The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre audiobook

What is it about Gail Carson Levine's writing that is so enjoyable? I don't know. But I always love her novels, despite the fact that there's not much particularly special about this one. I can't help but compare this to masterpieces like Fairest, Ella Enchanted, andThe Two Princesses of Bamarre. I have to admit, I'm not sure it holds up. It's good, but there's nothing setting it apart. Of course, I should be fair: some of that disappointment comes from my nostalgia. The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre focuses on a princess who becomes a warrior after discovering she's part of her family's hated race. There's a hint of romance and a hint of badassery and a hint of Carson's lovely writing. As is typical for Levine, though, this isn't just any princess story. There's a real focus on family, both chosen and born to. Levine develops both complex sibling relationships and complex parental relationships. These complexities are unfortunately still a rare find in fantasy. I recommend this to everyone who enjoyed Ella Enchanted as a kid, because Levine has certainly not dropped her game.

I loved this book so much that I really don't want to give it back to the library. When I saw this book was coming out I was ecstatic, The Two Princesses of Bamarre has been an all time favorite of mine since I was little, so I was naturally very excited to return to that world, even in an earlier setting with little character overlap. I didn't think it would be possible for Gail Carson Levine to write a book that could live up to my childhood favorite, but she did not disappoint. Pretty much imagine starting out as a Rapunzel retelling morphing into the story of Moses with a wonderful teen warrior princess named Perry in both the titular roles. Unexpectedly moving and relevant to racism in current society, I think everyone should read this book. Especially kids. It would make a very good read out loud story with lots of suspense. Anyway I loved this book a ridiculous amount.

Heeeyyy, I’m back!! I feel bad I just kind of vanished from the blogosphere for a while without telling anyone, but I was pretty overwhelmed with real life and needed some extra time to catch up for a little bit! (I was also too lazy to announce it.) But I’m so glad to be back now that my life is a little more organized :D.It was hard not to feel a little nervous going into this book. Gail Carson Levine was my favorite author for years when I was little, and I read and loved all her books. Fairest is still one of my favorite books of all time. So when I saw she had a new book coming out, I was ecstatic!! And terrified!! What if it wasn’t as good?? My reading preferences have changed a lot since I was ten. What if it just didn’t work for me??But, if you are a Levine fan, I can tell you that this book is just as good as they ever were.There’s just something about Gail Carson Levine’s writing that I will probably never tire of. It transports me back to when I was little. It is simple and straightforward, but full of feeling and the sweetest kind of magic. (Excuse me while I go cry for no reason.) And maybe the best thing was this book filled me with nostalgia. I think it’s time to go reread all her other books.One of the most important things about this book is how well the underlying message is woven through it. On its surface this is a fairy tale. But I’m realizing, as I reread Levine’s books now that I’m older, that her books are so much more than that. This one deals with the same kind of themes her others do: prejudice and oppression being some of them. But here’s the thing: Gail Carson Levine does not have an agenda. Her “lesson” is extremely subtle. It is there to add depth, to make the reader think, and to maybe help them become better without forcing them to do any of those things.I loved all the characters. I loved how kind Perry was, and how much growth she goes through! She changes so much throughout the book, and I loved how that change wasn’t passive. It happens because Perry wants to be better, and wants to learn, and wants to do something good. I really liked how complex all the relationships are, especially the one between Perry and her adoptive mother. I thought parts of that were sweet, and parts were frustrating. I also loved how Perry’s relationship with the rest of her family developed. It was slow, and ARRGH, it was FRUSTRATING at times, but it was definitely well done.There is just the tiniest hint of romance in this book, and it was perfect. On that note, while this is *technically* MG, it could totally work for teenagers/other YA readers too.I like how simple the story was. The plot isn’t super complicated or anything, and it’s slower than a lot of other books, but it was also super fun and I was totally engaged. I liked how the Rapunzel fairy tale was included in the book; I wasn’t expecting that!This book was just so much fun. My only question is, when will she write another??

Gail Carson Levine is one of my favorite fantasy writers. I was riveted to this story from page 1. I loved the character of Lady Mother, even though she stole the Bamarre children. The other characters were well developed as well. Just enough magic to keep it hopeful, and a bit of humor thrown in as well, I was cheering for Perry and wondering how she would overcome her troubles. It played out very well, was exciting, and not anticipated.

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine is a middlegrade fantasy telling loosely based on Rapunzel. It is set in the same land as The Two Princesses of Bamarre but takes place long before those princesses were born. The main character is Peregrine (Perry), a young girl of the noble class. Her kingdom is fighting against the people of Bamarre, and Perry, like most of the others, believes those poeple to be of a lower class. What will it take for her to change her opinion - and turn the tide of the war? The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre was another one of Levine's creative fairytale retellings. The characters were engaging, and the story adventurous. I liked how the story of Rapunzel was woven into this tale and how funny parts of the book were. And isn't the cover gorgeous and exciting?! Also, it was fun to know and imagine that the Bamarre of Perry's day would one day become the land Princesses Addie and Meryl lived in. All the same, I didn't think the book was nearly as good as the Two Princesses of Bamarre or some of Levine's other works. Perhaps because it was more about racism than about a girl on an adventure? Or because most of it took place with the backdrop of a war? I'm not certain what it was exactly, or even if my guesses are true, but I certainly liked the other book in this series better. Even so, I recommend this book to middlegrade readers who enjoyed other Gail Carson Levine books.I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I am not obligated to provide a positive review.

I didn't realize there was a prequel to The Two Princesses of Bamarre, but then I saw this title recommended on TikTok! I was obsessed with Gail Carson Levine's work as a child, and Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Bamarre were my favorites. Peregrine was a fun heroine, and man do I love those seven league boots! Perry got up to quite a few shenanigans with them. The politics of the Bamarre and Lakti people was interesting, and I liked how it resolved (view spoiler)[with lots of last-minute king death by dragon and by magic (hide spoiler)].

I have loved Gail Carson Levine for ages and I am thrilled that this 2017 prequel is just as good (if not better) than the 2001 “The Two Princesses of Bamarre” that I listened to on repeat as a middle schooler. I really enjoyed this story and I love that her work only gets better with age.“Step follows step, hope follows courage.”

This was amazing. I enjoyed it so much. It's like I was transported back to my Summer childhood when school was out and I got to relive the EPIC tale. I just wish there were MORE STORIES. MORE MORE MORE. but not to get greedy, this was so awesome.

Some of my favorite cover art of all time. Oh, and a good story too. A classic strong female heroine, with just enough flaws to be relatable. The two cultures were caricatured at first, but traits of each were ultimately found in the other, with them coming together at the end. The really hard work of reconciliation would begin after the book ended, but that's a story for another time.

Achingly gorgeous, this is a tale of courage, family, love, loyalty, and a dangerous quest for freedom.The name Gail Carson Levine evokes strong memories - my first discovery of her beautiful stories, an eternal love for her wonderful characters, sharing her books with other readers, and rereading the tales many, many times over. Of all her books, The Two Princesses of Bamarre was always my favourite, so let's just say I was completely thrilled that there was to be a new book, a prequel to this wonderful story. Starting The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre I was both excited and cautious - could this story possibly live up to the wonder I feel when reading The Two Princesses? At first, no, it could never have that sparkle of first discovery, but this new story shares all the same wonder, vibrant character, clever storytelling, and magic as the original, and by the end I was just as in love with this book as I am with The Two Princesses of Bamarre. Perry is the daughter of Lord and Lady Tove - a true Lakti in strength and ability and courage. She can run and fight better than all of her peers. But when she discovers that she is actually Bamarre, stolen from her true family, her eyes are opened to the treatment of the Bamarre and how, with a little courage, freedom could be theirs.How wonderful it is to return to the world of Bamarre - magic, dangerous monster, and fierce bravery. But it wasn't until a third of the way into this book that it truly became such a tale. The first portion of the book is almost told in hindsight, with Perry narrating and offering little tidbits to explain both her current childhood belief of being Lakti and her latter discover of her true Bamarre heritage. The reader learns of her childhood in Lord Tove's manor, her training, and her desperate attempt to please her parents. I thought this first part of the story a little slow, but it is necessary to set the scene for the remainder of the book. It isn't until Perry discovers her heritage and acts upon it that the story really starts to become interesting. It is then that magic enters the story along with some familiar items, including a tablecloth and a pair of large, grubby boots....And then, suddenly, at almost halfway through the book there appears a familiar name... I won't spoil the surprise, but consider me wildly pleased!!! It was in that moment that I fell in love with this book. Perry is a true heroine. Brave, strong, unafraid to speak her mind, but aware that she has never been loved unconditionally. She strives to please those around her until she discovers that her quest means using both her strengths and her weaknesses to save her people. This truly is a beautiful story. I loved the poetry spread throughout. I adored the way it so perfectly fits into the story I have always loved from The Two Princesses of Bamarre. I loved meeting a new range of wonderful characters and learning a little more about some old ones. I loved the danger, the romance, and the hint of fairytale. I can't wait to share this with my young (and older) readers - hopefully sparking love for both this new and the old original story. The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.

Out of a land laid wasteTo a land untamed,Monster ridden,The lad Drualt ledA ruined, ragtag band.In his arms, tenderly,He carried Bruce,The child king,First ruler of Bamarre."-from Drault, the epic featured in The Two Princess of BamarreMany centuries before Princess Addie went on a quest to save her sister. and long before Drualt and King Bruce created the kingdom of Bamarre in the monster-ridden land it is today, Bamarre did exist, in a kingdom hidden behind the Eskern mountains. But when monsters attacked the land of the Lakti, who fled to the Bamarre. But the Lakti betrayed Bamarre, overthrowing their king and taking control of their kingdom, making the Bamarre into second-class citizens. Many of Bamarre's people longed to be free, to head across the Eskerns to Old Lakti, no matter how monster-ridden it may have been, but they were not allowed to leave. Eventually, they did leave, and founded the modern kingdom of Bamarre. This is their story.PEREGRINE is a wandering child, one who can't bear to be confined. The adopted daughter of a prominent Lakti lord and lady, she is raised to be a warrior. But that all changes when a fairy reveals to her that she is actually a Bamarre, stolen as infant from her birth parents, and asks her to help set the Bamarre free. Peregrine is unsure of what to do, but when she is forced to flee from her home and meets her parents and the other Bamarre, she starts to realize the Bamarre may not be as weak as she was raised to believe.I've always adored Gail Carson Levine's writing, and The Two Princesses of Bamarre has always been my favorite of her works, so I was very excited to read this prequel- and was not disappointed. This story answers many questions reads of the original book may have wondered about: Who exactly was Drualt? Where were the people of Bamarre before they settled in their current kingdom, and why did they specifically chose to settle in a monster-ridden land? Who wrote Drualt?But this book is not just for previous Levine fans. It can be read as a stand-alone, and would make a perfect first Levine book to read.Note this story is (very) loosely based on Rapunzel.