The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre
Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins, 2017. Juvenile fiction. 400p.

Peregrine was born a Bamarre but taken from her parents as a baby and raised as the heir to a great Lakti family. She learns warcraft and how to toughen her body to survive extremes of weather and hunger. Like all Lakti, she despises the Bamarre servants who are seen as weak, stupid and sentimental. But when a fairy visits her, reveals her true parentage, and asks Perry to free the oppressed Bamarre people, Perry must decide not only who she really is, but what the fate of two nations will be.

Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine returns to the world of “The Two Princesses of Bamarre” with a new fantasy tale about the true nature of prejudice, family, home and strength. Perry is an interesting and complex character, and I enjoyed that her personality type of being too blunt and unemotional and having a difficult time connecting with and influencing people was different from many female book characters. The prejudices between the Bamarre and the Lakti were very believable and had me totally invested in the struggle between the two.

Those who have read “Two Princesses” will recognize some magical items and a certain important person, but reading it first is in no way necessary to enjoying this tale. This story has a lot of adventure, a little bit of magic, a little bit of romance, and some heart-wrenching decisions about loyalty and identity. Gail Carson Levine hasn’t lost her magic touch.

This title is available in print, audio, and downloadable audio.

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