Tough Traveling: Princesses
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan of Review Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynn Jones. Nathan has invited anyone who is interested to come play along, so be sure to check out the first link for more information. Compulsive list-maker that I am, I’m very excited to take part!
This week’s tour topic is: Princesses
RINCESSES come in two main kinds:
1. Wimps.
2 Spirited and wilful. Spirited Princesses often disguise themselves as boys and invariably marry commoners of sterling worth.
Certainly no shortages of princesses in fantasy! Though actually, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a wimpy princess these days. Fragile and helpless damsels in distress are so passe! My favorite princesses are most definitely of the spirited and willful kind.
The Riyria Revelations series by Michael J. Sullivan
Arista Essendon is the princess of Melengar and sister of Alric the heir, though I think she is more clever and competent than her brother by far. She’s a bit iffy when she’s first introduced; we’re led to wonder about her character and whether she’s a friend or foe, working with or against Hadrian and Royce. Later on, she actually has a much larger role to play, and her abilities with magic make her a worthy ally.
The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke
Speaking of iffy…Princess Mathilda has a lot to offer as a character, but she can also be a self-absorbed brat or even an airheaded ninny sometimes. Her actions in the book have some rather serious ramifications, especially for the protagonist Saker rampion, a priest and a spy. Mathilda might not make the best choices, but she was by far the most interesting character.
Vampire Empire series by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
I love this series. I honestly don’t know why I still haven’t finished up the last book in the trilogy, but I really should. This is an alternate history-ish steampunk adventure, set in the year 1870 when vampires have taken over large swathes of the world. Princess Adele, heir to the Equatorian empire, and the mysterious vampire hunter known as Greyfriar work together to drive the plague of vampires back.
The House of the Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
I just had to go with Princess Clarice for this one. Spirited? Check. Willful? Check. Disguising herself as a boy and invariably marrying a commoner of sterling worth? Check! Clarice masquerades as a young lord “Clarence” traveling on a ship to the new world, befriending the handsome navigator Dominick and eventually falling in love with him.
The Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan
Princess Lyrna, another princess who is arguably stronger and more capable than her royal brother the king. She is also smart, independent, and possesses a powerful presence. Lyrna was introduced in Blood Song but gets a much larger role in this second book, and is a point-of-view character as readers follow her on her own journey.
The Shadow Throne by Django Wexler
Princess Raesenia may seem small, frail and weak in appearance, but she is anything but. In truth, she’s a lot more than she appears, harboring a huge secret. Disguising herself as a commoner, Raesenia gets involved with young revolutionaries, hoping to oust the power-hungry Duke Orlanko in order to protect the future of her rule.
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
After learning of her sister’s fatal illness, Princess Cleo embarks on a rough and perilous journey to find a cure. Raised in pampered luxury, it’s a quest that will test the limits of her will and strength as she must venture into enemy territory with her hopes riding on the rumor of powerful magics long thought extinct.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
I’ve featured The Stormlight Archive a lot, but no list of princesses would be complete without Jasnah Kholin, sister of King Elhokar, daughter of the late King Gavilar, and niece of Highprince Dalinar. She’s also a powerful surgebinder and a brilliant scholar, training Shallan Davar as her ward.
Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells
Princess Leia…because Princess Leia.
The BiblioSanctum 
Wow. That’s a LOT of princesses. Clearly you really like Vampire Empire, which is a series I’ve been interested in for awhile, but what about Falling Kingdoms?
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I didn’t think Falling Kingdoms was that bad for a YA, I loved the setting! I still haven’t read the second book though, but I want to.
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Because Princess Leia.
Well said.
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Muahahaha.
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I just finished The Shadow Throne today and that is one princess who would have made the list had I read the book earlier. Love her.
And ya, Leia.
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Oh sweet, looking forward to your review of TST.
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Great list. Most of them I have yet to read about, but they sound interesting. Don’t know if I could make myself put Princess Mathilda from “The Lascar’s Dagger” on any list, she was such a self-absorbed, conniving bitch. What she did to Saker was a bit much for me. And Leia, thumbs up! Great minds think alike. 🙂
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Oh, I agree, Mathilda was a total brat. But she made the story interesting for sure. I was kind of bored up to the point with her shenanigans 😛
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man I’ve only read, ok technically am still reading, The Way of Kings – but I want to read House of the Four Winds asap as well as I do want to read all of these others…except the Star Wars one I’m just not interested in breaking open that can of worms. Jasnah is a great pick she is so freaking strong!
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I’m surprised you haven’t read Falling Kingdoms yet! I think you’ll enjoy that one, and also Vampire Empire!
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Jasnah! Another face palm! Love her as a pick.
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LOL, I almost forgot her as well. She really wasn’t very “princess-y” in the books, Sanderson made her identity as a scholar and academic stand out a lot more, I think it was easy to forget she was royal 🙂
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So, the first two I have but haven’t yet read! And now I want to read Vampire Empire – damn my tbr is going to topple! Really looking forward to Tower Lord and Shadow Throne. Not heard of Falling Kingdoms – is it good? Love Jasnah! Not read any Star Wars/Empire books so didn’t think of those!! drat 😀
Lynn 😀
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Vampire Empire is a fun series – and it has a very sweet romance, one that I actually really enjoyed. And get going on those sequels 🙂 Falling Kingdoms has been called the YA Game of Thrones, though I probably wouldn’t go so far! I liked it though. The setting is very different from the usual modern paranormal, so it was a nice change of pace for me 🙂
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Very cool princesses
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Thanks!
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Hey, another Jasnah shoutout! I really need to get on that series. ASAP. Vampire Empire is definitely getting added to the list as well – it sounds awesome. Steampunk AND princesses? Yes please!
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Jasnah is awesome, I had to feature her even though I’ve done Way of Kings/Words of Radiance so many times in these lists! I’m glad I’ve been able to introduce Vampire Empire to more people 😀
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