Cursed Princess Club
Volume 1
In volume one of LambCat’s graphic novel series Cursed Princess Club, a kingdom’s three princesses negotiate their engagements to hunky suitors. Two of them celebrate these futures; the other goes on eldritch adventures of her own.
Maria and Lorena are typical teenage princesses, both beautiful and gifted. Their youngest sister, Gwendolyn, does not share those traits. Fearing that she’ll be rejected by her betrothed, she runs into the creepy forest near the castle. There she discovers the Cursed Princess Club, made up of princesses (and one prince) who were never rescued or disenchanted. They take Gwendolyn in and begin to teach her to value herself for who she is.
Drawn in a manga style, the book’s art is suited to depicting the wide-eyed cherubic faces of the two eldest princesses, which contrast with Gwendolyn’s eerie appearance. The three princes who court the girls also have distinctive looks and personalities, leading to a variety of subplots and character arcs. Gwendolyn’s intended, Frederick, has problems of his own, while the princesses’ brother, Jamie, is a cheerful disruptor of plans. Sleepovers and sleeping potions move the plot along at a brisk pace, leaving plenty of drama to resolve in the second volume.
With its good humor and cute art, Cursed Princess Club is a delightful graphic novel. It delivers wholesome messages about friendship and community for its young adult audience that may well resonate with older readers too.
Reviewed by
Jeana Jorgensen
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
