Trying to get out this horrible reading slump I'm in... I grabbed this book because it's short, required minimal brain power, I liked the author's previous book, and hey - dragons!

It was a super fast read, and while it had unexpected complexity to the plot (which honestly I should have expected given that Haskell's first book was also like that), I wished it was longer/deeper/more. The story ended and I wanted to scream in frustration because really, there was so much more that the author left unresolved. Yes, the main plot was resolved but I had just gotten to like the characters, and I definitely wanted to see more of Curschin.

I loved the subtle weaving of the Bluebeard story into the plot ( )

diverse children's fiction/fantasy (13 y.o. girl with limp/splayed foot living in superstitious medieval Germany with dragons, magical horses, and sorcery)
themes of friendship/loyalty and acceptance, and especially not judging by appearances. Thanks to Yolo County Library's children's fiction email list for recommending this book. ( )

Great Juvenile book about an unlikely princess and her adventures in midevil Europe. A great vocabulary builder and adventure story. ( )

This is a fun read, with plenty of action and a feisty heroine. I particularly loved the horses, and I think it's a great choice if you're a horse fan too. ( )