The Princess and the Hound

by Mette Ivie Harrison

Prince George is the heir to the throne of Kendel, a land where 'animal magic' is feared and rejected. People who possess animal magic can speak to animals, but hide their abilities for fear of being burnt at the stake. Prince George is one such person. At seventeen, his is arranged to marry Princess Beatrice of Sarey, a reclusive and strange girl. She goes no where without her hound by her side, and she hides a secret no one could guess at.

I looked forward to reading this book, but was rather disappointed when I did. While the plot had a lot of potential, the characters fell flat and the writing stlye seemed awkward. A good read for both kids and teens, I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.