Frogkisser! - Book Review

Frogkisser! - Book Review

Garth Nix

YA Fantasy / Fairytale

UK Publisher: Piccadilly Press

Synopsis:

The last thing she needs is a Prince. The first thing she needs is some magic.

Poor Princess Anya. Forced to live with her evil stepmother’s new husband, her evil stepstepfather. Plagued with an unfortunate ability to break curses with a magic-assisted kiss. And forced to go on the run when her stepstepfather decides to make the kingdom entirely his own.

Aided by a loyal talking dog, a boy thief trapped in the body of a newt, and some extraordinarily mischievous wizards, Anya sets off on a Quest that, if she plays it right, will ultimately free her land — and teach her a thing or two about the use of power, the effectiveness of a well-placed pucker, and the finding of friends in places both high and low.

Review:

This has been on of my favourite reads this year! A unique and original fairytale that has no romance, doesn’t try to take itself too seriously, and isn't afraid to make fun of the outdated notions of old school fairytales. It was a really unexpected read that I throughly enjoyed.

Princess Anya is second in line for the throne, and as such, cares only about reading books and practicing her sorcery. But when her evil step-step-father takes over the kingdom, transforming any who defy him into warty-amphibians, Anna is forced to flee the castle.

Now with a talking dog at her side, and accompanied by a boy/newt and an otter/maid, Anna sets off on a quest to create a magical lip balm - the only thing with enough power to transform each frog back to its human state. But the search for the ingredients is full of perils, and with her step-step-father’s minions shadowing her footsteps, Anya will need all her skill and cunning if she is to survive and win back her castle…

I adored this book and I think anyone from the age of eight upwards would enjoy it too. With a cast of unique characters - who come in all shapes and sizes -  this book is not your typical fairytale. 

Anya is a delicious, if reluctant heroine. Practical in her thinking, she uses her wits to defeat her opponents, yet is still naive enough about the world around her to learn some big, life-changing lessons along the way.

Nothing about this story is stereotypical. Each character comes with distinct personalities and together they really help drive this book forward. You never know who (or what) you’re going to meet next. 

What I liked most about Frogkisser! though was the humour in the writing. It's a book that isn't a afraid to make fun of the villain’s laugh, or roll its eyes at the swooning princess and her “true love”. 

The plot was also very imaginative and I was never bored. Admittedly I did figure out a few of the plot twists and guessed the direction the story was heading, but I still enjoyed the journey nonetheless. 

Overall a super cute fairytale that deserves to be gushed over! 5 stars!

Chat with Me!

Have you read this book? If not I hope you check out this one, along with Garth Nix's fabulous Abhorsen Series! Happy reading!

Need more fairytale style reads? Try HOWLS MOVING CASTLE or THE OTHER ALICE