More than a Princess (More Than a Princess Series #1)

by E. D. Baker

Overview

From beloved house author E. D. Baker comes the first book in a middle-grade series about a princess who’s more than what she seems—and the kingdom whose fate rests in her hands.

Aislin of Eliasind is more than just a princess — she's half-fairy and half-pedrasi, with magical gifts from each side of her heritage!

One day, as Aislin is venturing through the woods, she is alarmed to hear a band of humans coming through. How did they get past the guarded magical passageway that leads to her hidden kingdom? Mistaken for a human herself, Aislin is captured, and soon realizes she's in even bigger trouble—she's being used as a pawn to help the king of this nearby kingdom, Morrain, find a secret passageway to the warring land of Scarmander, so he can capture his enemies by surprise. Aislin must find a way to break free, while also minding the beautiful human princess and ladies-in-waiting she now shares a castle with, who are all too ready to point out her differences. Thankfully, Aislin's inner strength goes beyond her magical qualities. And with a few loyal friends by her side, she's ready to stand up for herself and her kingdom once and for all.

A classic and original fairy-tale that celebrates beauty and goodness in all its shapes and sizes, More than a Princess will resonate with readers who love magic, suspense, girl power, and adventure.


Don't miss the sequel, Power of a Princess!

And look for these other magical series by E.D. Baker:

Tales of the Frog Princess
The Wide-Awake Princess
The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker
More Than a Princess
Magic Animal Rescue

and more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681197685
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	11/06/2018
Series:	More Than a Princess Series , #1
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	732,404
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

E.D. Baker is the author of the Tales of the Frog Princess series, the Wide-Awake Princess series, the Fairy-Tale Matchmaker series, the Magic Animal Rescue series, the More Than a Princess series, and many other delightful books for young readers, including A Question of Magic, Fairy Wings, and Fairy Lies. Her first novel, The Frog Princess, was the inspiration for Disney’s hit movie "The Princess and the Frog." She lives with her family and their many animals in Maryland.

Visit talesofedbaker.com for special giveaways and to learn more about all of E.D. Baker's books!
www.facebook.com/edbakerauthor/

Editorial Reviews

11/19/2018
Aislin is all magical creature—half fairy and half pedrasi—and she is the princess of Eliasind, a magical kingdom and diverse court where all fey are welcome. When a band of humans passes unexpectedly into the hidden kingdom, Aislin worries that they will shatter the peace of Eliasind; pretending to be human, she convinces the invading contingent to leave, going with them in an act of sacrifice. Once in the human kingdom, Aislin must figure out how to move through the Magic Gate so that she can find a way home while navigating the human court’s intrigue. Integral to Aislin’s story is her acceptance of her mixed heritage and her willingness to speak up when she’s being harassed about her appearance, which doesn’t fit humans’ typical standards of beauty. Baker’s messages about self-acceptance, standing up for oneself, and the importance of inclusion and diversity are a bit heavy-handed, but Aislin’s journey to self-acceptance is rewarding, and readers will easily draw parallels between Aislin’s world and their own. Ages 8–12. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Baker (the Frog Princess series) gives this series starter a familiar, Disney feel, which will engage younger readers, while themes of courage and self-acceptance give it a powerfully positive message.” —Booklist

"Aislin is unfailingly brave and resourceful . . . Baker’s world building is perfectly attuned to young sensibilities as she presents a realm of physical beauty, interspecies harmony, and mixed-race familial love for readers to visit and for Aislin to call home." - BCCB

"Aislin’s journey to self-acceptance is rewarding, and readers will easily draw parallels between Aislin’s world and their own." - Publishers Weekly

“Whenever Aislin heads outdoors, the author's gift for synthesizing nature and magic comes into play. A quirky, imaginative tale. . .” —Kirkus Reviews

"Self-esteem building in a lively package for younger middle grade readers who enjoy light magical adventure tales." - School Library Journal

“Full of fun and whimsy. A delightful romp through a truly unique fairy tale world!” —Jessica Day George, New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays at the Castle, on The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker

“Annie is an enjoyable, independent, and undaunted character, who uses wits and skills rather than spells in her endeavors.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Question of Magic

“Slyly combines fairy-tale tropes . . . The humor and relationships created by Baker are happily reminiscent of such classics as Howl's Moving Castle.” —Kirkus on A Question of Magic

“Baker's . . . vividly imagined fantasy world . . . [is] irresistible and loaded with humor.” —VOYA on Once Upon a Curse

From the Publisher

2018-07-30

The author's latest fantasy series introduces Aislin, a princess of mixed heritage: fairy (the Disney-esque type) and pedrasi (less glitzy but gifted cavern dwellers).

Aislin's fairy father and pedrasi mother rule a diverse kingdom that welcomes giants, ogres, sprites, nymphs, and others along with their own kinds. Aislin resembles her mother's people—on the short and stocky side (though not in the cover art)—more than the tall, willowy fairies. Her pedrasi heritage confers what proves a crucial gift: drawing power from rocks and stones. Magical beings left the human world behind long ago and barred humans from entering their kingdoms. That changes when King Tyburr of Morain breaches the border. Alarmed, Aislin asks him to take her back to his castle, hoping to get him away from her people and learn his intentions. Her companions, a magical doll and her fairy BFF, also make effective spies. The king ponders marrying her to his conceited son, Rory, although snobbish castle courtiers disdain Aislin as fat and too dark; Rory's companion Tomas is more to her liking. The writing is uneven: Static opening scenes of Aislin's home castle read like paint-by-numbers for text, but pace and storytelling pick up whenever Aislin heads outdoors, where the author's gift for synthesizing nature and magic comes into play. Humans seem to be default white, and Aislin's dark skin is due to a pedrasi tendency to tan in the sun.

A quirky, imaginative tale locked inside a stale, formulaic princess narrative. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

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