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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Meh. Pretty standard medieval world fairy-tale-ish fantasy. Really had difficulty liking "Ben" or believing in the predictable relationship. Also found prissy, pseudo-formal voice really irritating.
I considered four stars. There's so much I like about this book. BUT I didn't believe the love at the end. They dreamt about each other and fell in love? Because they didn't have one positive interaction. If that aspect had been developed just a smidge it would have been so much better.
Listened to this to and from work (read by the author no less, who did quite a nice job). It was always one of those books for me that I picked up and then put back down because I found something more enticing to read.
Classic princess tale with a bit of a twist at the end. Loved the one liner allusion to Jack and the Beanstalk. This would be great for a 6th-8th grade girl who enjoys fantasy, but doesn't want anything too lengthy.
Princess Ben quite reminded me of Kiki's Delivery Service by Hayao Miyazaki for some reason...anyone else think so too?
Classic princess tale with a bit of a twist at the end. Loved the one liner allusion to Jack and the Beanstalk. This would be great for a 6th-8th grade girl who enjoys fantasy, but doesn't want anything too lengthy.
Princess Ben quite reminded me of Kiki's Delivery Service by Hayao Miyazaki for some reason...anyone else think so too?
Fun mix of fairy tales. Love the ending. Strong girl character who is an unlikely heroine.
I was pleasantly surprised at this book. With most books I read, I usually read the back cover to get some idea as to what the story is about. This time I just read. What started off to be a typical fairytale took a twist I was not expecting. This is a fun and light summer read.
http://dragonflowersandbooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/princess-ben.html
http://dragonflowersandbooks.blogspot.com/2011/06/princess-ben.html
I read this years ago in high school and this is how well it stuck with me.
2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this book and had such high expectations which is maybe why I ended up feeling so let down. It took me so long to get through this book and care about what was happening to the characters.
I liked this book overall, but it had a few shortcomings. It starts out rather slowly, and Ben is rather a very unlikable character. She's selfish, unhealthily obsessed with food and rather stupid; but the thing is, none of it is her fault per say. She was raised a spoiled child, and sheltered away by her mother from being educated as she should have been. Queen Sophia, while suspicion, never stuck me as evil, she stuck me more as a disappointed, inexperienced parent who didn't know what do to with a obstinate teenage girl who refused to do as she was told. More often than not, I sympathized with Sophia rather than Ben.
I felt the world lacked a bit though, the magic was never really explained, or why Ben is able to use it. It might run in the family, but of course they're all dead, and I guess it was dormant for quite some time, so no one else was aware. The romance also seemed to come out of nowhere, I mean they hated each other with a passion, though I guess they kind of got used to it, and hated each other more out of spite.
I felt the world lacked a bit though, the magic was never really explained, or why Ben is able to use it. It might run in the family, but of course they're all dead, and I guess it was dormant for quite some time, so no one else was aware. The romance also seemed to come out of nowhere, I mean they hated each other with a passion, though I guess they kind of got used to it, and hated each other more out of spite.
After her parents and the King of Ancienne are slain, Princess Ben (short for Benificent), heiress to the throne of Ancienne is must move into the castle and be subjected to the royal tutelage of her wicked aunt, the Queen Regent Sophia. Ben is neither your typical princess nor heroine. She is plump, rather lazy, and has a very sharp tongue. But through a series of events, presented in four separate parts, Ben learns a little magic, is captured by her supposed enemies, and eventually discovers her own inner princess in this fun and very well-written fairytale adventure for teens. Throughout the story, there are also many sly references to familiar fairytales, which adds to the fun.
adventurous
fast-paced