refugeinabook: Book Review: "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" by Gail Carson Levine

Book Review: The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

When Princess Addie's older sister, Princess Meryl, get's ill with the gray death, it's up to her to find a cure. But this wasn't how it was supposed to go. Meryl is the brave one, who has practiced swordplay and dreamed of adventure her whole life. Addie is the quiet one, who spends her time with her needlework, avoiding spiders, and playing games where Meryl is her protector. Addie must discover the hero in herself and brave a world of monsters.

OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS

Addie is our main character. The story is told through her, and we learn that she is shy and rather timid. Since she rarely see's their father, the King, and have no mother, Addie relies on Meryl as her main source of friendship and protection. The fierce protection and love she has for Meryl make Addie likable, and her quiet nature makes her easy to relate to.

Meryl, the older sister, is in large part of the story, even though she becomes ill and Addie leaves. Through the first part of the story, it is obvious she adores her sister and see's herself as the role of a protector.

Rhys is an apprentice sorcerer at the castle. His character is rather original, as in Levine's story, sorcerer's are a race of people themselves, who live for hundreds of years and are not born how humans are. They also are similar in appearance, with dark, curly hair, white eye lashes and a tall stature. While Addie is shy he is rather dramatic, in manner and dress. He has a purpose other than being a love interest, as he gives Addie two gifts to help her on her quest.

Bella is the two princesses' governess. Although she is rather strict and skeptical of outsiders, such as sorcerers, she does truly cave for the girls. She gives Addie a gift before she leaves.

Milton is an old Elf who teaches the princesses and deeply cares for them. He gives Addie a gift before she leaves and tells her stories from his peoples' history.

King Lionel, only deserves attention for his lack of activity. He refers to a massive book of platitudes before doing anything, and whatever he finds on a whim dictates his actions.

Vollys the dragon is the main antagonist in the story. She comes across as mentally unstable, having killed all of her past prisoners after a period of time, but seeming to genuinely miss them. Her loneliness seems to have caused her to go insane. I went back and forth to feeling sympathy for her to despising her.

PACING

If you are looking for a book that jumps right into the action, then this isn't for you. The reader has to go through almost half the book before Addie leaves on her quest, although Meryl does get ill a few chapters before.

Indeed, the story actually starts with Addie remembering their childhood and the games they would play. You may wonder how this is relevant, but the first half of the book serves to establish the relationship between the two sisters: how different they are and how close they are. We see how Addie reacts to situations compared to her sister, and their roles are set from the beginning.

Don't think just because the story is character driven that the plot suffers for it. Addie faces many dangers in her journey, from a specter, griffons, ogres, and a dragon. But most of the action lies in the climax of the book, where Addie faces a large army of monsters.

CHARACTER DRIVEN

This story is very much character driven, where we take the first half of the story establishing the relationship of the sisters and the contrast of their characters. So when Addie goes of to find a cure to the gray death, we understand what a big deal this is. If Meryl had gotten ill right from the beginning and Addie had left for her quest, the reader would know nothing of their relationship at all.
Even when we get to meet the story's main antagonist, the dragon Vollys, the time is spent learning about the dragon and her history, and scheming to escape. One might expect swordplay, or some action along that line. But instead Addie develops a strange relationship with Vollys, and like her, the reader hesitates between sympathy and anger for the beast.

FORESHADOWING

The reading of epic poems of Bamarre's history lay out hints for the rest of the book. So when you see pages of poetry, resist the urge to skim them. They are often important, and that importance isn't always pointed out.
Although Addie does point out the similarity between a specter's prophecy for the end of the gray death and a specter telling Meryl she will have and adventure when cowards get courage. No doubt because that is the most important piece and has a profound impact on the ending of the story.

ROMANCE

The relationship between Rhys and Addie is sweet, developing from the beginning. Levine has the lovely habit of taking a friendship and developing it without drama and flowery language. Instead of going through multiple life-or-death situations, their friendship comes from time spent together, learning about each other and what they have in common.

CHARACTERS THAT COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER

Rhys is used well in the story, not merely as a love interest, but as someone who helps Addie, by giving her magical items and saving her life in one scene. Even with him rescuing her, you never get the feeling that Addie is useless, just that she is naive and will have to develop if she is to help her sister. Outside of Meryl, he is Addie's only friend, and he gives insight about Addie that no one else does.
Meryl's existence defines Addie so strongly that the entire first half of the book explores their relationship and the contrasts between them.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Rhys develops by becoming more honest and bold with Addie, as well as departing from the ideas of his teacher.
Meryl develops as we learn about self-doubts she has carried with her at the end of the book. This keeps her from being rather two dimensional, as we have only seen her as Addie sees her, a brave and bold girl who wants adventure.
Addie develops by facing her fears and accepting that she has to have her own adventures and live a life separate from her sister.