Horn Book Review
Cursed Prince Telmund, who transforms into a new animal whenever he sleeps, and Princess Amelia, who's been kidnapped by the odious Prince Sheridan, work together to save each other in this delightful companion to The Princess Imposter. Alternating third-person perspectives reveal a daydreaming Telmund and a practical Amelia, which provides plenty of humorous contention and memorable adventure in this original fairy tale. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A spellbound prince and an abducted princess must work together to defeat their enemies.When a confused witch thinks 13-year-old Prince Telmund is bullying his little brother, she casts a transmogrification spell on him. Every time he falls asleep, he alternates between his human form and an animal form. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Princess Amelia has her own problems. Her parents have decided that it is time for her to be betrothed, solidifying the safety of their kingdom. When Amelia is kidnapped by a neighboring prince and carried away to his kingdom, Telmund comes to her aid, using his rat teeth to gnaw through her bonds. Unfortunately, Amelia is unable to see beyond the surface and dismisses her rescuer with a solid kick. However, whether as a rooster, a goat, or even a dragon, Telmund keeps trying. Amelia refuses to be a victim, relying on her intellect to undermine her captor. The usual model that finds a helpless princess saved by the gallant hero is flipped in this lighthearted exploration of birth order, familial obligations, and friendship. Telmund's bumbling and Amelia's annoying superiority make the duo's escape exciting and realistic. Other than a fairy with silver hair, the only descriptive details point to the white default.A royal adventure with archetype-shattering characters. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Telemund is happy being the youngest son of a royal family he knows from reading fairy tales that youngest princes are destined for adventure. But when his little brother is born, he suddenly becomes just another middle prince, destined for nothing. That is, until a witch assumes he's bullying his younger brother and curses him to shape-shift into a different creature every time he falls asleep. Meanwhile, in a neighboring kingdom, practical Princess Amelia is doing everything she can to avoid a storybook adventure. Her parents have thrown her a ball, hoping she'll meet her true love, but in the chaos, Amelia is kidnapped by a rival ruler, who plans to marry her to consolidate his own power. When Amelia's and Telemund's paths cross, they'll have to use their respective skills to help each other out of these jams. The wide-ranging Vande Velde offers up a brief, almost novella-sized adventure in a quick, uplifting read bursting with wit and heart. A spirited introduction to fractured fairy tales for early middle-grade readers.--Maggie Reagan Copyright 2018 Booklist
