The Two Princesses Of Bamarre (2004) - Plot & Excerpts
I've heard nothing but fantastic things about Gail Carson Levine, but for some reason I had it in my head that she wrote "simple" stories. Maybe they were good, but I just wasn’t expecting all that much from them. My only exposure had been watching the movie Ella Enchanted (cute, but nothing amazing) and one of her fairy short stories (again, cute, but forgettable). Granted, not a fair account, but that’s where I was. I had picked up this copy at a garage sale and finally decided to read it (fully expecting to give it away when I was finished). Let me just say, I was so wrong about Gail Carson Levine!Addie was such a good character. She was meek and the exact type of person the phrase “Scared of her own shadow” would apply to. She always lived in the shadow of her bold sister, and she was perfectly happy to stay there. I, like Addie, was always content to stay in the background while my friends took center stage. Because of this, I felt an instant connection with Addie.While much of the plot was predictable and neatly tied together, the story didn't feel stale or boring at all. It is obvious from the outset that Addie will find courage, but her progression from timid coward to capable woman is paced well and enjoyable to read. I appreciated that Levine had Addie find courage in her own way. She never became a daring swordswoman charging into battle like her sister, but she instead found confidence in her own strengths and abilities. This made for a nice “Stay true to yourself” message without being overly preachy.The quality of world building in this story surprised me, in a good way. The specters added a level of fear and interest that was different from the norm. They could appear as anyone, and so they often tried to trick the characters by pretending to be benign people. This concept was creepy, and the puzzle that presented in having to figure out who was real and who was a specter made for some fun scenes.Often dragons are written pretty similar to human characters with very human-like personalities. This dragon wasn't very human at all. Though she possessed some human-like traits, overall her way of thinking was definitely different. She wasn't a villain, but she wasn't good either. She was a complex character older tweens and teens will probably appreciate.The objects Addie has with her on her journey allowed for even more inventive scenes. Reading about and trying to guess how she should best use these resources was fun. The epic poem about the hero Drualt woven throughout the story also added a layer of depth to the world and was a nice way for the author to foreshadow events.The ending was not my ideal, but it worked. I wasn't expecting to like this story as much as I did, but it was a fun, nice read and I was pleasantly surprised. This should be a hit among tween girls, and would make for a great recommendation to girls who are a little shy or insecure. While not a tween, I still enjoyed this story very much. 4.5 stars
At first, I thought that since this book was going to be too princess-y, and medieval time-ish, I asked myself, "Why bother?" My conscious had told me, "Suck it up and read it fool. You'll like it. You always like princesses, now." And I did. Like it, I mean. This wonderful, original story has been on of my favorites. I loved it! I don't remember much, but I do remember about the princess thinking she was frail, weak, not strong at all like the older one, going on a bunch of journeys. She had some kind of cloth, I think, and with it, she had to say a few words, and then "_Voila!_" it contained so much food, and it was actually GOOD. That was like my day today, actually. I had a birthday party, (yes, I still love the parties. Nice get together with friends actually, so you don't lose touch, you know?) With brownies, cake, chips, pretzels, and the amazing popcorn. :) It all made me smile. So, anyways, I also remember this adventurous part with the dragon, and it had held her imprisoned in her cave. I forget how she found a way out. I honestly need to check this book out of the library again. It was a magnificent story, one that I will truly never forget. I suggest this book for everyone, from the elderly, to eight year olds. Are there eight year olds on here? That would be weird. But we can live with it. It doesn't matter, ya know? Although it would be weird. So yeah, if you have not read this book, read it!Audrey
What do You think about The Two Princesses Of Bamarre (2004)?
This book was really cute! It's written in the first person, which was a change, as few of the books I read are, and the protagonist of the story is Princess Addie, a sweet but cowardly girl who couldn't be more different than her sister, Meryl. Princess Meryl is courageous and longs for adventures where she can kill dragons, gryphons, and ogres. Addie would rather stay safe at home and wishes for peace, not wars like her sister. The two are even opposites in appearance. Addie has dark brown hair and is tall while Meryl has blonde hair and is short.Still they are very close, and when Meryl contracts the Gray Death, of which there is no cure, Addie decides to overcome her fears and sets out to find a cure. Along the way she finds help from her father's sorcerer, Rhys, with whom she falls in love. The background of sorcerers in this story was very interesting. They're born when lightning strikes marble, and therefore have no family, and instead of a heartbeat, they have a life flame burning in their chests. Sorcerers can be male or female, but all have dark wavy hair and white eyelashes. Their magic usually consists of manipulating clouds into different shapes for different purposes, and perhaps the most amazing thing of all is that they can fly.On Addie's adventure, she comes up against ogres, gryphons, and a dragon, all while trying to find a cure for her sister, who doesn't have much time left. The ending was surprising and not what I expected exactly, but I really enjoyed this book. It's geared towards young adults and was only a little over 200 pages.
—Megan
I just finished reading this book for the second time. The first time I read it was when I was in third grade and I loved it then, so I wanted to re-read it and see if I still loved it or not. When I first started this book for the second time, it was kind of boring and I thought it was an easy read. But as I continued to read it, I was drawn into the story and I felt like I was traveling with Princess Addie (the main character) throughout her journey. I was there with her as she fought gryphons
—Grace
Perhaps because I can never resist a fairy story, or perhaps because I fell in love with Ella Enchanted and was starving for more, or perhaps because what drew me was the love - pure, unconditional, secure - between Meryl and Addie (so much like my sister and I), I believe I can say with truth that this book is one of the best I've ever read. Artfully written, The Two Princesses of Bamarre has everything I adore in a good tale: adventure, a journey, magical races, romance... in short, Gail Carson Levine has done it again with this beautiful story. Through the pages, the goal remains clear - find the cure for the Grey Death, and save Meryl - and this is my favorite part. Addie, the heroine, is determined to stop Death from stealing her sister. It is love that keeps her going, not courage - but courage she finds, and honor, and the knowledge that though things may change, Meryl will always be there for her.
—Megan Severance
