Scrapped Princess Novel 1: A Tale of Destiny (Paperback)

by Lianne Sentar (Adapter), Ichiro Sakaki (Author), Yukinobu Azumi (Illustrator), Paul Kotta (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up–In the kingdom of Linevan, it was prophesized that the king and queen would bear twins–one male and one female–and that the female child, on her 16th birthday, would cause the world to end and therefore must be immediately executed. The queen, who could not bear to murder her daughter, sent her to live with a family friend and his two children outside of town. This Scrapped Princess, now named Pacifica, grows up with two siblings: a powerful sorcerer named Raquel and a robust warrior named Shannon. She knows nothing about her past, other than that she was adopted and that someone has killed their father. When the truth of her heritage is revealed, she, Shannon, and Raquel set out to avenge their father's murder and see if the ominous prophecy is true. Tokyopop's aspiring entry into the fiction market is a decent story, although it uses conventions more typical to manga than to fantasy. Some of the dialogue is laced with sexual innuendo–not unusual for Japanese manga, though not as prevalent in fantasy. The setting, an anachronistic blend of a medieval world with futuristic weaponry, would work well visually depicted, but obfuscates readers' clear perception of where and when the story takes place. Inspired by the anime series, this first title in a 13-volume run will most likely appeal to teens because of its tie-in and manga-style illustrations, and fans of the original manga will be intrigued about the characters' pasts.–Jennifer Feigelman, Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
15 years ago, a set of twins - girl and a boy - was born to the king of Linevan. Shortly after their birth, a prophecy foretold that when the girl turned 16, she would bring about the end of humanity. To avoid this fate, the king ordered the princess disposed of. She miraculously survived, and now she has turned 15.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595329846
• ISBN-13: 978-1595329844
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #669,888 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast-paced and lighthearted adventure, January 5, 2007

By	Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Imagine your father Yuma's death. You know you were adopted (after all, you are blond and your family is raven-haired) but you also feel totally secure in the love of the only family you ever knew. So you are sad as you attend Yuma's cremation in the border town of Manurhin, in the kingdom of Linevan, but you have no reason to expect that your life won't go on as usual, arguing with your grouchy older brother Shannon and being cared for by your wiser older sister Raquel in lieu of the mother who died long ago. Shannon and Raquel will take over the weapons shop, and you'll continue going to school on Sundays with the other kids, as well as your daily battle-for-eggs with the family hen.

Such is the situation for Pacifica Casull, the 15-year-old heroine of this first of 13 fantasy novels from TOKYOPOP, which has teamed up with HarperCollins to bring manga and anime-influenced books to American teens. SCRAPPED PRINCESS (which includes nine full-page illustrations) introduces Pacifica as she and her siblings discover (from a letter left them by Yuma) that she is the princess ordered destroyed by the 5111th Oracle of Saint Grendel. The book's short prologue depicts five priests of the Mauser religion delivering their bloody prophecy: if the princess lives to age 16, she will bring on the destruction of their entire civilization.

For all these years, most of the people of Linevan have believed that the king and queen dispatched the princess, as they promised. But rumors of the "scrapped princess" abound, and now that Yuma is gone, assassins like Big Shot and Sinner are coming out of the woodwork. Luckily, Shannon has inherited the fighting skills, weapons and armor of his father and Raquel is one heck of a sorceress. They vow to protect Pacifica, although they are reminded, first by the local Duke and then by the various assassins, that if she lives to be 16, the prophecy says that millions of innocent people will die.

A lighthearted, self-mocking tone enlivens this almost-corny adventure story. Yuma, in his letter to Shannon and Raquel, charges them with their important mission and then jokes, "Your mother and I gave you life for this very day. You know, I took your mother in my arms, one thing led to the next, and pretty soon your mother was saying 'Oh stop! No, you brute, no!' Oh my, what's that feeling? Oh, oh, YES! Don't stop!' You know." The assassins are good villains --- some utterly evil and loathsome (Big Shot), some loathsome with reasons (Sinner), another (Chris) so handsome and intriguing that you suspect he may show up in future volumes. Showdowns abound --- in abandoned castles, on the road in a wheeled fortress masquerading as a nondescript horse-drawn caravan --- and when Shannon falters with his sword, Raquel saves the day with a spell. And when things get really bad, Pacifica is not above stepping in with a brick and clonking someone on the head herself.

Predictable but fast-paced, this story will keep you turning the pages until the end of book one --- and then, to whet your appetite, give you a taste of book two.

--- Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not easy when everyone wants you dead!, December 3, 2006

By	Fantasy Novel Review "FNR" - See all my reviews

The birth of a princess presages the end of the world, or so say the prophets of the Kingdom of Linevan. Thus, regardless of her royalty, Pacifica Casull must be "scrapped." But the babe survives and grows up to live a hidden, quiet life with her adoptive parents and siblings. Of course, she also battles fierce chickens and the mundane with equal ferocity along the way. That is, until her adoptive father's mysterious death.

Not long after her father dies, two greasy assassins--Sinner and Big Shot--begin their pursuit of Pacifica. And once these two hit the scene, the cat's out of the bag, the chicken's laying eggs, and Pacifica is on the run from pretty much every assassin in the land. Fortunately, she's under the protective custody of her older brother, a great warrior in his own right, and her older sister, a sorceress.

Poor Pacifica. It's not easy being alive when everybody wants you dead!

Scrapped Princess has all the goods: scheming skankbags, thrills, chills, and goofball moments. That is to say, this story was really good about giving me the heebie-jeebies one minute, as in Sinner's freaky; and a good case of the giggles the next, as in Pacifica's a big doof.

Recommended reading for those who like highflying adventure twisted by a wily sense of humor.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, December 1, 2006

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

There is a legend in the kingdom of Linevan about a princess. More accurately, it's a prediction, made by the Oracle, regarding the princess. According to the prophecy, on the day of her 16th birthday the princess will bring about the destruction of the world. Therefore, the infant princess was destroyed. Though it is considered blasphemous to speak of her at all, she is referred to throughout the kingdom as the Scrapped Princess.

Pacifica Casull is as familiar with the legend and its surrounding rumors as most people. She's about to get to a lot more familiar with the reality of it. According to her adopted father's will she IS the Scrapped Princess. It's a lot for a 14-year-old girl to take in, especially after the death of the only father she's ever known. Not to mention that other people are starting to find out. Which means that there are some highly skilled assassins on their way to find her.

It's up to Pacifica's adopted brother and sister to protect her. If they're willing to take the risk, that is. And, if they don't think she's going to destroy the world, and they're strong enough and talented enough, and if they can all put up with each other.

With more than a year before her 16th birthday, and twelve more books planned, Pacifica's adventures seem to just be beginning.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman