Warrior Princess [Paperback]

Frewin Jones (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warrior Princess | Publication Date: September 29, 2009

You can be a warrior, if you choose to be.

Fifteen-year-old Branwen's life is changed forever when enemy Saxon troops attack her homeland and her brother is killed. Branwen wants to jump into action and avenge her brother's death, but instead she is sent to a neighboring stronghold where she'll be safe from harm. Yet while she is surrounded by exquisite beauty and luxury in her new home—as a princess should be—she feels different from the other girls. Deep down, Branwen has the soul of a warrior.

Then a mystical woman in white foretells a daunting prophecy: Branwen will be the one to save her homeland. Suddenly forced to question everything—and everyone—around her, she realizes that the most difficult part of her journey is still to come. With no time to lose, Branwen must make a choice: continue on the path her parents intended for her . . . or step into the role of a true Warrior Princess.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7–9—An unexpected encounter with Saxon warriors in the hills near their home ended with the death of Branwen's brother and her banishment to safety in the kingdom of her father's ally Prince Llew. While struggling to adjust to a pampered and dainty new life as a princess, Branwen finds herself increasingly drawn to her old ways as a warrior maiden. Teased and taunted because the people around her cannot understand her strength and mastery with slingshots and the wild falcon that follows her, the 15-year-old eventually gives in to the secret temptation to be trained as a skilled warrior. Thus begins her journey toward becoming the defender of her people. Daughter to a warrior mother, Branwen must quickly press on to maturity and decide whether to marry as tradition and her family wills or follow an uncertain, but prophesied destiny as Warrior Princess. Exciting from start to finish, the story follows her as she moves beyond the awkwardness of girlhood to the assurance of the powerful young woman she is about to become. Filled with battle scenes, fully realized characters, and a conclusion that will keep readers guessing, this story has surefire appeal.—Caryl Soriano, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

After Princess Branwen sees her brother murdered by a gang of marauding Saxons, she pledges to avenge his death. She wants to be a warrior but is unsure of her bravery and skills. Much to her dismay, she is sent away for her safety to a neighboring kingdom where women do not hunt or fight, and she is chastised for not acting like a lady. Branwen escapes to the forest, where she meets a mystical lady in white and learns of a prophecy that foretells both her destiny as a warrior and a devastating choice she will have to make. This historical fantasy is filled with realistic situations and intense battle scenes and features a fast-paced plot that will keep readers turning pages. The strong descriptions of medieval Britain and insight into Branwen’s character will appeal to middle-grade fantasy readers who enjoy strong heroines, ancient magic, and a hint of romance. Readers will follow along with Branwen’s struggles and eagerly anticipate a sequel. Grades 7-10. --Melanie Koss --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060871458
• ISBN-13: 978-0060871451
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,478,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There Is A Price To Pay For Turning Your Back On A Goddess!, March 1, 2010

By 

Larissa (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warrior Princess (Paperback)

When Branwen was little her brother Geraint would tell her old nursery stories of Pooka's and Coblyn's and Gwyllion's. When she was little he told her stories of the Shining Ones. They were the Old Gods, the forgotten Gods, and it was forbidden to talk of them.

When Branwen was younger her brother Geraint gave her a slingshot that she taught herself to use and to hunt with. When she was younger he taught her to handle a sword if ever she had a need to defend herself. However these lessons were always with swords of wood and always held in secret.

Now Branwen had watched as her brother Geraint displayed bravery and courage when faced with the enemy. She stood and watched as he was killed, she stood and did nothing. But what could she have done against a band of armed men, she was after all still a child.

Sent far from home to an unfriendly place with strange customs, Branwen stumbles upon a grove, a place once held sacred but now believed haunted. Here a choice must be made, follow her duty and her parents' wished to a loveless marriage far from her home, or follow her destiny and the wild and pitiless Old Magic of Rhiannon, a Shining One, to an unknown future as a warrior.

Rhiannon of the Spring has returned to save a land in danger. Warrior Princess Branwen must learn to cope with grief and loss as she makes a choice between her duty to others and following her own heart. A fantasy adventure based on Welsh mythology, this is a journey of discovering belief in oneself and about standing up for what is right, even if you stand alone. Do not be put off by the cheesy description of this book; what's inside is well worth the read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, December 11, 2011

By 

Mel Rose (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Warrior Princess (Paperback)

Warrior Princess by Frewin Jones follows the story of Branwen after her brother is murdered and she is banished to a nearby kingdom of Prince Llew, an alley of her father's. While she is used to the life of a warrior maiden, she must now become used to the life of a pampered princess. The only problem with that, besides the fact that she is teased and taunted for her strength and her mastery with a slingshot, is that a falcon follows her and a goddess insists she fulfills her destiny as a Warrior Princess.

I found this book by way of Frewin's other books, the Faerie Path series, and figured I'd try this out. In a way, it reminds of me of Xena Warrior Princess series, only for teens. Granted, it's not exactly the same but there are some similarities.

Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. Branwen was a pretty good strong character who learns her lesson that you don't disagree with a goddess. The goddess came to her several times and each time Branwen ignored her, there were consequences.

The book ends with a decision that Branwen must make that will determine her path. Her decision made, the journey and what's to come of it isn't revealed until the next book. A nice set up for readers to continue on with the series. Overall, not bad series. About a three to four star rating.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable introduction to a new medieval historical fantasy series., October 2, 2009

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Warrior Princess (Hardcover)

In early medieval Wales, fifteen-year-old Princess Branwen's world is turned upside down when her older brother is killed by Saxon invaders. Because she is her parents' only surviving child, they decide to send her away to live somewhere they hope will be safer. Branwen's new home is luxurious, but in this place a woman's role is to marry, not to fight. But even bigger changes are in store for Branwen, when the ancient goddess Rhiannon tells Branwen of her destiny as a warrior and savior of her people, but leaves her to make the choice herself if she will follow the prophecy.

Branwen is now left with a difficult choice for her future. Does she do as her parents wish, and marry and live a quiet life and hope for peace? Or does she choose the more difficult path, and train as a warrior and face an uncertain future for the sake of her people? And if it is indeed her destiny to fight for her people, is her choice only an illusion?

Warrior Princess is the first book in a series about Branwen, and it was pretty obvious from reading it that it was going to be the first book in a series. It introduces the story, characters, and world, and quite well, I will add - the setting really comes alive. But once Branwen makes her decision about what her future will be, the outcome of her choice is left for future books in the series. If you like historical fantasy, I definitely recommend this book to you, but be prepared to be eagerly waiting for the rest of the books to be published.