Luca might be the most "damsel-in-distress" character I've ever read about at this point.

This is my third time reading The Princess Will Save You, and I don't care how cheesy it may be; it's still an entertaining read. While it isn't anything particularly new or nuanced, the story is fast-paced and filled with enough tension to keep the reader intrigued.
Basically, Amarande is a princess about to take the throne following her father's sudden death, only her stableboy and childhood friend, Luca, is kidnapped and held hostage in exchange for her marriage to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. The stakes are high throughout the story, and there is almost never a moment without danger, which is honestly probably why I enjoyed it so much. There's a bit of political maneuvering, plenty of romance, and some fun plot twists, and I've seen some people compare it to The Princess Bride, but as the uncultured reader I am, I have not seen the movie or read the book to agree or disagree.
My only issue with this book is that the characters tend to lack depth. I found Taillefer to be the most intriguing due to his ruthless nature and potential for some interesting arcs in book two, whereas Renard was much less fun to read about. I liked Ula and Urtzi the most out of the side characters, and while I didn't like Osana as much, I'm excited to see what's in store for all of them. Amarande is a very strong female protagonist, but she lacks motivation besides her love for Luca, and I just wish she had a bit more personality. The same goes for Luca, who doesn't do much except get knocked out, kidnapped, and poisoned repeatedly. I wish he had a bit more fight to him, although I think book two might help with that.
The Princess Will Save You is a high-stakes YA action adventure tinged with romance and politics and perfect for anyone looking for a quick, easy fantasy read.

3.75/5