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melaniegrace91's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is such a cute novella! Highly recommend for anyone who likes princess stories and anyone who is looking for an easy light read. Everything by Anita Valle is really cute and creative. I enjoyed listening to this on audible and have also read it previously!
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
In the Realm of Runa , the king and queen were not able to have any children, so when the King finds a toddler, a lone survivor of a village killed off by the Red Fever, he decides to adopt a child from each kingdom for his wife, and make each of them princesses. Now the eldest Maelyn, rules over Runa, trying to live up to the life her parents wanted. However with the people thinking the princesses are imposters, their uncle up to something sinister and fraction developing between the sisters, Maelyn begins to wonder if she really is a princess or just the fraud people think and if she is able to keep her family together.
Maelyn is the first in the Nine Princesses novellas which is a sweet light fantasy read which while predictable; it is enjoyable as it has humour, princesses and a hint of romance. However, I do think it would have been better if it was a full novel as there is much more in this book which could have been explored.
Maelyn is a character which I think most readers to identify with as she is nice, a bit bossy and loves reading. I also like the relationship between the sisters because while they did not always like each other the reader could always tell they loved each other, which makes it really realistic.
Maelyn is a nice light novella which I would recommend to people who like princess story which make you feel that all is right in the world.
In the Realm of Runa , the king and queen were not able to have any children, so when the King finds a toddler, a lone survivor of a village killed off by the Red Fever, he decides to adopt a child from each kingdom for his wife, and make each of them princesses. Now the eldest Maelyn, rules over Runa, trying to live up to the life her parents wanted. However with the people thinking the princesses are imposters, their uncle up to something sinister and fraction developing between the sisters, Maelyn begins to wonder if she really is a princess or just the fraud people think and if she is able to keep her family together.
Maelyn is the first in the Nine Princesses novellas which is a sweet light fantasy read which while predictable; it is enjoyable as it has humour, princesses and a hint of romance. However, I do think it would have been better if it was a full novel as there is much more in this book which could have been explored.
Maelyn is a character which I think most readers to identify with as she is nice, a bit bossy and loves reading. I also like the relationship between the sisters because while they did not always like each other the reader could always tell they loved each other, which makes it really realistic.
Maelyn is a nice light novella which I would recommend to people who like princess story which make you feel that all is right in the world.
jessthebibliophile's review
2.0
Amazon freebie.
Pros:
good premise
fun method of problem resolution by Princess Maelyn
cute conversations with Willow (romantic lead)
Cons:
no character development for most of the sisters (I could not tell them apart)
few plot holes regarding the uncle (which will probably be resolved in the remaining books)
Not bad for a free first book in the series, I'll read the next one.
guybrush's review
4.0
A surprisingly quick read, but very enjoyable. The characterizations are strong, the plot twists are solid, and the pacing is excellent. I really enjoyed this, and I'm glad to see there are sequels already written.
gabs_myfullbookshelf's review
3.0
Maelyn is actually more around 3.5 stars. I thought this was a cute, entertaining little novella. It was probably for elementary school children, but it still managed to entertain me. It was a bit predictable, but it reminded me of Palace of Mirrors, which I absolutely loved, so the book got some extra points because of that. I really want to read the next one to see if it improves at all. (Not that this wasn't good, it just wasn't amazing) I think that Maelyn is probably the princess most like me, but it will be interesting to read about her sisters!
(I wish that the cover was an actual person, though, just sayin')
(I wish that the cover was an actual person, though, just sayin')
alexlcriddle's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this short, sweet fairy tale. The writing was exceptional, the world was well constructed, and the characters were realistic and well developed. The plot was nicely paced, and the romance was adorable. I would recommend this novella to fairy tale lovers. This is the second Anita Valle novella I have read, and I am definitely a fan.
auntbreesqreads's review
4.0
This was a cute little story and I'm always a fan of princess stories that involve female empowerment. And having the female protagonist be a big book nerd never hurts either. I think this could be a good series for children who struggle with having been adopted, although I'm not adopted or a psychiatrist. I just think it has a good message about belonging and accepting oneself.
heyshay07's review
4.0
Typically the free books on Amazon are not stellar quality, but Anita Valle's book is a wonderful exception. If you enjoy Shannon Hale or Jessica George Day, you'll love Maelyn. I loved that Valle's characters are smart and while there is a hint of romance, it wasn't the entire focus of the book. Maelyn is a great protagonist who is smart and resourceful. There are a couple surprises in the book that I didn't completely see coming and really furthered the plot of the book. I like when an author seems to write with purpose and the story is drawn throughout the entirety of the book and not just the last 50 pages which Antia Valle does beautifully. I just bought the second book (which is something I rarely ever do), and I can't wait to read it.