Bookworm Speaks!- Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Bookworm Speaks! 

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. 

The Story:

Miri lives on a mountain quarry and expects she will her whole life. Then one day the King’s priests deign that the Prince’s Bride will come from that mountain. So Miri and all the other village girls must journey down the slopes to the Princess Academy, where they will learn how to be princesses. Miri must deal with rivalries between the students, an overbearing teacher and dangers from the outside world. 

The Good:

What made this book unique were how thoughtful it was and the deep emotional gravity in the text. It took very much inside of the main characters head. Her relationships with her family and even her rivals seem very plausible, especially towards her age group. A common fault in this genre is that the teenage characters are often more adult than they really should be. Thankfully this is avoided in the text and Miri is very relatable toward someone trying to find their way in a changing world. 

Princess of Academy has a ton of atmosphere. That seem odd for a book but it very much makes a difference even in the written word. Non-stop action can be very exciting when it is done right, but it can also be too much. For a good reader, both plot and reader must take time to let the story breathe and just soak up what the author is painting with words. 

This book also stands out in the setting and how contained it is. Most fantasy stories tend to involve grand adventures far away from home. From reading the summary that is what Bookworm expected, the girls were to be taken far away and go on adventures at the academy. But the story was only down the slope of the mountain and the girls go back home several times. A home that is very isolated. This creates an extremely intimate setting that really explores the relationships of the characters on multiple levels, daughter to father, daughter to flame (boyfriend) and the friendships and rivalries between the Princess Candidates. 

The setting also stands out in how it takes place in a mountain quarry. That is a unique locale, farms being the favorite among fantasy authors, and adds its own unique lifestyle and plot elements. 

The Flaws. 

As one can assume, this book appears to be primarily aimed towards young girls. That alone can alienate readers in spite of its strengths. Also, being a very emotional and dramatic book it can get slow in a few places, especially near the beginning. Miri can also come off as a bit of whiner at first. But this is not meant to be a fast paced book. It is a dramatic, slow burn of a novel.

Final Verdict. 

While it is definitely a book marketed towards young girls, older readers and men will be surprised at the depth of the story and the emotional maturity contained within. 

Five out of Five Stars.