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Princess Nevermore and the Wizard's Apprentice #1
Princess Nevermore
Dian Curtis Regan weaves an engrossing fantasy about a young princess, Quinn, who one day finds herself on the other side of the wishing pool--on Earth.
232 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1995
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659 people want to read
About the author
Dian Curtis Regan
77 books56 followersDian is the author of many books for young readers, ranging from picture books to novels for teenagers. She graduated from the University of Colorado, her home state, and has also lived in Texas, Oklahoma, and Venezuela. Presently, she lives in Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
June 14, 2017
If you read this book at the right age (elementary school to middle school), you will absolutely never forget it. To this day it occupies, like, a holy grail spot in my mind - definitely on a pedestal. Reread it last summer - and no, it doesn't hold up. Definitely have to catch it at the right time, and it will honestly GLOW in your memory.
Note: there are differences between this version (the older paperback) and the newer, hardcover one, which I discovered reading them in parallel. First of all, this one is prettier. But also, they do change some phrasing and things (for the worse, in my opinion) so I would recommend this older version.
Note: there are differences between this version (the older paperback) and the newer, hardcover one, which I discovered reading them in parallel. First of all, this one is prettier. But also, they do change some phrasing and things (for the worse, in my opinion) so I would recommend this older version.
April 28, 2018
This started out so promising, but then turned a bit crap. Gender roles were infuriatingly upheld, underage drinking was brushed off, finding self worth in a boyfriend was encouraged and instalove abounded. Super frustrating.
June 5, 2022
This book is too nineties for its own good. The main plot, sadly is a couple of boys fighting over the princess, and another pining for her.
I had to DNF before I threw it across the room.
I had to DNF before I threw it across the room.
January 21, 2013
This is a solid book that would be very enjoyable to the middle school (and perhaps freshman) aged girl. There is nothing offensive or objectionable, from a parents' stand point. I actually, from my jaded world view I suppose kept expecting the "bad guy" to do something truly heinous, and while he was still a bad guy, his monstrosity never left the middle-school spectrum.
I would have devoured this as a young girl, and even as an adult I enjoyed this sweet tale.
The story is of a young girl who lives in a magical kingdom under the ground. She longs to experience and discover the world under the sky (our world). She knows nothing about it except for the small glimpses she sees when people from our world drop coins in the wishing well. She can see them through the bottom of the pool, and they fill her with curiosity.
Impetuously and dangerously, she plans to travel to our world some day with her friend Cam, but she has not discussed it with her parents, nor does she know all of the consequences of such a trip. When the opportunity finally presents itself, she and Cam take it, but due to their ignorance, Cam is left behind underground and she travels above ground by herself with no idea how to return.
To top things off, she is the princess and sole-heir of the below-ground, magical world, so it is kind of a big deal whether she makes it back or not. As in, it affects the whole kingdom, not just her family and friends.
Her world is somewhat medieval. They have magic, but they don't have electricity. They have pet dragons, but she is required to choose a spouse at age sixteen or have it chosen for her and she really has no choices in life.
Entering our world introduces her to the novelty of choosing your own profession, having a say in your future, and being independent, possibly not even marrying or actually getting to marry for love!
She's only fifteen (almost sixteen), but she does manage to fall in love.
But will she ever figure out how to return to her kingdom? Does she even want to return?
So, it's a fun novel. It isn't necessarily thought-provoking or deep, but a young girl looking for a bit of magic and a way to look at her own world from the eyes of an outsider would enjoy it.
And a random note, so many people from our world commented on her gorgeous her knee length hair was. Personally, I think that knee-length hair would be really annoying and inconvenient. And possibly raggedy looking. Ha, that's just me though!
Oh, and there is a good message about how girls should date guys who are nice to them as opposed to guys who are good at sports and are attractive but not nice to them.
This excerpt made me laugh.
"Revulsion rolled over Quinn, making her ill.
Beside her, Sarah slumped in her seat, grinning and nudging Quinn. 'I think he's so hot, don't you?'
The princess did not have an answer to why the bothersome knave might be overheated. And, certainly, she did not care."
I would have devoured this as a young girl, and even as an adult I enjoyed this sweet tale.
The story is of a young girl who lives in a magical kingdom under the ground. She longs to experience and discover the world under the sky (our world). She knows nothing about it except for the small glimpses she sees when people from our world drop coins in the wishing well. She can see them through the bottom of the pool, and they fill her with curiosity.
Impetuously and dangerously, she plans to travel to our world some day with her friend Cam, but she has not discussed it with her parents, nor does she know all of the consequences of such a trip. When the opportunity finally presents itself, she and Cam take it, but due to their ignorance, Cam is left behind underground and she travels above ground by herself with no idea how to return.
To top things off, she is the princess and sole-heir of the below-ground, magical world, so it is kind of a big deal whether she makes it back or not. As in, it affects the whole kingdom, not just her family and friends.
Her world is somewhat medieval. They have magic, but they don't have electricity. They have pet dragons, but she is required to choose a spouse at age sixteen or have it chosen for her and she really has no choices in life.
Entering our world introduces her to the novelty of choosing your own profession, having a say in your future, and being independent, possibly not even marrying or actually getting to marry for love!
She's only fifteen (almost sixteen), but she does manage to fall in love.
But will she ever figure out how to return to her kingdom? Does she even want to return?
So, it's a fun novel. It isn't necessarily thought-provoking or deep, but a young girl looking for a bit of magic and a way to look at her own world from the eyes of an outsider would enjoy it.
And a random note, so many people from our world commented on her gorgeous her knee length hair was. Personally, I think that knee-length hair would be really annoying and inconvenient. And possibly raggedy looking. Ha, that's just me though!
Oh, and there is a good message about how girls should date guys who are nice to them as opposed to guys who are good at sports and are attractive but not nice to them.
This excerpt made me laugh.
"Revulsion rolled over Quinn, making her ill.
Beside her, Sarah slumped in her seat, grinning and nudging Quinn. 'I think he's so hot, don't you?'
The princess did not have an answer to why the bothersome knave might be overheated. And, certainly, she did not care."
January 17, 2018
I have A LOT of opinions about this book. First of all, Princess Quinella is essentially a manic pixie dream girl. She is generally clueless and unintelligent throughout the whole book. I was waiting for her to be redeemed, but she never really is other than making the smart but quick decision to return to Mandria. When two boys want to fight over her, she lets them instead of just being independent and making her own decision of who she wants to be with. Also, she is fifteen and these nearly 18 year old boys are putting their hands on her after only knowing her for less than 24 hours, and she lets them. When the boys fight, the mean boy (Zack) wins and instead of choosing the nice respectful boy (Adam), she "honors" the outcome and goes with this dude who is crazy disrespectful and apparently always drunk. And on top of that, Adam just lets her go with this handy rude drunk dude to a dance after they decide to be a couple. The only other female main character is just boy crazy and jealous and has no other characteristics. Also, Quinns decisions are basically all made by men, whether it be Melikar the wizard, Cam, Mondo, Adam, or Zack. It's problematic for many reasons, and to be fair it was written in 1995 and is aimed for 4th or 5th graders, but still. There are so many better books that have strong female characters in them for children to read.
November 20, 2018
I got this book for Christmas when I was about 9 because my mom thought I would like the cover. I did, and I was fascinated with it for several years, yet I never got around to reading it until now. Frankly, I wish I'd tossed it with some of my other old books when I was in high school.
Honestly... It's so bad. I wouldn't even recommend it for the middle-grade readers other reviewers seem to insist will like it, because of how problematic it is on top of being boring and cliche. The protagonist is insufferable and constantly confused, there's girl hate for the larger part of it, the insta-love is, I think, literally the most contrived romance I have ever encountered, and the villain is simultaneously disgusting and pointless. For a moment, I thought that the author had actually had the guts to make it more sophisticated than the usual fare with a bittersweet ending, before realizing that there is a second book in the series--which, I should note, I am absolutely not going to waste my time on.
#ReadDownYourBookshelf verdict: It's going in the trash where it should have been years ago.
Honestly... It's so bad. I wouldn't even recommend it for the middle-grade readers other reviewers seem to insist will like it, because of how problematic it is on top of being boring and cliche. The protagonist is insufferable and constantly confused, there's girl hate for the larger part of it, the insta-love is, I think, literally the most contrived romance I have ever encountered, and the villain is simultaneously disgusting and pointless. For a moment, I thought that the author had actually had the guts to make it more sophisticated than the usual fare with a bittersweet ending, before realizing that there is a second book in the series--which, I should note, I am absolutely not going to waste my time on.
#ReadDownYourBookshelf verdict: It's going in the trash where it should have been years ago.
October 16, 2016
Very Mary Sue-ish, for those who speak that vernacular. The writing had a certain stilted tone that connects with fanfic in my brain, and for the most part things happen TO the heroine as she bumbles along not taking responsibility for anything. The ending is particularly Mary Sue-ish, because I think the reader is supposed to feel sad at the romance of it all, while I'm just annoyed with the heroine's selfishness.
OTOH, it's a quick read and held my attention more than I expected it to, and had a couple clever moments, so while it's not something I particularly like or recommend, I can see why a lot of people (mostly young ladies, I should think) would quite enjoy it. I think I would have enjoyed it, had I read it when I was young enough, but it'd be a disappointment if I tracked it down again a few years later.
OTOH, it's a quick read and held my attention more than I expected it to, and had a couple clever moments, so while it's not something I particularly like or recommend, I can see why a lot of people (mostly young ladies, I should think) would quite enjoy it. I think I would have enjoyed it, had I read it when I was young enough, but it'd be a disappointment if I tracked it down again a few years later.
April 25, 2011
5 stars!!! This is about a girl, a princess in fact, and is lonely and longs for an adventure. Her best friend is a wizard's apprentice and he secretly loves her. A bit slumsy with magic though, he accidentally sends her to the outside world. (They live underground.) She soon meets a cute blonde guy and so the drama begins. Read this and be blown away. And be ready for tears...:(
January 21, 2013
I remember reading this in middle school and absolutely loving it. I look forward to re-reading it now that I have re-discovered it's name and bought a copy.
April 29, 2014
I'm not sure how I'd feel about this NOW but I know I really did like this when I first read it.
October 30, 2023
The plot of this was sooooooo mid nineties it was almost painful!! BUT I’ve been reading so much fantasy the last year-ish that it was incredibly fun and nostalgic to go back to one of my childhood faves. Somehow none of the plot was familiar to me (alarming) but the energy was right and I refuse to give it anything less than 5 stars even though it had some serious issues!!! ♥️
April 6, 2020
This book had a great premise, honestly. It's been done before, but the whole "someone from another world comes to the real world" thing can be fun no matter how many times it's been done, as long as the story is good.
Yeah, this book dropped the ball, big-time.
Quinn, the princess of an underground world, ends up on Earth in present day. The story is pretty decent as she first gets there, but when she meets the family she ends up staying with, it all goes downhill. In the family are a brother (Adam) and a sister (Sarah), who both suck for different reasons.
Sarah is annoying almost the entire book, because she's constantly jealous of Quinn, who has drawn the attention of a guy at school, Zack. (Oh boy, more about him later). Sarah likes Zack, for whatever reason, and he wants Quinn. Anyway, so Sarah's entire personality is to be jealous and rude until like, right before the end when she tries to redeem herself, but does a terrible job because she told Zack Quinn's secret that she promised not to tell. Whatever.
Adam is painted as the "nice, respectful guy" but there are serious problems with him, too. So basically he says that he loves Quinn after knowing her for less than a day, just because she's pretty. Wow, we love meaningful relationships! Also, he is super possessive of her, which is weird. In addition, there's a part where he gets in a fight with Zack over who gets to take Quinn to the dance??? Like, I guess she can't decide for her own self??? Anyway, during this stupid fight (which is a weird fake joust for whatever reason), Quinn tells Adam not to do it because Zack is bigger and will obviously not stick to the rules. This is probably the only smart thing she says the entire book. But, Adam gets mad at her, I guess because his masculinity was threatened?? Who knows.
And then he loses the fight because Zack doesn't stick to the rules. Wow. Who could have seen that one coming? Oh, and this line is literally in the book during this scene: "The humiliation of being saved by a maiden would be too much to bear." ??? I almost gave up right then and there but I knew that I had to suffer through the rest so that I could fully warn you guys about this book. I made sacrifices for you all, I hope you appreciate it.
Quinn, as a main character, is kinda pathetic. Like I said with Adam, she decides that "oh, I'm in love with you" after not even A DAY. I totally understand her hesitation to go back home, considering that she has no real freedom to choose things in her life. But then she never actually makes her own choices when she's in our world! Zack wins the fight, so she is compelled to go with him to the dance?? What happened to choosing your own life? The book continues in this vein, where Quinn does nothing for herself, and it's frustrating. She only really makes one choice, and that's to go back home.
Also, she tells Melikar to not make Adam forget about her? Why??? That's honestly horrible because now the guy is going to be thinking about her, when pretty much everyone else in his life DOESN'T REMEMBER HER. What a great time.
Zack is disgusting. Like, straight up the worst. He drives while drunk, harasses people, and sexually assaults Quinn by kissing her when she never 1) gave him permission 2) even HINTED that she liked him or that she wanted to kiss him. He also believes girls to be his objects. Creepy, nasty dude. Normally, this would just make him a great antagonist (and it does). Like, there are terrible people and this is one of them. But the worst part is that girls in the book like him!!! What?? He never shows any traits that make him even mildly okay as a person, but a bunch of girls want to go to the dance with him or whatever. What total BS.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that the book sucks. None of the characters are likable or even relatable, and the plot, which could have been interesting if it went the route of LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE, is a bunch of nonsense about TEEN DRAMA. I mean, even a story about Quinn accidentally getting far from the wishing pool and trying to find her way back would have been better. It was tedious to get through this book and it's just not interesting. If you're looking for a fantasy/adventure book about a princess, read Dealing with Dragons. It's so much better, trust.
Oh, and if I ever see the word "lad" again, I'm going to scream.
Yeah, this book dropped the ball, big-time.
Quinn, the princess of an underground world, ends up on Earth in present day. The story is pretty decent as she first gets there, but when she meets the family she ends up staying with, it all goes downhill. In the family are a brother (Adam) and a sister (Sarah), who both suck for different reasons.
Sarah is annoying almost the entire book, because she's constantly jealous of Quinn, who has drawn the attention of a guy at school, Zack. (Oh boy, more about him later). Sarah likes Zack, for whatever reason, and he wants Quinn. Anyway, so Sarah's entire personality is to be jealous and rude until like, right before the end when she tries to redeem herself, but does a terrible job because she told Zack Quinn's secret that she promised not to tell. Whatever.
Adam is painted as the "nice, respectful guy" but there are serious problems with him, too. So basically he says that he loves Quinn after knowing her for less than a day, just because she's pretty. Wow, we love meaningful relationships! Also, he is super possessive of her, which is weird. In addition, there's a part where he gets in a fight with Zack over who gets to take Quinn to the dance??? Like, I guess she can't decide for her own self??? Anyway, during this stupid fight (which is a weird fake joust for whatever reason), Quinn tells Adam not to do it because Zack is bigger and will obviously not stick to the rules. This is probably the only smart thing she says the entire book. But, Adam gets mad at her, I guess because his masculinity was threatened?? Who knows.
And then he loses the fight because Zack doesn't stick to the rules. Wow. Who could have seen that one coming? Oh, and this line is literally in the book during this scene: "The humiliation of being saved by a maiden would be too much to bear." ??? I almost gave up right then and there but I knew that I had to suffer through the rest so that I could fully warn you guys about this book. I made sacrifices for you all, I hope you appreciate it.
Quinn, as a main character, is kinda pathetic. Like I said with Adam, she decides that "oh, I'm in love with you" after not even A DAY. I totally understand her hesitation to go back home, considering that she has no real freedom to choose things in her life. But then she never actually makes her own choices when she's in our world! Zack wins the fight, so she is compelled to go with him to the dance?? What happened to choosing your own life? The book continues in this vein, where Quinn does nothing for herself, and it's frustrating. She only really makes one choice, and that's to go back home.
Also, she tells Melikar to not make Adam forget about her? Why??? That's honestly horrible because now the guy is going to be thinking about her, when pretty much everyone else in his life DOESN'T REMEMBER HER. What a great time.
Zack is disgusting. Like, straight up the worst. He drives while drunk, harasses people, and sexually assaults Quinn by kissing her when she never 1) gave him permission 2) even HINTED that she liked him or that she wanted to kiss him. He also believes girls to be his objects. Creepy, nasty dude. Normally, this would just make him a great antagonist (and it does). Like, there are terrible people and this is one of them. But the worst part is that girls in the book like him!!! What?? He never shows any traits that make him even mildly okay as a person, but a bunch of girls want to go to the dance with him or whatever. What total BS.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that the book sucks. None of the characters are likable or even relatable, and the plot, which could have been interesting if it went the route of LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE, is a bunch of nonsense about TEEN DRAMA. I mean, even a story about Quinn accidentally getting far from the wishing pool and trying to find her way back would have been better. It was tedious to get through this book and it's just not interesting. If you're looking for a fantasy/adventure book about a princess, read Dealing with Dragons. It's so much better, trust.
Oh, and if I ever see the word "lad" again, I'm going to scream.
February 13, 2018
this book was published in 1995, but started as a short story in 1975, and the age shows. the only female characters are of course pitted against each other over the affections of this aggressive jerk (a guy the princess doesn't even want but she can't reject his affections because of archaic societal rules [explicitly, the rules from her own kingdom, but also sadly the unspoken rules of our earth]). everyone is REALLY cavalier about this guy becoming aggressive when he daydrinks at high school (and they are quick to say he's a great guy when he DOESN'T drink - some real "boys will be boys" garbage). He also drinks and drives, with the princess in his car, which of course is supposed to highlight how awful he is, but we already got it.
thankfully the book wasn't edgy (or realistic, since sadly this happens all the time) enough to go into a sexual assault storyline, but I spent most of the book waiting for it to happen, which was really unsettling.
If you're looking to enjoy a princess story, try the Enchanted Forest Chronicles instead and give this one a pass.
thankfully the book wasn't edgy (or realistic, since sadly this happens all the time) enough to go into a sexual assault storyline, but I spent most of the book waiting for it to happen, which was really unsettling.
If you're looking to enjoy a princess story, try the Enchanted Forest Chronicles instead and give this one a pass.
May 15, 2013
So I'm reading Neverwhere, which involves an underground version of London, and I remembered that, in middle school, I had read some terrible-cum-awesome young adult novel about a princess that lives underground who falls through a wishing well and ends up above ground. And, of course, she has to go to high school, and falls in love with some generic cool high school dude, and then she has to choose between true love or her home/destiny. You know, because that storyline is not at all contrived.
Anyway, I found the title by searching for "fantasy novel princess from underground world comes to high school." Thanks, Google.
Anyway, I found the title by searching for "fantasy novel princess from underground world comes to high school." Thanks, Google.
September 15, 2009
I didn't like this book al that much. It was a good enough read during the duration, but thinking about the story now that I finished it a few hours ago, it just wasn't a great book.
I don't think Quenn's actions throughout fit the situations she was in. She didn't seem to be all that much of a stranger to our world, and after hearing about (but not actually seeing) Disney's Enchanted, the idea of a princess falling through a wishing well into our world seems overdone. Yes I know this book was written before the movie; however, I would still not reccomend this book to anyone looking for something with a good plot.
I don't think Quenn's actions throughout fit the situations she was in. She didn't seem to be all that much of a stranger to our world, and after hearing about (but not actually seeing) Disney's Enchanted, the idea of a princess falling through a wishing well into our world seems overdone. Yes I know this book was written before the movie; however, I would still not reccomend this book to anyone looking for something with a good plot.
August 10, 2011
I was in 8th grade, and I really enjoyed this, having read it around the same time as my best friend so we could reminisce over it together. What I remember both of us wondering, though, was why everyone found this girl so attractive above ground (away from her cavernous kingdom). The way she is described and then the way that boys seemed to fawn all over her made us laugh a little. But then, we were mere jealous 8th graders, envious of male attentions of any sort (oh it starts, lol).
September 28, 2022
I love it
April 5, 2010
This is a really good book. It has lots of adventure, meaning, and romance.
September 12, 2019
In her magic underground kingdom, Princess Quinn has always longed to visit the Outer Earth and gazes up through the bottom of a wishing pool to see ordinary non-magical people just out of reach. When a magic spell sends her to the Outer Earth, she must learn to fit in with the modern world of cars and airplanes, and determine who she can trust with her secret. The Wizard Melikar is working night and day to bring her home, but Princess Quinn is having too much fun in the Outer Earth and questions whether she ever wants to return to her kingdom underground.
I liked the basic plot of this story, and the characters are fairly good with some depth and development. It's not amazing, but it kept me entertained. The writing is engaging and fairly imaginative, and I liked the clear and tidy style of the narrative. The characters aren't particularly deep or complex, but they are amusing for awhile.
There is also insta-love that I found annoying, but it IS a fairy tale, so I sort of expected that.
I had one major problem with this book. At one point Princess Quinn is in a situation with a nasty guy that she hates. He is verbally abusive. He drinks and drives. He is the villain. But because of her proper court manners, Quinn feels obligated to spend the entire evening with him, even going in the car with him while he is drinking. I hated this. Despite her proper court manners, she should have chucked this guy to the curb at the first chance!
There have been many times in my life when I let people take advantage, or verbally abuse, or just keep me in a bad situation that I wanted to leave, but I felt obligated to stay for some reason like having good manners, or I owe them something for that favor they did me before. You don't owe anybody anything when they treat you badly! No amount of good manners should keep you in a bad situation where you are in danger or uncomfortable. Fear of being called a "bitch" for hanging up the phone or slamming the door kept me in nasty conversations and hanging around awful people, and looking back, I wish someone had told me, "Don't be so polite! Just hang up! Just walk away from them! Slam the door in their face! Just get out of the car! Go ahead and be rude to them, because they are being rude to you and you need to protect yourself."
So I really hated that bad message in this book. I can see why this was necessary to the plot so that the villain has his chance to be the bad guy, but it could have been better handled.
I liked the basic plot of this story, and the characters are fairly good with some depth and development. It's not amazing, but it kept me entertained. The writing is engaging and fairly imaginative, and I liked the clear and tidy style of the narrative. The characters aren't particularly deep or complex, but they are amusing for awhile.
There is also insta-love that I found annoying, but it IS a fairy tale, so I sort of expected that.
I had one major problem with this book. At one point Princess Quinn is in a situation with a nasty guy that she hates. He is verbally abusive. He drinks and drives. He is the villain. But because of her proper court manners, Quinn feels obligated to spend the entire evening with him, even going in the car with him while he is drinking. I hated this. Despite her proper court manners, she should have chucked this guy to the curb at the first chance!
There have been many times in my life when I let people take advantage, or verbally abuse, or just keep me in a bad situation that I wanted to leave, but I felt obligated to stay for some reason like having good manners, or I owe them something for that favor they did me before. You don't owe anybody anything when they treat you badly! No amount of good manners should keep you in a bad situation where you are in danger or uncomfortable. Fear of being called a "bitch" for hanging up the phone or slamming the door kept me in nasty conversations and hanging around awful people, and looking back, I wish someone had told me, "Don't be so polite! Just hang up! Just walk away from them! Slam the door in their face! Just get out of the car! Go ahead and be rude to them, because they are being rude to you and you need to protect yourself."
So I really hated that bad message in this book. I can see why this was necessary to the plot so that the villain has his chance to be the bad guy, but it could have been better handled.
December 25, 2017
For some reason, this book worked my nerve. It shouldn't have. It's just a shallow, somewhat bland tale of a princess from a magical land who visits modern day (well, 90s) Earth. She goes to high school, falls in love, blah blah blah. I like the concept (and mostly enjoyed it in the movie Enchanted and probably other stories that aren't coming to mind), but here it just fell flat. It might've been the author's choice to have the princess use odd language choices to show how different she is -- every girl is a "maiden," every older male "sire," and doors are "portals." Fish out of water stuff can be really cute, but this felt tiresome and cheap (because there were waaay more interesting things the princess could've had a reaction to). The romance was the instant kind -- the princess and boy know each other less than a week before they're professing their love and imagining getting married. And the villain was of the super obnoxious, shallow variety who paws at random girls (but in a PG way) and then suddenly develops a severe case of being power hungry. For a book concerning magic, it all felt way too mundane.
I can kind of see the appeal for the target audience, and maybe it would've worked on me if I had read it as a pre-teen, but even though I still often enjoy children's books, this one just was not for me.
I can kind of see the appeal for the target audience, and maybe it would've worked on me if I had read it as a pre-teen, but even though I still often enjoy children's books, this one just was not for me.
November 4, 2021
2/6
You can definitely tell that this book is more than a little dated. It was pretty bad and yet I finished it (within a few hours). I probably would have liked it more back in middle school when I was reading things like Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Barrimere (idk if I spelled that place name right lol). Though even as a kid, id be pissed by the crappy “cliffhanger” ending. Like what was that??? Especially since this was a stand-alone for over 10 years! How cruel of Quinn to make the wizard allow Adam to remember her.
Idk if it was just me, but I was VERY suspicious of Mondo when he first appeared and knew things from under the river. Thought he was going to turn out to be a bad guy. The real bad guy is basically Gaston in modern day. He’s a jock, all the girls love him, he’s a jerk, he drinks and drives, and he’s the coolest boy in school!! *heart-eyes, swoon* what more could you want in a love interest??? *eyeroll* I don’t think I’d let a young girl read this book, it’s a bit too outdated. The time for these kinds of books is over, I think
You can definitely tell that this book is more than a little dated. It was pretty bad and yet I finished it (within a few hours). I probably would have liked it more back in middle school when I was reading things like Ella Enchanted and The Two Princesses of Barrimere (idk if I spelled that place name right lol). Though even as a kid, id be pissed by the crappy “cliffhanger” ending. Like what was that??? Especially since this was a stand-alone for over 10 years! How cruel of Quinn to make the wizard allow Adam to remember her.
Idk if it was just me, but I was VERY suspicious of Mondo when he first appeared and knew things from under the river. Thought he was going to turn out to be a bad guy. The real bad guy is basically Gaston in modern day. He’s a jock, all the girls love him, he’s a jerk, he drinks and drives, and he’s the coolest boy in school!! *heart-eyes, swoon* what more could you want in a love interest??? *eyeroll* I don’t think I’d let a young girl read this book, it’s a bit too outdated. The time for these kinds of books is over, I think
May 15, 2019
I read this book through a review program at my local library when I was in elementary school over 20 years ago. And it has stuck in my mind.
I don't think I'd ever re-read it, as I'm certain all of it's charm and fantasy would be lost on 30 year old me. As many of the other reviewers mentioned, this is not a book that holds up to life experiences and age. It was an excellent product of it's time, for young girls, back in the 90's and it should really stay there as there are plenty of plot points that I can recall would now be considered in bad taste.
But this is just one of the few that stuck with me, including The Hollow Kingdom (a fantasy that holds up slightly better), and The Transall Saga (a fantastic children's SF novel).
That doesn't mean Princess Nevermore should be in anyone's reading curriculum today, rather, just enjoyed for what it was back then.
I don't think I'd ever re-read it, as I'm certain all of it's charm and fantasy would be lost on 30 year old me. As many of the other reviewers mentioned, this is not a book that holds up to life experiences and age. It was an excellent product of it's time, for young girls, back in the 90's and it should really stay there as there are plenty of plot points that I can recall would now be considered in bad taste.
But this is just one of the few that stuck with me, including The Hollow Kingdom (a fantasy that holds up slightly better), and The Transall Saga (a fantastic children's SF novel).
That doesn't mean Princess Nevermore should be in anyone's reading curriculum today, rather, just enjoyed for what it was back then.
April 28, 2018
This book is definitely for matured minds, on account of boys fighting over the princess, who is called Quinn. Quinn has always wanted to go to the world that we live in, and finally she goes. She is lost on the world until she meets someone who is from her kingdom. She goes to school with some friends she meets, and falls in love with the teen boy she is staying with. Unfortunately, Zack, a boy at school, finds her attractive and mysterious. He and Quinn’s love are forced to battle each other for her, to see who she will dance with at the prom. Who wins? Only the book can tell!
April 15, 2024
Reread.
This experience has epitomized for me the dangers of rereading old favorites haha. I loved this book as a kid, and I can see now that it actually influenced me a lot at the time. But rereading it as an adult…dang, it’s pretty bad haha.
This was written by a women but doesn’t even come close to passing the Bechdel test. The MC is literally lost in a foreign world with no idea of how to get home and yet her every thought is consumed by boys. It got pretty ridiculous.
I’m being lenient on the rating because of nostalgia but I’m not sure this deserves two whole stars….
This experience has epitomized for me the dangers of rereading old favorites haha. I loved this book as a kid, and I can see now that it actually influenced me a lot at the time. But rereading it as an adult…dang, it’s pretty bad haha.
This was written by a women but doesn’t even come close to passing the Bechdel test. The MC is literally lost in a foreign world with no idea of how to get home and yet her every thought is consumed by boys. It got pretty ridiculous.
I’m being lenient on the rating because of nostalgia but I’m not sure this deserves two whole stars….
June 16, 2025
It's an okay nothingburger with some of the worst male characters (sans Cam) I've gotten to read in fantasy. Not that Quinn herself was a picnic -- actually, this book probably would have been improved if it were just about Cam. I hear there was a years-later sequel that ditches Adam (thank heaven) for Cam as Quinn's successful suitor, and I'm torn between being moderately happy that Cam got what he wanted and wondering how on (or under) earth he could put up with her.
Princess Nevermore, rated 1.8/5 stars.
Princess Nevermore, rated 1.8/5 stars.
January 21, 2018
This was my favorite fantasy book as a girl. It's about a princess who travels into the non-magic earth world and meets a boy and falls in love. This is a great "romance-fantasy" genre for middle schoolers because there's nothing inappropriate. I've read it several times. The much awaited sequel wasn't as good---but then again by the time it came out, maybe a decade later, I was already much too old for the series.
May 11, 2021
I understand some of the reviews of "It's better when you're younger." It's for grades 4-6, a novella, and from the 90s. I didn't expect a book for a 36-year-old but it still made me choke up at the end. It's nice to see a story from 1995 that can still surprise you, even when you read it a second time as an adult. There were some touching moments here and an ending I'll always love. It makes me cherish wishing pools.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
I read this book in the late 90’s as a pre-teen girl, and adored it. It struck my young heart for some reason, but it didn’t hold up as an adult in 2023. Maybe I’m just too grown up and impatient with teen angst, or maybe I’m too old to excuse drunk driving or abusive boyfriends, but it just didn’t strike the same chord this time around. I will always remember this book fondly, but it’s not one I would recommend to my young daughter.
November 18, 2018
I loved this book in the day, and it still holds up pretty well. I think it may have been the first book I read that gave a fantasy outsider's perspective on the world. It does things well, plot and character things. I recently found my copy at my parents, nervously decided to give it a re-read, and was able to see why I enjoyed it so much at 12.
December 9, 2022
Wow. wow. I honestly dont know what to say about this book. other than, THE EMOTIONS IN THIS BOOK MADE ME ALMOST CRY AND I NEVVVVERRR CRY READING A BOOK!!! although, the amount of romance in this book was a bit weird. The feelings in this book are so good! you usually don't get that in a fantasy book. This book made me think of Bruce Coville's Unicorn Chronicles.
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