Cursed Princess Club Novel 1: A Most Unusual Princess

Cursed Princess Club (Novel) #1

by Michelle Knudsen, LambCat (Original Author)

For fans of Lambcat’s enchanting WEBTOON comes a novel adaptation of the hit WEBTOON series in the vein of Serena Valentino’s Disney Villains series or the Mariko Tamaki’s Lumberjanes novelization. Explore the world of the Cursed Princess Club.

The beloved world of the Cursed Princesses makes the leap from comics to fiction in this new series of novel adaptations based on the hit graphic novels.

Gwendolyn is living the fairy-tale life. She’s a princess. She lives in a castle with her father the king and her loving siblings. Everything is perfect. Or it was.

One day, Gwen overhears a visiting prince commenting on her appearance in the harshest of terms and her world is upended. She’s always known she didn’t look like your typical princess, but her family thinks she’s beautiful. No one has ever been so mean. 

Devastated, Gwen runs into the Haunted Forest and there she meets the Cursed Princesses, a group of outcasts and misfits who band together to show Gwen that she really is a princess. 

Based on the hit WEBTOON and adapted by best-selling author Michelle Knudsen, these novels will take readers deep into the world of the Cursed Princess Club.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2025

About the author

Michelle Knudsen is a Nebula Award–winning and New York Times best-selling author of more than 50 books for young readers and a writer of speculative short fiction for adults. Her titles include the picture book Library Lion (Time magazine's 100 Best Children's Books of All Time) and the novels The Dragon of Trelian (VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers) and Evil Librarian (YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults; Sid Fleischman Humor Award). Her most recent books are the middle grade novel Into the Wild Magic (2025 Andre Norton Nebula Award) and the YA webcomic novelization Cursed Princess Club: Mirror, Mirror. A lifelong musical theater lover, Michelle is thrilled that two of her books (Library Lion and Evil Librarian) have now been made into musicals! Visit her website for more information and upcoming performance dates. Michelle lives in Brooklyn, New York. Find her on Instagram @michelle.knudsen, on Bluesky @michelleknudsen.bsky.social, or at michelleknudsen.com.

Reviews

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent novelization of the Cursed Princess Club graphic novel! I absolutely love this story and enjoyed reading this version of it. This was a super cute read and the story will always be a favorite of mine.

Thank you to Wattpad Books for the gifted copy.

[librariSAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | Wattpad Books for the ARC for review!!

When I saw that my FAVORITE graphic novel series was getting a NOVEL, I was ecstatic! The Cursed Princess Club graphic novels are so near and dear to my heart that while I was excited, I was a little worried this novel would not meet my very high expectations.

This novel did not disappoint. While I did miss the visuals from the graphic (because they are simply AMAZING) this novel was able to convey the true heart of the graphic novel without the images.

What I do really enjoy about the novelization of this series so far is being able to dig a bit deeper into what Gwen & Frederick are feeling. I feel like after reading the graphics* it's really nice to get some additional emotional inner dialogue from the characters.

The author did an incredible job at staying true to the tone and character voices of the graphic novels. I love the way that they write. It is clear, concise and also keeps the humorous, awkward and relatable tone from the graphics.

I wasn't sure at first that I would give this 5 stars, as nothing compares to the graphics to me, but considering the medium change and additional writing involved I would say after finishing this it definitely deserves a 5 and a spot on my favorites list!

*I would say if you are considering reading this, I would recommend reading at least the first volume of the graphic novels first as it helps with visualizing some unique characters, but I wouldn't say it is totally dire in order to enjoy this novel. (Plus it is my favorite graphic novel series so I would be remiss to not recommend it!)

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read)]

This new young adult novel takes a spin on classic fairytale princesses as it explores inner worth and embracing your true self.

It is based on a webcomic/graphic novel by LambCat. We see a lot of novels get graphic novel adaptations so it was fun to see this go the opposite way as a novel based on a graphic novel. In a lighthearted way the story addresses a lot of fairytale perceptions like beauty standards and narrow roles and gives the characters a chance to explore what really matters to them. This is the first of the series and so sets up the beginnings of more growth to come!

The main character loves to bake and I love making book inspired food so I paired the book with one of the recipes included with the book: Berry Bewitching Brownies. They were a tasty strawberry version of the classic treat!

[Ryleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing me a free eARC for review. All opinions remain my own.

An Unusual Princess adapts the first print volume of the popular Webtoon Cursed Princess Club into the prose format. The point of view characters are Gwendolyn "Gwen", the youngest princess of the magical and beautiful Pastel royal family. Unlike her traditional beautiful sisters (and brother) Gwen has a strange appearance of sharp teeth, green hair, and yellow skin. But her siblings still love her the same. Our other main character is Prince Frederick of the Plaid Kingdom. When Frederick and his brothers are engaged to the Pastel princesses, Frederick sees his engagement to the unusual Gwen as an insult. Gwen overhears him calling her "ugly", which shocks and upsets her, so she runs away into the forest to clear her head. She runs into the Cursed Princess Club, an eccentric group of princesses (and a prince) who are rejected by society for having incurable curses. The Cursed Princess Club serves as a safe place for those who no longer have one. Seeing Gwen's appearance, the club accepts Gwen as one of their own.

I enjoyed the original Webtoon and I believe this book adapts the original story faithfully. While I liked being able to get into the characters' minds better, the humor doesn't hit quite as well without the illustrations and at times feels out of place. But this book maintains the same values of love and acceptance as the original which lifts the story beyond a simple princess story into something better than the some of its parts.

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel version of the graphic novel, Cursed Princess Club? Yes, please. While I read the graphic novel first, I still enjoyed the novel, and it felt like a new experience. The heart and humor of the graphic novel are there and sweet like Gwen's pies.

The story follows Princess Gwen as she deals with her first bout of rejection from a prince. Yes, I wish I could shake some sense into him as he bases his dislike of her primarily on looks. This is a new experience for Gwen because she has never been judged purely on her looks. While the prince makes her feel less than, the discovery of the cursed princess club is a blessing in disguise. They are a group of ladies and, yes, a man, who don't fit the mold but stick together to support and give each other that boost of confidence we all need and deserve.

Gwen's family is so fun to read about. Her father just wants to set all his daughters up with princesses, and they are wrapped around his finger. Gwen's sisters and brother are a solid group and would give up their happiness if it meant Gwen was saved. I love the bond they share, and it really adds charm to the story.

If you loved the graphic novel, you will enjoy this novel! And if this is the first time being introduced to the story, you will fall in love with it too!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on the 2023 webcomic of the same name and adapted by Michelle Knudsen.

Gwendolyn and her two older sisters have been overprotected by their father, the King of the Pastel Kingdom. They have not been allowed to leave their castle. After their father announces he’s agreed to allow them to marry three brothers, princes in a nearby kingdom, the soon-to-be betrothed couple exchange paintings of themselves. But there is a problem . . .

This is a well-written fantasy, but there are problems. Gwen is the only developed character amongst several characters and the others remain amorphous throughout the book. The princesses in the club are only minor characters in this book, but still are the most interesting of all the characters. There is a lot of angst that Gwen goes through as well as the prince, who is to be her fiance, while not overwhelming can be annoying perhaps because of Gwen’s naivete. None of the conflicts that dominate the story were resolved by the end of the book..

This is a fast read and suitable for most ages. If you like fairy tales,you’ll love this book.

My thanks Wattpad and Edelweiss for an eARC.

[ThrottleQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based on the 2023 webcomic of the same name and adapted by Michelle Knudsen.

Gwendolyn and her two older sisters have been overprotected by their father, the King of the Pastel Kingdom. They have not been allowed to leave their castle. After their father announces he’s agreed to allow them to marry three brothers, princes in a nearby kingdom, the soon-to-be betrothed couple exchange paintings of themselves. But there is a problem . . .

This is a well-written fantasy, but there are problems. Gwen is the only developed character amongst several characters and the others remain amorphous throughout the book. The princesses in the club are only minor characters in this book, but still are the most interesting of all the characters. There is a lot of angst that Gwen goes through as well as the prince, who is to be her fiance, while not overwhelming can be annoying perhaps because of Gwen’s naivete. None of the conflicts that dominate the story were resolved by the end of the book..

This is a fast read and suitable for most ages. If you like fairy tales,you’ll love this book.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

I absolutely love the Cursed Princess Club graphic novels. Because of that, I was a little nervous to read the novelization of the series, but Knudsen did not disappoint. She perfectly captures the characters and provides humorous descriptions and narration that matches the original imagery.

I haven't read the first graphic novel in a bit so it was really fun to revisit the story in a novelized version. I loved getting to meet the characters again.

The book is well-written and engaging. The characters really shine through the narration. A truly fantastic adaptation.

This is such a great story. Wonderful themes of establishing independence, finding community, and supporting others. I adore the universe of the Cursed Princess Club and this was a lovely way to revisit the story's origins.

Can't wait to read the next book.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cursed Princess Club has been one of my favorite GN in a LONG time, it's so fun and whimsical! When I found out there'd be a novel adaptation of one of my favorite GN reads, I *HAD* to read it! I think it helps give a lot of insight into the minds of our main characters a bit more, so I think it's a better read to have alongside the GN series. Frederick's personality is a bit more fleshed out than what we saw in the GN, the princes all came off a bit superficial (which falls into the theme of the story, with Gwen etc), and we hear a bit more of his thoughts and background. We immediately get to see how beautiful of a person Gwen is from the start, and I think I'm her biggest fan :)
If you've read the GN series, you'll enjoy this! If you haven't, you still will! As long as you like fairy tale retellings, sweet princesses who are more than just skin deep, and wacky fun!

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ Fantasy Comedy | Whimsical | Heartfelt

Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I went into Cursed Princess Club without reading the original webtoon, but I’d heard there were some minor differences and one I really liked was that Gwendolyn’s pet is a possum (it’s sometimes called a rat, but the possum detail made me smile). Going in, I thought Gwendolyn was adorable based on the cover art, so it was surprising to learn that she’s considered “ugly” or witch-like in her world.

The story follows Gwendolyn and her sisters, princesses from the Pastel Kingdom, who are arranged to marry princes from the Plaid Kingdom. Gwendolyn is paired with Frederic, who isn’t thrilled about the arrangement, especially since his brothers are set to marry her more traditionally beautiful sisters. Along the way, Gwendolyn meets a group of outcast princesses who’ve been cursed and reluctantly joins their club.

The book ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you wondering what will happen next between Gwen and Frederic, who agree to stay friends for now, but their relationship might grow into something more. Overall, it’s a charming, childlike story that will appeal most to younger readers, despite its arranged marriage theme.

[Maxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the arc!

I absolutely loved the webtoon and was thoroughly happy that the novel depicted things with imagery despite the webcomics images not being there. I could still visualize things and felt the true heart of the webcomic's story shining through. We also got to know a lot more about the characters, like Gwen for example. The inner monologue really makes the characters even more fleshed out and even gives us more perspective on the characters.

The humor and prose that I loved from the comic really transferred well over into novel form, and I can't wait to read the rest of the novels!

[Vanessa]

I really do love this little series, and am happy to see it get adapted so it can reach a wider audience. Howeverrrrr. This doesn’t translate super well to a book, IMO. The humour doesn’t land, the plot structure leaves the book feeling incomplete, all the descriptions of what were once just drawn background details feel fanficcy… a lot of it feels fanficcy, actually. Better off just reading the comic. It would also benefit from being marketed as firmly in the middle grade range.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everything a tween girl should be reading. Very engaging story and characters. As a bonus, the values it espouses - acceptaince of others and ourselves, kindness, not judging others without getting to know them first, standing up for family and friends - are all taught throughout the book without ever sounding preachy! Can't wait to pass this book along to my own granddaughter in a few years when she is old enough for it!

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read the graphic novel series, so when I found out there was a novel version, I had to pick it up. One of the things I really enjoy about reading novel adaptations of graphic novels is getting deeper insight into the characters’ thoughts and emotions.

This book did a fantastic job capturing the heart of the original story while adding even more depth to it. It brought so much more to an already great story. I can’t wait to continue the rest of the series in this format!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Webtoon/Wattpad for providing an eARC via NetGalley for review

I’m a huge fan of the graphic novel series, so I was super excited to read the novel version of Cursed Princess Club. This novel is the same story as the graphic novel. I love these characters and this story. While I prefer the graphic novel version of this series, I do look forward to reading future volumes of the novels.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and un-put-downable!
I have not read the GN or much of the webtoon, so I was getting introduced to most of the characters for the first time and am looking forward to learning about more of them in the next book.

[Becky - Pug and Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the graphic novel far more than the novelization. I don’t thinking the novel brought anything new to the story so I’m unsure what the point was.

[Toby Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just like with The Amazing Digital Circus, my sister got me into this series. I originally read the graphic novels and loved each character, and I was excited to read about the characters in this new format. The writing style matched the vibe of the original perfectly. I think I like the graphic novels just a bit better, and book 1 was never my favorite as well. (This is one of the series where each book gets better.) I will still be picking up the second novel adaptation because I’m excited to see how the novels get better as well.

[Brandon Wills · Rating 5 out of 5]

A faithful adaptation to an amazing webcomic