Books › A princess of Landover
A princess of Landover
466 pages
A whimsical, coming-of-age romp through a magical realm where teenage rebellion meets dragons and destiny.
What it feels like
Stepping into this novel feels like returning to a beloved, slightly dusty magical wardrobe. The narrative moves at a brisk, entertaining clip, propelled by the stubborn energy of a teenage protagonist who would rather face down dragons than organize a library. It balances the cozy nostalgia of classic portal fantasy with the timeless, relatable frustrations of growing up and clashing with parental expectations. The prose is warm and accessible, painting a whimsical world of gnomes, wizards, and enchanted castles without ever taking itself too seriously. Readers who delight in lighthearted, character-driven adventures where magical mishaps serve as metaphors for finding one's own path will find themselves thoroughly charmed by this enchanting, coming-of-age romp.
- Mood
- whimsical
- cozy
- enchanting
- Tone
- lighthearted
- adventurous
- wry
- nostalgic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- teenage rebellion · coming of age · family expectations · finding one's path · the burden of legacy
- The writing
- Accessible and warmly descriptive, balancing classic high-fantasy flourishes with grounded, contemporary dialogue.
- The arc
- Moves from frustrated teenage rebellion to a mature acceptance of responsibility and personal power.
- Who it's for
- Fans of classic, lighthearted portal fantasy who enjoy coming-of-age tales featuring stubborn, magically gifted protagonists.
Content notes
- mild fantasy violence
- parent-child conflict
About the book
After fourteen years, fantasy master Terry Brooks has returned to the magic kingdom of Landover. The remarkable realm of dragons, demons, wizards, and wonders that wove an irresistible spell in five classic novels throws open its gates at long last for a brand-new adventure featuring a dazzling cast of characters and creatures.Ben Holiday, Chicago lawyer and mere mortal turned monarch of enchanted Landover, has grappled with scheming barons, fire-breathing beasts, diabolical conjurers, and extremely wicked witches. None of whom have prepared him for the most daunting of challengers--a teenage daughter. Sent by Ben and his beloved sylph bride, Willow, to an exclusive girls' prep school, headstrong (and half-magical) Mistaya Holiday has found life in the natural world a less than perfect fit. And when her latest rebellious antics get her indefinitely suspended, she's determined to resume her real education--learning sorcery from court wizard Questor Thews--whether her parents like it or not. But back home in Landover, Mistaya's frustrated father is just as determined that the precocious princess learn some responsibility, and he declares her grounded until she successfully refurbishes the long-forsaken royal library. Mortified by the prospect of salvaging a king's ransom in moldy books--and horrified by word that repulsive local nobleman Lord Laphroig seeks to marry her--Mistaya decides that the only way to run her own life is to run away from home. So begins an eventful odyssey peppered with a formidable dragon, recalcitrant gnomes, an inscrutable magic cat, a handsome librarian, a sinister sorcerer, and more than a few narrow escapes as fate draws Landover's intrepid princess to the last place she expected to go, and into the thick of a mystery that will put her mettle to the test--and might bring the kingdom to its knees.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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