The Two Princesses of Bamarre
Gail Carson Levine’s tale of two sisters highlights the bond between siblings and shows how powerful that bond can be in the face of magic, death, and fear.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre tells the story of fearful Princess Addie and the lengths she goes to to save her sister Princess Meryl from the Gray Death – a plague that has stolen thousands of lives in the Kingdom of Bamarre. In order to save her sister from a cureless disease, meek Addie finds the courage to set out on a dangerous quest filled with dragons, unknown magic, and death itself.
As with her previous books, Levine has created a unique world in Bamarre where ogres, dragons, and gryphons run wild and fairies are never seen. It is different from the other fantastical places Levine has written and the people who live in Bamarre are unique as well. They are said to lack courage and rarely help others in need, which is the reason the Gray Death plagues the kingdom. The legend says the Gray Death will leave when "cowards find courage and rain falls over all Bamarre." This place could be compared to others in our modern world, but instead of the Gray Death, lack of courage causes fear and hate to grow, which harms everyone.
I enjoyed reading the book through Princess Addie’s eyes. She is clearly not like her brave, adventurous sister Meryl, but that doesn’t stop her from putting herself at great risk to help her sister when no one else will. Although she is unfamiliar with the world outside her castle, she finds her way with the help of an apprentice wizard named Rhys and the magical gifts he gives her. The relationship between princess and wizard is written in a way that is not oversaturated with clichés but progresses naturally from strangers to friends to lovers.
The mythology surrounding the legendary hero Drualt is also something I quite liked in this story. He is said to be a brave warrior who came to Bamarre with the first king and other pilgrims who lived amongst the gryphons, ogres, and dragons. He is someone Addie and Meryl idolize as being the pinnacle of a true Bamarre hero. Later in the story, the reader comes to see that not only was he a real man, but he has more to do with Addie’s journey than she expects.
Overall, The Two Princesses of Bamarre was a well-written tale that exceeded my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a short, fast-paced fantasy that doesn’t mind a little romance tossed in.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre Rating: ★★★
The Two Princesses of Bamarre tells the story of fearful Princess Addie and the lengths she goes to to save her sister Princess Meryl from the Gray Death – a plague that has stolen thousands of lives in the Kingdom of Bamarre. In order to save her sister from a cureless disease, meek Addie finds the courage to set out on a dangerous quest filled with dragons, unknown magic, and death itself.
As with her previous books, Levine has created a unique world in Bamarre where ogres, dragons, and gryphons run wild and fairies are never seen. It is different from the other fantastical places Levine has written and the people who live in Bamarre are unique as well. They are said to lack courage and rarely help others in need, which is the reason the Gray Death plagues the kingdom. The legend says the Gray Death will leave when "cowards find courage and rain falls over all Bamarre." This place could be compared to others in our modern world, but instead of the Gray Death, lack of courage causes fear and hate to grow, which harms everyone.
I enjoyed reading the book through Princess Addie’s eyes. She is clearly not like her brave, adventurous sister Meryl, but that doesn’t stop her from putting herself at great risk to help her sister when no one else will. Although she is unfamiliar with the world outside her castle, she finds her way with the help of an apprentice wizard named Rhys and the magical gifts he gives her. The relationship between princess and wizard is written in a way that is not oversaturated with clichés but progresses naturally from strangers to friends to lovers.
The mythology surrounding the legendary hero Drualt is also something I quite liked in this story. He is said to be a brave warrior who came to Bamarre with the first king and other pilgrims who lived amongst the gryphons, ogres, and dragons. He is someone Addie and Meryl idolize as being the pinnacle of a true Bamarre hero. Later in the story, the reader comes to see that not only was he a real man, but he has more to do with Addie’s journey than she expects.
Overall, The Two Princesses of Bamarre was a well-written tale that exceeded my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a short, fast-paced fantasy that doesn’t mind a little romance tossed in.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre Rating: ★★★