A review by justabookishreader
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Ugh, the ending never fails to make me cry. Bittersweet but goddamn. If this book isn't still one of the best I've read. Honestly, I love the idea rooted in the novel that you don't have to stand up to monsters or slay a dragon or wield a sword to be brave, and doing all those things doesn't necessarily make you brave either. That just knowing the stakes are high and fighting anyway, with Meryl and the Grey Death and Addie and finding the cure - they are both incredible proof of this. I was shocked that this book was less than 300 pages, and I thought that I would feel like it needed more fleshing out. But it works perfectly within its length and details and occurrences. Meryl and Addie's bond is so well written that I can't help but imagine if something like this happened to me and my little sister, which honestly, probably doesn't help when I get to the ending. I also like that there were real stakes. Yes this is a "children's book" or "middle grade" but as usual I feel like anyone of any age can enjoy a Gail Carson Levine book. I liked that Addie technically failed. She was successful for everyone else in the kingdom, but her sister. I like the explanation of how her sister was alive anyway, and almost in a way, feels more painful than Meryl simply dying. Yet another time I wish that the Ella Enchanted adaptation had done better because maybe this book would have been adapted at some point too. I believe there is a somewhat recent either sequel or prequel, which I own and am excited to hopefully read soon!