The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky, #1)

by Sarah Henning

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of The Princess Will Save You in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Princess Will Save You is the latest novel from Sarah Henning, the author that brought you Sea Witch. It's a classic retelling, one that takes the beloved tale of The Princess Bride, and turns it into something new.

Princess Amarande has never been the type of princess to cower behind her guards and hope for the best. She learned to fight, and fight well. Now she's willing to fight for those she loves – and her kingdom. No matter the cost.

“Beware of be dead.
Make the first mark.
A warrior made is a warrior alive.”

The Princess Will Save You is a retelling of The Princess Bride – but with a few twists. I won't say that the entire story is a genderbent version, as that would be far too clear cut. What is found within these pages is fairly more complex than that. Characters and plots are split up and spread around in sometimes unexpected ways, but that makes the telling more thrilling if you ask me.

I'm going to say a couple more things about the retelling nature of this story, before diving into the rest of my review. First, you can clearly tell it for what it is right off the bat. A few chapters in and fans will know right away what they're seeing. Some elements are subtle, while others are outright obvious. If you're not a fan of retellings, odds are pretty good you're not going to enjoy the latter parts all that much.

I do like that Henning worked hard to make much of the story her own. Yes, there were parts that read strongly as The Princess Bride, but there were other parts that reminded me of Sarah Henning's personal writing style (think Sea Witch). It was a solid blend, all things considered.

I honestly loved the whole 'girl power' vibe I got from The Princess Will Save You. Even the title tells the story of a strong and confident princess. It may not be a new concept, but it's still fun and refreshing to see.

Amarande is an interesting character, one who is determined to stand up against the rules of her nation, especially when they are biased and unjust. I enjoyed seeing that part of her story talked about with such candor.

Her journey takes a dramatic turn partway through the story, as the inevitable kidnapping (Stable-boy napping?) occurs. What follows is in stark contrast to the politics of the earlier parts of the story, but not in a bad way. All of these parts merged together to tell different sides of the same story.

On the whole I found The Princess Will Save You to be a quick and fun read. It is everything that it promised to be, and then some. If you're looking for a bit of a comfort read, or something that will make you smile (or feel empowered) this is the book for you. Conversely, if you don't want to see a beloved story retold, then you're going to want to give this one a hard pass. It all depends on how you feel on the matter, really.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks