Edition: Putnam Hardback
Released: 7th October 2014
Series: Pennyroyal Academy #1
Pages: 320 approx.
Link: Goodreads | Author's Website | Buy the book!
Pennyroyal Academy: Seeking bold, courageous youths to become tomorrow's princesses and knights... Come one, come all!
A girl from the forest arrives in a bustling kingdom with no name and no idea why she is there, only to find herself at the center of a world at war. She enlists at Pennyroyal Academy, where princesses and knights are trained to battle the two great menaces of the day: witches and dragons. There, given the name “Evie,” she must endure a harsh training regimen under the steel glare of her Fairy Drillsergeant, while also navigating an entirely new world of friends and enemies. As Evie learns what it truly means to be a princess, she realizes surprising things about herself and her family, about human compassion and inhuman cruelty. And with the witch forces moving nearer, she discovers that the war between princesses and witches is much more personal than she could ever have imagined.
Set in Grimm’s fairytale world, M.A. Larson’s Pennyroyal Academy masterfully combines adventure, humor, and magical mischief.
A girl from the forest arrives in a bustling kingdom with no name and no idea why she is there, only to find herself at the center of a world at war. She enlists at Pennyroyal Academy, where princesses and knights are trained to battle the two great menaces of the day: witches and dragons. There, given the name “Evie,” she must endure a harsh training regimen under the steel glare of her Fairy Drillsergeant, while also navigating an entirely new world of friends and enemies. As Evie learns what it truly means to be a princess, she realizes surprising things about herself and her family, about human compassion and inhuman cruelty. And with the witch forces moving nearer, she discovers that the war between princesses and witches is much more personal than she could ever have imagined.
Set in Grimm’s fairytale world, M.A. Larson’s Pennyroyal Academy masterfully combines adventure, humor, and magical mischief.
Today I feel like spicing things up (reviewing format-wise) so I'm going to do a My Thoughts in Bullet Points... because I just haven't done one in absolute ages! Without further-a-do...
THE GOOD THINGS
- I was instantly drawn in from the get go. I loved the beginning - it hooked me straight away!
- The world was extremely cool and magical (and, as we all know, I love magical). I'd describe it as one of those worlds that, no matter your age, it'll get your imagination going. I mean, it's set in the Grimm's fairytale world, guys! (Safe to say I recommend it to people who enjoy fairytales and fairytale retellings!)
- I really liked the main character.
- I definitely shipped the main character and... a certain knight right from when they first met in the witch's house at the beginning of the story.
- There was something almost J.K. Rowling-esque about it which I'm sure will intrigue a lot of people! It certainly did me.
- I think this book is meant to be turning into a movie (the writer developed it from a screenplay he wrote) and will be starring Reese Witherspoon - and I'm pretty darn excited about that.
- I will definitely be continuing on with the series - the potential for sequels is real!
- I felt like some parts could have been fleshed out and developed some more. Apparently M.A. Larson used his screenplay to help cut some parts of the novel down but I would have rather he explored and delved into them more instead - I mean, a story should be lengthier than a screenplay anyhow. It was a little disappointing since some of the parts which weren't developed had so much potential. But maybe in the next books, eh?
- Sometimes I questioned the role and purpose of certain events. This might have been because the ideas behind them weren't developed though.
- The climax felt a little rushed.
FOUR TOADSTOOLS TO PENNYROYAL ACADEMY!
Happy Reading,
Rachel xoxo
I'm surprised I've not heard of this before; it does seem like a pretty good book. I love books with princesses and knights! Fantasy is just the best. I'm glad to hear that it seemed J.K. Rowling-esque; that definitely makes me want to pick it up more! Great review!
ReplyDeleteKrystianna @ Downright Dystopian
You should definitely try this one then! Thank you!!
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