Princess of the Wild Sea

Blakemore blends the fantastic and the mysterious into a fast-paced narrative that still leaves room for the characters to breathe and to wonder. . . . An imaginative adventure both familiar and new.

An absorbing fantasy adventure with well-developed characters and more than a touch of magic.

At her christening, Princess Harbor Rose of Lapistyr is cursed by one of her aunts to prick her finger and bring about a mysterious enemy which "shall lay waste to the land" in this expansive "Sleeping Beauty" remix by Blakemore (the Frankie Sparks, Third-Grade Inventor series). A second aunt successfully alters the curse, which now foretells the rise of a hero to defeat the coming evil. Fearing for Harbor's safety, her family relocates to isolated Small Island, where she grows up hidden in exile. Upon turning 12, however, Harbor's curse activates, summoning 14-year-old Peter from contemporary Kansas. He becomes her friend over the course of several visits, the last of which coincides with the attack of the Frost, an army "who willed themselves to life in the barren icelands." Accompanied by Peter and his younger sister Anna, Harbor must unravel the secrets of her family's past and Small Island's true nature to defeat the Frost and save her loved ones from evil clutches. Familiar fairy tales serve as the foundation for this intriguing volume, which Blakemore imbues with refreshing wildness and originality, resulting in a continually surprising adventure. Major characters present as white. Ages 8-11. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Jan.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Blakemore returns with a hero quest that weaves old and new myths. Harbor Rose is a blond, green-eyed, 12-year-old princess who lives in a place called Small Island. She longs for companionship as she is the only child on the island, but her aunts and mother are intent on keeping her safe from the outside world. War is coming—at least according to a prophecy foretold about Harbor's life—and she must summon a hero to save her kingdom before it's too late. In this book, readers will appreciate the way that Blakemore combines and reimagines fairy tales and mythologies. The fast-moving plot and likable protagonist will engage readers. Harbor's story recalls the Chronicles of Narnia, A Wrinkle in Time, and a host of vampire and zombie tales besides. The author uses this many-fabled backdrop as the setting for Harbor's own coming-of-age journey in which she learns what it is to be a hero. VERDICT A clever adventure story recommended for readers who enjoy a twist on classic fantasies and the authors previous books.—Talea Anderson

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This retelling of Sleeping Beauty introduces new twists to the traditional tale. . . . Themes of good versus evil, heroism, courage, bravery, and love of family and home are cleverly sewn into the fabric of the plot. —School Library Connection