A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith
Reviewed by Aimee
Ratings Explanation
Violence: There is sword training. Many kids carry around swords and knives. Princess Rhis is held as a hostage in a tower with guards watching her. People are ready to fight, but peace agreements are made.
Sexual Content: The girls talk about flirting and kissing several different times. Rhis remembers kissing the cooks nephew. There is a kiss at the end of the book.
Summary
Rhis is the youngest princess of a small but wealthy kingdom called Nym. She loves writing ballads and dreaming away in her tower room. She is invited along with many other princes and princesses to a coming of age party for Lios, the Crown Prince of Vesarja. Princess Rhis has never been to such an event and is excited and wary. She meets new people and makes new friends. In the process she learns much about herself and the lessons of life. Rhis and her new group of friends band together for an adventure to rescue a princess who has been abducted.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I am happy to say that as soon as I finished it, I handed it to my 12 year old and said, “you can read this book!” Princess Rhis displays many typical 16 year old traits, but her heart and actions are kind and good. I loved her story. It is sweet and innocent. Rhis learns about friendship, politics, magic and love. Here are a couple of my favorite parts of the book. “People are surprising, she thought, even the ones you think you know.” “Why is it that the prettiest flowers don’t have the prettiest scents? The nicest scents seem to belong to the smallest blossoms. Or the plainest. And that wonderful one over there, with the blue and lavender petals, which I think the prettiest plant in the garden, smells like moldering grass. Phah!” “I don’t know, but I suspect it’s because the big, bright ones don’t have to compete so hard for the attention of the bees and butterflies. The little ones put out the powerful aromas to get their share of attention. A lot like people.”
©2010 The Literate Mother