Review by Booklist Review
Princess Amarande has a full plate of problems. Her father is dead, and although he raised her to be a warrior, the law of the land does not recognize a female heir to the throne. Instead, her council is busily negotiating marriage contracts with the three royals vying for her hand. One of these, a prince under the thumb of his regent mother, arranges for the kidnapping of Amarande's dearest friend, Luca, a stable boy. Amarande grabs her father's swords and her horse and sets out to rescue Luca. Thus begins a riveting series of adventures that cut from Amarande to Luca's plight to loathsome Prince Renard and his creepy younger brother Taillefer, until the stories don't as much converge as collide. Amarande is larger than life, but convincing as well, and while the villains can run somewhat to the cartoonish, that fits with Henning's broad strokes of adventure, humor, and romance, as well as her use of familiar fantasy tropes. The ending promises a sequel and contains a twist readers might not see coming.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hints of political intrigue bolster a gender-swapped homage to The Princess Bride in Henning's (Throw Like a Girl) fantasy duology starter. On the continent of Sand and Sky, in the resource-rich kingdom of Ardenia, Princess Amarande, 16, has been trained in both court and warrior ways at the behest of her father, King Sendoa. Her best friend Luca, an orphan refugee who serves as stable boy, has been raised at her side. Upon the king's untimely death, Ama is faced with the impossible knowledge that she must marry to save her kingdom--and none of the corrupt neighboring kingdoms' suitors hold a candle to Luca. When Luca is kidnapped by three "land pirates" in an attempt to force Ama's choice, she risks her life and throne to save him, racing across Luca's birthplace, the Torrent, an arid, lawless land ruled by a mysterious, reportedly vicious warlord, to reclaim her love. A series of coincidences and plot threads may frustrate as much as intrigue. Though the novel lacks much of its inspiration's humor, quirky dialogue and secondary characters augment a familiar plot that explores themes of feminism, love, and agency. Ages 13--up. Agent: Whitney Ross, Irene Goodman Literary. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Raised by the Warrior King to be a powerful young woman, Princess Amarande is shattered by the sudden death of her father. Convinced that he was murdered, the last thing Ama cares about is choosing a marriage contract. Unfortunately, she must face the hard truth--to rule, she must marry. When one of her suitors tries to force her hand by kidnapping the stable boy she truly loves, Ama will cross harsh, lawless landscapes to retrieve him. Fans of The Princess Bride will recognize its influence here, but this sprawling fantasy stands easily on its own. Ama, a talented warrior raised on strategy, and Luca, a kindhearted stable boy full of devotion, make a romance worth rooting for. Ama, in particular, feels real and immediate. At 16 she is a gifted swordswoman, but she struggles with the sudden exit from her protective royal surroundings. The abundance of murky politics and plot hooks left dangling for future volumes may put off some readers, but the constant action of Ama's journey keeps things moving at an engaging pace. The mystery of Ama's mother, the Runaway Queen, and a massive twist ending will keep interest high for the sequel. VERDICT A strong choice for most collections. Fantasy and romance fans alike will gobble up this energetic story and a relatively chaste romance allows for a wide range of readers.--Amy Diegelman, Chicago P.L.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When Princess Amarande's true love is kidnapped, she doesn't hesitate to set out to rescue him. Princess Amarande and Luca, who is in charge of the king's stables, have always shared a special bond. But recently, it's felt different; a charged feeling simmers between them. Before either finds the courage to confront it, tragedy strikes: Her father, King Sendoa, falls dead. Amarande reels; she doesn't believe the Warrior King died naturally--it must have been murder. But the Royal Council cares more about succession: In order to rule, Amarande must wed. Despite her resistance, it isn't long before other kingdoms send eager suitors. The princess finds them abhorrent, conniving, and power hungry. Amarande spits in the face of tradition, pulling her sword on a suitor at her father's funeral and declaring that she won't settle. In the midst of her rebellion, Luca is kidnapped. A note left behind instructs her to marry a specific suitor or she'll never see her love again. Ever fearless, Amarande sets off, determined to save Luca and her kingdom. Though the princess rallies valiantly against entrenched patriarchy, Amarande reads as one-note. Well-plotted action sequences and intricate political machinations can't make up for Luca's similar one dimensionality, which makes their love story--the backbone of the story--difficult to care about. Most characters appear to be white; some have brown skin. A high-fantasy riff on The Princess Bride lacking both humor and heart. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
