Lenore D. (Lenore) reviewed on 11/12/2007 + 193 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 6

This series begins with Dealing With Dragons (then Searching for, Talking to, and Calling)...and is GREAT! It's like a feminist alternate fairy tale. Suitable for both youth and adults.

I loved this series so much and felt that it was an entertaining way to make the statement, "girls can grow up and do whatever the heck they want to!!", that after reading it I rushed out and bought the whole series for my nieces!

Princess Cimorene isn't like other princesses! Her parents want her to be a proper princess, and dance and smile and marry a nice prince. Cimorene thinks that the prince is handsome - but unfortunately isn't anything else! Foiled in her attempts to learn unprincess-ly pursuits, such as weaponry, cooking, magic and alchemy, she sets off to be a Dragon's Princess, agreeing to cook (she makes a mean cherries jubilee) and clean for the dragon...but in the process has to fend off stupid knights and princes who just won't leave her un-rescued! Funny, bitingly witty, and marvelously sarcastic...you'll never see the subtle social commentary coming!

If you liked this book, try Mercedes Lackey's also-very-non-traditional look at fairy tales, The Fairy Godmother, which is just excellent...charming and original, with another strong female protagonist. There's a follow-up called One Good Knight, but it's not nearly as good. And, if you like THAT, try renting the movie miniseries The Tenth Kingdom, a modern take on classic fairytale themes.

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