A Princess Of Landover by Terry Brooks

After fourteen years, New York Times bestselling 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.

Although this book is adult fiction, it might as well be read by every age group. I've read some of Terry Brook's work before and I loved it so coming into this I was expecting a lot.

Unfortunately, it did not measure up. While the book is good in some parts, it is quite slow on others and I couldn't get into it until the very end. I kept waiting for the action to happen and when it did, it fell short.

The main character, Mistaya, is a fifteen year old teen and I was happy that I could relate to her and her problems as a teenager. I also loved Thom and the little hints of romance here and there.

The supporting characters were good and the villans were villans. There's nothing that really impressed me about this book.

In one sentence: "Falls short compared to other Terry Brooks's work."

Plot: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 3
Average: 3.8 stars