I have been such a massive fan of Sarah Henning since Sea Witch! So you know I had to track down a copy of The Princess Will Save You. It’s a gender bent re-telling of “The Princess Bride” with a fabulous expanded world. Keep reading this book review to find out all the reasons I loved it!
Summary
A PRINCESS
A STABLE BOY
A QUEST
When her father dies, Princess Amarande is given an ultimatum: Marry the leader of one of the four neighboring kingdoms, or lose her crown—and possibly her life. And to force her hand, her beloved, the stable boy Luca, is kidnapped.
But Amarande was raised to be a warrior, not a sacrifice.
And nothing will stop her from saving her true love and rescuing her kingdom.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: torture
The Princess Will Save You is one of those books that grows on you after reading. Upon reflection I love how Henning manages the original story, while bringing a new light and expanded world to the story we love. At the same time, Henning brings such joy to The Princess Will Save You. Amarande’s fierce spirit and passionate heart, her bravery to call out the sexism and patriarchy in the world. The ways her concerns are dismissed not just because she’s a teen, but also a girl. In a world and system where men protect the status quo and where they protect the rules that protect them.
Twisty Plots & Characters
The Princess Will Save You has a fabulous world of laws and back stabbings, provisions and clauses with not a shred of truth in sight. It’s a story that may begin like a familiar echo and takes off in a dazzling explosion of color and depth. I finished this book in one day because I couldn’t stop reading! There were so many of my notes that began with, “OMG” because Henning weaves a fabulously twisty plot.
At the same time, I adored both Ama and Luca. Ama is brilliant, clever, and unafraid, while also being vulnerable. She’s so strong and determined, but there’s also a lot for her to learn, to know that she isn’t invincible. Luca is a precious cinnamon roll. He is compassionate, gentle, and loyal. I loved that they both were so in love, their trust in each other and their love was so sweet. Together they asks us questions about whether or not people are redeemable, if there’s truly some good in people.
Overall,
As soon as you finish The Princess Will Save You, you’ll immediately need book two, like the rest of us. The epilogue ruined me. But it’s a testament to how invested I was in the characters. Henning nails this balance between action and characters that will leave readers eager for the sequel. Find The Princess Will Save You on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.
I’m really looking forward to this. Thanks for sharing!
thanks for commenting!
This is the first review I’ve seen for this book and now I’m EVEN MORE excited about it! I had no idea it was based around The Princess Bride, that’s one of my favourite movies so I’ll have to try and not compare it too much.
YES! I loved how it addressed some things that really bothered me in the original, even though I really like the OG!