The Ugly Princess

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Summary: And So It Begins: The Ugly Princess by Elizabeth Burton
Review: "The truth might never have come to light had the King not gotten drunk at his wedding banquet and choked to death on a pheasant bone."

A funny opening sentence to be sure offered by Elizabeth Burton. Those that know something of me from my reviews here and elsewhere know that I am not a big fan of fantasy. With the exception of Terry Goodkind, most fantasy seems to me to be redundant and boring. Then I received this very enjoyable novel from the author. She has penned a grand tale of palace intrigue and deceit, sinister forces unleashed in a world of fantasy, and more than anything, the power of romance. This novel works across all levels and a fantasy setting only serves in improve the novel as to have done anything else would diminish the work.

Simplifying greatly, King Edrick of Abernal died at the afore mentioned feast. The only reason King Edrick was even having a wedding feast was that the previous Queen who he could not divorce because of extreme financial penalties, has finally died. He banished her to the far reaches of the Kingdom years ago and with word of her death, it is time for another political marriage. He must have a son, legitimate, preferably since all the illegitimate children are dead, to take over his Kingly duties someday. Upon word of the Queen's death, plans are quickly made for King Edrick to marry Yolanthe of Nadwich, the young daughter of King Benifaz. Upon meeting King Edrick, she is clearly less than thrilled with the repulsive idea but is powerless to stop it.

As it turns out, she is spared consummating the marriage with King Edrick thanks to his sudden death. The only living heir, known as The Ugly Princess and the spawn of a previous political union is needed to keep the throne in the family. She is rumored to be hideously deformed but since killing her wasn't an option, she has lived for the last twenty years at the far edges of the empire in a keep high in the foothills. There she is attended to by trolls, the only ones who can deal with her vulgar appearance.

Knowing that the ministers of the Royal Court seek to consolidate their power and have her killed, the Royal Champion Sir Christopher Evergild, leaves to bring her back. As the next rightful holder of the throne, he will swear an oath of fealty to her and then return her to the castle and the throne that is rightfully hers. At the same time, Bartrim Ruford, Seneschal of House Rediman is left to deal with King Benifaz's attempt to claim King Edrick's vacant throne as his as well as the political machinations of traitors within the palace walls that seek their own power.

Shifting in viewpoint from Bartrim to Sir Christopher, the novel is an enjoyable tale of palace intrigue where the dark forces may not all be mankind's making. Featuring complex characters, plenty of action and twists, humor and romance, this novel keeps the reader enthralled as it works toward the inevitable confrontations on many different levels. While this review simply does not do the book justice, do not let that deter you from this very good read which appears to be the start of a possible series.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and predictable
Review: After reading the four reviews, I had high hope for this book and was greatly disappointed. The writing was elementary and reminded me of a low rated movie with awful dialogs. The character development was poor. I couldn't even give it a high rating as a romance novel either. The writer keeps telling you how much the hero is "in love" but you don't get that sense based on the writing. A much better book is any of the book from the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier.

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Summary: Science Fiction Romance review
Review: He's been waiting for years for his first wife, a political match from a neighboring "barbarian" land, to kick the bucket. When he receives word she's deceased, the lousy king of Nadwich remarries but drops dead during the wedding feast, making his estranged daughter, the Ugly Princess, queen.

Lord Christopher Evergild, the Royal Champion, and Bartram Ruford, the house seneschal, are the new queen's best chance of making it to her throne alive. When she was born, her mother took off and her father installed her in a remote castle, where she grew up tended by trolls. Now three advisors of the deceased king, combined with the father of the king's new wife (who's the ruler of the next kingdom over), plot to put themselves, or some facsimile thereof, in charge.

Chris journeys to fetch the queen while Bartram attempts to handle matters on the home front. Chris's journey is more successful, for he locates the lady in question, who goes about covered in veils, and discovers some interesting things about just how isolated the lady has been all these years as well as just how deceased her maternal parent is. Bartram, on the other hand, finds himself named a traitor and imprisoned. How he escapes and how the good guys fight their enemies, as well as how Chris handles his inappropriate attraction to the mysterious queen, comprise the remainder of the fast-paced story.

This is a clean-cut tale where good guys have flaws and bad guys do too. The political shenanigans aren't terribly intricate--this is no Jacqueline Carey novel--but they satisfy and don't overwhelm. The narrator, Bartram, speaks in first person, while scenes from the other characters' viewpoints are in third person. Even though it sounds odd, it works quite well. The narrator in particular was very likeable and easy to relate to, with a dry humor infiltrating his sections.

In fact, the dry humor and overall tone of the book were two of my favorite aspects of it. Sure, the romance is simmery sweet, though not erotic, and the twists and turns interesting, but the tone was so readable I devoured the book in one day. And you have no idea how hard that is to do when you happen to be the parent of my toddler.

The novel read more like a fantasy than a romance, but by no means should that put off readers from the romance side of the fence. I fully recommend this entertaining book.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: I could not read past the first chapter...what I did read was poorly written and failed to hold my interest on any level at all.

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Summary: Appealing ugliness
Review: If Elizabeth K. Burton isn't one of the first authors who comes to mind when you think of high fantasy, just wait!. Her novel, THE UGLY PRINCESS will prove she belongs in the top rank.

When the King of Abernal chokes to death at his wedding feast, the throne by all rights should go to his only daughter, but there are, of course, major complications. One is threat from the ambitious father-of-the bride, a rival monarch. Another is the fact that the princess is reputed to be so ugly that she's been hidden away since childhood. With descriptive prose that often verges on poetry, the author sustains the mystery of the princess's true appearance until the very satisfying end.

Burton has little taste for the interminable journeys and overblown battles that pad most fantasy. Much to her credit, the characters in THE UGLY PRINCESS act decisively, keeping the pace fast and reader interest high.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing!
Review: This book is pure fantasy, yet as you read each chapter you feel as
though you are reading a history book from the 12th century. Even though the characters are fictitious, they come alive as real people as each page is turned and the story progresses.

If you enjoyed childhood fantasy books then you will love this mature story. Think of the children's story of the Ugly Duckling with a
Cinderella ending and a mature theme and this will give you a hint about this intriguing story.

Fantasy is not my cup of tea, but I must admit that I found myself deeply engrossed and enjoying this exciting book. This fantasy novel is a must read for those who would have liked to live in ancient times. You will love it!

Reviewed by award-winning author, Bobby Ruble, author of Have No Mercy and co-author with wife, Kam, of Black Rosebud: Have No Mercy II.

Rating:
Summary: Preachy and juvenile
Review: [...] While the second Everdark book continues an entertaining saga, I wish I had not purchased "The Ugly Princess."

"The Ugly Princess" seems targeted to a very young audience. Burton keeps hitting the reader over the head with the idea that looks aren't everything. Enough! I found the shift in viewpoint between Ruford (first-person POV) and Christopher Evergild (third-person POV) awkward and jarring, especially since Evergild is supposed to be the protagonist (I think).

The characters seemed wooden and didn't interest me. I agree with J. To that the novel fails both as romance and as fantasy. I don't think it succeeds particularly well as a fairy tale either, except perhaps for young readers (maybe 9-12 years old).

Try "Dreams of Darkness" and "Shadow of the Scorpion" for MUCH better reads by Burton.