Customer Reviews

Princess Nevermore

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I loved reading this book, it was one of the best books ive ever read i enjoyed every page of it! I couldn't put it down.I read this book in one day it was addictive becouse you can't wait to see what happens next. i'd recomend this book to anyone espeacially those who love romance books,like me thank's and i hope theres a second part to it couse its to good to finnish like that. Thanks for reading,Melissa!

I left a review for the original publication of Princess Nevermore, but found it necessary to leave a review for this new edition as well. Why?

1. There is not one line or thought that hasn't been changed in some way.

2. It is an exceptional story.

3. A very original idea with a great plot that expands the idea.

4. Princess Nevermore has brilliantly written Characters.

5. This book is truly a page turner without exception.

6. New characters are introduced to us that are important for the sequel, Cam's Quest.

Princess Nevermore is about a 15-year old princess, Quinnella (Quinn) from the underground Kingdom of Mandria. She is best friends with Cam, the wizard Melikar's apprentice. Cam and Quinn have always dreamed of traveling to Outer-Earth, our earth. They've planned it out over the years. Quinn visits Melikar's chamber often, and views the outer world through the wishing pool, which borders our world and theirs.

On one visit Quinn gets that chance to visit our world by spell-traveling. Her moment arrives when Cam says the spell that will send the both of them to Outer-Earth. However, something happens that changes the course of their careful plan. The Princess (Quinn) is accidentally sent to Outer-Earth, alone and without anything but the dress she is wearing.

Cam is left to bear the burden of his grand mistake, and when Melikar tells him that the princess doesn't know how to return, Cam realizes the consequences of his actions.

Quinn is both amazed and alarmed when she sees Outer-Earth for the first time. She quickly befriends an older man named Mondo, but his grandchildren are a different story. She has no trouble getting to know Adam, but Sarah seems to want nothing to do with Quinn.

Quinn decides to go to "lessons" at the local high school with Sarah and Adam. However, she is not prepared for the language barrier and never knows if what she is saying is proper for our world. It also doesn't help that a guy her age has taken sudden interest in her and the "strange" things that happen around her.

Torn between her desire to return to her world and the desire to remain with Adam in his world haunts her everyday. Not knowing how to return creates a hurdle and a burden for her. The only ones who can help her find her way home are below the river and can only send thoughts and suggestions to her for her safety.

But, will that be enough? Will her love for Adam be enough for her to stay on Outer-Earth? Will she and Sarah ever be friends? Will she escape the dangerous path that she's heading on?

This is truly a great read for ages 9 and up. I couldn't put it down and continue to return to the story. The new characters and other kingdoms and villages were a joy to read about. I'm truly grateful to have come across such a fantastic story and will enjoy it for many years to come.

I really liked this book, and I hope that it has a sequel. I couldn't put it down, and managed to read it over one school day. I think that this book would probably make a good series, and I encourage the author to write more like it. If you like fantasy and fun, I suggest you give this book a try.

Princess Nevermore, in my opinion, lacked originality. The characters weren't very intriguing, and neither was the plot. While it would be perfect for a female junior high student or younger reader, it would not suit anyone over the age of 14. The book is a little too sweet, and the romance is a bit immature for my taste. The typical boy meets girl scenerio. I agree with some of the other reviews--it does get "corny." Like I said, if you're over the age of 14, you probablly won't enjoy reading this.

A book written for young readers can often be unappealing to "sophistocated" adults. Following the old adage, "The proof is in the pudding", most young readers at our school give this book 5 stars. We have 4 copies of Princess Nevermore in our library, and they stay checked out all year. Our students love the fantasy world that the author has created; they see and hear enough of the ugly and sordid in their everyday lives...many of them (like their parents) read to escape and are not necessarily looking for realism or depth in characters. Princess Nevermore is a cleverly written story that shows the author's lively imagination. It reads quickly and smoothly and is ideal for young people who are just on the edge of becoming avid young readers. Our students find the book both entertaining and stimulating; their opinion shoud be the one that counts the most.

The heading pretty much gives my comment away. But yes, this book is cute. Since my friend knew I was a fantasy fan, she recommended it to me and so I bought it (having trust in my friend). That day, I zipped through it, and when I was finished all I could say was "Aww". It started out good in the beginning, with the Princess in her hometown of Mandria. But the thing I find highly annoying is when they say "It was a Mandrian truh" every now and then. It's one of those happy beginning, sad ending type of book. Dian Curtis Regan has a weird way of writing fantasy. So, for those who like fantasy/modern/romance books, this is definitely your book to read!

I'm not certain why this fairly brief book is being linked to "Harry Potter"--because I see very few similarities. Say what I will (and do) about Harry Potter, it does have some rather Agatha Christie-ian twists and problems. However, the plot of this book is... well, simplistic. And sugary.

Princess Quinnella lives in the magical kingdom of Mandria, on the other side of a "wishing pool" *cringes*. However, she ends up going to Earth on the other side of the pool, and naturally (as she's required to do the usual oppressive royal duties in her own world) she wants to stay.

Not much of a plot. The plot is also saturated with fluffy sugariness that kind of repelled me. It was interesting until the LOOOOOOOVE story. The heroine, while nice enough, doesn't really seem like the kind of person who would have the guts to wander around a strange world.

The writing style is so-so-I sort of got the impression that the author wasn't throwing her heart and soul into the crafting of this tale, and thus it really doesn't have enough intensity to really make it stick in the mind of the viewer. Even a simple, straight-forward tale such as the "Book of Three" can be written in such a way if the author is dedicated enough to the storytelling.

If you want a clean fantasy romance without darkness and twists, then try this book. If you don't, and want grayer shades to your characters, then read some other book, like Sabriel.

Well, if there's one thing to be said for this book- The ending was fabulous. All through out the slightly rushed tale of a fairy-land princess set down in present day earth, you can feel Regan's genius boiling underneath the almost cliched story of an ill fated romance. Just as you're ready to give up hope- The book ends, leaving you with a half familiar, tantalizingly sorrowful feeling and a bittersweet smile. Now, I would like to say this; though the plot does not require much belief or imagination, the characters are well portrayed. Unfortunately, many central characters are never fully fleshed out, while others- Quinn's alcholic and unwanted school jock suitor and Adam's grandfather- are given little quirks that make them immeasurably fascintating. However, like another reader has noted, I do not think that Regan was really going for a deep, mentally provocing book with Princess. If she was-well, she failed dismally. If she wasn't- well she suceeded. Princess is really, in my opinion, mind candy. Not too difficult, easy concept, nice prose, heartbreaking ending. Short- definitely not intimedating. However, I, like many book lovers I know, prefer longer books that give an author a lot of elbow room with her characters, allow for a deeper level of commitment to finishing the book. Still, I would recommend Princess to those hesitating to step into the fantasy genre, or to those at a fairly basic reading level who are looking for something simple and saccharine to occupy their time.

I could say this book is depressing--but it's too sugar-and-pink-bunny-like to be anything other than sweetly annoying. It does start out okay, with a girl in another dimension, watching through a window (that is also a wishing well)into OUR real world, people dropping coins and making wishes as they stood by the well. Quinn wishes to go there, though I can't imagine WHY. It would've been so much more interesting to explore the world that we are brought into at first, instead of the world we know already. But(sigh) she finds a way to get her wish and the book turns suddenly into a sugary romance that's completely unrealistic and very corny. There are no REAL obsticles to overcome and no way to see just how strong this character is supposed to be. (I'd say she'd probably be one to faint at the sight of blood, but hey, that's just my opinion, right?) Anyway, this review probably won't change your mind about reading this book--you'll most likey read it anyway and end up either sweetly annoyed or sweetly happy. Hey, either way you get the sweets. Just remember...too much of it can give you an stomach ache and this book can easily be an overdose. Good luck. You're going to need it.

Princess Quinn lives in Mandria, a magical kingdom set beneath the surface of the earth. Her only view of the world above is through the water of a magic wishing pool, located above the chamber of the famous wizard Melikar. Seeking excitement, Quinn and her friend Cam (the Wizard's Apprentice) attempt a spell to send them to "Outer Earth". Through a mishap, only Quinn is sent, leaving Cam to face the wrath of the Wizard, and Quinn to face a completely unfamiliar world alone.

For me, the most captivating aspect of the book is the humorous situations that ensue due to Quinn's very different mores and expectations from those in Outer Earth (what would appear as ordinary, modern-day life for us). She's baffled by the revealing clothes that people wear, the miracle of electric light, and the lack of defined protocol in human interactions. For example, here is Quinn's take on an amusement park:

"Another contraption looked like a giant spider, but at the end of each skinny leg was a basket full of people, spinning and calling out to each other.

From every direction, shouts and screams seemed to shake the air. Why were these people being punished? What horrible crimes had they committed?

Quinn's fear made her step behind a fountain to observe and not be seen. This must be an Outer-Earth prison. How barbaric!"

Fortunately, Quinn finds a safe haven in the home of an elderly man mysteriously connected to Mandria, with two teenage grandchildren. She attends high school (filled with mysterious scenarios to her), falls in love, copes with jealousy, and encounters a dangerous enemy. Meanwhile, back in Mandria, Cam is mourning Quinn's absence, and sending her mental messages to help find her way back home.

There is magic to this story, but it's not enough to overwhelm the tale. The magic is more a vehicle to offer hints of wonder for the reader, and to cause trouble for Quinn. It's more a time travel story than a story of magic, really. Quinn could almost be any Medieval princess, mysteriously transported to a modern-day high school. The juxtaposition of her Medieval phrases and sensibilities and those of the modern kids offers entertainment, and in some cases enlightenment.

I found Quinn to be a likable, realistically flawed heroine. She's impetuous, and the tiniest bit vain (a consequence of her pampered upbringing). She made me laugh, and I cared what happened to her. I appreciated and cared about Cam, back in Mandria, too. And when I got to the end of the book, I wanted to read more. That's always a strong indicator for me of a satisfying read. Fortunately, I have Cam's Quest waiting on my nightstand.

Although this is listed as a middle grade fiction title (ages 9 to 12), it features dating, and even falling in love. I think that this content makes it appropriate for middle school kids up to age 14 or so. Princess Nevermore should please fans of fantasy, as well as fans of historical fiction. It's a relatively quick read, not as plot-complex as the Harry Potter books and other epic fantasies, but one that will leave readers wanting more.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on April 3, 2007.