The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

Summary

Four young princes from different kingdoms have all been named "Prince Charming" by the bards, who have popularized rather inaccurate versions of the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty. They don't have much in common, but that may actually be a strength when a worldwide crisis forces them to work as a team to save their kingdoms.

     It all starts when Lady Ella runs away from the palace in search of adventure, forcing the sheltered Prince Frederic, her fiancé, to go way outside his comfort zone to bring her back. Prince Gustav wants to prove himself to everyone, so he decides to help Frederic. Meanwhile, Prince Liam, who's always been a hero to his people, loses popularity when he breaks off his engagement to Briar Rose after discovering how cruel and spoiled she is. Forced to flee the country, it's not long before he runs into the other two princes, as well as a quirky prince named Duncan.

     The princes stumble upon a plot so massive and evil that they feel responsible to do their best to stop it. Thus, the League of Princes is formed. They may not seem like the best people to save the world, but with some luck, some scheming, and some help from princesses and magical creatures, they just might be able to succeed.

Why I love this book

The characters in this fantastic world are unbelievably funny and unique. Most of them are from well-known fairy tales, and their quirks make sense based on their character. For example, Prince Liam fought a dragon to save Sleeping Beauty, whereas all Prince Frederic did was charm Cinderella at a ball. It makes sense for Liam to be a great hero while Frederic is sheltered and afraid to leave the house. Even the bad guys have elaborate backstories and unique motives. There's a witch who wants revenge for a story that wasn't told right, a giant with very good manners, and a very immature kid. I won't spoil anything, but trust me, you'll love the characters.

     Some of my favorite silly descriptions ever come from this series, including comparing trolls to a "big, ferocious pile of wet spinach," saying goblins sound like they're "talking with a mouth full of gelatin," or describing another voice as chewing on broken glass. Many of the images are memorable because they're so original, yet somehow very easy to imagine.

     Humor aside, something I appreciate about this book is its exploration of what makes a true hero. Not all the heroes seem very heroic at the beginning, but as they face danger together, all the characters discover what their strengths are and how to use them the way heroes would. Even Duncan, with his weird habits and odd way of speaking, finds that he brings something important and unique to the team. Liam, the stereotypical hero, learns to appreciate other kinds of heroism besides his own. At the same time, the basic requirements of what makes a hero don't change. The book twists readers' expectations without totally subverting the tried-and-true tasks of heroes, including protecting the vulnerable, opposing evil, and showing courage.

     I also love the heroines. Ella (Cinderella) and Lila (Liam's little sister) are both very skillful heroes from the beginning, and many of the other women in the story have moments where they shine. But they're not just women who act like the stereotypical male hero. They use cleverness, charm, toughness, compassion, common sense, and other feminine traits to accomplish great things. They also don't upstage the princes. I hate when books just subvert stereotypes by making the men weak and the women awesome, and the Hero's Guide doesn't do that. The message I take away from the book isn't that women are better heroes than men but that women can be heroes in their own way, and they don't always need saving. I appreciate those messages.

     The book is on the longer side for middle grade fiction, but it's so fast-paced and funny that most readers will zip right through it. It also includes frequent drawings to break up the text. There are three books in the series, for those who want to continue the adventure!

Potential concerns

None. I think this is a great book!

Support a local bookstore or get The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.