Review The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy 
Published April 30, 2013 by Walden Pond Press
Pages: 477 
Format: Hardcover 
Source: Library copy 

From Goodreads: "Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming, who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses--Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose--to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms. 

But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening--even if no one will ever know it was they who did it. 

Christopher Healy, author of acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief.  Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination--it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes."  

I love, love, love these Hero's Guides by Christopher Healy.  They are always packed full of action, humor and well Prince and Princesses, who act completely unpredictable.  Why did it take me so long to get to this book? The sequel, The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw is already out...hmm must check my library NOW.  One of the things I like about this series is even though there is the distinction between the League of Heroes and Heroines, the character qualities overlap.  We have Ella, who's sword fighting could best even Liam and Princess Lila, who can seamlessly climb walls and sneak into buildings.  Then there is Frederic the fearful of the bunch, but who stays true to his friends even when he has to be brave.  Most of all though, I loved the changes that occurred in Briar Rose during Storming the Castle.  How she still got what she wanted, but then realized that maybe it wasn't what she really wanted after all.   I was also still very delighted by the many illustrations and they really bring the characters to life, even the villains. Overall, I will eagerly be looking for book three, and definitely recommend this to younger readers who enjoy imaginative storytelling and fairy tale's that have been re-visioned.