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The Hound Saga #1
The Princess and the Hound
He is a prince and heir to a kingdom threatened on all sides, possessor of the forbidden animal magic.
She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from all except her hound.
In this lush and beautifully written fairy-tale romance, a prince, a princess, and two kingdoms are joined in the aftermath of a war. Proud, stubborn, and bound to marry for duty, George and Beatrice will steal your heart—but will they fall in love?
She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from all except her hound.
In this lush and beautifully written fairy-tale romance, a prince, a princess, and two kingdoms are joined in the aftermath of a war. Proud, stubborn, and bound to marry for duty, George and Beatrice will steal your heart—but will they fall in love?
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2007
77 people are currently reading
10932 people want to read
About the author
Mette Ivie Harrison
68 books437 followersMy name is pronounced "Metty" like my mother's "Betty." It is Danish, and we were all named after ancestors. I guess by the time they got to number nine (out of eleven), it was getting tricky. So I got the funny Danish name no one knew how to prounounce. In Denmark, it should be "meta" like "metaphysical." It's from the Greek for "pearl." And no, it's not short for anything. Not even Mediterannean.
My first book, THE MONSTER IN ME was accepted for publication in 1999 and was published in 2002. My second book, MIRA, MIRROR was published in 2004. The latest book, THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND , was published in 2007. A sequel, THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR, came out in April of 2009.
I now live in Utah with my husband and 5 children, ages 5 to 14. I write during nap time, or at 4 in the morning, or while the broccoli for dinner is burning. Whenever I get a chance. I love to write the kind of books that I love to read. And I love to discover what is going to happen next, just like a reader would. I also do some racing in triathlon.
from http://www.metteivieharrison.com/myli...
My first book, THE MONSTER IN ME was accepted for publication in 1999 and was published in 2002. My second book, MIRA, MIRROR was published in 2004. The latest book, THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND , was published in 2007. A sequel, THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR, came out in April of 2009.
I now live in Utah with my husband and 5 children, ages 5 to 14. I write during nap time, or at 4 in the morning, or while the broccoli for dinner is burning. Whenever I get a chance. I love to write the kind of books that I love to read. And I love to discover what is going to happen next, just like a reader would. I also do some racing in triathlon.
from http://www.metteivieharrison.com/myli...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,044 reviews
September 4, 2016
Ms. Harrison was brave to write a story like this. Most fairy tale stories take away the weirdness, but oh no this one keeps it intact, which most of the time does not work but I think it does in this case.
I'd like to debunk something in this review and say this is not a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. While I can see why they have classified it as such, but do not go in thinking this is the case because it will probably disappoint.
All right now for a quick rundown of what it’s about:
Prince George is going to be the future king of the kingdom. Animal magic is something that is forbidden in this kingdom, but guess who has that gift? Yup George, who is hiding his animal magic at all cost. Now we have the other characters:Princess Beatrice and the hound that will never leave her side. George and Beatrice have been arranged to get married, but of course there is a caveat. There is something holding Beatrice back (other than that they don't exactly get along) and George must figure out what it is. Now, it isn't all laid out for him that easily. He has his own suspicions, and Beatrice is unlike any other young woman he has met. She is fierce, unforgiving, and doesn't have a flowery countenance, but there is something off about her. George will have to use the animal magic he has suppressed all this time to help her, and even help and be true to who he really is.
The strength of the story (at least in my opinion) was George. You see so much development in him. We hear his voice from growing up as an uncertain little boy to the strong young man he has become. He is actually the main character of the story, and he is a key player in helping the princess and the hound. The plot takes it time to get to the meat of the tale. I could feel the darkness, creepiness, and intriguing story being weaved around me. I think why I responded so positively to this story compared to other readers is because it was such a refreshing new style I hadn't encountered before.
My one complaint is how things were wrapped up; it felt fast compared to the beginning of the novel and could have done with a bit more build up. Be forewarned this story will not be an instant favorite for everyone but if you are willing to give it time and allow the tale seep into you it might find yourself, like me, enthralled into the magic.
I'd like to debunk something in this review and say this is not a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. While I can see why they have classified it as such, but do not go in thinking this is the case because it will probably disappoint.
All right now for a quick rundown of what it’s about:
Prince George is going to be the future king of the kingdom. Animal magic is something that is forbidden in this kingdom, but guess who has that gift? Yup George, who is hiding his animal magic at all cost. Now we have the other characters:Princess Beatrice and the hound that will never leave her side. George and Beatrice have been arranged to get married, but of course there is a caveat. There is something holding Beatrice back (other than that they don't exactly get along) and George must figure out what it is. Now, it isn't all laid out for him that easily. He has his own suspicions, and Beatrice is unlike any other young woman he has met. She is fierce, unforgiving, and doesn't have a flowery countenance, but there is something off about her. George will have to use the animal magic he has suppressed all this time to help her, and even help and be true to who he really is.
The strength of the story (at least in my opinion) was George. You see so much development in him. We hear his voice from growing up as an uncertain little boy to the strong young man he has become. He is actually the main character of the story, and he is a key player in helping the princess and the hound. The plot takes it time to get to the meat of the tale. I could feel the darkness, creepiness, and intriguing story being weaved around me. I think why I responded so positively to this story compared to other readers is because it was such a refreshing new style I hadn't encountered before.
My one complaint is how things were wrapped up; it felt fast compared to the beginning of the novel and could have done with a bit more build up. Be forewarned this story will not be an instant favorite for everyone but if you are willing to give it time and allow the tale seep into you it might find yourself, like me, enthralled into the magic.
June 26, 2008
Despite the cover (and title), the princess and her hound are not the main characters in this story. The narrative centers instead on a boy named George. Prince George, to be exact. And Prince George possesses a pack of problems. His mother died when he was young, leaving him alone in the world with no siblings to share his grief and a father who knows how to rule a kingdom but understands nothing of how to be a father. On top of which, George has the dubious gift of animal magic. He can speak their language and feels most comfortable out in the wild, conversing with the animals, than around humans. Trouble is, animal magic is feared and loathed far and wide in George's world and he quickly determines he must keep his talent a secret if he wishes to live long enough to inherit the throne.
When it comes time for George to do his princely duty and marry to preserve the kingdom, he goes forth to meet his betrothed with a strong sense of duty, if not alacrity, for the task at hand. The Princess Beatrice proves to be a particularly fierce young woman whose life has been as bleak as George's own and who has a few painful secrets of her own to guard, as well as a hound she refuses to be separated from. It's clear to the reader from the moment these two meet that they need each other desperately and would do well to stick together, that is if either of them could see past their own troubles long enough to recognize what's standing right in front of them. Beatrice, however, shows even less interest in the match than George, and the two of them are rarely ever in the same room together long enough to go about the business of getting to know each other. And marriage negotiations aside, there is a truly creepy mystery running throughout the book, to do with a potentially mad doctor moving from kingdom to kingdom bent on revenge.
Yep, it's a recipe for success. And it succeeds...for the most part. I liked the dark, creepy feel that pervaded the majority of the story. This is not a gentle fairy tale, by any means. Characters such as Beatrice's father and the mysterious doctor brought to mind the evil Cabbarus of Westmark fame (never a bad thing), and I liked George's journey from frightened boy to capable ruler. There were a few very poignant scenes, particularly between George and his father, that struck me. I even liked Beatrice, despite how off putting and seemingly lacking in all emotion she was throughout the book. The problem was in the unrealized potential between these two characters who needed each other so badly. Yes, I realize Beatrice's secret made realization a bit difficult on the whole but, when it finally did come out, things wrapped up rather quickly and I couldn't quite buy into the abrupt shift. I felt like they needed more time to cement things between them. And, I will admit, the ramifications of the revelation proved a bit too bizarre even for me to stomach. On the whole, The Princess and the Hound was a complicated and intriguing tale which I felt need a little more refining to smooth out the bumps and cracks along the way.
When it comes time for George to do his princely duty and marry to preserve the kingdom, he goes forth to meet his betrothed with a strong sense of duty, if not alacrity, for the task at hand. The Princess Beatrice proves to be a particularly fierce young woman whose life has been as bleak as George's own and who has a few painful secrets of her own to guard, as well as a hound she refuses to be separated from. It's clear to the reader from the moment these two meet that they need each other desperately and would do well to stick together, that is if either of them could see past their own troubles long enough to recognize what's standing right in front of them. Beatrice, however, shows even less interest in the match than George, and the two of them are rarely ever in the same room together long enough to go about the business of getting to know each other. And marriage negotiations aside, there is a truly creepy mystery running throughout the book, to do with a potentially mad doctor moving from kingdom to kingdom bent on revenge.
Yep, it's a recipe for success. And it succeeds...for the most part. I liked the dark, creepy feel that pervaded the majority of the story. This is not a gentle fairy tale, by any means. Characters such as Beatrice's father and the mysterious doctor brought to mind the evil Cabbarus of Westmark fame (never a bad thing), and I liked George's journey from frightened boy to capable ruler. There were a few very poignant scenes, particularly between George and his father, that struck me. I even liked Beatrice, despite how off putting and seemingly lacking in all emotion she was throughout the book. The problem was in the unrealized potential between these two characters who needed each other so badly. Yes, I realize Beatrice's secret made realization a bit difficult on the whole but, when it finally did come out, things wrapped up rather quickly and I couldn't quite buy into the abrupt shift. I felt like they needed more time to cement things between them. And, I will admit, the ramifications of the revelation proved a bit too bizarre even for me to stomach. On the whole, The Princess and the Hound was a complicated and intriguing tale which I felt need a little more refining to smooth out the bumps and cracks along the way.
June 3, 2011
Look out, people who like this book, because I have venom to spew at it!
This book gets one lousy star for being good enough to want to finish the story, but bad enough that one star is almost too much. Let me put it this way. I was INCREDIBLY disappointed with this book. Why? Because it had SO much potential. I had begun to care about the characters and was very intrigued for a long time. The story is actually told from the perspective of the "Prince" and, in my opinion, should have a title with regards to him. His name is George and he has this thing called "Animal Magic" which means he can talk to animals and even feel/hear their thoughts. The author didn't have me convinced for one minute why this "animal magic" is hated and feared by the kingdom's people. The only examples she gives is of a "wild man" using his powers against a hunter-King in the beginning prologue, and then once more when these farmers are mad at this guy who has it because his crops survived pestilence and bad weather and theirs did not. Sorry, but that's LAME. I mean, people in this story get burned at the stake for having the dreaded animal magic and even though I've finished the book I'm still asking why.
That aside, it was supposed to be a love story. I say, "HA!" NOT romantic. A wet dishtowel is more romantic than this story. (Yes, I was THAT angry at what she did with the potential!) In fact, I am absolutely appalled that a WOMAN wrote this story. I'm wondering if she has any sense at all for what the elements are of a truly good romance. This story is a fairytale, and she says in the bio at the end of the book that she "...always wanted to write a romance, but it wasn't until I came up upon the idea of two characters who needed each other as desperately as these two that I felt I could do justice to the tradition..." I'm sorry, but I wasn't convinced at all that these two characters needed each other. Yeah, in theory they did, but in what I call "reader reality" it just wasn't there. I wasn't feelin' it. The fairytale/magic aspect is what I think propelled the potential, but she ruined it. And because I want to explain my reasoning, I will have to spoil the story a bit. For those of you who trust my taste, read on, because I'm absolutely certain that you won't wanna waste your time with this one.
Prince George has had animal magic all his life. He got it from his mother who died when he was only seven; was never close to his father, the king; always afraid of people finding out that he has it because, like I said, people who have animal magic are burned at the stake.
When he's, oh 17 or something, his dad's health is failing and he is betrothed to the princess Beatrice from a rival kingdom. Because of his "life of duty" and secrecy about his gift, he is very unemotional about the whole romance/marriage issue and doesn't care who he marries. So when he meets this princess and becomes intrigued with her you start thinking, as the reader, that maybe things are going to get interesting. But here's the first problem: Princess Beatrice is weird. She's a stone-faced, unemotional, rude, strong, quiet, B****. (HA! Literally! I will explain...)(Btw, that word is used a lot in this book. Not in the "bad" sense, but, y'know, fyi.)She also has a pet hound named Marit that is always with her and the hound is very mysterious. George is very kind to her and her dog and is intrigued partly because it's obvious that the men in her life have always treated her like dirt. She is also quite beautiful, smart, blah, blah, blah. So you're thinking, "oooh, potential for people who really do need each other/romance/he's gonna save her from her crappy life/etc." Nope. No such luck. First off, she treats George just about as well as she treats everyone else, i.e. "rudely". Nothing changes that. Secondly, you start losing your faith in George because he keeps thinking about what a "failure" he is. Sure, he does some cool stuff and you love that he's unconditionally kind to the princess, but when the main character keeps whining about his inadequacies you start believing him! I held on 'till the end, though. I really did. I've seen authors pull this kind of thing off before, but this one lets you down BIG time.
So here's the big spoiler: Beatrice's soul - her mind and thoughts have magically been transferred into her hound's body. So she is actually the dog and the DOG's mind is in the princess's body. Which explains why the princess is so rude all the time to everybody. When I first read this I was genuinely surprised. Didn't expect that. But almost immediately after you find that out, the Prince basically declares that he's in love with her (i.e. the DOG!)In a scene soon afterwards, he takes the dog by the face and tells it "I love you!" Lame, lame, LAME. Kind of hilarious actually. He CAN'T be in love with her, he doesn't KNOW HER AT ALL! Yeah, not buyin' it. Sure, he "dream-shared" with her a bit before he knew that her mind was in the dog's body, but everything in the dreams were childhood memories. So he's in love with a little girl? No, no, no. THEN, the princess with the hound's mind - SHE "falls in love" with a bear that was once a man. Yeah. Again, NOT buyin' it. LAME-O. And to make a long story short, the "prophecy" has come to pass where a "woman will love an animal and an animal will love a man". What??? Oh, and then Prince George decides to be "really cool and brave" and declare to his people that he has animal magic. Do they burn him at the stake? Nope. Why? I don't know. Frankly it doesn't make sense. Most of the people are even cool about it and just accept it. What? Yeah. Then the prince arranged for a "school" to start taking place in his castle that teaches people about animal magic. George has used his animal magic to change Beatrice and her dog back into their bodies and he and the princess, (Whom he STILL calls Marit, btw - yeah, ew) are "getting to know each other" and it's supposed to be really... I dunno... sweet or something. It's all lame. I can't say that enough. And do you know what the first thing is that Beatrice says after she's back in her body and holding hands with George? "What have you done!" She's mad because he "took her hound away from her" because the hound is now staying in a cave with it's new love, the bear-man.
So her hound was more important to her than her "true love". How is that romantic?!?
AAaaaaarrrggghhhh!!!
Gosh I HATED this story. It's was such an insult to anyone's intelligence. NOT BUYIN' IT. George was lame, Beatrice (the REAL Beatrice, i.e. "Marit") was ok, but there just isn't any convincing "love" between her and George. Towards the end.... maybe. But even then you're just too mad that things happened the way they did. I can't believe there are sequels to this. The one called "The Princess and the Bear" is about the dog and her bear-man-lover. Not reading that lemme tell ya!
I would also like to mention that this book brings a bit of bestiality to mind... Not unsubtly. All I can say about that is.... EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!
This book gets one lousy star for being good enough to want to finish the story, but bad enough that one star is almost too much. Let me put it this way. I was INCREDIBLY disappointed with this book. Why? Because it had SO much potential. I had begun to care about the characters and was very intrigued for a long time. The story is actually told from the perspective of the "Prince" and, in my opinion, should have a title with regards to him. His name is George and he has this thing called "Animal Magic" which means he can talk to animals and even feel/hear their thoughts. The author didn't have me convinced for one minute why this "animal magic" is hated and feared by the kingdom's people. The only examples she gives is of a "wild man" using his powers against a hunter-King in the beginning prologue, and then once more when these farmers are mad at this guy who has it because his crops survived pestilence and bad weather and theirs did not. Sorry, but that's LAME. I mean, people in this story get burned at the stake for having the dreaded animal magic and even though I've finished the book I'm still asking why.
That aside, it was supposed to be a love story. I say, "HA!" NOT romantic. A wet dishtowel is more romantic than this story. (Yes, I was THAT angry at what she did with the potential!) In fact, I am absolutely appalled that a WOMAN wrote this story. I'm wondering if she has any sense at all for what the elements are of a truly good romance. This story is a fairytale, and she says in the bio at the end of the book that she "...always wanted to write a romance, but it wasn't until I came up upon the idea of two characters who needed each other as desperately as these two that I felt I could do justice to the tradition..." I'm sorry, but I wasn't convinced at all that these two characters needed each other. Yeah, in theory they did, but in what I call "reader reality" it just wasn't there. I wasn't feelin' it. The fairytale/magic aspect is what I think propelled the potential, but she ruined it. And because I want to explain my reasoning, I will have to spoil the story a bit. For those of you who trust my taste, read on, because I'm absolutely certain that you won't wanna waste your time with this one.
Prince George has had animal magic all his life. He got it from his mother who died when he was only seven; was never close to his father, the king; always afraid of people finding out that he has it because, like I said, people who have animal magic are burned at the stake.
When he's, oh 17 or something, his dad's health is failing and he is betrothed to the princess Beatrice from a rival kingdom. Because of his "life of duty" and secrecy about his gift, he is very unemotional about the whole romance/marriage issue and doesn't care who he marries. So when he meets this princess and becomes intrigued with her you start thinking, as the reader, that maybe things are going to get interesting. But here's the first problem: Princess Beatrice is weird. She's a stone-faced, unemotional, rude, strong, quiet, B****. (HA! Literally! I will explain...)(Btw, that word is used a lot in this book. Not in the "bad" sense, but, y'know, fyi.)She also has a pet hound named Marit that is always with her and the hound is very mysterious. George is very kind to her and her dog and is intrigued partly because it's obvious that the men in her life have always treated her like dirt. She is also quite beautiful, smart, blah, blah, blah. So you're thinking, "oooh, potential for people who really do need each other/romance/he's gonna save her from her crappy life/etc." Nope. No such luck. First off, she treats George just about as well as she treats everyone else, i.e. "rudely". Nothing changes that. Secondly, you start losing your faith in George because he keeps thinking about what a "failure" he is. Sure, he does some cool stuff and you love that he's unconditionally kind to the princess, but when the main character keeps whining about his inadequacies you start believing him! I held on 'till the end, though. I really did. I've seen authors pull this kind of thing off before, but this one lets you down BIG time.
So here's the big spoiler: Beatrice's soul - her mind and thoughts have magically been transferred into her hound's body. So she is actually the dog and the DOG's mind is in the princess's body. Which explains why the princess is so rude all the time to everybody. When I first read this I was genuinely surprised. Didn't expect that. But almost immediately after you find that out, the Prince basically declares that he's in love with her (i.e. the DOG!)In a scene soon afterwards, he takes the dog by the face and tells it "I love you!" Lame, lame, LAME. Kind of hilarious actually. He CAN'T be in love with her, he doesn't KNOW HER AT ALL! Yeah, not buyin' it. Sure, he "dream-shared" with her a bit before he knew that her mind was in the dog's body, but everything in the dreams were childhood memories. So he's in love with a little girl? No, no, no. THEN, the princess with the hound's mind - SHE "falls in love" with a bear that was once a man. Yeah. Again, NOT buyin' it. LAME-O. And to make a long story short, the "prophecy" has come to pass where a "woman will love an animal and an animal will love a man". What??? Oh, and then Prince George decides to be "really cool and brave" and declare to his people that he has animal magic. Do they burn him at the stake? Nope. Why? I don't know. Frankly it doesn't make sense. Most of the people are even cool about it and just accept it. What? Yeah. Then the prince arranged for a "school" to start taking place in his castle that teaches people about animal magic. George has used his animal magic to change Beatrice and her dog back into their bodies and he and the princess, (Whom he STILL calls Marit, btw - yeah, ew) are "getting to know each other" and it's supposed to be really... I dunno... sweet or something. It's all lame. I can't say that enough. And do you know what the first thing is that Beatrice says after she's back in her body and holding hands with George? "What have you done!" She's mad because he "took her hound away from her" because the hound is now staying in a cave with it's new love, the bear-man.
So her hound was more important to her than her "true love". How is that romantic?!?
AAaaaaarrrggghhhh!!!
Gosh I HATED this story. It's was such an insult to anyone's intelligence. NOT BUYIN' IT. George was lame, Beatrice (the REAL Beatrice, i.e. "Marit") was ok, but there just isn't any convincing "love" between her and George. Towards the end.... maybe. But even then you're just too mad that things happened the way they did. I can't believe there are sequels to this. The one called "The Princess and the Bear" is about the dog and her bear-man-lover. Not reading that lemme tell ya!
I would also like to mention that this book brings a bit of bestiality to mind... Not unsubtly. All I can say about that is.... EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2008
Mistitled. Should read George and the Occasional Appearance of the Mixed-Up Merrit, as the story really focuses on Prince George and his angst about his animal magic and his feelings for the princess of the neighboring kingdom to whom he is betrothed. Boring. Bland. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
January 19, 2012
This book interested me because it claims to be a "retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story" where "the princess is the beast." But this story had SO little in common with the B&B story that it wasn't really justified being called a retelling. In fact, if I hadn't read that about it, it probably wouldn't have reminded me of B&B at all. And although it's categorized as a "romance," the romantic element took backseat to a lot of unimpressive subplots that didn't tie together well at all. The main plot was about the persecution of people who had "animal magic" in the kingdom. The main character George, a prince on the verge of becoming king, has the animal magic but has to stay closeted out of fear. So the main tension revolves around George having to come out about his abilities. This story is about 200 pages longer than it needed to be, since all the conflicts were resolved way too easily in the end. And despite being 400 + pages, I spent a lot of time wondering what any of the settings actually looked like, since the description and place markers were vague. I think this had the potential to be a very moving and haunting story, if it would have gone through at least two more drafts.
December 27, 2008
Prince George is an only child and heir to the throne of Kendel; as a little boy he spends time with his mother with the horses in the stable, the hounds in the kennels, or the wild animals in the forest. From her he learns the languages of animals, and slowly learns to hide his gift of animal magic as his mother does, and to live in fear of it being discovered - anyone caught using animal magic is burned.
At seventeen, many years after his mother died, George travels to a neighbouring kingdom that his own country had been at war for for many years, to meet his betrothed, Princess Beatrice. It is an arranged marriage, and he doesn't expect to feel anything for her. But the princess is not what he expected. With a wild hound always at her side, he finds himself drawn to her cold aloofness, and feels angered at the way she is treated by her father the King and his courtiers.
Yet even with his great gift of animal magic, he doesn't see the princess and her hound clearly, and the secret, when it is revealed, stuns him.
Written in the style of an old-fashioned fairy-tale but with contemporary leanings, The Princess and the Hound is supposedly loosely based on "Beauty and the Beast" - but I confess I never noticed. There is a wild quality to the story that is quite dark, with superstitions, revenge, wild beasts and daunting forests. The fairy-tale style works until the end, which drifts off lazily and seems to lose focus: it would have been more satisfying had it had a headier climax.
I loved the princess though, Beatrice, and the hound, Marit. Theirs was a mystery I worried at and almost had figured out by the time it was revealed - a book I read recently inspired my imagination to look in the right direction, so it wasn't as big a reveal as it might otherwise have been. She's a unique character, Beatrice, and well written, totally believable.
George too is well developed - the story is told from his perspective and so we get insights into his way of thinking which we don't get with anyone else. He grows and matures and is a likeable lad, but not terribly inspiring. Despite his magical gift, he's quite ordinary, more human, than you might expect of a hero. That should make me like him more but I guess I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic.
The thing I enjoyed the most was the animal magic, and the close twining of animals and people. Like fantasy stories that depict a hidden consciousness and even a single-minded cruelty in nature - a human vs. nature dichotomy - stories about the hidden talents of animals are equally as fascinating to me. While this book didn't make as great a connection as The Shape-Changer's Wife, it did quite well at bridging the gap and exploring possibilities. There's to be a sequel as well, The Princess and the Bear.
At seventeen, many years after his mother died, George travels to a neighbouring kingdom that his own country had been at war for for many years, to meet his betrothed, Princess Beatrice. It is an arranged marriage, and he doesn't expect to feel anything for her. But the princess is not what he expected. With a wild hound always at her side, he finds himself drawn to her cold aloofness, and feels angered at the way she is treated by her father the King and his courtiers.
Yet even with his great gift of animal magic, he doesn't see the princess and her hound clearly, and the secret, when it is revealed, stuns him.
Written in the style of an old-fashioned fairy-tale but with contemporary leanings, The Princess and the Hound is supposedly loosely based on "Beauty and the Beast" - but I confess I never noticed. There is a wild quality to the story that is quite dark, with superstitions, revenge, wild beasts and daunting forests. The fairy-tale style works until the end, which drifts off lazily and seems to lose focus: it would have been more satisfying had it had a headier climax.
I loved the princess though, Beatrice, and the hound, Marit. Theirs was a mystery I worried at and almost had figured out by the time it was revealed - a book I read recently inspired my imagination to look in the right direction, so it wasn't as big a reveal as it might otherwise have been. She's a unique character, Beatrice, and well written, totally believable.
George too is well developed - the story is told from his perspective and so we get insights into his way of thinking which we don't get with anyone else. He grows and matures and is a likeable lad, but not terribly inspiring. Despite his magical gift, he's quite ordinary, more human, than you might expect of a hero. That should make me like him more but I guess I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic.
The thing I enjoyed the most was the animal magic, and the close twining of animals and people. Like fantasy stories that depict a hidden consciousness and even a single-minded cruelty in nature - a human vs. nature dichotomy - stories about the hidden talents of animals are equally as fascinating to me. While this book didn't make as great a connection as The Shape-Changer's Wife, it did quite well at bridging the gap and exploring possibilities. There's to be a sequel as well, The Princess and the Bear.
April 14, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed The Princess and the Hound. It is one of those original fairy tales that sweeps you up into a fantasy land of animal magic and princesses.
Prince George shares a deadly secret with his mother. They have the animal magic. Those with animal magic are burned to death because the people fear them. When George's mother dies because of her magic, George tries to supress his, but it almost kills him, too.
As George grows up, he tries to do everything a king-to-be should do. He agrees to marry a princess he has never met in order to save the kingdoms from war. George doesn't hope for a loving marriage. He is afraid of love. But when he meets Princess Beatrice, his hopes change. He desperately wants her approval and even her love.
George is sure that Beatrice does not have the animal magic, but he senses in her, an unusually deep love for her hound. She is cold toward him, and he finds himself feeling jealous of the connection between princess and hound. He soon discovers that the hound is much more than just a pet.
I truly loved this book. I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. I'm a sucker for fairy tale romances.
Warning: If you are concerned about profanity...
-The 'b-word' is used several times...although it is used in the proper context, so isn't really swearing at all.
-The 'a-word' is also used several times because it is a horse's name.
Prince George shares a deadly secret with his mother. They have the animal magic. Those with animal magic are burned to death because the people fear them. When George's mother dies because of her magic, George tries to supress his, but it almost kills him, too.
As George grows up, he tries to do everything a king-to-be should do. He agrees to marry a princess he has never met in order to save the kingdoms from war. George doesn't hope for a loving marriage. He is afraid of love. But when he meets Princess Beatrice, his hopes change. He desperately wants her approval and even her love.
George is sure that Beatrice does not have the animal magic, but he senses in her, an unusually deep love for her hound. She is cold toward him, and he finds himself feeling jealous of the connection between princess and hound. He soon discovers that the hound is much more than just a pet.
I truly loved this book. I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. I'm a sucker for fairy tale romances.
Warning: If you are concerned about profanity...
-The 'b-word' is used several times...although it is used in the proper context, so isn't really swearing at all.
-The 'a-word' is also used several times because it is a horse's name.
August 1, 2008
I kept waiting and wanting to fall in love with this book. It had such potential, but I've got to say...much of it just didn't make sense and I was weirded out by the rest of it. And you know what? Heartbroken or not, people can't just murder in revenge and then fall right into favor again. That bugged me.
Now, I checked the spoiler box because this next part is indeed, a spoiler...but OH MY GOSH! He actually decided that his people would have to accept a DOG as his choice of bride if she didn't change back. ISN'T THAT A LITTLE WEIRD??!
Now, I checked the spoiler box because this next part is indeed, a spoiler...but OH MY GOSH! He actually decided that his people would have to accept a DOG as his choice of bride if she didn't change back. ISN'T THAT A LITTLE WEIRD??!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2010
This book clearly proves the notion that not every book is for every person. I think it might be just a "me" thing, because I absolutely *hated* this book! Usually, there are good elements and crappy elements in just about every book I read, but this one was just "off". To be fair, I thought the book was pretty decent until about half-way in, then it went gradually downhill until about the last 1/4 of the book, and then the rest of the plot just plummeted. The book sets up as some sort of quasi-"Beauty and the Beast" retelling, and yes, there are a few elements from the original tale that can be found here, but the allure of the mystery surrounding characters' identities kept me going until I found out who exactly the "beast" is supposed to be, and it just didn't work for me. A lot of my other goodreads friends have rated this book highly, but if I get weirded out enough by a story, and when my reading emotions border on "uncomfortable," I'm going to take off some stars...
The story itself was just really convoluted. I'm sure it all came together quite nicely in Harrison's mind, but for me it was just too much. She never really did a good job (in my opinion) of establishing what in the heck is going on, and it seems to me that she takes a simple and interesting premise and just really twists the heck out of it until what remains hardly resembles a story at all, but rather some tangly mess. It got to the point where I was just begging for it to end. Usually, a successful story will make you feel the opposite.
Besides the story, I really couldn't stand the characters, either. Another bad sign. George is too wussy and indecisive for my taste (my ideal man certainly wouldn't sit like a dumb sack while his fiancee is verbally abused and disrespected, that's for sure) and Beatrice is too self-absorbed and insolent. She starts out this way, sure, but my problem lies with the fact that she never undergoes any character change. She's too selfish, yet Harrison portrays her as some kind of model for a Strong, Modern Woman. Here is where I gag. I hated their relationship...if that's even what you could call it. It all revolves around what the guy can do for the girl, how he seemingly bends over backwards to change for her, and yet she doesnt change for him. She's pretty much a female chauvinist, and yet Harrison seems okay with that. Apparently, as long as a female character is strong and seemingly independent, that's all that matters. It annoys me to think that this is what YA-aimed female characters have become. If your goal in a relationship is to maintain your independence, you don't need to be in a relationship, gah! Am I reading too much into this? Probably. But see, I'm one of the folks who believes that books have power, books carry messages and books have the potential to shape or manipulate how people see/relate to life...and I wasn't thrilled with the picture that this book painted. I'm still not sure, but there may even have been overtones of bestiality toward the ending... Another reviewer wrote this, and I agree: let's keep "romantic love" specific to our own species, please. Human/dog and human/bear is weird at best and downright disgusting at worst. I'm not entirely sure what Harrison was thinking when she wrote those scenes, but they just didnt work for me.
So yeah, I was not in the least bit impressed with this book at all. Take my advice and skip this one.
The story itself was just really convoluted. I'm sure it all came together quite nicely in Harrison's mind, but for me it was just too much. She never really did a good job (in my opinion) of establishing what in the heck is going on, and it seems to me that she takes a simple and interesting premise and just really twists the heck out of it until what remains hardly resembles a story at all, but rather some tangly mess. It got to the point where I was just begging for it to end. Usually, a successful story will make you feel the opposite.
Besides the story, I really couldn't stand the characters, either. Another bad sign. George is too wussy and indecisive for my taste (my ideal man certainly wouldn't sit like a dumb sack while his fiancee is verbally abused and disrespected, that's for sure) and Beatrice is too self-absorbed and insolent. She starts out this way, sure, but my problem lies with the fact that she never undergoes any character change. She's too selfish, yet Harrison portrays her as some kind of model for a Strong, Modern Woman. Here is where I gag. I hated their relationship...if that's even what you could call it. It all revolves around what the guy can do for the girl, how he seemingly bends over backwards to change for her, and yet she doesnt change for him. She's pretty much a female chauvinist, and yet Harrison seems okay with that. Apparently, as long as a female character is strong and seemingly independent, that's all that matters. It annoys me to think that this is what YA-aimed female characters have become. If your goal in a relationship is to maintain your independence, you don't need to be in a relationship, gah! Am I reading too much into this? Probably. But see, I'm one of the folks who believes that books have power, books carry messages and books have the potential to shape or manipulate how people see/relate to life...and I wasn't thrilled with the picture that this book painted. I'm still not sure, but there may even have been overtones of bestiality toward the ending... Another reviewer wrote this, and I agree: let's keep "romantic love" specific to our own species, please. Human/dog and human/bear is weird at best and downright disgusting at worst. I'm not entirely sure what Harrison was thinking when she wrote those scenes, but they just didnt work for me.
So yeah, I was not in the least bit impressed with this book at all. Take my advice and skip this one.
September 3, 2019
4.5 stars. Everything was perfect and I love the retelling. I think this book is one of the best beauty and the beast retelling, except I could not connect with the girl, which is also the beast. No idea why. 😐
December 27, 2007
This book ended up being different from what I expected, mainly because, despite the title, the p.o.v. is from a Prince, and not the Princess or the Hound.
NOTE: Don't read further if you haven't read the book, because it is impossible to summarize without giving away more than the jacket description does. So, if you want to read it entirely unspoiled, don't read on!
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Prince George has grown up with a loving, sweet mother, who is different from those around her: she can talk with animals. Prince George discovers that he can talk with animals as well, and the 2 of them spend a blissful few years in their own bubble, despite the fact that animal magic, as their power is known, is banned in fear, and those discovered with it are burned. Because of this, no one knows of their power. When Prince George is young, though, something happens to his mother, which leaves him alone and lonely in the castle, and denying his animal magic, even to himself.
And, in such a way, Prince George grows up. When he is 17, he becomes betrothed to Princess Beatrice, from the kingdom to the south, who he has never met. When he meets her, he finds her to be incredibly cold to everyone around her, except to her beloved hound. The princess and the hound have an unusually tight connection, despite the fact that he can tell she does not have animal magic.
Soon, Prince George discovers that she is someone that he can love, someone who can accept him for who he is, and someone who needs his power as much as he needs hers...but, for any of that to happen, he is going to have to embrace his animal magic. Something he hasn't done in a long time.
A lot of my enjoyment was tampered by the poor editing my library's 1st edition copy had. Not only were there several glaring typos (for example, he takes a walk in the word instead of the wood), there were also a few things that just plain contradicted themselves: George as a child, hearing an owl telling his sad life story, which keeps him up, becomes several times later in the book, "the story his mother told him about the owl". Sir Stephen releases a dove, that later has never been released, and so on. Also, several things were not as fleshed out as they should have been. For example, why did the King never change the laws about animal magic, himself? (MAJOR SPOILER: And, why did the Princess and the hound become so close in a year's time if their situation was forced on them as a way of revenge?) These problems made the book feel like something that could have been much better, had more thought and time been put into it's editing. Hopefully, later editions will have those problems worked out!
Overall, it's a unique fairy tale, from a male's perspective (which is unique in itself), darker than usual, but it would have been better with editing.
NOTE: Don't read further if you haven't read the book, because it is impossible to summarize without giving away more than the jacket description does. So, if you want to read it entirely unspoiled, don't read on!
*
*
*
*
Prince George has grown up with a loving, sweet mother, who is different from those around her: she can talk with animals. Prince George discovers that he can talk with animals as well, and the 2 of them spend a blissful few years in their own bubble, despite the fact that animal magic, as their power is known, is banned in fear, and those discovered with it are burned. Because of this, no one knows of their power. When Prince George is young, though, something happens to his mother, which leaves him alone and lonely in the castle, and denying his animal magic, even to himself.
And, in such a way, Prince George grows up. When he is 17, he becomes betrothed to Princess Beatrice, from the kingdom to the south, who he has never met. When he meets her, he finds her to be incredibly cold to everyone around her, except to her beloved hound. The princess and the hound have an unusually tight connection, despite the fact that he can tell she does not have animal magic.
Soon, Prince George discovers that she is someone that he can love, someone who can accept him for who he is, and someone who needs his power as much as he needs hers...but, for any of that to happen, he is going to have to embrace his animal magic. Something he hasn't done in a long time.
A lot of my enjoyment was tampered by the poor editing my library's 1st edition copy had. Not only were there several glaring typos (for example, he takes a walk in the word instead of the wood), there were also a few things that just plain contradicted themselves: George as a child, hearing an owl telling his sad life story, which keeps him up, becomes several times later in the book, "the story his mother told him about the owl". Sir Stephen releases a dove, that later has never been released, and so on. Also, several things were not as fleshed out as they should have been. For example, why did the King never change the laws about animal magic, himself? (MAJOR SPOILER: And, why did the Princess and the hound become so close in a year's time if their situation was forced on them as a way of revenge?) These problems made the book feel like something that could have been much better, had more thought and time been put into it's editing. Hopefully, later editions will have those problems worked out!
Overall, it's a unique fairy tale, from a male's perspective (which is unique in itself), darker than usual, but it would have been better with editing.
March 25, 2008
This books joins some of my favorite fantasy novels reminiscent of fairy tales (although I believe this one is original), and reminds me strongly of Shannon Hale's Goose Girl series in the language, the character driven journey, and the internal struggle of the characters. This book gets points from me for being about the prince, rather than the princess, and therefore joins the ranks of the select few great fairy tale books with a male protagonist (joining Sean Stewart's Nobody's Son, Patricia McKillip's Song for the Basilisk and Shannon Hale's River Secrets.)
This book feels a bit more gothic than other fairy tales -- the sense of duty and consequences is strong throughout, and the romantic idea of royal life or marrying a prince (or princess) is thrown out the window for a more realistic view of what it means to be destined to rule a country whether you'd want to or not. Learning to be a ruler is partly the story, and what kind of ruler George wants to be. The love story is subtle and veers away from frilly romance, which suits the two leads. Instead, the book is full of tentative steps toward realizing a necessary match for political reasons can also be a true love match, if only two people consumed with duty will allow themselves the chance to feel.
The magic at the heart of the story is important but not overwhelming, and in the end the story is about the characters far more than about magical transformation. I wish more folks took this one out -- I fear the cover appeals much more to girls, and I wonder how many guys out there who might enjoy a good fairy tale don't pick it up. That's too bad.
This book feels a bit more gothic than other fairy tales -- the sense of duty and consequences is strong throughout, and the romantic idea of royal life or marrying a prince (or princess) is thrown out the window for a more realistic view of what it means to be destined to rule a country whether you'd want to or not. Learning to be a ruler is partly the story, and what kind of ruler George wants to be. The love story is subtle and veers away from frilly romance, which suits the two leads. Instead, the book is full of tentative steps toward realizing a necessary match for political reasons can also be a true love match, if only two people consumed with duty will allow themselves the chance to feel.
The magic at the heart of the story is important but not overwhelming, and in the end the story is about the characters far more than about magical transformation. I wish more folks took this one out -- I fear the cover appeals much more to girls, and I wonder how many guys out there who might enjoy a good fairy tale don't pick it up. That's too bad.
August 8, 2016
This story is told pretty much in the classic fairy tale style.
As such don't expect today's usual tropes: there's no waste of pages telling how pretty and special our characters are.
Also, unlike most stories, here our main character is the guy, Prince George, and we get to see him growing up. That means, that yes, this is mostly a slow type kind of story, but I had no problem with that, because the author nailed the story's "voice" perfectly.
I liked that George wasn't the usual "perfect" fairy tale prince. He deals with life the best he can and he does what is expected of him without pulling stupid stunts.
As for the Princess... well, she is something different. And I liked that about her ( yes, I am really vying for vagueness here).
The mystery keep me wondering for a bit, although I do think some things should have been more explained.
I loved the "old tales" about the king that had been turned into a bear, and how we got to see the characters of the next book come together.
I only wish that the romance here had been a little more developed. With that, and with a little more tension added, this would have been a five star read.
And now I can't wait to read the second volume, which apparently is going to arrive a month from now through a seller of abebooks. -_-
I bought this one in the hardback edition, and I want to keep the collection in the same size, so, used books it will be. At least for the second and third volumes.
#bookwormProblems
June 24, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It is supposedly a fairy tale retold - but it's no fairy tale I've ever heard before. It's a story about animal magic, a prince who is trying to figure out who he is, and a princess and hound who are inseparable.
The first book I read by Mette Harrison was Mira Mirror and it was also about magic and I enjoyed it. But there was no romance in that book. This book had a nice, subtle romance and it was told from the prince's perspective, which I really enjoyed. You don't always know what the princess is thinking or feeling, but you get to see how the prince changes and gains courage and confidence.
Oh, and FYI, the author (Mette Ivie Harrison) is LDS and she got a very nice review of this book by Orson Scott Card. "Powerful, surprising, moving, and deep. . . The Princess and the Hound is a classic. It defies rules and formulas. It does nothing in the way that other fantasies have taught us to expect. Yet every rule-defying decision by Harrison is exactly right, leading to a breathtakingly right ending."
The first book I read by Mette Harrison was Mira Mirror and it was also about magic and I enjoyed it. But there was no romance in that book. This book had a nice, subtle romance and it was told from the prince's perspective, which I really enjoyed. You don't always know what the princess is thinking or feeling, but you get to see how the prince changes and gains courage and confidence.
Oh, and FYI, the author (Mette Ivie Harrison) is LDS and she got a very nice review of this book by Orson Scott Card. "Powerful, surprising, moving, and deep. . . The Princess and the Hound is a classic. It defies rules and formulas. It does nothing in the way that other fantasies have taught us to expect. Yet every rule-defying decision by Harrison is exactly right, leading to a breathtakingly right ending."
March 13, 2009
This book is a liar. It is not really about a Princess or a Hound. It is about a boy named George, who is a Prince with Animal Magic. That type of magic is forbidden in his kindgom, and this book is about the different struggles the characters go through to each hide parts of themselves from the world that are deemed "unacceptable."
Even though this book is not told by, or really about a Princess or a Hound, I still really liked it, and had a hard time putting it down. So... I guess is was a good thing that the title lied, because it got me to read something I wouldn't have read otherwise. Touche, book, touche.
Even though this book is not told by, or really about a Princess or a Hound, I still really liked it, and had a hard time putting it down. So... I guess is was a good thing that the title lied, because it got me to read something I wouldn't have read otherwise. Touche, book, touche.
November 25, 2023
Purging the keeper bookcases. Need to make room for more incoming.
3, not as great as I remember it being but not bad, stars.
3, not as great as I remember it being but not bad, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2024
Painfully disappointing... although I initially rated this book a 3, I'm going to have to demote it to 2 stars upon further reflection.
The Princess and the Hound isn't really about either one of those things (until it is, and then you wish it wasn't). This book is about George, who is, of course, a prince, and whose beloved mother, predictably, dies when he is very young (the mothers always die in fairy tales). George's mother (and George too) have "animal magic" which basically means that they can talk to animals. Animal magic is Very Bad in this kingdom, although I don't buy for one moment that it wouldn't be a positive trait. Not convincing! But, George has to keep his animal magic a secret.
I found the descriptions of the animal magic to be absolutely delightful. This is where I decided to settle in with the book and embrace it as my cozy winter night read of the week to stave off the stifling existential dread. I was so wrong!
The plot picks up when George's father, who is, predictably, very ill (do kings in fairy tales ever die natural deaths?), decides that it is time for teenage George to marry. He goes on a long journey to a neighboring kingdom (all fairy tale princes find their brides in neighboring kingdoms), where he meets Beatrice, who is not described as being very attractive, for some reason. She's too tall and her posture is too good? And, despite the fact that she is a princess, her subjects are incredibly rude to her. Everyone in this book is so rude to Beatrice! It is unbelievable! Can't she have them beheaded or something? George has that power! Who talks to their princess like she's a scullery maid?!
Beatrice has a pet hound that is always by her side. The writing at this point becomes VERY HEAVY HANDED in making sure the reader doesn't miss that there is something special about this hound! At one point the dog is playing chess. This is where the book starts to go off the rails.
When I first started reading this book, I wondered, is this children's lit? Or, is it by a Mormon author (I mean, just look at the Orson Scott Card blurb on the front!). It was so oddly sterile. I'm fully convinced that both things are true (looks like this is actually YA), which makes my next point all the more disturbing: There was thinly-veiled as a central part of the story.
So I was pretty much done with the book at that point. I was lying on the couch, recovering from a long day, wishing for the simple escapism of a simple fairy tale... only for that cold slap in the face.
This book is currently sitting in my "to be donated" pile.
The Princess and the Hound isn't really about either one of those things (until it is, and then you wish it wasn't). This book is about George, who is, of course, a prince, and whose beloved mother, predictably, dies when he is very young (the mothers always die in fairy tales). George's mother (and George too) have "animal magic" which basically means that they can talk to animals. Animal magic is Very Bad in this kingdom, although I don't buy for one moment that it wouldn't be a positive trait. Not convincing! But, George has to keep his animal magic a secret.
I found the descriptions of the animal magic to be absolutely delightful. This is where I decided to settle in with the book and embrace it as my cozy winter night read of the week to stave off the stifling existential dread. I was so wrong!
The plot picks up when George's father, who is, predictably, very ill (do kings in fairy tales ever die natural deaths?), decides that it is time for teenage George to marry. He goes on a long journey to a neighboring kingdom (all fairy tale princes find their brides in neighboring kingdoms), where he meets Beatrice, who is not described as being very attractive, for some reason. She's too tall and her posture is too good? And, despite the fact that she is a princess, her subjects are incredibly rude to her. Everyone in this book is so rude to Beatrice! It is unbelievable! Can't she have them beheaded or something? George has that power! Who talks to their princess like she's a scullery maid?!
Beatrice has a pet hound that is always by her side. The writing at this point becomes VERY HEAVY HANDED in making sure the reader doesn't miss that there is something special about this hound! At one point the dog is playing chess. This is where the book starts to go off the rails.
When I first started reading this book, I wondered, is this children's lit? Or, is it by a Mormon author (I mean, just look at the Orson Scott Card blurb on the front!). It was so oddly sterile. I'm fully convinced that both things are true (looks like this is actually YA), which makes my next point all the more disturbing: There was thinly-veiled as a central part of the story.
So I was pretty much done with the book at that point. I was lying on the couch, recovering from a long day, wishing for the simple escapism of a simple fairy tale... only for that cold slap in the face.
This book is currently sitting in my "to be donated" pile.
April 13, 2017
All I can really say is that it wasn't a waste of my time. The story was fine, I've got nothing to complain about the writing, but the book lacked life. The emotions felt like wood instead of fire: dead, predetermined, realistic enough to be believable, but also boring. It was deep, but there was nothing that pulled me in so deep I couldn't put it down. You won't regret reading it, the story is intriguing and I wanted to know how it ended, but it's not something that will make you wish you could live in the world forever.
December 17, 2018
1 Star
Five Words Describing This Book:
1) Strange
2) Magical
3) Disturbing
4) Confusing
5) Totally-Out-There (I know that isn't one word but I couldn't think of a good word to describe it.)
I have no idea how Mette Ivie Harrison even thought this thing up and I don't really care to know. It left me confused most of the time and it seemed to drag on.... F...O...R...E...V...E...R... (I'm being completely honest!)
And you are probably wondering, "Disturbing? How?" Let me enlighten you with this particular passage.
"They told tales, and now and again there was one George had not heard before. He paid great attention to them, especially to the story of a woman who had been able to marry a wolf and have children with it."
And if that isn't disturbing enough...
"Each child came out of her body as a different kind of animal. None of them was either human or a wolf, but badger, otter, and even once an ox."
After reading this, I looked up and stared at the wall wondering why anyone would even write that in a book.... I came to no conclusion. Except for the fact that the main character was willing to marry a girl-turned-hound and stay with her, even if she stayed in the form of a hound, if only to be with whom he loved. Even if the kingdom didn't accept them.
"HUH?"
I should hope the kingdom wouldn't accept their prince marrying a hound! (That sounds just WRONG.... And illegal.)
And now strange. I guess that could go with disturbing but I think that some of the things in this book can only be thought of as "strange."
Magical for the "animal" magic that was in the book, but it was also just... weird...
Confusing as in "HUH?"
And totally-out-there as in... just: totally out there. There is no way to describe it otherwise, if you want to describe the whole book at once and not just parts.
I don't even know if I can recommend this one. *scratches head, thinking* Yeah, no. Except, I do have something to say to whoever is reading this review...
ATTENTION! THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK HAS LIED TO YOU. THE PRINCE ISN'T THREATENED ON ALL SIDES. THE PRINCESS ISN'T ISOLATED FROM ALL EXCEPT HER HOUND. THERE IS MORE ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THIS BOOK THAN A FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE. (IT ISBASICALLY ALL ABOUT THE "ANIMAL" MAGIC.) GEORGE AND BEATRICE(/MARIT) DO NOT STEAL YOUR HEART.
I am not trying to be mean, for any of you who liked this book. I am just trying to honestly express how much I did not like this book. I'm sorry if you find it offensive.
Again, 1 star.
Five Words Describing This Book:
1) Strange
2) Magical
3) Disturbing
4) Confusing
5) Totally-Out-There (I know that isn't one word but I couldn't think of a good word to describe it.)
I have no idea how Mette Ivie Harrison even thought this thing up and I don't really care to know. It left me confused most of the time and it seemed to drag on.... F...O...R...E...V...E...R... (I'm being completely honest!)
And you are probably wondering, "Disturbing? How?" Let me enlighten you with this particular passage.
"They told tales, and now and again there was one George had not heard before. He paid great attention to them, especially to the story of a woman who had been able to marry a wolf and have children with it."
And if that isn't disturbing enough...
"Each child came out of her body as a different kind of animal. None of them was either human or a wolf, but badger, otter, and even once an ox."
After reading this, I looked up and stared at the wall wondering why anyone would even write that in a book.... I came to no conclusion. Except for the fact that the main character was willing to marry a girl-turned-hound and stay with her, even if she stayed in the form of a hound, if only to be with whom he loved. Even if the kingdom didn't accept them.
"HUH?"
I should hope the kingdom wouldn't accept their prince marrying a hound! (That sounds just WRONG.... And illegal.)
And now strange. I guess that could go with disturbing but I think that some of the things in this book can only be thought of as "strange."
Magical for the "animal" magic that was in the book, but it was also just... weird...
Confusing as in "HUH?"
And totally-out-there as in... just: totally out there. There is no way to describe it otherwise, if you want to describe the whole book at once and not just parts.
I don't even know if I can recommend this one. *scratches head, thinking* Yeah, no. Except, I do have something to say to whoever is reading this review...
ATTENTION! THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK HAS LIED TO YOU. THE PRINCE ISN'T THREATENED ON ALL SIDES. THE PRINCESS ISN'T ISOLATED FROM ALL EXCEPT HER HOUND. THERE IS MORE ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THIS BOOK THAN A FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE. (IT IS
I am not trying to be mean, for any of you who liked this book. I am just trying to honestly express how much I did not like this book. I'm sorry if you find it offensive.
Again, 1 star.
September 29, 2014
More like 2.5 realistically. The author's note at the back mentions that the novel's plot and structure changed over the 7 years or so during which she was writing it, and I think it ultimately shows. Characters behave inconsistently from scene to scene, or make statements that don't align with prior events. One character is let off the hook so dramatically and bizarrely that for me it completely undermined the worldbuilding of the book .
December 22, 2009
I enjoyed this, but didn't love it, as so many others seem to have done. The characters are likable, for the most part, and even the villains are sympathetic and not your typical cardboard cutout "evil dudes." But the love story...has gaps. Big ones. And those gaps just make it really hard to believe, or to care. The animal magic is pretty interesting, although it's never really explained terribly well because the main character in the book barely knows anything at all about it. And I liked the progression in both George's and Beatrice's relationships with their fathers. I think this book has a good premise, but I feel like the character development could have been a little stronger, and the story a little more tightly woven. I'm not sure if I'll read the second book or not.
September 28, 2017
"But she -- she is my hope for your future. Where I have damaged, she can repair. And perhaps you can do the same for her."
I love the cover on this book! It's interesting that the "princess" and the "hound" really don't take center stage in this story; the main character is Prince George, only child of King Davit, whose mother, Queen Lara, passed away when he was a little boy. He harbors a terrifying secret, something he inherited from his mother. When he meets Princess Beatrice, to whom he is to be united in an arranged marriage, George learns that there is more to her than meets the eye ... she has secrets too.
There was more than a couple of surprises in this book -- it took some turns that I wasn't expecting. There were some slow bits, but there were some beautiful and powerfully written scenes, such as George forgiving his father, and George and the princess falling in love. I loved the influence of fantasy and fairy tale, how the country's forests, villages, and streams could be likened to those in Germany. The "extras" in the back of the book were really interesting.
I thought this book was longer than necessary -- clocking in at just over 400 pages, and a YA novel too -- but I'm still intrigued to carry on and read at least the second book in this series.
I love the cover on this book! It's interesting that the "princess" and the "hound" really don't take center stage in this story; the main character is Prince George, only child of King Davit, whose mother, Queen Lara, passed away when he was a little boy. He harbors a terrifying secret, something he inherited from his mother. When he meets Princess Beatrice, to whom he is to be united in an arranged marriage, George learns that there is more to her than meets the eye ... she has secrets too.
There was more than a couple of surprises in this book -- it took some turns that I wasn't expecting. There were some slow bits, but there were some beautiful and powerfully written scenes, such as George forgiving his father, and George and the princess falling in love. I loved the influence of fantasy and fairy tale, how the country's forests, villages, and streams could be likened to those in Germany. The "extras" in the back of the book were really interesting.
I thought this book was longer than necessary -- clocking in at just over 400 pages, and a YA novel too -- but I'm still intrigued to carry on and read at least the second book in this series.
August 2, 2025
I started out really liking this book. It reminded me of Goose Girl but with a male protagonist. However, I found the ending unsatisfying. My main problem had to do with the animal magic in the book. I didn’t like how the practitioners were oppressed “just cause” they were different. It was a lame reason for the undeserved misfortune of the main character, and could have been so much more compelling if there was a historical reason, like someone with the magic committed an atrocity. The antagonist in the end was okay, but he flipped to help the main characters so easily!
Those are little things though, the main reason this book fell in stars for me is because the weirdness with animal magic. On one hand, it felt just like a classical fairytale, but one the other hand, it became a little too weird with boarder-line animal- human relationships and cross species relationships.
It was unnecessary weirdness for a juvenile/ YA fiction.
Those are little things though, the main reason this book fell in stars for me is because the weirdness with animal magic. On one hand, it felt just like a classical fairytale, but one the other hand, it became a little too weird with boarder-line animal- human relationships and cross species relationships.
It was unnecessary weirdness for a juvenile/ YA fiction.
March 5, 2021
Like a 2.5. Nothing bad in the book, I just didn't love it. It did use the name for a female dog a handful of times in the book, but as it actually referred to a female dog it didn't bother me, but a middle school kid might be bothered by it. The situation with the princess and the hound was weird to me, and the hound and the bear at the end was also a bit strange, and I just didn't really fall in love with the characters. I did like that the prince finally stood up for who he was and defended his guard. He was a good character.
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May 18, 2017This book isn't my cup of tea. I remember reading this when I was younger and thinking it was okay, but I really don't care for it now. My biggest beef with this book is the lack of development on the whole (characters, dialogue, plot, etc.). Harrison takes too much time developing the magical world and that slows down the story.
I would recommend this to girls that have a love for romance, magic, and dogs.
Warnings (didn't get far)
-sex: nope
-drugs:none
-language: minute
-violence: nada
I would recommend this to girls that have a love for romance, magic, and dogs.
Warnings (didn't get far)
-sex: nope
-drugs:none
-language: minute
-violence: nada
Read
July 27, 2018I've been wanting to read this story for awhile. Wow, definitely not what I expected, but it was grand!
July 31, 2022
I've never quite read a book like this one.
July 17, 2023
2.5 stars
January 12, 2025
Absolutely thrilling. It's a story with a theme so new (to me at least) and a spin on the magic that they do. (No spoilers!) I love how all the books tie together.
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September 24, 2019Couldn’t make myself read it. The writing bored me
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