Princess Ben

Princess Benevolence, known as Ben, becomes the heir to Montagne's throne after tragedy strikes the royal family. As the new heir, she must learn proper royal behavior and magical arts under the strict guidance of Queen Sophie. Ben struggles to balance her independence with the expectations placed upon her as future queen. Her journey involves political intrigue, magical training, and threats to the kingdom that test her abilities and character. The story follows Ben's path from an untrained princess to a young woman facing critical decisions about her kingdom's fate. Her choices regarding magic, duty, and personal relationships shape both her future and Montagne's security. This reimagining of fairy tale traditions explores themes of power, self-discovery, and the tension between individual desires and responsibilities to others. Through Ben's perspective, the novel examines how leadership abilities can emerge from unexpected sources.

Readers describe Princess Ben as a fairy tale with a refreshing twist on traditional princess stories. Many reviews note the main character starts unlikeable but undergoes meaningful character development. Readers praised: - The realistic portrayal of grief and emotional struggles - Focus on self-discovery rather than romance - Integration of magic and political intrigue - Strong world-building and descriptive writing - Humor throughout the story Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Ben's initial personality can be off-putting - Some found the ending rushed - Fantasy elements take time to appear Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30+ reviews) One reader noted: "It's rare to see a YA fantasy tackle weight issues and emotional eating with such nuance." Another mentioned: "The protagonist isn't instantly likeable, which makes her growth more meaningful."

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Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale A maid locked in a tower with her princess uses her wit and determination to survive imprisonment and later save her kingdom.

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🔹 Catherine Gilbert Murdock wrote "Princess Ben" while working on her Ph.D. in American Civilization, drawing inspiration from classic fairy tales and her academic studies. 🔹 The novel incorporates elements of traditional Grimm's fairy tales but subverts common princess tropes by featuring a plus-sized, rebellious protagonist who loves food and struggles with traditional royal expectations. 🔹 The magic system in the book is closely tied to cooking and domestic arts, blending traditionally "feminine" activities with powerful sorcery in an innovative way. 🔹 The author is the sister of acclaimed writer Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote "Eat, Pray, Love," and both sisters grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Connecticut. 🔹 The book's title character, Princess Benevolence (Ben), was partially inspired by historical European princesses who were expected to make diplomatic marriages despite their personal desires or temperaments.