The Princess and the Hound

By Mette Ivie Harrison

From the back of the book:

Beauty and the Beast retold- but the Beast is a woman.

He is the prince and heir to a kingdom threatened on all sides, possessor of the forbidden animal magic.

She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from all except her hound.

In this lush and beautifully written fairy-tale romance, a prince, a princess, and two kingdoms are joined in the aftermath of a war. Proud, stubborn, and bound to marry for duty, George and Beatrice will steal your heart- but will they fall in love?

Hello once again my friends! It's time for another book review, and I have to say this was a fun one.

The Princess and the Hound was published in 2007, though this copy seems to have come a year later and is the first edition of the paperback version. Eos, an imprint of HarperCollins published it. Eos doesn't technically exist anymore, having been relaunched as Harper Voyager in 2011. They represent some heavy hitters in the world of sci-fi and fantasy publishing. If you have read anything of that genre since 2011, you've probably heard of someone on their author list. While Mette Ivie Harrison seems to have written a whole pile of books, both fiction and non-fiction, this book, and its two follow-ups, are the only ones published with Harper Voyager/ Eos.

I honestly had no idea this book was the start of a series. I read it once in the past and considered it completely wrapped up. Now I feel a little silly about that because there is a mention of the next book in the back of this one! Obviously, I wasn't paying attention!

That sense of a well-wrapped up story is maybe the best compliment I can give this book. It's a sweet story, and there are definitely some aspects of the main character, especially Beatrice and Marit, that are non-conventional. However, my favorite thing about it is that it is so neat and tidy. All the little loose ends are wrapped up so nicely, I didn't feel that I was left wondering about anything at the end. It could have gone on a few more chapters, trying to place the reader in some classic scenes at the end, but that wasn't necessary. At the end of the last page, I could see the main characters going forward with their plans. I knew that they were going to be okay. No daunting cliffhangers here!

So what kind of book is it? Well, it's definitely a fantasy novel. No hint of sci-fi here! There are castles and kings. The environment could have happened along any medieval story and not felt out of place. While I didn't find any truly standout, unique characteristics to the world, it instantly felt familiar. The entire story felt like reading something a favorite relative had told you when you were young. It is like opening a collection of fairy-tales and finding a new one tucked between Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. In that manner, it had a nostalgic feel that I appreciated.

It is a young adult or teen novel, and I found nothing that the majority of parents would object to in the text, except the very occasional mild swearing. There is a horse named "Ass" who makes an appearance through a portion of the book. If you have a reader who has experienced some first-hand emotional abuse, some scenes might be a little triggering, but I felt that as a reader I had to endure very little. And to be perfectly honest, if you or your teen are reading fantasy books written in the last ten years, you're probably reading much darker material than this book has to offer. I would be okay with my nine-year-old reading this, if that's an indicator!

George is our main character, and he's a sweetheart without quite falling into the "Mary Sue" character problem. He has genuine conflict, he has some emotional depth, and he does change over the course of the story. I would consider him a round character more than a dynamic character, because he is a good and noble character in the beginning and in the end. The main change is that he is braver at the end.

Our leading lady is Beatrice, and she is...strange. I found her strangeness refreshing. In a world of stories about medieval fantasy women with flowing locks and a fear of lively horses, Beatrice is described as having a square jaw and badly freckled and goes nowhere without her hound, Marit. There is another trope in fantasy, of women who are equal to men in their fighting and dominance. Beatrice isn't really that either. She's no pushover, as is demonstrated repeatedly. Before the book is over, you are privy to a single fight in which she holds her own, much to everyone's shock. But she's no warlord, trying to join George on the battlefield. George isn't even on battlefields. One of the most interesting, albeit strange, things about Beatrice is that she spends so little time trying to impress George. In fact, he spends the first portion of their relationship flabbergasted because she hardly sees the point in getting to know him!

This is a story about gentler souls, navigating a world that is set against them in unexpected ways. They both have ways out, but they choose to be brave and face their dilemmas. In all, I would say that this story is about being brave.

Is there a twist ending? Well, yes. If you are like me and have read so many books that little surprises you anymore, I should warn you... there are definitely some "twists" that were obvious. A careful read of the back of the book will give some it away to the experienced reader. However, there is a puzzle that comes together in a way that was unexpected to me. That was a real delight...to be surprised!

This book will probably not change your life. It will not keep you up at night longing to spend more time with the world. However, it is a light read and entirely enjoyable. It's perfect for Sunday afternoons or for tucking into your bag to read while you wait at a doctor's appointment. It's a lazy day read that won't leave you dissatisfied. I read it once before and found it no less enjoyable to read the second time. I also think this would be a fun read to share with a loved one who wants an introduction to YA fantasy. Do you have a younger reader in your house or on your Christmas list? This is a good candidate.

I honestly do not remember where I picked up this novel. I think it was from a library book sale, years ago. It still have a sticker on the back that says it sold for $8.99. I imagine a new novel of similar length would sell for closer to $15 now. If you are interested in reading about George and Beatrice- and I recommend that you do!- you can buy my copy directly from me here!

I only have one copy though!

Here are some links to other places to buy The Princess and the Hound:

Thriftbooks

Better World Books

Ebay

It is also available for free with a library card on Hoopla!

Tell me in the comments... where or when do you most enjoy a light read?