In 1968, my mother bought me a copy of this book---a slender paperback printed and illustrated in green ink. I loved the book, and thirty years later, read the story to my little girl, who LOVED it. Unfortunately, my original copy is yellowed and brittle, and I was reluctant to let my daughter handle its fragile pages as often as she wished.

Imagine my delight when this wonderful book was reprinted. The new version has all the old illustrations, but the ink is black, not the original green. The color illustration from the jacket of the paperback is reprinted inside the new version, but in black and white. Despite these minor changes, I am thrilled to have this old favorite back again.

A bit of the plot: a young girl named Lucy meets a kind, but rather mysterious young man named Michael, who tells her the story of Mika, a fairy Prince who falls in love with a mortal woman. This book contains all of the usual elements in a traditional fairytale---a princess abducted by an unpleasant suitor, goblins, a dragon, enchantments, battles between the forces of good and evil---but it is very different from the impersonal stories in typical fairytale books. Marian Cockrell's characters are vivid and unforgettable, and her story is magical, entertaining, and even humorous in parts.

Give a copy to an eight year old that you love. You won't be sorry.

I first read Shadow Castle nearly 45 years ago, as a young girl. Like other reviewers have noted, it was an instant favorite which I read again and again. It had everything: love, gentleness, and integrity, as well as suspense, revenge, and human stupidity and preconceptions. When I had a child of my own, I started searching for this book to share both the story and a piece of my own childhood. It was as if the book had vanished like the Shadows on a rainy day! For 25 years, I checked in every used bookstore, every children's library section, to no avail. Then, just before Christmas, I typed in the name and found it was back in print! I included a copy with my Christmas order, and I sat down and read it cover to cover the afternoon it arrived. The magic is still there, right along side the goblin dust. Now it will wait patiently in my bookcase until I have a grandchild to share it with. And I am thinking about re-naming the dog Flumpdoria.

One Christmas when I was 8 or 9,Santa brought me a wonderful book---Shadow Castle. I am sure through the years I must have read it 100 times. Today I am 60 years old. Like so many others who have reviewed this book, my copy disappeared, and I have searched and searched for a replacement. Just on a chance, I typed in the name on amazon.com,and there it was. Those who have tried to find this book know the feeling that I had after all those years of serious searching.And the book is just as imaginative and romantic as it was when I was a little girl. The first thing I looked for was the picture of Robin and Bluebell. It is just as I remember it. The wonderful ending where the shadows move around is still so excititng. To think that a thousand years and seven days have gone by. What a love story! I shall read it 100 times more, and those times shall be even better because there are grandchildren to read it to.

If you are a quilter, or even if you aren't, this is a beautiful book about the value of giving. The book is well-written, if not very subtle. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the tie in to quilts makes for an interesting story.

My children, age 7 and 9, both love this book just to look through and read to themselves. I like to look through and match up the quilting patterns. -- Oh, an added extra is a search and find in the middle ... younger kids will love this.

For quilters, there is a tie in with fabric still available in some stores and you can make a quilt to go with the story line. Altogether, a keeper.

Though my children are grown, I still enjoy brousing the children's book section of the local bookstore. I was drawn to remove The Quiltmakers Gift from it's resting place on the shelf because of the beautifully rendered, inviting illustrations on it's cover. And what a pleasant surprise when I opened the book to find a wealth of the same along with a most touching and tenderly written story about a king living in unhappy greed amongst the finest of splendor. Yet this same greed allows his path to cross with that of a loving, giving soul who has the gift to help the king learn how to find his own happiness. It is apparent that both author and illustrator have a deep understanding of the gift of giving, and have given us a wonderful story to share with our loved ones. I found myself sitting in the bookstore wiping away the tears from my eyes and I knew this book was a must even though I may save it for years before having grandchildren to read it to.

my children love this book. the story is about a king that collects beautiful things and demands a blanket from a mountain woman who makes amazing quilts but she refuses...she only gives her handmade quilts for those in need. the king is not considered a needy person. he demands a quilt and even though he tries to do mean things to her like leave her in a bear's cave to get his way, but she always comes out with a new friend because she has helped those she was left with. she finally tells him to give away all his things to get a quilt. for every item he gives away she'll sew another square. it has a great moral about helping those in need. the ending is great! the book has inspired my children to help make baby blankets for newborns in need as a christmas service project. we plan on sending the books to all our relatives on our christmas list while donating blankets in their honor. if you're looking for the perfect book for someone with a caring heart....this is it! also perfect for the quiltmaker in your life.

A story for any little girl who wants to be a princess...
I am now 25 but when I was in 5th grade my teacher read my class this book. And I have never forgotten it I have wanted a copy for the longest time. But it was out of print.
I'm glad to see it's back for a whole new group of kids to love.

This is the story of Princess Amy
Who had six beauitful sisters with gold hair and cream colored skin.
Well it was the custdom of the kingdom to invite fairies to the baptiam of the 7th daughter.

Now each fairy bestowed gifts to Amy
Wit
Charm
Grace

But one fairy makes her ordanairy.
Asthe years pass Amy becomes more plain with brown straight hair and gray eyes... Her mother and dad try to marry her off but she is plain as far as princess go. so no one will marry her.
The king works out a plan to marry her off When Amy learns of this she runs off to become a kitchen maid.

Little does she know how much happiness this will bring her!!

How you ask?

You have to read the book to find out!!
Hope you Enjoy!

I was talking to my roommate the other day about the book that has had the most influence on me, and I all of the sudden remembered The Ordinary Princess. I read it years ago when I was in elementary school. I loved the book so much that I read and reread it over and over again. I think this was the first book I ever read as a child where I idenified with the character and looked up to her as a role model. Amy was "ordinary" when compared to her sisters, but she had spunk and feeling and a liveliness that made her a wonderful character to look up to. So many fairytales fall into a trap of convention: beautiful princess meets handsome prince and they fall in love and get married. This book is about two people with personalities who fall in love with each other for the people that they are. I highly recommend this book to anyone of any age as a timeless classic.

I read MM Kaye's other books when I was in middle school (I was a precocious reader, yes). I was amazed to learn last spring, that she'd also written a children's book which was supposed to great, as well.

I read Ordinary Princess in one big 'gulp,' and have since recommended it to all my friends who have daughters. The lesson about being yourself, being kind to others, etc. which is written so well into this book is wonderful (and it's not the sort of overbearing treatment which is found in so many childrens' books). It turns the traditional fairy-tale princess story on its head, and does so with charm.

I enjoyed the book as an adult -- I wish I'd been able to read it as a little girl, too. This one deserves to be on the shelf with the rest of the 'classics' we often think of especially for young girls -- Anne of Green Gables, the Little House books, the Secret Garden, etc.

Our whole family held their breath as this book was read aloud, and I could easily picture reading it in my classroom. Astrid Lindgren used such beautiful language and timeless symbols that Mio touches our deepest heart and highest aspirations, and will touch children (and adults)at all stages of development. Along with Lindgren's The Brothers Lionheart, these books are a must for family and classroom libraries, and are well worth searching for used copies if they remain out of print.

A magical tale of enchantment...I first found this book in the public library when I was nine years old and fell in love with it. Years later I was able to check out this very same copy long enough to read it to my older two children. Now I am longing to read it to my younger children and have discovered that it is no longer available. Please contact the publisher and bring it back!

As a mother of five in my forties, I read and re-read this book in my grade school library in the 50's and ever since have been searching for it. It always remains in my memory as my very favorite book, a wonderful story I would love to read with my children. This book should definitely be made available again.

After years of waiting, Ms. Turner has finally written a sequel to The Thief! You thought Gen was finished with his sneaking around? Think again! This time he's been spying on the Queen of Attolia (you remember how pleasant she was in the first book?) and he's caught in the act. When the unthinkable happens, Gen must learn to draw on new reserves of courage and strength...and he rises admirably to the challenge.

Ms. Turner develops her wonderful characters even more, and elaborates on things from the first book. Gen is delightful as always, a sweet and tragic character as well as a smart-alecky dare-devil.

I highly recommend this book, and its prequel (The Thief - a Newbery book). I am looking forward to the promised sequel.

"The Thief" was notable for the wry humor of its narrator, Gen, who revealed so much about himself while still keeping his story's twist ending in store for the reader. In "The Queen of Attolia," Gen (who prefers to be addressed by his full name, Eugenides, as befits his position as Queen's Thief of Eddis) finds his humor under severe strain as the uneasy political balance between the three countries of Sounis, Eddis, and Attolia finally explodes under the pressure of the encroaching Mede Empire. An ill-fated foray into Attolia's palace loses Eugenides his hand and Eddis' reprisal-war-seems to be the response the Mede Ambassador and his Emperor have been waiting for. Three small countries will either ally or fall, and at the moment none of them are at all concerned with alliance. "What can a one-handed man steal?" If he's very, very clever, he just might be able to steal peace.

It has to be hard, being the sequel to a Newberry Award-winning book, but "The Queen of Attolia" manages admirably, in part by being different from its predecessor without losing the familiar context of characters and setting. A third-person narrative allows the reader to view the situation from the perspectives of various characters-mostly Eugenides and the Queen of Attolia-but also distances the characters; fortunately, Megan Whalen Turner maintains such detail in her descriptions that many third-person passages feel like first-person narratives. There are changes to deal with in familiar characters as well. The war tests everyone, Eugenides the most: formerly quick-tongued and irrepressible, he responds to his loss by withdrawing into himself, often bitter at what he sees as his failure and the gods that have abandoned him; you miss the adolescent Gen of "The Thief." The magus of Sounis betrays one alliance in hopes of salvaging another. Even the queen of Eddis, as beloved as she is unbeautiful, is not even sure whether or not her actions are as honorable as she first thought them. It's a sure sign that the author is doing a good job when you hurt in sympathy with the characters! But all is not lost: while there's much to endure before peaces comes to Eddis and Eugenides both, there is also a very good story. Turner keeps the tension high and never lets the political intrigue outweigh the interactions between the characters, and there's even a tale of the old gods which serves as a kind of mirror to the action in the latter part of the story. (Also a twist halfway through which changes everything you thought about Eugenides' motives; it works, too.) All in all, like "The Thief," "The Queen of Attolia" is one very good story of a convincing place that never was and people who, fictional or not, truly matter.

"The Queen of Attolia" is a great book. It is true, however that this story is slightly darker/less pleasant than "The Thief," but it is still one of the better books that I have ever read. I find it difficult to write a review on "The Queen of Attolia" because it has so many little twits and such a clever plot that if I am not careful I'll give the story away! However, I strongly urge you to read "The Thief" (the first book in this two-book sequel) before you read this story or else "The Thief's" plot will be totally given away - and after all, the plot IS the story. And, if you liked "The Thief" you will not be let down by this book.

"The Queen of Attolia" continues the drama of Eugenides - Gen - as he steals one thing after another, engages in a war, and makes his usual snide remarks and complaints, which somehow make you like him more than ever. Eugenides struggles with his emotions, fear, love, hate, pain; and he is faced with many decisions and dangers, and involves himself in risky plans and strategies during a war between the countries of Sounis, Eddis, the Mede, and Attolia that keep you gripping the book and wondering what will happen next. A spellbinding tale that has charm, adventure, action, a good plot, and (don't let this put you off!) a little bit of love. Do read this sequel, it's worth it.

This book is not only beautifully written and perfect for all ages, "The Princess and the Goblin" is also morally strong and uplifting. Children of either sex will be interested in it, with a loving and beautiful grandmother, a strong and intelligent young girl, and a young boy who is intent on protecting his loved ones and uncovering the evil goblin plot. I have read this countless times, and each time I discover something new. The sequel, "The Princess and Curdie," is also worth reading. I love this book!

So you love C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles? There people who don't are few and far between. One of the biggest influences on C.S. Lewis was this man, George MacDonald (1824-1905). It was MacDonald's talent for telling fairy stories that inspired Lewis in writing his own. Like Lewis, MacDonald has a remarkable ability to tell a delightful and enchanting story for children, layered with strong Christian themes and imagery by means of allegory and symbols. 'The Princess and the Goblin' is one of his most beloved works for children, and an excellent introduction to his style and success.

'The Princess and the Goblin' features a heroine ' a princess called Irene ' and a hero ' a simple miner's son called Curdie. While working overtime in the mines to earn money to buy his mother a red petty-coat, Curdie chances upon the goblins who live in the mountain, and discovers that they are hatching an evil plot against the king and his palace. Meanwhile the princess makes a discovery of her own ' high in the castle she finds a wonderful old lady who is her great-great-grandmother. The problem is, nobody else knows of her grandmother, and nobody believes her. But the princess does believe, and it is by her faith in her grandmother and the magic thread that she receives from her, that she is able to rescue Curdie. Together they rescue the entire palace from disaster at the hands of the goblins.

In telling the story, MacDonald has an enchanting conversational style, wonderfully suitable for reading aloud to enraptured children ' an ability perfecting in telling stories to his own eleven children. But 'The Princess and the Goblin' is more than just a story. Before pursuing a literary career, MacDonald was a Congregationalist minister, and so integrates important underlying Christian themes. Believing in the great-great-grandmother despite the fact that many cannot see her, is a symbol of believing in God. MacDonald uses this to show how the Christian faith involves believing without seeing, and that not everyone has to 'see' something for it to be true. The grandmother's lamp and magic thread are the guides on which the princess must depend, much like the Word which is a lamp on our path. It may sound tacky, but it works.

Children are not likely to grasp the deeper underlying themes that MacDonald is working with. Nonetheless the story has a clear message for children. The clear conflict between the royal powers of light against the goblin powers of darkness is unmistakable. Moreover, the princess is presented as a model of virtue, and MacDonald frequently asserts the importance of moral virtues such as always telling the truth, keeping your word, and admitting your faults ' moral virtues that are equally important for princes and princesses of God's kingdom. Courage, honesty, grace, dignity and beauty are timeless ideals for children of all times to strive for. If you love Narnia, you're sure to like this one, and you'll find yourself quickly grabbing the sequel, 'The Princess and Curdie.' 'The Princess and the Goblin' was one of J.R.R. Tolkien's childhood favorites, highly regarded by C.S. Lewis, described by W.H. Auden as 'the only English children's book in the same class as the Alice books', and generally considered as a classic example of nineteenth century children's literary fairy tales. So if you haven't yet read this book, it's about time you did. With admirers such as Tolkien, Lewis and Auden, if you become a MacDonald's admirer you'll find yourself in good company!

I cant believe I haven't read this untill now, its such a great book! A princess lives in a castle all her life, never knowing of the great dangers that go on in the mountain. One day(being about 7 years old) she finds a stairway in her house that she has never seen and it leads her to her great, great grandmother. After she meets her grandmother she is shown the dangers of the goblins and meets a boy named Curdie who mines in the mountain with his father. Throughout the book Curdie and the princess have many encounters with the goblins. This is a great book I highly recommend it for readers of all ages.

this book is sooooooooooooooo absorbing it'l have you reading this book in the middle of the night. the child of Cimorene and Mendanbar, Daystar has a quest he doesn't even know what to do. all he has is a sword that mysteriusly tingles whenever he touches it. On the way he meets a bad tempered, but realy funny and likable firewitch named Shiara,a very up-to-date lizard named Suz, a princess that is "waiting for my love to come and rescue me from this horrible beast"( a young harmless dragon that is looking for a princess to become his, well princess, he joins the party too,)" that will come and take me and eat me and ...." well you get the idea.The princess's "love" is realy a suprise and NOT what you would probably think he's like.They meet Morwen, Telemain the magician, Kazul the King of dragons,and the whole gang of wizards being melted from the 1&2&3 books. Highly recommended to anyone who can read or to anyone who can't read. A millon cheers for the enchanted forest series! YAY,YAY, YAY,YAY, YAY, YAY! BUY EM ALL AND YOU WON REGRET IT!

The book starts with 16-year-old Daystar living in a house just outside the Enchanted Forest with his mother, Cimorene. Cimorene was the main character in the first three books in the series, but Daystar is the main character in this one. They have lived a perfectly normal life for 16 years, with Cimorene teaching Daystar all he needs to know. Then one day a wizard comes to their house. Cimorene melts him! Then Cimorene sends Daystar out into the Enchanted Forest with only a sword. Cimorene tells him that he has a mission, but he doesn't know what it is!

Once in the Enchanted Forest, Daystar discovers something interesting: Everything leaves him alone except for wizards. Then he finds a fire-witch stuck in a clearing surrounded by a bad-tempered hedge that won't let her out. (Fire-witches have powerful magic and are immune to spells and fire.) When Daystar is with her, the hedge lets both of them out, but it won't let her (the fire-witch) out by herself!

He gains many companions other than the fire-witch along his journey, including a dragon, a magician (magicians are good, wizards are bad), and a cat. Daystar's mission comes to a great climax at the end. All in all, it is a great book.

Talking with Dragons is the last book of its series by Patricia R. wrede. Its about a 16 year old kid named Daystar that lives with his mother at the end of the Enchanted Forest. One day a wizard comes to there house and his mother meltes him and sends him off to find out what he is supposed t be doing with The Sword of the Sleeping King. On his jouny he encounters a talking golden lizard, two fire witches, a magitian, a witch, alot of wizards, 7 dwarfes, a Dragon, a princess, a knight, and a jelly type thing. My favorite part is when Daystar is fighting a evil fire witch and he uses his sword agianst her and she uses a spell and he describes how his arms feel like hot lead is melting over them.i love that part becuaze its fells like your watching the lead actually melt over his arms. the only bad part is that the name of the chapterbecuaze it gives away what happens in that chapter but besides that its one of the bast books iv'e ever read. I would give this book and the other three books(Dealing with Dragons, Serching for Dragons, and Calling on Dragons). I would only recommend this book if you have read the first three books (i give them ***** to).

Written about the "headstrong" Austrian archduchess Maria Antonia (as the future Queen of France was called as a child), this book portrays her as a girl who wants to be herself. Tired of her mother's incessant attempts to mold her into a beautiful, ladylike Queen, Maria Antonia just wants a chance to develop her own character and make decisions for herself. This book also deals with Maria Antonia's marriage to Louis XVI, the Dauphin (or Crown Prince) of France. Maria Antonia has been meticulously prepped so that she will make a good impression on the Dauphin and his grandfather, the incumbent French monarch. However, when she actually meets her fiance, Maria Antonia discovers to her shock (and horror) that he is not at all handsome and that he is overweight--which is completely the opposite of what she was expecting him to look like. But Maria Antonia and her husband grow closer throughout the final third of the book and become good friends at last. They are on the verge of falling in love when the book ends. Maria Antonia also has to deal with Countess du Barry, the King's mistress. Du Barry is unfriendly to Maria Antonia and goes out of her way to insult the young Dauphine. In spite of this, Maria Antonia is expected to talk to du Barry and be courteous to her--which the Dauphine refuses to do. The book also talks about Maria Antonia's bond with her older sister Elizabeth, who was once a great beauty but whose skin is now scarred as a result of smallpox. Titi, or Theresa, who is Maria Antonia's seven-year-old niece (the daughter of her older brother Joseph and his late wife Isabella of Parma), is also a close friend of the Archduchess. A principal character in this book is Queen Maria Theresa (Maria Antonia's mother), who is controlling and strict (but not cruel). This book interested me in the history of the Habsburg family (of which Maria Antonia was a member). The author aptly describes the scenery of Maria Antonia's home(s) in Austria--expertly enough so that I could recognize every single landmark mentioned in the book when I visited Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, coincidentally a few days after I finished the book. An excellent read!

The year is 1769; the place, Austria. The pressure is on thirteen-year-old Maria Antonia, youngest daughter of the Empress Maria Theresa, to excell so that she will be chosen to marry the future king of France. Antonia, as she is called, must learn French language, fashions, customs, and etiquette so that she can impress the king's messengers. She is given no time to act her age; when she does attempt to enjoy life as a girl should, she is severely punished. When she is sent away to France, her life is little better - she makes enemies of the mistress of the current king, who is the grandfather of her husband-to-be. She is forced to observe customs she can barely keep straight. And she is having a hard time getting along with her fiance. I viewed Marie Antoinette differently after reading this book. It was obvious from the book and the afterword that Marie and her husband were not trained well by their parents and teachers on how to become good rulers, and Marie had been taught from the time she was young that the most important thing was to look good. This is most likely why they became such bad rulers and ended up losing their lives.

This book, Marie Antoinette, was written by Kathryn Lansky. It was set in the years 1769-1770,when Marie Antoinette was a young teenage girl, growing up in the palace of her mother, Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria.

In the first part of the book, Marie Antoinette's mother is trying to make a match between her and the Dauphin, Prince Louis 16th of France. Marie must have her portrait done and learn French etiquette (which she thinks is very boring) if she is to become the Queen of France. Thankfully, she has her riding lessons, which she loves. After the plans for the wedding are set, she must prepare to go to France, to marry Louis and join the French court as his wife. She tells in her diary of all the endless preparations to be made for the journey, like being fitted for fancy new French dresses. Then when Marie goes to France, she must adapt to the ways of the French court. For example, when she eats meals with her husband, she is watched by thousands of courtiers. She really hates being displayed in front of everyone like an animal in a cage! But she does enjoy horseback riding with Louis.

There are some really neat things about this book. First, the author wrote this book in diary form, with the date and year at the top of each quote just like a real diary. Second, when you read Marie's diary it is just like she is talking to you about her innermost thoughts and feelings. She tells you the sad, lonely, angry and the happy times that happened in her life. Third, the author did a great job explaining the book in great detail. For example, when Marie had to have her hair done for a fancy ball, afterwards she had to sleep with her hair on a board, to preserve the hairstyle! Another example is when she taught her young prince husband how to throw a snowball for the very first time. I love the way the author wrote this book in such a fun way to read!

This diary book has a blue and gold cover just like the one in the story. The edges of the pages are a beautiful gold color. On the front of the book, there is a beautiful picture of Marie Antoinette all dressed up for a ball. There is a section in the back of the book that has historical facts, plus pictures of Marie Antoinette and her family, where you can see how big their fancy ball dresses really were!

This diary tells of the events of Marie's life as a teenager, as well as her thoughts and feelings as an 18th century princess. Marie Antoinette was a very pretty, fun-loving girl who is really interesting to read about. This book shows how girls today are the same and different from girls back then, in an exciting, fun-to-read way.

Things change for a young Goose Girl when an old hag gives her a few gifts: she becomes as fair as the dawn, her hair is filled with gold dust which comes out upon brushing, and whenever she cries, diamonds fall to the ground rather than tears. Alexandria is then placed in a tower by a dim-witted prince who wants her hand in marriage, and she is then forced to choose between an evil king and the prince. She makes a deal that she will choose when she finishes her wedding gown, which is to be crafted from gold thread created from the gold dust from her hair. However, she undoes her stitches every night when no one looks, and sews very, very, very slowly, to buy time. Then one day, the servents forget to lock her door, and everything changes when she climbs to the top of the tower and her geese carry her away on a featherbed. She must face ogresses, armies, castles, impossibly long hair, and the return of the stupid prince. Will she ever survive this escape to freedom? Find out in this hilarious book. Recommended for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Finnegan Zwake Mysteries by Michael Dahl, fairy tales, and all hilarious books.

Setting- Fairy tale, magical, medieval times with princes and muskets, castles and dungeons
Characters- Goose Girl, a.k.a.. Alexandria Fortunato, a girl who watches twelve geese as a legacy of her dead mother. She is enchanted with golden hair that produces gold dust when brushed and crystal tears when she cries. Prince of Dorloo- wishes for the Goose Girl to marry him. King of Gilboa- a usurper who also wishes to marry Goose Girl (more for her gold and diamonds than for her)
Plot- Goose Girl is captured and placed in a tower until she decides whether to marry the Prince of Dorloo or the King of Gilboa. Her twelve geese help her escape and deposit her near the home of three ogresses who tie her hair to the doorpost while she cooks for them. The Prince comes after her and is captured by the ogresses. They escape together procuring a beautiful ruby necklace. Goose Girl and the Prince are captured by the King's soldiers and put in a dungeon. Goose Girl's hair helps them escape but they are recaptured by the King. It is discovered the Goose Girl and the twelve geese are really the genuine heirs of the kingdom and the King is turned into a buzzard by the ugly fairy godmother. The geese are restored to human form and Alexandria will eventually marry the prince who is now King of Dorloo because his father dies.
Author eval.- This well written humorous expansion of a little known fairy tale is delightful. It is mostly the language that is used. It is very tongue in cheek and punny. I enjoyed it!
Audience- 9th grade and up would enjoy this tale.

The story of a goose girl who seems to be living in a fairy tale. An old hag gives her special gifts of great beauty, bewitched hair, and the ability to cry diamonds. All this wealth attracts a cruel King and a young Prince who seems to be a little simple. She has to come up with a way to hold off the two suitors, and plan an escape from her tower.

Her geese help her escape the tower, but then she gets caught by three ogresses. The Prince comes after her, gets caught too, so together they have to save each other. Together they go from peril to peril.

It is fun to pick out all the plot twists based on familiar old fairy tales. Even the geese are enchanted. I got so involved with the great characters that I didn't want the story to end.

You want imagination?..adventure?..a few dabs of science(remember it was written in 1912)?..an ageless hero?..an absolutely beautiful damsel in distress?..a whole new world?..with a language all it's own?..inhabited with strange new creatures?.. friends and foes?..battles royal?..This book, and all 10 or 11 sequels, have it all! ER Burroughs was the early master of science fiction, adventure, and imagination; a man ahead of his time, and he gives the reader a roller-coaster ride of incredible adventures. Join with us now as John Carter meets, rescues,and captures the heart of the INCOMPARABLE Dejah Thoris, Princess of Mars!, and eventually, along with his friend Tars Tarkas, follows suit with the entire red planet, Barsoom to its wild and whacky inhabitants.

Is this intellectual literature?..of course not. Is it non-stop fun and enjoyment, the original page-turner novel?...You bet it is! Pick this book up, start reading, and I guarantee: you won't put it down until you're finished!..and then you'll run out the door and be hunting for the 2nd book in the series, The Gods of Mars, and then # 3, The Warlord of Mars, and on through the series. Be warned: make sure you have access to #'s 2 and 3 before you start The Princess...you'll be sorry if you don't!

I first read the Burroughs Martian novels(there were 10 known to me then) as a graduate student studying Physics, some 40 years ago. They provided the perfect escape from the rigors of courses like Quantum Mechanics and E & M. Now I reread them,and I continue to enjoy. You will too.

John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, they are all here! This is the totally unbelievable story of a man who got transported to Mars basically, because he thought it would be cool to go, so he wished it, and POOF, he's there. Then, there's the fact that the planet itself and the life on it are also completely ridiculous. FORGET ALL THAT! Read it to be swept up in one of the greatest adventure series of all time. John Carter goes to Barsoom (Mars, to the Martians) rescues the most beautiful woman in the universe and (later in the series) conquers an entire world through the power of his will and the strength of his right arm. Handsome, powerful heroes, beautiful half naked captive princesses just panting to be rescued, Villians, so evil you want to go back in time to strangle their parents, Big ugly friends, (What are you laughing at, remember Chewbacca?) strange beasts, stranger aliens, wierd science, epic battles, betrayals, great reunions. This one's got it all. The best of Burroughs' body of work, the most action packed series from the true master of the action story. Edgar Rice Burroughs is the creator of Tarzan. Don't ever pick up his work expecting an intellectual workout. Just get in and hang on for the ride

Princess of Mars is a fantastic, wild ride. I think everyone makes a mistake though of saying it's just a guys book. I'm a woman, and it was my mother who recommended Princess to me! I think any girl who's interested in science fiction or fantasy would really enjoy this book. Yeah, it was obviously written with adolescent boys in mind but I think anyone can enjoy this wildly imaginative page turner.

The characters are all extremely likable. John Carter is the perfect southern gentleman. Honorable, loyal, incredibly brave, respectful to women, extremely handsome; a perfect hero who is never boorish or conceited. Then there's Sola, one of the few green Martians to show compassion and kindness, and Tars Tarkas(aren't these names so cool?)a ferocious green martian warrior with a tragic past who is also able to feel compassion and love. And I dare anybody to tell me that they wouldn't want a Woola of their very own! Dejah Thoris though is mainly for the guys. Carter's love and devotion for her was really sweet. I didn't even know that this was part of a book series until I read it on amazon and now I am really eager to read the other books of the series. And wasn't the end cool? I don't think I've ever read an ending quite like that before. What Carter found in the cave at the end was very creepy and intriguing. (I won't give out a spoiler)

Although this is pulp fiction and sort of like a comic book in a way,(I can see mothers in 1912 scolding their kids, "That Edgar Rice Burroughs is going to rot your mind if you keep reading it!") it's still light science fiction at it's best! (I'll warn you right off though, please don't expect something deep and complex like Dune or Darkover and post a review whining about it. Princess is purely for fun.) And am I the only one that thinks Princess would make a really awesome movie?