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Tales from the Chocolate Heart #3
The Princess Who Flew with Dragons
Princess Sofia of Drachenheim is sick of being used for her older sister’s political gains. At twelve years old, she’s already been a hostage to invading dragons and a promised future fiancé to a wicked fairy. Her only comfort lies in writing letters to her pen pal and best friend--Jasper, a young dragon whom she's never even met.
When Sofia's older sister sends her on a diplomatic mission to far-off Villenne, she's meant to play the part of a charming, smiling princess. But when an accident leads to her exile from the city, Sofia is free to wander as she pleases for the first time in her life. And when Jasper's food-mage sister Aventurine turns him into a human boy, Sofia thinks life can't get any better. Until… the legendary ice giants of the north attack, trying to reclaim the territory that they lost centuries ago. With the dragons and royals frozen in ice, can Sofia and Jasper save their families and kingdom?
Another enchanting and strong-hearted fantasy, set in the same world as The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and The Girl with the Dragon Heart.
When Sofia's older sister sends her on a diplomatic mission to far-off Villenne, she's meant to play the part of a charming, smiling princess. But when an accident leads to her exile from the city, Sofia is free to wander as she pleases for the first time in her life. And when Jasper's food-mage sister Aventurine turns him into a human boy, Sofia thinks life can't get any better. Until… the legendary ice giants of the north attack, trying to reclaim the territory that they lost centuries ago. With the dragons and royals frozen in ice, can Sofia and Jasper save their families and kingdom?
Another enchanting and strong-hearted fantasy, set in the same world as The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and The Girl with the Dragon Heart.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2019
49 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
82 books1,368 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
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November 5, 2019My new MG fantasy! It's full of snarky princesses, radical goblin girls, terrifying ice giants, a philosophical dragon, and a cat who...may have JUST A BIT in common with my own cat, Pebbles.
And it's out today in the US and Canada! Wooooot!
This trilogy of fierce girls and dragons is complete, and I am so happy about it. <3
And it's out today in the US and Canada! Wooooot!
This trilogy of fierce girls and dragons is complete, and I am so happy about it. <3
June 24, 2020
This third book in the Tales from the Chocolate Heart series features Sofia and her struggles to come to terms with being a princess and pursuing her personal goals. She is sent on a diplomatic expedition and finds herself with the opportunity to move about in a foreign land incognito. The ice giants ruin the party, but give Sofia and her sister Katrina a new avenue to improve their relationship. Loved having Jasper play a substantial role as both a dragon and a boy. Looking forward to tale #4. We need more chocolate in the next one, please.
February 26, 2022
Ahoy there me mateys! This series deals with dragons and chocolate so of course I had to read it. I binged this series and loved it. Who doesn't love the themes of embracing who ye are and finding yer own inner strengths. Here be me thoughts.
the dragon with the chocolate heart
This book made me salty heart sing with its awesomeness. This is the story of young dragon Aventurine who is determined to prove how fierce she is by sneaking out of the family cave. Only the first human she tries to catch turns her into a human girl! Using enchanted hot chocolate! Aventurine's inadvertently discovers that chocolate is her passion but then has to figure out how to survive the new world she finds herself in.
I adored Aventurine. I adored her dragon family. I adored her found family. I loved watching her navigate the human world and her very dragony thoughts about it. I loved the ending. Basically this was a perfect read for me. One of the best parts about it is a scene where an adult takes responsibility for problems that occur and apologizes. Children take responsibility for things outside of their control sometimes and this book deals with that in a lovely way. I just loved this moment of reality in a book where children still save the day. And I wanted to eat all the chocolate.
the girl with the dragon heart
The second book follows Silke who is Adventurine's best human friend. Silke is a natural born storyteller who likes to adopt other roles. She is brought in as a spy to the royal family when fairies come along. But she has a mission of her own when it comes to dealing with the fairies.
This was very enjoyable but me least favorite of the bunch. I just wasn't as thrilled with the fae aspects and Silke's bumbling around. Silke was just a little too focused on her own quest to the detriment of others. In the first book she seemed so capable and this book seemed to go against the character traits of the first book. Of course it all works out. I loved Adventurine in this book too.
the princess who flew with dragons
This was me second favorite of the series. Princess Sofia is coerced into a diplomatic mission in a neighboring kingdom. She doesn't want to go. Sofia has always had problems fulfilling her royal duties and relating to others and the events of book two have made her terrified to face the larger world. And of course, her mission goes wrong right from the start.
And how it goes wrong is so delightful that I was laughing out loud. The first carriage ride is stunningly horrible and funny. Of course with her mission in tatters, Sofia decides to use the time to do what she wants to do. And what she wants to do it be a student at university. It is there that Sofia is exposed to bigger ideas about the world and the people in it. And how her life of privilege has kept her blind despite all the books she has studied. Then ice giants attack and Sofia has to save the day. This book had lovely messages about friendship, forgiveness, and working together. I loved it.
the short stories
I was delighted to find that the author has three short stories set in the world available on her website. Of course I had to read these too. One is a prequel about Citrine , Aventurine’s disapproving older sister! Citrine gets revenge for her younger siblings trick. Short and fun. Another is a story about Marina and Horst , the chocolatiers, and how they met and started their future together. It was sweet. And then Silke's brother, Dieter, got his own mission. It was lovely to see what happened to Dieter after his world was turned upside down by the events of book two.
I loved this series and need to read more of Stephanie Burgis' work. Arrr!
the dragon with the chocolate heart
This book made me salty heart sing with its awesomeness. This is the story of young dragon Aventurine who is determined to prove how fierce she is by sneaking out of the family cave. Only the first human she tries to catch turns her into a human girl! Using enchanted hot chocolate! Aventurine's inadvertently discovers that chocolate is her passion but then has to figure out how to survive the new world she finds herself in.
I adored Aventurine. I adored her dragon family. I adored her found family. I loved watching her navigate the human world and her very dragony thoughts about it. I loved the ending. Basically this was a perfect read for me. One of the best parts about it is a scene where an adult takes responsibility for problems that occur and apologizes. Children take responsibility for things outside of their control sometimes and this book deals with that in a lovely way. I just loved this moment of reality in a book where children still save the day. And I wanted to eat all the chocolate.
the girl with the dragon heart
The second book follows Silke who is Adventurine's best human friend. Silke is a natural born storyteller who likes to adopt other roles. She is brought in as a spy to the royal family when fairies come along. But she has a mission of her own when it comes to dealing with the fairies.
This was very enjoyable but me least favorite of the bunch. I just wasn't as thrilled with the fae aspects and Silke's bumbling around. Silke was just a little too focused on her own quest to the detriment of others. In the first book she seemed so capable and this book seemed to go against the character traits of the first book. Of course it all works out. I loved Adventurine in this book too.
the princess who flew with dragons
This was me second favorite of the series. Princess Sofia is coerced into a diplomatic mission in a neighboring kingdom. She doesn't want to go. Sofia has always had problems fulfilling her royal duties and relating to others and the events of book two have made her terrified to face the larger world. And of course, her mission goes wrong right from the start.
And how it goes wrong is so delightful that I was laughing out loud. The first carriage ride is stunningly horrible and funny. Of course with her mission in tatters, Sofia decides to use the time to do what she wants to do. And what she wants to do it be a student at university. It is there that Sofia is exposed to bigger ideas about the world and the people in it. And how her life of privilege has kept her blind despite all the books she has studied. Then ice giants attack and Sofia has to save the day. This book had lovely messages about friendship, forgiveness, and working together. I loved it.
the short stories
I was delighted to find that the author has three short stories set in the world available on her website. Of course I had to read these too. One is a prequel about Citrine , Aventurine’s disapproving older sister! Citrine gets revenge for her younger siblings trick. Short and fun. Another is a story about Marina and Horst , the chocolatiers, and how they met and started their future together. It was sweet. And then Silke's brother, Dieter, got his own mission. It was lovely to see what happened to Dieter after his world was turned upside down by the events of book two.
I loved this series and need to read more of Stephanie Burgis' work. Arrr!
January 8, 2020
When Princess Katrin orders her sister Princess Sofia to go to Villene to attend the Diamond exhibition, Sofia does begrudgingly. Tired of being a princess, she goes in disguise to go see her favorite philosopher and gains new friends until Ice Giants threaten the city. Can she protect her friends and family from the threat? Read on for yourself and find out.
This was a great conclusion to the girl with the chocolate heart series. If you enjoy middle grade Fantasy stories about dragons and more then be sure to check this and the rest of this book series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
This was a great conclusion to the girl with the chocolate heart series. If you enjoy middle grade Fantasy stories about dragons and more then be sure to check this and the rest of this book series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
December 1, 2019
Review originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
It's great to have those authors you can always count on to provide a good story. It is even better when those authors consistently provide excellent series with multiple characters to love. Stephanie Burgis is one of those authors for me. The Princess Who Flew with Dragons is her latest MG novel and continues the world she developed in The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and The Girl with the Dragon Heart.
Princess Sofia has lived her entire life feeling second rate. Her older sister runs the kingdom of Drachenhiem ruthlessly and brilliantly. Sofia feels second best and second rate in comparison. All she does is make messes for her sister to clean up. The only time Sofia feels fully, comfortably herself is when she is immersed in one of her books or corresponding with Jasper, her dragon penpal. She can be herself with Jasper because she knows they will never be meeting, and therefore, he will never know what a disaster she is. When her sister sends her to the country of Villenne to learn more about their advances and kingdom, Sofia feels completely inadequate for the task, beginning with the travel sickness that comes on the instant she takes flight with her dragon escort. As she predicts, things go wrong from the moment she "lands". However, it results in her having the opportunity to explore the world from a different perspective. As she makes friends and learns more about the various problems and people of Villenne, she starts to feel a little more comfortable in her own skin, but then every thing seems to go wrong all at once in an explosion of angry elders and Ice Giants. In a horrible instant, the fate of several countries, including her own, comes to rest on Sofia's young shoulders. She must go on a perilous quest to save the world from war and winter.
Sofia's struggle to find a place in the world is one that will resonate with readers of all ages. She is coming from a privileged world and is quite naive to the layers and nuance of how people live, yet every time she learns something new about the world's injustices, she attempts to do what she can to make positive changes in both the world around her and her place in it. Sofia is incredibly book smart but needs to learn more about the world. Her deep insecurities and anxieties make it difficult at times, but she always finds the courage. She makes mistakes. She works hard to atone for those mistakes. In addition to Sofia, a wonderful cast of numerous new characters are introduced. She befriends a group of three goblins and kobold who help her explore and experience more of the world. Aventurine's younger brother Jasper leaves his safe home to come and see the world with Sofia instead of just living it through her letters. On the main rescue quest Sofia, Jasper, and the kobold Fedolia have to work together to achieve their different personal goals and save the wider world. Burgis does an excellent job of using them to change each other and impact the plot in different ways.
For such a light series for young MG readers, Burgis has tackled some pretty deep themes in the series overall, and that continues in this book as well. This is a fantasy that has different races of magical creatures and different nations all coming together in one place with all the misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mishaps that can cause. There is a lot said about education, diplomacy, and the postering of nations, but it is all presented in a way that will not overwhelm the target audience. It is one of those great novels that can be understood at different levels as well.
I think this is meant to be the end of the story, but I don't want it to be. It ends well. It would be a perfect end if it is the end. I just don't want to say goodbye to this world and the amazing characters who people it.
It's great to have those authors you can always count on to provide a good story. It is even better when those authors consistently provide excellent series with multiple characters to love. Stephanie Burgis is one of those authors for me. The Princess Who Flew with Dragons is her latest MG novel and continues the world she developed in The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and The Girl with the Dragon Heart.
Princess Sofia has lived her entire life feeling second rate. Her older sister runs the kingdom of Drachenhiem ruthlessly and brilliantly. Sofia feels second best and second rate in comparison. All she does is make messes for her sister to clean up. The only time Sofia feels fully, comfortably herself is when she is immersed in one of her books or corresponding with Jasper, her dragon penpal. She can be herself with Jasper because she knows they will never be meeting, and therefore, he will never know what a disaster she is. When her sister sends her to the country of Villenne to learn more about their advances and kingdom, Sofia feels completely inadequate for the task, beginning with the travel sickness that comes on the instant she takes flight with her dragon escort. As she predicts, things go wrong from the moment she "lands". However, it results in her having the opportunity to explore the world from a different perspective. As she makes friends and learns more about the various problems and people of Villenne, she starts to feel a little more comfortable in her own skin, but then every thing seems to go wrong all at once in an explosion of angry elders and Ice Giants. In a horrible instant, the fate of several countries, including her own, comes to rest on Sofia's young shoulders. She must go on a perilous quest to save the world from war and winter.
Sofia's struggle to find a place in the world is one that will resonate with readers of all ages. She is coming from a privileged world and is quite naive to the layers and nuance of how people live, yet every time she learns something new about the world's injustices, she attempts to do what she can to make positive changes in both the world around her and her place in it. Sofia is incredibly book smart but needs to learn more about the world. Her deep insecurities and anxieties make it difficult at times, but she always finds the courage. She makes mistakes. She works hard to atone for those mistakes. In addition to Sofia, a wonderful cast of numerous new characters are introduced. She befriends a group of three goblins and kobold who help her explore and experience more of the world. Aventurine's younger brother Jasper leaves his safe home to come and see the world with Sofia instead of just living it through her letters. On the main rescue quest Sofia, Jasper, and the kobold Fedolia have to work together to achieve their different personal goals and save the wider world. Burgis does an excellent job of using them to change each other and impact the plot in different ways.
For such a light series for young MG readers, Burgis has tackled some pretty deep themes in the series overall, and that continues in this book as well. This is a fantasy that has different races of magical creatures and different nations all coming together in one place with all the misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mishaps that can cause. There is a lot said about education, diplomacy, and the postering of nations, but it is all presented in a way that will not overwhelm the target audience. It is one of those great novels that can be understood at different levels as well.
I think this is meant to be the end of the story, but I don't want it to be. It ends well. It would be a perfect end if it is the end. I just don't want to say goodbye to this world and the amazing characters who people it.
March 9, 2020
God, this book is utterly charming. I sped through it as an adult and I know I would have adored it as a kid. (It would have been a winner as an audiobook for family road trips, too.) I don't even feel like I missed out on that much by reading the prior two books - though I fully intend to go back and do so at some point.
The Shannon Hale comparison on the back felt spot-on, though I think this book is best suited for a slightly younger audience than the Bayern quartet at least. But we've got princesses, magic, international politics, disguises - y'know, all the good stuff. It's a speedy little book, easy to get lost in for a few hours, and just so much dang fun. Sofia is an excellent protagonist, with some deep flaws that come from relatable places, and she grows beautifully over the course of the story.
Not an all-time fave for me, but definitely a book that could be that for a young reader, and one I'd wholeheartedly recommend to younger cousins.
The Shannon Hale comparison on the back felt spot-on, though I think this book is best suited for a slightly younger audience than the Bayern quartet at least. But we've got princesses, magic, international politics, disguises - y'know, all the good stuff. It's a speedy little book, easy to get lost in for a few hours, and just so much dang fun. Sofia is an excellent protagonist, with some deep flaws that come from relatable places, and she grows beautifully over the course of the story.
Not an all-time fave for me, but definitely a book that could be that for a young reader, and one I'd wholeheartedly recommend to younger cousins.
April 12, 2020
THIS SERIES IS PURE JOY
August 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this final book in the trilogy. Despite the previous main characters not being in it I found I very much enjoyed getting to know Sofi and how she discovered herself by finding friends and a strength she didn't realise she had. It had a great positive message which was something I needed at the moment. Very much worth a read. Sad this was the last one.
August 8, 2020
Glorious story with crunchy angsty bits balanced out by wonderful friendship, complicated familial love and DRAGONS. Also, ice-giants.
I've been reading this one aloud chapter by chapter with my youngest (just turning 11) and it comes marvellously off the page, nice short chapters and lots of humour and action.
I love this whole series. Not quite enough chocolate in this particular volume for our tastes, but so MUCH dragon that it certainly makes up for it.
I've been reading this one aloud chapter by chapter with my youngest (just turning 11) and it comes marvellously off the page, nice short chapters and lots of humour and action.
I love this whole series. Not quite enough chocolate in this particular volume for our tastes, but so MUCH dragon that it certainly makes up for it.
June 15, 2020
This just didn’t work for me. It was too short - not enough time elapsed between events, so everything felt condensed and artificial. The plot was too obvious for my taste. And I didn’t believe anyone’s emotions; they seemed cookie-cutter and oversimplified.
July 24, 2021
I really hope this isn't the end for our friends in Drachenburg! I'd love to read another story from Jasper's POV or Marina or a new character.
'The Princess Who Flew with Dragons' follows bratty Princess Sofia as she goes on a mission across the world for her sister. She's to play diplomat at a summit of most brilliant leaders across the continent. But she's an awful diplomat; she'd rather be a scholar and philosopher.
I liked this one because I was always salty that Sofia and Aventurine were never friends. I had wanted them to become friends because they are so similar. But now I see why Sofia has always had her guard up. It was great to see her with her guard down and having fun and seeing the world. I think Sofia would make a great leader if her sister could share the role.
I did miss seeing the characters we've already grown to love, like Aventurine and Silke, but I think Sofia was the perfect choice for this third book.
I really hope we get to revisit this world soon!!
'The Princess Who Flew with Dragons' follows bratty Princess Sofia as she goes on a mission across the world for her sister. She's to play diplomat at a summit of most brilliant leaders across the continent. But she's an awful diplomat; she'd rather be a scholar and philosopher.
I liked this one because I was always salty that Sofia and Aventurine were never friends. I had wanted them to become friends because they are so similar. But now I see why Sofia has always had her guard up. It was great to see her with her guard down and having fun and seeing the world. I think Sofia would make a great leader if her sister could share the role.
I did miss seeing the characters we've already grown to love, like Aventurine and Silke, but I think Sofia was the perfect choice for this third book.
I really hope we get to revisit this world soon!!
October 6, 2020
I loved it and finished it in just a day! I love Sophia's point of view and I see her life as a princess is definitely not easy! I see where she comes from and being in her mind is fun because I'm actually very alike because I love a good argument. Also, philosophy is a very interesting topic I might add. Also, I love the relationship between her and Jasper. And Jasper is sooo protective over her, it's great! :P When I read this in her point of view, I kept on forgetting that she is a princess because her mind is nowhere near that! It's very rebellious which seems like something Sophia would do. Overall I loved this book as much as the first one! Definitely recommend reading it but first, read the other two! Those are great as well!
October 31, 2022
My favorite of the trilogy. Because I do believe that philosophy can solve even more problems than chocolate can. And education, at least in the sense of engagement with others' points of view, is critical.
"Power... only exists when wielded over other people. Well, you couldn't control my decision to come here, or what the ice giants did, could you? So you don't have that much power... or that much responsibility."
" everyone-everyone-deserved a safe home."
"Power... only exists when wielded over other people. Well, you couldn't control my decision to come here, or what the ice giants did, could you? So you don't have that much power... or that much responsibility."
" everyone-everyone-deserved a safe home."
February 4, 2025
A cute finish to the trilogy. I particularly appreciated the fact that Sofia could lecture for four hours straight and thereby defuse a deadly situation among giants! LOL
I would love to hear more from the characters in this universe!
I would love to hear more from the characters in this universe!
October 14, 2019
I have loved reading through this series and find myself enjoying the characters more as I get the different point of views in each book. For this one in particular, Princess Sofia is our main heroine and I was here for it!
Sofia had a small part in the first book and a bit of a bigger part in the second but this book right here is where she shined! She is brave, loyal, smart, and stubborn. The last quality usually has her ending up in a bit of trouble but that is where I connect with her. We can all be pretty stubborn, am I right?
Aventurine's brother gets to be the main dragon in this tale and I loved his interactions with Sofia! They share similar qualities but seem to come up with different ways to handle a situation. I mean, he is a dragon after all.
New characters are introduced such as goblins and kobolds, even ice giants are present! I loved learning more about each one and seeing how they all fit together at the end.
Overall, this was my favorite one so far. There are great lessons throughout the book and I can't wait to share this wonderful book with my daughter some day!
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Sofia had a small part in the first book and a bit of a bigger part in the second but this book right here is where she shined! She is brave, loyal, smart, and stubborn. The last quality usually has her ending up in a bit of trouble but that is where I connect with her. We can all be pretty stubborn, am I right?
Aventurine's brother gets to be the main dragon in this tale and I loved his interactions with Sofia! They share similar qualities but seem to come up with different ways to handle a situation. I mean, he is a dragon after all.
New characters are introduced such as goblins and kobolds, even ice giants are present! I loved learning more about each one and seeing how they all fit together at the end.
Overall, this was my favorite one so far. There are great lessons throughout the book and I can't wait to share this wonderful book with my daughter some day!
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 1, 2019
Just like the two previous books in the series, this one's biggest strength is its flawed but deeply lovable heroine. Stephanie Burgis writes characters that I really want to root for even when they're making mistakes, and Sofia is no exception. I sank right into her perspective - her yearning for affection and her uncertainty about her place in her family and the world hit me really hard, and I also loved seeing her widen her worldview and confront some of her prejudices.
That said, TPWFWD has a million other things going for it - sweet friendships, complicated but loving family relationships, dragons, philosophy, politics, an unabashed pro-immigration slant, and a gorgeous fantasy city to explore.
This book is a fantastic adventure but it's also so full of heart and truth. I've loved spending time in this world.
That said, TPWFWD has a million other things going for it - sweet friendships, complicated but loving family relationships, dragons, philosophy, politics, an unabashed pro-immigration slant, and a gorgeous fantasy city to explore.
This book is a fantastic adventure but it's also so full of heart and truth. I've loved spending time in this world.
July 17, 2024
Princess Sophia would really like to stay home and read her philosophy books, but since she's a royal, she has some pretty hefty responsibilities, so she reluctantly agrees to go on a diplomatic mission. Turns out she's not very good at this, but she is pretty good at pretending to be a student at the most prestigious university on the continent. That is, until the ice giants attack.
What can I say? This is a lot of fun. It almost disappointed me with its "you didn't tell the truth and now we can't be friends" trope, but it was explained well.
What can I say? This is a lot of fun. It almost disappointed me with its "you didn't tell the truth and now we can't be friends" trope, but it was explained well.
January 19, 2020
Philosophers and dragons and coffee shops and friendship and problem solving...most excellent! The lone downside is that we never see Adventurine or Silke, who we met in the first two books. Sophia deserves her own adventure, tho!
January 12, 2024
Pleasantly surprised by this one compared to how meh I felt about book 2!
Much more believable family relationship development, I really liked the main character, and there were some great friendships as well.
Narrator: Lisa Reneé Pitts
CW: Grief
Much more believable family relationship development, I really liked the main character, and there were some great friendships as well.
Narrator: Lisa Reneé Pitts
CW: Grief
December 26, 2021
3.5 stars
February 9, 2025
Dnf at 30%
Its just not realistic and I mean the character of the queen does a dangerously stupid thing putting her sister in the position she did and then it went downhill after that
Its just not realistic and I mean the character of the queen does a dangerously stupid thing putting her sister in the position she did and then it went downhill after that
November 27, 2019
I didn't realise this was the last book of a trilogy when it was recommended to me, but since the protagonist is different from the other two I think it worked quite well stand-alone. This is a sweet coming-of-age story. Bookworms, a cat, humans and goblins and kobolds and dragons discussing philosophy while eating cinnamon rolls, amazing tales of friendship... Short & pleasant.
April 20, 2020
Making the most of having to stay home in Lockdown to catch up on some reading. A great story for a bit of escapism - both for myself and the characters, especially Sofi. I loved the first two books in this series and eagerly awaited this one, but only just managed to secure it from the library a couple of days before it closed. As soon as I'd finished the other books I was halfway through I devoured this one. Sofi will be easy for many children to identify with. She isn't perfect in any way, but she has spirit and determination.
I hope there will be further adventures in and around Drachenburg.
I hope there will be further adventures in and around Drachenburg.
December 10, 2019
I didn't like this one as much as the previous two fabulous installments in this series for three reasons, but it's still a fun book that kids who liked the first two books will probably still enjoy. The plot feels a little bit inspired by the classic Roman Holiday, crossed with a story of children who feel like disappointments being actually the only ones who can save their supposedly more capable family members.
Mild spoilers:
This one read slower for me, mostly because the early plot hinges on something I just couldn't suspend my disbelief for--namely that the king and queen of Valmarna would behave so outrageously badly. I felt that Sofia could've gotten to the university in a more plausible way, though I suppose a lot of children who read these will enjoy seeing adults being incompetent and behaving badly, so that will be a plus for them.
And there are several extended scenes involving motion sickness. It's not overly described, but the scenes felt very drawn out to someone like me who really hates that kind of thing.
Finally, Sofia is very down on herself throughout the book, but very little is shown of her being either a bad princess or a bad friend. Her two big "mistakes" that were key in the book were presented such that it really didn't seem that she's the one most at fault at all.
The ending, however, was more exciting, with some more humor as well, and everything works out satisfactorily, pretty much. A solid addition to the series, but one that just didn't soar quite as high for me. I did like the main characters, and I liked the cat. I really liked the ice giants and that . And Fedolia and her subplot were very good.
Content: kidnapping of parent/guardian, threat of peril, lots of being sick, blackmail/threat of bodily harm from good characters (this didn't bother me in the context, but it might bother others)
Mild spoilers:
This one read slower for me, mostly because the early plot hinges on something I just couldn't suspend my disbelief for--namely that the king and queen of Valmarna would behave so outrageously badly. I felt that Sofia could've gotten to the university in a more plausible way, though I suppose a lot of children who read these will enjoy seeing adults being incompetent and behaving badly, so that will be a plus for them.
And there are several extended scenes involving motion sickness. It's not overly described, but the scenes felt very drawn out to someone like me who really hates that kind of thing.
Finally, Sofia is very down on herself throughout the book, but very little is shown of her being either a bad princess or a bad friend. Her two big "mistakes" that were key in the book were presented such that it really didn't seem that she's the one most at fault at all.
The ending, however, was more exciting, with some more humor as well, and everything works out satisfactorily, pretty much. A solid addition to the series, but one that just didn't soar quite as high for me. I did like the main characters, and I liked the cat. I really liked the ice giants and that . And Fedolia and her subplot were very good.
Content: kidnapping of parent/guardian, threat of peril, lots of being sick, blackmail/threat of bodily harm from good characters (this didn't bother me in the context, but it might bother others)
July 2, 2020
The Princess Who Flew with Dragons by Stephanie Burgis, 216 pages. Bloomsbury, 2019. $17.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Twelve-year-old Princess Sofia of Drachenheim has sworn to never leave the safety of her rooms at the palace ever again. When her sister, the Crown Princess, sends Sofia on a diplomatic mission to Villenne, though, she finds that life has just as many ups as it does downs and adventure appears around every new corner.
Sofia’s world is imaginative, introducing new creatures, like kobolds, among the humans, goblins, and dragons. While the third in a series, the prequels are focused on other characters and are not necessary to read before this one. I had a good feeling about the book only two pages in as the story started off feeling like a fun adventure. Somewhere in the middle, though, the excitement faded, and I had a hard time waiting to get to the point. If you can stick it out, the ending is full of warm-hearted reunions and good feelings.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Twelve-year-old Princess Sofia of Drachenheim has sworn to never leave the safety of her rooms at the palace ever again. When her sister, the Crown Princess, sends Sofia on a diplomatic mission to Villenne, though, she finds that life has just as many ups as it does downs and adventure appears around every new corner.
Sofia’s world is imaginative, introducing new creatures, like kobolds, among the humans, goblins, and dragons. While the third in a series, the prequels are focused on other characters and are not necessary to read before this one. I had a good feeling about the book only two pages in as the story started off feeling like a fun adventure. Somewhere in the middle, though, the excitement faded, and I had a hard time waiting to get to the point. If you can stick it out, the ending is full of warm-hearted reunions and good feelings.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
October 10, 2019
The Princess Who Flew with Dragons, the third novel in the Tales From the Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis, features the younger princess of Drachenheim: Princess Sofia. At the mighty age of twelve, all Sofia wants is to be left alone and to discuss philosophy through letters with her best friend Jasper who happens to be a dragon. Sofia definitely does not want to be involved with anything political or her sister's machinations. She's already been kidnapped by dragons and promised to marry a wicked fairy---that's more than anyone should have to deal with, so she's done. However, Crown Princes Katrin does not want her sister to hide in her rooms the rest of her life, so Princess Sofia is shipped off to the country of Villenne to be the official representative of Drachenheim at the Diamond Exhibition. Upon arrival, Sofia subsequently offends the monarchs of Villenne and is housed far from the palace--much to Sofia's delight. She finally has the chance to be herself--not a princess, not a damsel in distress--but a student of philosophy. Hiding her identity, Sofia embarks on a new adventure, making new friends along the way. Everything is going perfectly--until the frost giants arrive from the north. Will Sofia be able to step out of her sister's shadow and save the day?
In Princess Who Flew with Dragons, Burgis eases us into the adventure--just as Sofia slowly eases out of her shell. The pace and story meander near the beginning before finding focus, which mirrors Sofia's journey. She learns that not all is as it seems; she must look beyond the surface. Sofia must discover that she has her own value and can be an asset to her country without compromising her identity.
Despite some of the deeper themes introduced, Burgis keeps the novel fun, humorous, and magical. Sofia's interactions and dialogue with her new friends are a delight, and they introduce Sofia to new schools of thought, which help her grow as a person and as a princess. Sofia's first encounter with Jasper in-person (in-dragon?) is also satisfying. Burgis perfectly depicts the nervousness and excitement of meeting a pen pal.
Overall, Burgis has written a story full of humor, friendship, betrayal, philosophy, and forgiveness, which is a combination that will capture the hearts of young fantasy lovers and fans of the previous two books. I give this book 3.75 stars, and I look forward to seeing more in this chocolate-loving series.
March 7, 2024
We leave Silke and Aventurine behind almost completely in this book, as well as Drachenheim itself. In the last book, I felt I was missing out on some of the magic and dragons from the first book (not to mention the chocolate). Well, this one was definitely missing the chocolate, but I was happy to meet some more dragons along the way. As well as some goblins and a kobold and a mostly-sleeping troll. And a cat, who was a fun addition. And of course, a a portion of the story involves a university for humans and magical creatures alike, so what's not to enjoy about that?
While I liked exploring the university and meeting the creatures, I did sort of want to see more of the Diamond Exhibition which was the whole purpose of Sofia traveling in the first place. We never saw much of anything there and I was a little annoyed at Sofia for failing to try to accomplish any part of what she was supposed to be there for (though I was fine with a majority of her time being elsewhere, I thought she should have checked in or made some sort of attempt at communicating with the royals). Instead, of the Exhibition, we get some Ice Giants. Which was intriguing when they arrived. But I wasn't quite as interested in the way it wrapped up. Diplomacy is all well and good, but it seemed like with families and lives and stake, there should have been more to wrapping everything up than there ended up being. Also, at the end, the princesses invited others to come to Drachenburg and implied they might develop a university there also - and I couldn't help thinking that they really needed more to offer, because they stated in the book that the city was half the size, and it seemed like that role of the 'cosmopolitan university city' was already being filled in Villenne. They really should have played up their chocolate and reached out to the other cities and to other magical creatures to open restaurants in Drachenheim and become a foodie destination (though perhaps Villenne also had that wrapped up with the cinnamon rolls, lemon ices, apple tea, etc ).
So while I didn't love the Ice Giant side quest, I enjoyed most of this book more than the second one. And I enjoyed the series overall. I don't read ebooks, as I prefer a physical book, but since there are some short stories on characters from this series available, perhaps I could get through those quick reads electronically, to see what else was going on in this world.
While I liked exploring the university and meeting the creatures, I did sort of want to see more of the Diamond Exhibition which was the whole purpose of Sofia traveling in the first place. We never saw much of anything there and I was a little annoyed at Sofia for failing to try to accomplish any part of what she was supposed to be there for (though I was fine with a majority of her time being elsewhere, I thought she should have checked in or made some sort of attempt at communicating with the royals). Instead, of the Exhibition, we get some Ice Giants. Which was intriguing when they arrived. But I wasn't quite as interested in the way it wrapped up. Diplomacy is all well and good, but it seemed like with families and lives and stake, there should have been more to wrapping everything up than there ended up being. Also, at the end, the princesses invited others to come to Drachenburg and implied they might develop a university there also - and I couldn't help thinking that they really needed more to offer, because they stated in the book that the city was half the size, and it seemed like that role of the 'cosmopolitan university city' was already being filled in Villenne. They really should have played up their chocolate and reached out to the other cities and to other magical creatures to open restaurants in Drachenheim and become a foodie destination (though perhaps Villenne also had that wrapped up with the cinnamon rolls, lemon ices, apple tea, etc ).
So while I didn't love the Ice Giant side quest, I enjoyed most of this book more than the second one. And I enjoyed the series overall. I don't read ebooks, as I prefer a physical book, but since there are some short stories on characters from this series available, perhaps I could get through those quick reads electronically, to see what else was going on in this world.
June 25, 2019
I should probably preface by saying that I've never read any Stephanie Burgis books before. I didn't feel lost with PRINCESS, but perhaps certain intricacies of the world-building didn't shine through as they might for someone familiar with the series.
Overall, it was a pretty 'meh' read. It's a familiar fantasy setup, with dragons and goblins and princesses, and the world felt a bit...stale in that regard. Burgis attempts to twist the royalty narrative with questions of privilege and responsibility, but ultimately, those elements weren't properly developed. It's another case of wealthy, prejudiced characters becoming somewhat better thanks to exposure to the 'less fortunate.' Sofia's character arc wasn't BAD, but it lost power due to the narrator constantly reminding us that "three weeks ago, Sofia never would have XXX." As we crawled toward the end, I found myself skipping pages, since the entire story seemed to amount to little more than a lesson: nobody is perfect. Which is great, and true, and important - but I felt slapped over the face with it.
My favourite section was Sofia's undercover adventures with her gang of philosopher girls, a group of goblins (and a kobold) with a knack for both philosophy and TROUBLE. It was tense (would Sofia get exposed? Surely something was going to go wrong!) and fun (bouncy water trampoline) and I adored how dastardly the girls were, whilst simultaneously being accepting and loyal. THIS was the subplot that thwarted expectations about academics/ cleverness versus force, the lines of morality, Sofia's inner struggle, etc, all while being a wonderful adventure. I could've read an entire book about this dynamic, and really, it was after the ice giants showed up that things began to stagnate.
So yes. It wasn't a bad read by any means, but veered towards forgettable. For me personally, it lacked a certain freshness. Still, plenty to enjoy, and it's one I'd recommend to lovers of traditional fantasies.
Overall, it was a pretty 'meh' read. It's a familiar fantasy setup, with dragons and goblins and princesses, and the world felt a bit...stale in that regard. Burgis attempts to twist the royalty narrative with questions of privilege and responsibility, but ultimately, those elements weren't properly developed. It's another case of wealthy, prejudiced characters becoming somewhat better thanks to exposure to the 'less fortunate.' Sofia's character arc wasn't BAD, but it lost power due to the narrator constantly reminding us that "three weeks ago, Sofia never would have XXX." As we crawled toward the end, I found myself skipping pages, since the entire story seemed to amount to little more than a lesson: nobody is perfect. Which is great, and true, and important - but I felt slapped over the face with it.
My favourite section was Sofia's undercover adventures with her gang of philosopher girls, a group of goblins (and a kobold) with a knack for both philosophy and TROUBLE. It was tense (would Sofia get exposed? Surely something was going to go wrong!) and fun (bouncy water trampoline) and I adored how dastardly the girls were, whilst simultaneously being accepting and loyal. THIS was the subplot that thwarted expectations about academics/ cleverness versus force, the lines of morality, Sofia's inner struggle, etc, all while being a wonderful adventure. I could've read an entire book about this dynamic, and really, it was after the ice giants showed up that things began to stagnate.
So yes. It wasn't a bad read by any means, but veered towards forgettable. For me personally, it lacked a certain freshness. Still, plenty to enjoy, and it's one I'd recommend to lovers of traditional fantasies.
October 5, 2019
The Princess Who Flew with Dragons is the third book in Stephanie Burgis' Tales From the Chocolate Heart series. One doesn't need to have read the first two books to enjoy this one, as Burgis does a great job of bringing in enough of the back story to paint a vivid picture of what's been going on. So well did she paint it, I found myself wanting to read the first two, which I haven't done, yet. So no fear, you may read this as a standalone.
So what's it about? Twelve year old Princess Sofia of Drachenheim is sent to Villene to play the role of charming, diplomatic princess - which she isn't really good at. Her first interaction with Villene royalty results in her being exiled from the city. Taking advantage of this, Sofia hides her identity and enjoys some of the freedoms the city has to offer, including making friends. Things take a nasty turn when ice giants attack, turning dragons and royalty into ice and kidnapping them. Sofia, with help from her own dragon friend Jasper pursue the ice giants in an effort to save their friends and family.
This book is super adorable. I hadn't read, nor did I even know of, the first two books in this series. I received the book as a recommendation from a Bloomsbury staff member at ALA Annual in D.C. back in June. I knew nothing of the author or series before that moment. Having said that, Burgis includes enough back story to not only bring me up to speed, but also get me interested in what I'd missed. It's possible she might have give just a bit too much back story to someone who'd already completed the first two books, but I'm not sure.
Sofia is easy to like, and easy to dislike. She's a character with flaws, which brings her to life. She's curious, but spoiled, caring, but naive. Through it all, she's courageous and cunning, willing to risk everything for her family. I really enjoyed this book. A solid 4 out of 5 from me.
Stefanie
So what's it about? Twelve year old Princess Sofia of Drachenheim is sent to Villene to play the role of charming, diplomatic princess - which she isn't really good at. Her first interaction with Villene royalty results in her being exiled from the city. Taking advantage of this, Sofia hides her identity and enjoys some of the freedoms the city has to offer, including making friends. Things take a nasty turn when ice giants attack, turning dragons and royalty into ice and kidnapping them. Sofia, with help from her own dragon friend Jasper pursue the ice giants in an effort to save their friends and family.
This book is super adorable. I hadn't read, nor did I even know of, the first two books in this series. I received the book as a recommendation from a Bloomsbury staff member at ALA Annual in D.C. back in June. I knew nothing of the author or series before that moment. Having said that, Burgis includes enough back story to not only bring me up to speed, but also get me interested in what I'd missed. It's possible she might have give just a bit too much back story to someone who'd already completed the first two books, but I'm not sure.
Sofia is easy to like, and easy to dislike. She's a character with flaws, which brings her to life. She's curious, but spoiled, caring, but naive. Through it all, she's courageous and cunning, willing to risk everything for her family. I really enjoyed this book. A solid 4 out of 5 from me.
Stefanie
December 29, 2020
y name is Princess Sofia, and I wish my sister would leave me alone. I love reading my books on philosophy, but she expects me do more to help her rule the kingdom. I sometimes wish I wasn't a princess, especially when my sister sends me 400 miles away to meet with rulers from other kingdoms. Flying by dragon makes my stomach very queasy, and the king of Villene has forced me to stay far away from the palace. The good thing is I've disguised myself as a philosophy student and met some new friends. People from my kingdom never make friends with goblins and kobalds, but I love hanging out with them. Their tales of ice giants are unbelievable, especially when they say a giant can easily defeat a dragon. However, the stories became reality when the sleeping troll awoke with a warning.
This book was a nominee for a 2020 Cybils Award in middle grade speculative fiction. The main focus of the story was Sofia's struggle to live up to the expectations of a princess. She felt like she was constantly making mistakes that would harm the citizens of Drachenheim, and her older sister would trick her into political situations for which she was not prepared. Meeting the goblins and kobald allowed Sofia to live as a "normal" human, but it also created new issues. The kobald was clearly keeping a secret, and she didn't warm up to Sofia as much as the goblins. Omitting truths to deceive others was the same as telling a lie. This philosophical thinking continued throughout the book, especially when Sofia's dragon-friend entered the plot. He liked to quote philosophy while telling Sofia why she was wrong. Assumptions about what others were thinking led to problems, so a lesson on the value of communication could be learned. The characters could have learned about each other's feelings just by talking. The battle with ice giants was the tangible conflict, but the clashes between characters were the backbone of the story. Overall, this story felt much different than other books, and I enjoyed it very much. I recommend you give it a shot.
This book was a nominee for a 2020 Cybils Award in middle grade speculative fiction. The main focus of the story was Sofia's struggle to live up to the expectations of a princess. She felt like she was constantly making mistakes that would harm the citizens of Drachenheim, and her older sister would trick her into political situations for which she was not prepared. Meeting the goblins and kobald allowed Sofia to live as a "normal" human, but it also created new issues. The kobald was clearly keeping a secret, and she didn't warm up to Sofia as much as the goblins. Omitting truths to deceive others was the same as telling a lie. This philosophical thinking continued throughout the book, especially when Sofia's dragon-friend entered the plot. He liked to quote philosophy while telling Sofia why she was wrong. Assumptions about what others were thinking led to problems, so a lesson on the value of communication could be learned. The characters could have learned about each other's feelings just by talking. The battle with ice giants was the tangible conflict, but the clashes between characters were the backbone of the story. Overall, this story felt much different than other books, and I enjoyed it very much. I recommend you give it a shot.
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