All points/rating for this book, Princess Princess Ever After comes from the lovely, classical folktale illustrations that Kay O’Neill gave us.
This modern twist of Prince saving the Princess has been seen before, (this time we have a Princess saving the Princess). But this time O’Neill also tosses in a prince who has a little side story (which is not really needed, or at least could have been expanded a bit Perhaps he’ll get his own story someday?). However, it is still about expectations and doing what is right for yourself. Perhaps in 2016 when I am assuming this was first produced in the states, it was a new idea, but it has become common if not 100% “mainstream.”
I was speaking with a coworker about this book, and they had not read it, but thought it was an earlier book created by the author. I agreed as it did not feel “up to their standards” or what I feel O’Neill could do. I enjoyed the idea of the story, and it is diverse as the cover and title show. I enjoyed the idea of the adventures but there was something missing. And what was missing was, the story.
O’Neill shows you a bit of how Princess Amira tackles trying to rescue Princess Sadie, and that recalls all the princess in a tower and/or guarded by a dragon story. Except this time, the dragon is a fat, beloved pet. And this time when the two princesses realize that they can battle their past, Sadie’s older sister (who put her in the tower) is defeated, and Amira admits she does not want to marry any old prince, and realizes she is not the hero she wants to be (yet) they can go be themselves until the time is right.
Yet, as said, there is not a lot of action, you just “see that stuff happened” and then have Amira return. And spoiler: the two Princesses find their happily ever after (or at least until after the honeymoon is over).