Helpful Score: 9
Princess Contessa of Constantinopolie has a pretty good life. Shes an expert shopper, has parents who love her and are good rulers, and is looking forward to her upcoming engagement to Prince Garett of Misdev. So what if a few pesky assassins try to get in her way? Shes been well trained to ward them off, shes not worried.
Oh but she should be. Prince Garett, not taking the advice of his father arrives in Constantinopolie early, almost six full months before the formal engagement is announced. His untimely arrival forces Tesss parents to come clean: shes not the true princess, but a child bought from the street to pose as the princess and ward off assassin.
Things cant get worse for Tess. Or so she thinks. After Garett takes the castle by force and murders her parents. Tess is forced to run for her life, something thats hard to do for a girl whos hardly ever stepped foot outside the city. Only by befriending a cheat and finally finding her old tutor does Tess realize that bigger things are at stake than just the kingdom, lives of many hang in the balance, and shes the only one who can stop the events that could lead her and everyone she loves into utter destruction.
I was a little tentative when I first started The Decoy Princess. The first chapter started out pretty cheesy, the main character being a spoiled brat who ordered her tutor around like he was scum. But slowly Cook drew me in. I soon realized that my first impression of Tess was quite wrong and she blossomed into a likeable and relatable heroine.
While I cant classify The Decoy Princess a page-turner, I sincerely enjoyed the characters, the world Cook created, and the excitement she produced in me towards the end when I absolutely had to know what was going to happen. Ok, so I lied, it got pretty page-turning towards the end. Cook has a rare talent in that she can take a mystery and make it non-confusing. The pieces really fell into place quite nicely for The Decoy Princess, yet were in no way predictable.
Cook has definitely come up with an original plotline here and her characters are ones definitely worth visiting. I cant wait to read the sequel Princess at Sea.
Four and ½ stars.
Oh but she should be. Prince Garett, not taking the advice of his father arrives in Constantinopolie early, almost six full months before the formal engagement is announced. His untimely arrival forces Tesss parents to come clean: shes not the true princess, but a child bought from the street to pose as the princess and ward off assassin.
Things cant get worse for Tess. Or so she thinks. After Garett takes the castle by force and murders her parents. Tess is forced to run for her life, something thats hard to do for a girl whos hardly ever stepped foot outside the city. Only by befriending a cheat and finally finding her old tutor does Tess realize that bigger things are at stake than just the kingdom, lives of many hang in the balance, and shes the only one who can stop the events that could lead her and everyone she loves into utter destruction.
I was a little tentative when I first started The Decoy Princess. The first chapter started out pretty cheesy, the main character being a spoiled brat who ordered her tutor around like he was scum. But slowly Cook drew me in. I soon realized that my first impression of Tess was quite wrong and she blossomed into a likeable and relatable heroine.
While I cant classify The Decoy Princess a page-turner, I sincerely enjoyed the characters, the world Cook created, and the excitement she produced in me towards the end when I absolutely had to know what was going to happen. Ok, so I lied, it got pretty page-turning towards the end. Cook has a rare talent in that she can take a mystery and make it non-confusing. The pieces really fell into place quite nicely for The Decoy Princess, yet were in no way predictable.
Cook has definitely come up with an original plotline here and her characters are ones definitely worth visiting. I cant wait to read the sequel Princess at Sea.
Four and ½ stars.
Helpful Score: 5
Excellent creation of a fantasy world---and Contessa the Princess (not) is no mewling little miss prepared to sit in her tower and wait to be rescued. But she is also not some sinewy Amazon taking the world on with brute force. She---and her thoughts and actions---are surprisingly realistic, if you grew up thinking you were a princess with a fleet of assasins after you and then finding out you aren't, but just a Pawn in something called The Game, but in which you can become a Player. Seriously, it's good. Read it.
Helpful Score: 3
Surprisingly fun. I'm always wary of books that tout reviews from the "Romantic Times" but I hoped it was more of an adventure story, and indeed it was entirely an adventure story just with the usual roles reversed - a female lead, and a male love interest.
Helpful Score: 2
Tess is faced with an identity crisis when she learns that she's not a princess after all. This is a fast paced fantasy romp, and is appropriate for young adults.
Helpful Score: 2
Although this is technically a Young Adult title, adults will enjoy it as well. I like the interesting premise the author has devised, as well as some of the defense and other training that takes place. She's a plucky little heroine, which makes it an interesting, but light, read.
