The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre (Enchanted)

by Gail Carson Levine

In this compelling and thought-provoking fantasy set in the world of The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine introduces a spirited heroine who must overcome deeply rooted prejudice-including her own-to heal her broken country. Peregrine strives to live up to the ideal of her people, the Latki-and to impress her parents: affectionate Lord Tove, who despises only the Bamarre, and stern Lady Klausine. Perry runs the fastest, speaks her mind, and doesn't give much thought to the castle's Bamarre servants, whom she knows to be weak and cowardly. But just as she's about to join her father on the front lines, she is visited by the fairy Halina, who reveals that Perry isn't Latki-born. She is Bamarre. The fairy issues a daunting challenge: against the Lakti power, Perry must free her people from tyranny.

• ISBN10: 0062658212
• ISBN13: 9780062658210
• Publish Date: 2 May 2017
• Publish Status: Transferred
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

Although I have not re-read it in several years, The Two Princesses of Bamarre has always been my favorite Gail Carson Levine book, so I was ecstatic to learn Levine was publishing another book about Bamarre this May.  The slight catch:  This stories takes place many years before The Two Princesses of Bamarre, and the kingdom featured is not quite the one that fans know and love.  In fact, the Bamarre people are subjugated under the Lakti, forced to wear tassels and work only as servants rather than free people, and the beautiful land across the Eskerns is only a dream they have.

This is a book that explores identity and prejudice.  The protagonist is raised as a Lakti and taught to consider the Bamarre beneath her-- a people who are weak and unimportant in comparison to the aggressive Lakti.  The story is partially a journey of her coming to realize that was she has been taught may not quite be the truth.  While I was initially tempted to take some issue with the fact the Perry seems able to see the good in the Bamarre only because she is actually Bamarre by birth herself (there's some nature vs. nurture problem here), some of the other Lakti's views on the matter also turn out to be complex and changeable, which helped.

The book isn't bleak, however; there's plenty of the heart and magic that readers expect from Gail Carson Levine.  There are also a number of allusions to people, objects, etc. that appear in The Two Princesses of Bamarre, though I'm sure I missed some of them due to not having read the book recently.  Expect a fun treasure hunt of allusions if you're already a Bamarre fan, but don't worry about recognizing these small nods if you're not; they're not crucial to understanding the plot in any way.

I did think the plot lagged in places because Perry has to slow down and do some learning before she can go on to great and exciting things, but overall the book was interesting.  The characters also shine.  Both the Lakti and the Bamarre are complex, and Levine puts great effort into developing and describing their histories and cultures.  No one is one-dimensional in this novel.

I've been looking forward to a new Gail Carson Levine book for a while, and this does not disappoint.