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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
A hilarious mash up of classic fairy tale tropes. It reminded me of Shrek in a way.
For me one of the best parts of reading a book is the thrill of not knowing what happens next! But that pleasure was taken away from me by the fact that this is my second (or third, or fourth ) Time reading the book. Despite that, it is a story I will never get tired of, and that is the mark of a good book! You will grow to love all the characters even the “bad guys” and even the characters you think are brutish, cowardly, arrogant, or just plain odd! (and those are the good guys!)And if you didn’t know it is a trilogy! So there will still be more adventures once you finish this book!
I will admit I stopped reading after a few chapters and skimmed the rest because I felt like the author was cramming a LOT into the story...and it's 400 plus pages AND the first in a series so I suspected there would be more crammed in along the way. It's not bad, it just didn't engage me enough to plow through it. But it ihas definite humor, some gender-role reversals, and lots of action.
4 Princes Charming (each from a different fairy tale, all with their own personalities and pecadillos) band together to meet various goals - get away from an overbearing and spoiled princess, find a beloved but bored princess, rescue a princess instead of her rescuing herself, and to give a princess some quiet time) band together against dragons, trolls, evil witches, family members, townspeople, and pretty much everyone they meet. They drive each other nuts, learn to like and respect each other (while still driving each other nuts) and save each others lives again and again.
Good for fractured fairytale readers, kids too young for Harry Potter's later books, and not wanting the darkness involved.
4 Princes Charming (each from a different fairy tale, all with their own personalities and pecadillos) band together to meet various goals - get away from an overbearing and spoiled princess, find a beloved but bored princess, rescue a princess instead of her rescuing herself, and to give a princess some quiet time) band together against dragons, trolls, evil witches, family members, townspeople, and pretty much everyone they meet. They drive each other nuts, learn to like and respect each other (while still driving each other nuts) and save each others lives again and again.
Good for fractured fairytale readers, kids too young for Harry Potter's later books, and not wanting the darkness involved.
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a hilarious adventure story, but it's also a little sad in some parts. I listened to this book, and the guy who narrates it is really good at his job. And it is just one guy, but he makes it sound like a cast is reading it. 6 out of 5 stars. =)
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was sort of an epic novel--like a Don Quijote story moving from one scene to the next. I liked the characters and the concept was unique. Though, it could have been edited a bit. I enjoyed it. But, it wasn't a book I couldn't put down.
The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom is now one of my new all-time favorites! In its pages we are introduced to the Prince Charmings of several well-known fairy tales: the male leads of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. Frederic was traumatized as a child by a toothless tiger which has resulted in his idea of adventure being a new sandwich on a picnic. Gustav is the youngest of 17 boys (after two sets of octuplets) and feels the need to prove himself a hero--unfortunately he is always trying to fight his way through situations that don't call for it or in which he is grossly outmatched. Liam believes himself a true hero since childhood, rescues Sleeping Beauty, then discovers she is a thoroughly unlikeable person and breaks their engagement; his ex-fiancé then spreads rumors which destroy his reputation and cause inhabitants of both their kingdoms to despise him. Duncan truly loves Snow White and she, him; the dwarves can't stand him because he's not terribly bright and he IS incredibly weird(though well-meaning).
Their adventure kicks off when Ella tells Frederic he's a nice guy but she is bored to death at the castle and needs adventure (other than a picnic). When Ella leaves Frederic realizes he doesn't want to lose her and sets off to find her. Gradually all four Prince Charmings meet up and settle into a contentious traveling group. they encounter the Bandit King, a ruthless--but depressed--bounty hunter, grumpy dwarves and a powerful witch with a plan to take over their kingdoms.
The combination of one's love of fancy clothes, one's sweet but child-like excitement over everything (including his first swordfight, his first bandit encounter and the first group of people who don't run AWAY from him), one's frustration at plan after plan going awry and one charging blindly into brawls, bandits, trolls and dragons (which results in his hair being burned off) are hilarious. My 10 and 11-year old and I read this as a bedtime reading choice and the three of us could not help laughing aloud at every chapter. My son had another 5th Grade boy sleep overnight and he listened to one of the chapters (from the middle of the book) after which he exclaimed "I have to get that book!" My 5th Grader has christened it "the best book ever" and we are currently reading the second installment (Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle).
I have rarely had this much fun and so thoroughly enjoyed a book as I did reading The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom. This book has rocketed to the top of my read-aloud list for next year in 3rd and 4th grade. Consistently funny with quirky, funny characters about whom you come to care quite a bit, this is a fantastic read-aloud or independent reading choice for young and old alike. It is a brilliant break from everyday life with its frustrations and responsibilities. I encourage everyone to treat themselves to this rollicking, belly-laughing romp of a book!
Their adventure kicks off when Ella tells Frederic he's a nice guy but she is bored to death at the castle and needs adventure (other than a picnic). When Ella leaves Frederic realizes he doesn't want to lose her and sets off to find her. Gradually all four Prince Charmings meet up and settle into a contentious traveling group. they encounter the Bandit King, a ruthless--but depressed--bounty hunter, grumpy dwarves and a powerful witch with a plan to take over their kingdoms.
The combination of one's love of fancy clothes, one's sweet but child-like excitement over everything (including his first swordfight, his first bandit encounter and the first group of people who don't run AWAY from him), one's frustration at plan after plan going awry and one charging blindly into brawls, bandits, trolls and dragons (which results in his hair being burned off) are hilarious. My 10 and 11-year old and I read this as a bedtime reading choice and the three of us could not help laughing aloud at every chapter. My son had another 5th Grade boy sleep overnight and he listened to one of the chapters (from the middle of the book) after which he exclaimed "I have to get that book!" My 5th Grader has christened it "the best book ever" and we are currently reading the second installment (Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle).
I have rarely had this much fun and so thoroughly enjoyed a book as I did reading The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom. This book has rocketed to the top of my read-aloud list for next year in 3rd and 4th grade. Consistently funny with quirky, funny characters about whom you come to care quite a bit, this is a fantastic read-aloud or independent reading choice for young and old alike. It is a brilliant break from everyday life with its frustrations and responsibilities. I encourage everyone to treat themselves to this rollicking, belly-laughing romp of a book!
(GR rating is rounded up from an actual rating of 3.5 stars, sometimes I wish GR had half stars, or was on a 10 point scale...)
This was cute. Sometimes a bit silly and overdone, but the humor was good, and I liked the unique take on the princes and their princesses.
This was cute. Sometimes a bit silly and overdone, but the humor was good, and I liked the unique take on the princes and their princesses.
This book is hilariously entertaining. It's a combination of a number of fairytales and could hold the interest of both boys and girls. As the story starts, the princesses are expressed as much more intelligent, daring, an interesting then their respective princes. As the storyline develops however, the princes have a chance to develop and show their skills and bravery and intelligence. I listened to the audiobook version of this story which was narrated by Bronson Pinchot. He expertly and distinctly voiced each and every character, and his talent lent much to my enjoyment of this story.
I've always loved the book when I was younger, and it was just as enjoyable to read now :)