Deception's Princess

March 1, 2014
The latest entry in Friesner's Princesses of Myth series shifts scene but not much else. Like her royal equivalents in previous volumes (Nobody's Princess, 2007, etc.), beautiful, tempestuous Maeve, youngest daughter of Eochu Feidlech, High King of Eriu, goes through childhood and adolescence, learning the value and perils of being a princess while fighting for the freedom to shape her own destiny instead of knuckling under to expectations linked to her sex and place. To viewers of the 2012 film Brave this will read like a spinoff--centered on a willful lass with: wild red hair; three identical little brothers; an indulgent but tradition-minded royal father perched precariously atop a warrior society; a brisk way with her many suitors; the raw courage to tackle massively larger animals (here, a huge bull and, later, a savage wolfhound); and an unconquerable yen to be free. Unlike Princess Merida, though, Maeve's pride remains intact as she grows to be an astute student of politics and human psychology. In the wake of engineering a daring rescue of a captured bard, can she find a way in the end to chart her own course without alienating her father? A comfortably formulaic prelude to a projected sequel that will likewise be spun from some of the oldest surviving Irish legends. (afterword, pronunciation guide) (Fantasy. 11-14)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 5 Up-In the continuation of her "Princesses of Myth" series (Random House), Friesner has entered new ground taking on the legendary Queen Maeve, best known for her role in the Irish epic "The Cattle Raid of Cooley." This new Maeve is not the vain, competitive, and possessive queen of lore, but instead a clever, spirited, and compassionate princess. As the youngest daughter to the High King of the cherished land of Connacht, readers meet five-year-old Maeve when she makes her claim to a herd of cattle by cutting off a portion of the tail of her father's prize and fearsome bull. The tale, which is a lauded by bards for years to come, paints a different picture of Maeve than how she sees herself as she grows into her teenage years as princess and potential heir of the kingdom. Though not high fantasy, fans of Disney's Brave will be delighted to explore the Celtic landscape with another determined, redheaded princess through similar struggles of maintaining control over her destiny, and being more than a prize to be married off to the highest bidder. Chaste romance and royal life makes this a fun tween and early teen novel, but it is especially appropriate for kids that aren't partial to an action-driven plot. Readers may also be disappointed as budding relationships aren't completely resolved, but that along with other loose ends, leaves the door open for an expected sequel.-Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR

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