Princess of Power: The Folly of Catra

by Cindy West

Adora, Glimmer, Angella, and Madame Razz have a picnic near a stream. Adora wishes that Frosta could be there. She then shows a silver crown that she made as a gift to Frosta that says "She who wears this crown rules the Kingdom of Snows." Madame Razz decides to make desert for everyone, but as usual, her spell goes wrong. Unnoticed, the silver crown falls into the stream. Catra is spying on them (isn't that original...) and steals the fallen crown. She takes it to Frosta and claims that Adora is trying to take over the Kingdom of Snows. Frosta and Catra go to the Whispering Woods together, so Frosta can see for herself. Kowl sees Frosta and tells her that Catra is lying, and Frosta freezes him to a branch. Meanwhile, Adora and company (now including Castaspella) discuss the missing crown. Suddenly, Adora's horse, Spirit panics. Adora realizes something is wrong and becomes She-Ra. Then Frosta joins the party and freezes She-Ra. Catra (who appears out of seeminly nowhere...) tells Frosta that now they can capture Brightmoon together. Glimmer uses her light power to melt the ice on She-Ra, who chases Catra away. Frosta apologizes and the group devise a plan. When Catra comes back, Frosta tells her that she has frozen the entire Kingdom of Brightmoon and shows them the frozen rebels. All of a sudden, the rebels are free (Castaspella made an illusion to make it appear as if they were frozen) and they chase Catra out of the woods for good. Then She-Ra leaves, and the rebels all go to the Crystal Castle (What!?!) and find Adora. Adora gives Frosta the crown and all of the rebels eat Frosta's homemade ice cream.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1985

Reviews

[Sarah A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice She-ra hardback comic. Shorter than most of the she-ra books and therefore better bedtime reading! Fun story about friendship.

[Tiffany Spencer]

The Folly of Catra (Princess of Power)
In Etheria, Queen Angella of Bright Moon and her daughter Glimmer have invited their friends Madame Razz and Princess Adora (and her horse Spirit) to a picnic in the Whispering Woods. Adora thinks it’s the perfect day and wishes her friend Frosta were there to enjoy it with them. But since it’s warm, she says she’d probably happier in the Kingdom of Snow.

Adora has made Frosta a crown and written her a note that says “She who wears this crown rules the Kingdom of Snows.” Madame Razz admires the crown and then says she wants to give them all a surprise and conjure up a wonderful dessert. But instead, of making ice cream, she says rice stream and causes a rice storm. Madame Razz jumps up and down and drops the crown into the Singing River.

Neither of them notices that Catra is lurking nearby in a tree. She grabs the note and the crown. I’m really not sure how they *don’t* see her because there are no trees blocking her from their view and she’s just feet away. Catra thinks I can start some serious ish and runs off. Kowl sees her and follows.

Catra takes the crown to Frosta and tells her Adora is scheming to take over her kingdom. Frosta *says* she can’t believe it. Adora is her friend. Doesn’t stop her though from letting Catra convince her to let her help her stop them. Catra leads Frosta to the Whispering Woods and then leaves her for a minute. Kowl tries to talk sense to Frosta but she just freezes him solid.

Castaspella joins the picnic. Adora is telling everyone how she feels bad that she lost the crown and will have to make another one. All of a sudden, Spirit gallops off into the woods. Sensing trouble, Adora follows him. She transforms into She-ra and Spirit transforms into her unicorn Swift Wind. Frosta appears and says they’ll never take over her kingdom and freezes She-ra and Swift Wind. Catra compliments Frosta and says now they can take over Bright Moon together, but Frosta says that wasn’t part of the plan.


Glimmer says that’s not happening and shots a beam of light at Shera and Swift Wind and unfreezes them. Catra runs back off into the woods. She-ra tells Frosta Adora is her friend and would never try to take over her kingdom and Frosta feels ashamed that she let Catra get in her head. She says they should come up with a plan to trick Catra. Castaspella comes up with a plan.

Frosta goes to Catra and tells her she’s frozen the entire kingdom of Bright Moon. Now she and Catra can rule it together. She shows them where she’s frozen the others into statues. Only Castaspella’s just made it so they *look* frozen. Catra flees the woods in terror when she’s chased out by She-ra and Swift Wind (vowing to return some day). Everyone is relieved to find Adora safe. She says she went looking for the crown and returns it to Frosta (who again apologizes). But she’s curious to know how Kowl got defrosted. Kowl says he was freed by She-ra and winks at Adora.

They return to the picnic, but just to be on the safe side when Madame Razz offers to make the ice cream, they let Frosta do it.

My Thoughts:
It just seemed odd that to be Adora’s “friend” Frosta didn’t waste a second letting Catra get in her head hat Adora was trying to take over her kingdom. I kinda wondered if Frosta and Catra had a history of working together but when I looked it up there was no evidence of this. It makes you wonder how really good a friend is that can hop to conclusions about you based on very little.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

found a scan of this on facwebook my inner 8-9 year old liked it