The cute cover lured me in and I was thoroughly entertained by Bianca by Meg Welch Dendler. It may be recommended for ages 3+ and up, but I think everyone will fall in love with the characters that come into Bianca’s life. I know I did.

Bianca is a thirteen year old princess considered so frail by her father, King Dominic, she ias kept isolated in the castle, not allowed to go outside, let alone play with any of the town children. Her highlight of the day was her subjects amassing below the castle tower window, cheering and waving at her.

No one knew, but she entertained herself, running and playing on the stairs, sword slashing at imaginary foes, and lots and lots of reading. Don’t we all get lost in stories?

No one expects her to do anything but be pretty, don’t worry about anything, and eventually get married to her chosen mate. But when her father and the knights never return from the hunt for the dragon, she makes up her mind it is her duty, as the princess, to find them.

She sets off with Sammy, the donkey. Imagine never doing anything for yourself, never having been outside, never feeling the sun on your face, the grass beneath your feet, the dust in your nose. The stories never prepare you for ‘real life’, but Bianca has no fear. She will figure it out, whether it’s finding shelter or cooking her own meal. A very determined young lady that any child would love to emulate.

She meets a witch, fairies, a magical cat, a dragon, a wolf and other animals that hang in the forest. I worried for her…a little…but she had magical help from the animals around her and I knew they were looking out for her. And the dragon…Well, you will have to read for yourself to find out with him.

If you are looking for a children’s book that will give yourself and your little ones hours of reading pleasure, look not further. This is it. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started and it took me under four hours to finish it. I debated on the rating because I love heavy and dark reading, but this is a children’s story that I loved and think ‘children’ of all ages will too. A well deserved four stars.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess by Meg Welch Dendler.

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This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Bianca of Pacifico has never left her castle. Every since her birth, in which she lost her mother, her father has been obsessed with her safety. Always worried she may fall ill, become injured, give herself a fright, Bianca was closed off from the world around her. Her schooling through carefully vetted tutors and sneaking through the castle eavesdropping were her only means of learning about the outside world. Upon discovering that her father and his knights were leaving the castle in search of a dangerous dragon terrorizing the countryside, Bianca's interest in the outside world peaks ten fold. After three long weeks, when the hunting party still has not returned, Bianca takes matters into her own hands, stealing away to search for her father and deal with the dragon herself. Can Bianca survive out in the world by herself and put an end to the dragon drama once and for all?

What a lovely read! Geared towards a more 5th-7th grade reading level I found this one lots of fun! I especially loved what a strong and courageous character Princess Bianca was, #girlpower! I love books with strong female characters and think they are so important especially for the younger readers. So many great underlying themes dispersed throughout the book; courage, defying stereotypes, being open minded, kindness, breaking out of gender norms. I would definitely recommend this one to read with your kids, boys and girls alike. There was tons of adventure to keep any overactive imagination occupied. The author has really opened up an endless world of adventures for Princess Bianca and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future! ( )