The Princess Will Save You

by Sarah Henning

Overview

The Princess Will Save You is a YA fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride, in which a princess must rescue her stable boy true love, from the acclaimed author of Sea Witch, Sarah Henning.

When a princess’s commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn’t give in—she goes to rescue him.

When her warrior father, King Sendoa, mysteriously dies, Princess Amarande of Ardenia is given what would hardly be considered a choice: Marry a stranger at sixteen or lose control of her family’s crown.

But Amarande was raised to be a warrior—not a sacrifice.

In an attempt to force her choice, a neighboring kingdom kidnaps her true love, stable boy Luca. With her kingdom on the brink of civil war and no one to trust, she’ll need all her skill to save him, her future, and her kingdom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250237422
Publisher:	Tom Doherty Associates
Publication date:	07/07/2020
Series:	Kingdoms of Sand and Sky , #1
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	67,975
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

SARAH HENNING is a recovering journalist who has worked for Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star, and Associated Press, among others. Her novels include Sea Witch and Throw Like a Girl. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department.

Editorial Reviews

07/20/2020

Hints of political intrigue bolster a gender-swapped homage to The Princess Bride in Henning’s (Throw Like a Girl) fantasy duology starter. On the continent of Sand and Sky, in the resource-rich kingdom of Ardenia, Princess Amarande, 16, has been trained in both court and warrior ways at the behest of her father, King Sendoa. Her best friend Luca, an orphan refugee who serves as stable boy, has been raised at her side. Upon the king’s untimely death, Ama is faced with the impossible knowledge that she must marry to save her kingdom—and none of the corrupt neighboring kingdoms’ suitors hold a candle to Luca. When Luca is kidnapped by three “land pirates” in an attempt to force Ama’s choice, she risks her life and throne to save him, racing across Luca’s birthplace, the Torrent, an arid, lawless land ruled by a mysterious, reportedly vicious warlord, to reclaim her love. A series of coincidences and plot threads may frustrate as much as intrigue. Though the novel lacks much of its inspiration’s humor, quirky dialogue and secondary characters augment a familiar plot that explores themes of feminism, love, and agency. Ages 13–up. Agent: Whitney Ross, Irene Goodman Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Fantasy and romance fans alike will gobble up this energetic story.”—School Library Journal

“A riveting series of adventures.”—Booklist

"An action-packed adventure with a fierce heroine that is sure to enthrall! Sarah Henning has created a fantasy narrative that weaves together love and betrayal, pirates and swordplay. Full of plot twists and high stakes, this novel is sure to please anyone who grew up loving tales of princesses."—Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses

“A breakneck fantasy adventure with the most kick-ass heroine I’ve read in months. Swoony romance, sword fights, a great cast of characters and some clever parallels to a story about another princess who won’t be made a bride makes The Princess Will Save You a strong contender for my favorite novel of the year.”—Emily Hall Schroen, Main Street Books, St. Charles, Missouri

“Full of inconceivable wit, daring adventure, and cunning political machinations…It’s as if Sarah Henning looked into my soul that yearned for a book like The Princess Bride and said—as you wish. And yes, this is a kissing book.”—Ashley Poston, author of Heart of Iron

“The Princess Will Save You is everything we love about YA fantasy, complete with first love, sweeping adventure, and a fierce heroine who holds her own. There’s something for everyone in this book.”—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of The Sky in the Deep

“An action-packed adventure with a fierce heroine that is sure to enthrall! Sarah Henning has created a fantasy narrative that weaves together love and betrayal, pirates and swordplay. Sure to please anyone who grew up loving tales of princesses.”—Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses

From the Publisher

07/01/2020

Gr 8 Up—Raised by the Warrior King to be a powerful young woman, Princess Amarande is shattered by the sudden death of her father. Convinced that he was murdered, the last thing Ama cares about is choosing a marriage contract. Unfortunately, she must face the hard truth—to rule, she must marry. When one of her suitors tries to force her hand by kidnapping the stable boy she truly loves, Ama will cross harsh, lawless landscapes to retrieve him. Fans of The Princess Bride will recognize its influence here, but this sprawling fantasy stands easily on its own. Ama, a talented warrior raised on strategy, and Luca, a kindhearted stable boy full of devotion, make a romance worth rooting for. Ama, in particular, feels real and immediate. At 16 she is a gifted swordswoman, but she struggles with the sudden exit from her protective royal surroundings. The abundance of murky politics and plot hooks left dangling for future volumes may put off some readers, but the constant action of Ama's journey keeps things moving at an engaging pace. The mystery of Ama's mother, the Runaway Queen, and a massive twist ending will keep interest high for the sequel. VERDICT A strong choice for most collections. Fantasy and romance fans alike will gobble up this energetic story and a relatively chaste romance allows for a wide range of readers.—Amy Diegelman, Chicago P.L.

School Library Journal

2020-05-02
When Princess Amarande’s true love is kidnapped, she doesn’t hesitate to set out to rescue him.

Princess Amarande and Luca, who is in charge of the king’s stables, have always shared a special bond. But recently, it’s felt different; a charged feeling simmers between them. Before either finds the courage to confront it, tragedy strikes: Her father, King Sendoa, falls dead. Amarande reels; she doesn’t believe the Warrior King died naturally—it must have been murder. But the Royal Council cares more about succession: In order to rule, Amarande must wed. Despite her resistance, it isn’t long before other kingdoms send eager suitors. The princess finds them abhorrent, conniving, and power hungry. Amarande spits in the face of tradition, pulling her sword on a suitor at her father’s funeral and declaring that she won’t settle. In the midst of her rebellion, Luca is kidnapped. A note left behind instructs her to marry a specific suitor or she’ll never see her love again. Ever fearless, Amarande sets off, determined to save Luca and her kingdom. Though the princess rallies valiantly against entrenched patriarchy, Amarande reads as one-note. Well-plotted action sequences and intricate political machinations can’t make up for Luca’s similar one dimensionality, which makes their love story—the backbone of the story—difficult to care about. Most characters appear to be white; some have brown skin.

A high-fantasy riff on The Princess Bride lacking both humor and heart. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

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