt like a legit strong written character. this is a love story with a new twist that makes the story quite fun and quite enjoyable to read. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author soon!
rafaelsampaio's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
anne_france's review against another edition
4.0
Once upon a time a nice gay fairytale...
And they live happily ever after ;)
And they live happily ever after ;)
enshrinedinspines's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you booksirens for the arc of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was funny, charming, and adorable. I loved all the characters, even the flakey dads.
The character development was amazing and the characters were so relatable, especially Simon.
The villain was perfect and you couldn't help but sympathize with them.
I will definitely be picking up a physical copy of this when it comes out next month.
This book was funny, charming, and adorable. I loved all the characters, even the flakey dads.
The character development was amazing and the characters were so relatable, especially Simon.
The villain was perfect and you couldn't help but sympathize with them.
I will definitely be picking up a physical copy of this when it comes out next month.
lou_wilham's review against another edition
5.0
If you love Terry Pratchett, fairy tales, and the Two Princes podcast this one is for you!
Honestly, this was just so cute, and ridiculous, and fluffy, and I spent half my time gigglesnorting over all of it. Marco was insufferably charming. Simon was adorkably lovable. Flora was the snarky handmaiden we all need in our lives to tell it like it is. Isobel was the secretly strong princess who had had it up to here with everybody's nonsense, including her own. And yes. They were just all so wonderful!
I look forward to reading more by Justin!
Honestly, this was just so cute, and ridiculous, and fluffy, and I spent half my time gigglesnorting over all of it. Marco was insufferably charming. Simon was adorkably lovable. Flora was the snarky handmaiden we all need in our lives to tell it like it is. Isobel was the secretly strong princess who had had it up to here with everybody's nonsense, including her own. And yes. They were just all so wonderful!
I look forward to reading more by Justin!
tinyelfarcanist's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Do you want to be a hero?" Bloody Fingers asked. "Or would you rather be the blank line between the words of those silly stories you're always poring over?"
It pains me to not give this book 5 stars. This gay fairytale is witty and funny and picked my interest by making me laugh from page 1. But, for all the speech on breaking society's expectations, there's a problematic depiction of the female characters still waiting for the men to save them. The princess was toxic to her handmaid and their relationship was romanticized.
The interactions between the MCs were my favorite, but the rest of the characters were a little underdeveloped. I wanted so much to love the prince! He's got the recipe to be one of my favorite characters, but he was so self-absorbed and insensitive to others that I can't get past it.
Another HUGE issue is that the only non-binary character is THE VILLAIN. While those traits aren't related, it's a harmful representation the queer community has suffered and I expected more from this type of story.
Despite the previously stated problems, I really enjoyed The Prince And The Puppet Thief. It's a charming (and queer) tale of found family and following your dreams, and I hope to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Classism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Misogyny
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
3.0
Simon The Squirm is the son of the second most feared villain in the kingdom. When he, prompted by his father and his rag tag team, tries to steal the slippers of the lost princess from the palace, he gets caught and thrown in the dungeon. Before King Anders has time to execute the prisoner's hanging, Simon is rescued by Prince Marco. If Simon can find and bring Princess Isobel back, who Marco is supposed to marry, he will be free. When the king finds out that his future son-in-law has let the thief go, Marco is thrown out of the palace to go and find the princess himself.
This is a story that plays with all the fairytale tropes (but in a heartwarming way): a princess who needs rescuing, a dashing prince, the true love's kiss that will break the curse, and the "happily ever after". A romantic comedy with LGBTQ representation in form of two gay love stories and one non-binary magician named Maestroa.
I really love the set up of the story, but the execution isn't quite in my taste. The sarcastic tone felt mostly silly and it certainly didn't make me laugh, rather roll my eyes. This is of course my very own personal taste, mind you. I liked the characters, but they remained a bit shallow for me to truly embrace and sympathise with them. A pluss for the non-binary villain, who's refered to as "they" throughout the book - I don't think I've ever read about such a character!
* I received an ARC through BookSirens and I'm giving my honest review. *
This is a story that plays with all the fairytale tropes (but in a heartwarming way): a princess who needs rescuing, a dashing prince, the true love's kiss that will break the curse, and the "happily ever after". A romantic comedy with LGBTQ representation in form of two gay love stories and one non-binary magician named Maestroa.
I really love the set up of the story, but the execution isn't quite in my taste. The sarcastic tone felt mostly silly and it certainly didn't make me laugh, rather roll my eyes. This is of course my very own personal taste, mind you. I liked the characters, but they remained a bit shallow for me to truly embrace and sympathise with them. A pluss for the non-binary villain, who's refered to as "they" throughout the book - I don't think I've ever read about such a character!
* I received an ARC through BookSirens and I'm giving my honest review. *
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