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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Reviewed at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/05/heros-guide-to-saving-your-kingdom.html
I LOVE retellings of fairy tales and this one is no exception. And what is even better about this one is it is HILARIOUS! It reminds me a bit of Shrek except I liked the humor in Hero's Guide better because I feel it is a very smart funny. Just the concept is funny and smart- the four Princes Charming from the Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty stories star in this book (unlike the original stories where they don't even get credit with their real name!) and the Princes each have such a fun, unique personality.
While reading this, the teacher in me found many different parts that I could use- specifically when talking about point of views. I already use The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and the movie "Hoodwinked" to discuss it and Hero's Guide will be a perfect addition. I even found a part that made grammar funny!! And there is foreshadowing, a perfect plot arc, and suspense.
I LOVE retellings of fairy tales and this one is no exception. And what is even better about this one is it is HILARIOUS! It reminds me a bit of Shrek except I liked the humor in Hero's Guide better because I feel it is a very smart funny. Just the concept is funny and smart- the four Princes Charming from the Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty stories star in this book (unlike the original stories where they don't even get credit with their real name!) and the Princes each have such a fun, unique personality.
While reading this, the teacher in me found many different parts that I could use- specifically when talking about point of views. I already use The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and the movie "Hoodwinked" to discuss it and Hero's Guide will be a perfect addition. I even found a part that made grammar funny!! And there is foreshadowing, a perfect plot arc, and suspense.
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I love when authors take old fairy tales and spin them around in new and inventive ways. I was so very excited about The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy. Four disgruntled Princes Charming going out to make their names important. It is most excellent fun.
The princes are all suffering from different types of problems. Liam is less than happy about having to marry the spoiled petulant Briar Rose. Gustav is trying to prove his worth to his family, most especially his 16 older brothers, and having to be rescued by Rapunzel didn't do his ego any favors. Duncan and Snow White truly love each other, but are having difficulties adjusting to married life together. Probably because they are both exceedingly odd. Frederic truly wants to marry Ella, but Ella thinks he is boring and goes off adventuring on her own. It is this particular problem that sets the story in motion. Frederic wants Ella back and so ventures into the unknown himself for the first time in his life. Along the way he meets up with the other three princes and they form an alliance to save their kingdoms from the evil witch. With a healthy dose of help from Ella. And Liam's sister Lila shows herself to be fairly capable and awesome as well.
This is a large cast of characters and every single one of them is wonderful. I thought I would have a difficult time remembering which prince was which but I didn't. Their personalities are so very different it was not at all difficult to keep them straight. The story does have a touch of the absurd in it, but that is what makes it so utterly delightful. There is a lot going on too: a bandit king with an early bed time, dragons, surly dwarves, missing bards, and a witch with a diabolical plan that must be thwarted. It is great good fun.
I really enjoyed how the princesses were portrayed as well. (Other than Briar Rose, but every story has to have at least one mean girl right?) Ella and Liam's sister Lila were my favorites of the girls and I hope both of them continue to be important to the story as it continues in the next volume.
It is a little long, but I think most readers will be so caught up in the world and zany characters they won't really care.
I love when authors take old fairy tales and spin them around in new and inventive ways. I was so very excited about The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy. Four disgruntled Princes Charming going out to make their names important. It is most excellent fun.
The princes are all suffering from different types of problems. Liam is less than happy about having to marry the spoiled petulant Briar Rose. Gustav is trying to prove his worth to his family, most especially his 16 older brothers, and having to be rescued by Rapunzel didn't do his ego any favors. Duncan and Snow White truly love each other, but are having difficulties adjusting to married life together. Probably because they are both exceedingly odd. Frederic truly wants to marry Ella, but Ella thinks he is boring and goes off adventuring on her own. It is this particular problem that sets the story in motion. Frederic wants Ella back and so ventures into the unknown himself for the first time in his life. Along the way he meets up with the other three princes and they form an alliance to save their kingdoms from the evil witch. With a healthy dose of help from Ella. And Liam's sister Lila shows herself to be fairly capable and awesome as well.
This is a large cast of characters and every single one of them is wonderful. I thought I would have a difficult time remembering which prince was which but I didn't. Their personalities are so very different it was not at all difficult to keep them straight. The story does have a touch of the absurd in it, but that is what makes it so utterly delightful. There is a lot going on too: a bandit king with an early bed time, dragons, surly dwarves, missing bards, and a witch with a diabolical plan that must be thwarted. It is great good fun.
I really enjoyed how the princesses were portrayed as well. (Other than Briar Rose, but every story has to have at least one mean girl right?) Ella and Liam's sister Lila were my favorites of the girls and I hope both of them continue to be important to the story as it continues in the next volume.
It is a little long, but I think most readers will be so caught up in the world and zany characters they won't really care.
Ever debate about which Prince Charming is the best. I think this book would help you out a bit. So much fun from start to finish. I can’t wait to get the next two.
This book was so much fun! I loved the pure ineptness of all four Princes Charming at the start, and how they slowly figured themselves out. I loved the adventure-style of the tale, and the inclusion of some really badass girls who helped these heroes along the way. There were some laugh out loud portions, as well as some that were truly heartfelt and sweet. This is precisely what a fairy tale retelling should be like, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
We listened to this audio book as we took a family trip. Amazingly, this book appealed to the sweet 10 year old, the sarcastic 14 year old, the "thinks he's a grown-up" 16 year old, myself (who shall remain ageless), and the husband. That is nothing short of a miracle.
The voices on the audio book were great (seriously Prince Duncan's voice made us all laugh), but the writing of the novel was even better. There was enough tongue in cheek humor to keep things from being too sweet, plenty of action to keep things interesting, and just enough twists in the plot line to please my feminist heart (this is definitely a book that does NOT subscribe to the "all ladies need rescuing" cliche.)
Overall, it pleased the whole family. We'll probably do the second installment of the series on the next trip.
The voices on the audio book were great (seriously Prince Duncan's voice made us all laugh), but the writing of the novel was even better. There was enough tongue in cheek humor to keep things from being too sweet, plenty of action to keep things interesting, and just enough twists in the plot line to please my feminist heart (this is definitely a book that does NOT subscribe to the "all ladies need rescuing" cliche.)
Overall, it pleased the whole family. We'll probably do the second installment of the series on the next trip.
Hilarious. Definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
My favorite read aloud so far this year. So, so funny.
Ahem.
This may get a little weepy.
Imagine, if you will, it’s 2017. A middle-school girl receives a HUMONGOUS book from her librarian aunt for her birthday.
She shrugs, and starts it.
(Still, to this day, if I own a book, I MUST read the ENTIRE thing. It’s a problem. And that is why I don’t like buying books.)
And she loved it.
This book dictated so much of what I like in books. The closer a novel or series is to this book, the more I like it.(cough cough Lunar Chronicles)
It’s because of Briar I’m sympathetic to the awful, bada** girls who EVERYONE hates.
It’s because of Gustav I fall for every misunderstood, tough-cinnamon roll who just needs some serious cuddles.
It’s BECAUSE of Christopher Healy’s style that my favourite books are ALWAYS the ones with laugh-out-loud exposition, brilliantly funny dialogue and moral dilemmas delivered in snappy one-liners.
I mean, seriously, just thinking of Gustav’s arc throughout this trilogy is EVERYTHING I love in other series.
This is the book that made me a proper simp, shipper, fangirl and ✨reader✨
And I regret it only on occasion
This may get a little weepy.
Imagine, if you will, it’s 2017. A middle-school girl receives a HUMONGOUS book from her librarian aunt for her birthday.
She shrugs, and starts it.
(Still, to this day, if I own a book, I MUST read the ENTIRE thing. It’s a problem. And that is why I don’t like buying books.)
And she loved it.
This book dictated so much of what I like in books. The closer a novel or series is to this book, the more I like it.(cough cough Lunar Chronicles)
It’s because of Briar I’m sympathetic to the awful, bada** girls who EVERYONE hates.
It’s because of Gustav I fall for every misunderstood, tough-cinnamon roll who just needs some serious cuddles.
It’s BECAUSE of Christopher Healy’s style that my favourite books are ALWAYS the ones with laugh-out-loud exposition, brilliantly funny dialogue and moral dilemmas delivered in snappy one-liners.
I mean, seriously, just thinking of Gustav’s arc throughout this trilogy is EVERYTHING I love in other series.
This is the book that made me a proper simp, shipper, fangirl and ✨reader✨
And I regret it only on occasion