Review: The Lost Princess of Story by Suzanne de Planque

Author Suzanne de Planque weaves a marvelous new world for fairy tale and high-fantasy lovers alike in The Lost Princess of Story (The Chronicles of Story: Volume One). Blurring the lines between the hard and charming streets of Brooklyn and the mythology of Story, the place where all our fairy tales are true, this endlessly creative novel is an immersive new chapter to the tales we’ve known for generations.

Following a youthful band of unsuspecting heroes as they discover what a true adventure means, the Doors to Story begin to open, and these unsuspecting children are pulled back into their birthright realm. Young Charlie is pulled back into his destiny, and his family’s long legacy in Story, along with an unexpected but fiery young companion named Lilla. This launches an epic quest between worlds, one rife with familiar faces, inside jokes, and surprise twists.

As a literary work, this YA adventure is a love song to books and reading, and the countless worlds one can dream themselves into once the Doors of imagination open. As an homage to the legendary writing that has come before, de Planque tips her cap with grace: “Straight on til morning, she thought, and found her most happy thoughts. Neverland, she thought. Narnia. Hogwarts. Wonderland. Oz. She could feel them calling.” Readers of all ages will appreciate the whimsy and innocence of the tale, whether you grew up getting lost in Hogwarts or Narnia.

While there are plenty of elbow nudges to other stories, the themes explored in this fusion-fueled novel feel timeless and contemporary. Readers in younger generations are wrestling with their own struggles for home and identity, as people now face unprecedented threats to our safety and the “story” that we have been told. In the coming generations, many will be forced to seek a better life in a more hospitable place, and these deeper parallels are powerful undercurrents in the prose. However, these themes never get heavy-handed, as the main focus is on a fantastical, righteous quest, intrepid (or clumsy) heroes, and a sprawling magical realm.

The narrative voice is charming and omnipresent, giving the entire tale an epic quality – the energy and excitement that imbues these pages from the very start will ensnare readers who may initially be wary of an urban fairy tale fantasy. Allegories are everywhere in the prose, as are continuously smart turns of phrase and plays on words. The fluidity of language, and its reflection of the actual cadence and pace of our modern speech, is immediately noticeable, mirroring internal thoughts in a relatable way. More impressively, perhaps, de Planque sustains a seamless spectrum of speech patterns across her diverse characters.

All told, this collision of canons is a delight for those raised on magical tales, while this new generation of heroes, knights, witches, and villains is far from a carbon copy of old archetypes; the influence of the real world is impossible to deny, and is well-reflected in the wildly authentic narration. A tremendous creative achievement, The Lost Princess of Story will thrill anyone who has ever fallen in love with a story.