The Princess and the Hound {book review} * * *

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

- fantasy, YA -

reviewed by Tara SG

bought eBook via Amazon.com

Book Order

1. The Princess and the Hound * * *
2. The Princess and the Bear
3. The Princess and the Snowbird

Links

Author’s Website : www.metteivieharrison.com

Amazon : hardback / paperback / eBook

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List

This book in 6 words:

liked the idea but too predictable

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I got the opportunity to join a book tour for The Princess and the Snowbird and jumped at the chance to try this fantasy series. This is the first in the series and I liked it, but didn’t love it. The overall world is interesting and I didn’t dislike the characters. I just found it to be predictable and a little long. I’ll still be reading the next books in the series.

Brief Summary

He is a 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?

- Via GoodReads.com

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

I liked the story (which is why I’ll keep reading the series), but felt it was overly predictable. The animal magic is different and a little confusing – although maybe it was supposed to be that mysterious. The pacing felt a little slow at times (specially in the beginning), but I read it all in one day and think it wouldn’t have bothered me if I was spreading it out. I never could get used to the writing style. The way the author used pronouns/names bothered me for some reason that I can’t quite explain (sorry that is so vague).

Characters

I neither liked nor disliked the main character. George was so closed off to those around him that it was hard for even the reader to connect with him. Beatrice and Marit, however, were fun to read about and I loved their personalities.

I didn’t like the “bad guy” as a villain and felt like it was far to easy to feel sorry for him.

Recommendations

If you like YA fantasy I’d recommend seeing if you can get this from the library. I’ve seen some really great reviews for this and it has a high rating on both Amazon and GoodReads, so it is entirely possible that I just didn’t personally like the writing style.

Going Deeper – NO spoilers

This book deals with the effects of distant parents with expectations that one can never live up to. One character suppresses who they are to try and become that which their father wants. While the other goes out of their way to disobey the social norms to try to be what their father wanted. I think it’s hard to find a balance between the two and just be who you are. I also felt like they (as a lot of teens do) were assuming their parents wanted things from them that they didn’t.