Review by Booklist Review
Princess Sadie is tired of princes trying to rescue her from her tower prison, but this new rescuer is different she's a princess! Together, Sadie and Amira forge a strong friendship that soon turns to love as they struggle to overcome their pasts and recover Sadie's lost kingdom. O'Neill's delightful fairy tale will appeal to romance lovers, fantasy/adventure fans, and readers looking for LGBT-positive stories for young readers. In addition to the sweet romance, there is sword-fighting, magic, and a simply adorable dragon. There's also a touch of kid-appropriate language (Amira is fond of the word, butthead), which is all part of the silliness that keeps the story from ever getting too dark. O'Neill's warm, friendly drawings add to the fun of this body-positive story that also features a main character of color. Appropriately for a fairy tale, O'Neill wraps things up with a wedding that promises happily-ever-after, sealed with a kiss. Give this to young romance readers, and watch them smile.--Wildsmith, Snow Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3 Up-This fairy tale will leave readers smiling and believing in true love. Princess Amira, who is dark skinned and sports a Mohawk, doesn't want to be a princess and sets out to prove herself a capable warrior. Blonde-haired Princess Sadie is locked away in a tower. When Amira rescues Sadie, they embark on a life-changing journey filled with empowering messages about friendship, gender roles, identity, heroism, and the importance of staying true to oneself. The beautifully crafted, eye-catching illustrations of various characters, whether human or animal, are absolutely adorable. O'Neill's attention to detail, especially when it comes to characters' expressions, is strong. Kids will enjoy this quick, entertaining read and will especially love the romance between Amira and Sadie. VERDICT An excellent addition to graphic novel collections. Hand to fans of nontraditional fairy tales, such as Ursula Vernon's "Hamster Princess" series or Jeremy Whitley's "Princeless" books.-Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
