avery_switch's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
5.0
The kids gave this book "a thousand stars." I can't wait to take it to my middle schoolers. Non-white, strong, mouthy princess who stands against the capitalist patriarchy and isn't afraid to use words like "oppressor" and make fun of comic book heroines prancing around in lingerie "armor"? Win. There were parts that went over my young kids' heads, but they got more than I thought they would and are clamoring for the second book. It might not hurt that the author is a My Little Pony writer, as well.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
4.0
Savor this feminist comic, in all its deliciously brazen and empowering ways. Princesses don't need to be saved by princes! Princesses don't need to be - shouldn't be - fair and lovely and mild! Dragons shouldn't be raised to strategically loyal and vicious beasts!
Sure, it's a bit hamfisted in its "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! THERE'S SEXISM AND RACISM! LOOK AT HOW DUMB AND BAD THAT ALL IS!" approach. However, as an adult woman (and therefore a supposedly mature, capable reader who prefers subtlety and poise), I am not the target audience. Young people are. I can imagine some young, impassioned people shouting right back at the pages, "YES I KNOW! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER, TOO!" (OK I did this too, "adult" that I am). Anyway, I know it's not subtle in its messages and I'm quite OK with that, because I believe in those messages, and believe in them being spoken louder.
Read Alongside
Princess Princess Ever After (for more people of color and lesbian love)
Howl's Moving Castle and/or The Wee Free Men (for more subverting fairy tale/story tropes)
Spoiler
[Or other princesses...? Hmm, I wonder about this.]Sure, it's a bit hamfisted in its "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! THERE'S SEXISM AND RACISM! LOOK AT HOW DUMB AND BAD THAT ALL IS!" approach. However, as an adult woman (and therefore a supposedly mature, capable reader who prefers subtlety and poise), I am not the target audience. Young people are. I can imagine some young, impassioned people shouting right back at the pages, "YES I KNOW! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER, TOO!" (OK I did this too, "adult" that I am). Anyway, I know it's not subtle in its messages and I'm quite OK with that, because I believe in those messages, and believe in them being spoken louder.
Read Alongside
Princess Princess Ever After (for more people of color and lesbian love)
Howl's Moving Castle and/or The Wee Free Men (for more subverting fairy tale/story tropes)
ajaggers324's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book. I enjoyed it and the nerdy references it contained. It is refreshing to have a book like this out there. I highly recommend it.
raechsreads's review against another edition
4.0
A princess strives to show that you don't need a prince to save yourself.
markwillnevercry's review against another edition
1.0
Okay, so, let's be honest, I picked this up because the idea sounded great, a prince is going against the sexist ideas of what she should do, but the way it was realised was just really not good and boring. There was a bunch of references to popular tropes in fantasy, but it just fell flat and the main character being just a cliche of someone who is not like the others did not help at all. And the story about the prince in the end just showed off that the worldbuilding is really not good. This was a dissapointment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Confinement, Racism, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, Police brutality, Animal cruelty, Classism, Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment