Emily Martin (3)

This was the book that made me fall in love with Princeless. After the set-up in the first volume, Princess Adrienne and Bedelia are off to rescue Adrienne's sister Angelica, who apparently started the whole tower thing because she was so beautiful her father had to lock her up.

I loved that this series is showing different types of princesses. It's okay that Adrienne doesn't want to be the traditional feminine court beauty, but it's also okay that her sister Angelica does. There's not just show more one mold of a strong female character, and this series is showing that wonderfully. show less

Adrienne Ashe tries to rescue two of her sisters from their twin towers while her friend Bedelia Smith works out some mommy and dragon issues. Fun and funny adventures ensue.

The final chapter of the book is a one shot drawn by a different artist, and it is very jarring to see a couple of short, solid dwarves suddenly stretch out and lose mass in the new style, looking more like elves than dwarves. Fortunately, the story is good, featuring two mothers helping their daughter through her first show more hunt.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contains material originally published in single magazine form as Princeless Make Yourself Part 2 #1-3, and Princeless: Hunting Day #1 (a one-shot, sometimes referenced as Princeless Make Yourself Part 2 #4).

Contents: 1. Mothers -- 2. Daughters -- 3. Sisters -- 4. Wives (Hunting Day) show less

Ahhh! Cliffhanger!

Unlike previous volumes, this is not a full story-arc. Instead, it's part one of a larger arc with multiple threads. But oh, it's so so good. Whitley is at top form with his the first issue focusing on Adrienne's trials with her untameable hair, which A++. Great commentary and much needed for those black girls reading this who want perfect "princess" hair like in the movies.

The rest of the volume has Adrienne and Bedelia entering the land of the dwarves and cultural show more misconceptions regarding Sparky, since dwarves apparently don't like dragons. There's also a great scene with Bedelia and her grandfather where she comes out as a blacksmith, since it's the realm of men in dwarven society and women were banned from smithing.

I'm also really enjoying the secondary plotline around Adrienne's brother Devin and his quest to find out what happened with his mother (aka, the Black Knight, though no one knows it and it hasn't been confirmed in the story, but it's 100% obvious. Okay, maybe 90% obvious.). There's political stuff going on that isn't fully apparent yet between the wolves and the elves, and I'm loving it.

A really solid volume, though I'm less than thrilled with the incomplete story arc, since previous volumes had trained me to expect a resolution by the last page. show less

After their adventures with helping Raven in Volume 3, Adrienne, Bedelia, and Sparky go after Angoisse, who was imprisoned in a tower in the middle of a swamp. There's a fun side-adventure with some swamp gobins before they finally meet up with Adrienne's sister.

This was the darkest book of the four so far. This tackled a few more adult themes than previously, from political corruption in the goblin community to Angoisse's abusive relationship with her princely suitor.

And whoa, that show more relationship. A huge thumbs up to Whitely and company for accurately depicting an abusive relationship, and not just a physically abusive one. This raised every single red flag on what an emotionally abusive relationship looks like. Just, kudos.

I also liked seeing more with King Ashe and Prince Devin, who are such interesting characters. I hope that somewhere along the way we learn what made Ashe such a hardass.

Also! How the hell has no one figured out that the Queen is the Black Knight? HOW? It's so obvious. show less