The Ugly Princess

Elizabeth K. Burton
Zumaya Publications (2003)
ISBN 18949424
Reviewed by Sondra Fowler for Reader Views (5/06)

Her mother, the Queen had fled, her father, the boorish King thought her too ugly to be viewed, the poor ugly princess was sent away to live in the care of trolls. Upon receiving word that his estranged wife had died, King Edrick promptly accepts the beautiful daughter of a neighboring king as his new bride. The king was desperate to produce a male heir with his new queen, unfortunately before he could consummate his marriage he choked to death at the wedding feast. His death left the sole legitimate child of the king, the Ugly Princess as the new Queen.

Sir Christopher rides out to retrieve the new Queen from her trollish exile and Bartrim, the king’s seneschal dealt with the intrigue and twist of a plot to wrest the crown from the yet unseen Ugly Princess. Much knightly behavior ensues and many courtly plots are schemed. Will the end bring a happily ever after for the young queen? This story was a great fairy tale like romp. There were knights, rogues, scoundrels, and a Princess of great mystery and intelligence. It’s a lovely piece that refreshingly doesn’t smack us about with phrases such as: Her hair shimmered golden in the sun…ugh. Instead we are given wonderful things like: “She was allegedly given to fits of screaming rage, to have bitten the nipple from the breast of her wet nurse, to have claws and horns and scales.” Now there is a princess for the ages. That intelligence and wit can charm as well as beauty is a great example in this plastic princess world. I would suggest this to anyone who prefers a few twists with their pageantry. It would be a great read for any older teen girl – but not only teen girls, I liked it too-who likes fantasy not only because it’s a good story but it’s a great message.

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