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The Prince Problem
A bright and hilarious romp from Vivian Vande Velde, the award-winning author of The Princess Imposter.
Telmund is a prince who loves fables. But when a hasty witch mistakes him for a bully in need of paranormal punishment, he's cursed to transform into a new animal every time he falls asleep. With his shape constantly changing, Telmund discovers that actually living in a fairy tale has its drawbacks.
Amelia is a practical princess with a wide range of skills, none of which are helpful for escaping the ball her parents have thrown to select her future husband. But then the unthinkable: Amelia is kidnapped by the dangerous Prince Sheridan, setting off a plot that will throw the realm into chaos. As their stories become intertwined, the dreamer prince and no-nonsense princess must work together to rescue each other. Otherwise there will be no happy endings for either of their kingdoms.
From Vivian Vande Velde—master of the magical romp—comes an enchanted tale of princes, fairies, and the transformative power of stories.
Telmund is a prince who loves fables. But when a hasty witch mistakes him for a bully in need of paranormal punishment, he's cursed to transform into a new animal every time he falls asleep. With his shape constantly changing, Telmund discovers that actually living in a fairy tale has its drawbacks.
Amelia is a practical princess with a wide range of skills, none of which are helpful for escaping the ball her parents have thrown to select her future husband. But then the unthinkable: Amelia is kidnapped by the dangerous Prince Sheridan, setting off a plot that will throw the realm into chaos. As their stories become intertwined, the dreamer prince and no-nonsense princess must work together to rescue each other. Otherwise there will be no happy endings for either of their kingdoms.
From Vivian Vande Velde—master of the magical romp—comes an enchanted tale of princes, fairies, and the transformative power of stories.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 27, 2018
8 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Vivian Vande Velde
51 books996 followersVivian Vande Velde (born 1951, currently residing in Rochester, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 30, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a really good book. 😊😊
May 3, 2023
Well that was fun.
V³ is always a bit unpredictable for me. I thoroughly enjoy some and others, like the ones that lean towards the horror side, aren't my thing.
This, however, was absolutely delightful.
I loved the middle sibling dynamic(something we rarely get in fairy tales), the humor, the unconventional resolution, and the way V³ totally understands the mental/social/ability/age/gender gap between 12-13 and 15. Completely realistic and enjoyable and full of grace for the awkwardness of puberty.
There's a good message too but it's not heavy-handed.
A welcome diversion compared to the scads of books telling teens they have to do it all and know it all by 14.
Oh, and bonus points because the parents aren't perfect but they're present.
V³ is always a bit unpredictable for me. I thoroughly enjoy some and others, like the ones that lean towards the horror side, aren't my thing.
This, however, was absolutely delightful.
I loved the middle sibling dynamic(something we rarely get in fairy tales), the humor, the unconventional resolution, and the way V³ totally understands the mental/social/ability/age/gender gap between 12-13 and 15. Completely realistic and enjoyable and full of grace for the awkwardness of puberty.
There's a good message too but it's not heavy-handed.
A welcome diversion compared to the scads of books telling teens they have to do it all and know it all by 14.
Oh, and bonus points because the parents aren't perfect but they're present.
Read
February 16, 2019When you have a princess who's practical and doesn't believe in magic, along with a prince whose head is stuck in the fairy tales he loves so much, you are in for a wild ride full of misunderstandings and crazy happenings. This is a fun new twist, full of magical mayhem! -Jennifer K.
December 26, 2018
This is so much fun! I like both Amelia and Telmund, despite or perhaps because of their differences. A funny, lighthearted, romp through a fairytale world.
October 13, 2018
The last page alone would have sold this book to me. It's so perfect! I would recommend this book to boys, girls, adults, and anyone who doesn't quite fit into those categories.
January 20, 2019
Really wasn't my thing. This was also incredibly cheesy. It was all fluff and no substance. It was also super short so, there wasn't any time for any sort of development.
August 9, 2019
Very humorous predicaments and characters.
February 18, 2019
I would have adored this book as a sixth grader, partly because it features a princess, which I loved back in those days, but mostly because neither of the protagonists fit the expectations others have for them. Amelia, 15, is decidedly unromantic, and endures the requirements of being a royal with little patience. She likes to solve problems and is a practical sort. When her parents, the rulers of Pastonia, tell her that they are hosting a ball so that she can find her future prince, she is is definitely not interested. Telmund, 13, who lives in Rosenmark, adores stories, and can usually be found reading something or dreaming of his own princely adventures. He gets that adventure and more when a witch casts a spell on him, causing him to wake up as a different creature each time, alternating an animal with a human. Their paths collide when Amelia is kidnapped, and Telmund comes along for the ride. This author clearly knows her way around a fairy tale, and I loved watching the two youngsters trying to figure out what was happening. The idea of a princess needing to be rescued is discarded here as both prince and princess must rescue themselves.
June 29, 2020
3.5 stars
I liked that it was connected to The Princess Imposter and followed the adventures of Frederick's younger brother and referenced the other characters! A nice connection but the story was crafted so you in no way had to have read it either.
Fun, quick adventure chapter book. Recommended.
I liked that it was connected to The Princess Imposter and followed the adventures of Frederick's younger brother and referenced the other characters! A nice connection but the story was crafted so you in no way had to have read it either.
Fun, quick adventure chapter book. Recommended.
February 21, 2019
3.5 rounded up.
A prince who lives in storybooks gets cursed by a witch. A very factual and practical princess gets kidnapped. As their stories intertwine, who will rescue whom, and will they find their own happily ever afters?
Overall, it's cheesy and a little silly, but it's a mid-grade reimagined fairytale, so what do you expect? A bit of that is to be expected! It's still a fun read, and I enjoyed that both of them were odd ducks (or seals or rats...) in their own right, but softened a little by the end, realizing the value of the other's views. Both save the other - and they both realize it too. Great for those readers who feel a little odd themselves.
It did take me a little while to warm to Amelia. As Telmund noted, she was practical to the point of being bossy. It also didn't help that she was unconscious and/or under the effects of the henbane for much of the first several chapters. Once she was conscious and more involved in things, though, I liked her more.
On the list of things that bothered/perplexed me about Amelia... her take on curses and witches. She knows that trolls exist. And fairies too, even if she doesn't know one lives in her garden (). But she doesn't believe in witches and curses? Or did she only come to believe in all of these after her adventures with Telmund? But if she knows local politics, she knows that there are ambassadors to the fairy court (even if she doesn't remember it's Telmund's brother), right? Like I said, I was confused.
I enjoyed all of Telmund's transformations and the animal personality that would come up each time. I loved Telmund's time as a dog the best. I think that was my favorite transformation.
I really liked the last page. They are friends now, with maybe a little more - not a teenage Great Passionate Romance. It is a great ending, especially for two young teenage characters. Yes, HEA could be possible, but a lot of their story is left to be told.
Overall, I enjoyed it. A fun, light read as an adult, though there are other fractured fairy tales with a bit more 'meat' if that's what you enjoy. I'd recommend it for fans of E.D. Baker, Gail Carson Levine, and similar re-writers of fairy tales.
A prince who lives in storybooks gets cursed by a witch. A very factual and practical princess gets kidnapped. As their stories intertwine, who will rescue whom, and will they find their own happily ever afters?
Overall, it's cheesy and a little silly, but it's a mid-grade reimagined fairytale, so what do you expect? A bit of that is to be expected! It's still a fun read, and I enjoyed that both of them were odd ducks (or seals or rats...) in their own right, but softened a little by the end, realizing the value of the other's views. Both save the other - and they both realize it too. Great for those readers who feel a little odd themselves.
It did take me a little while to warm to Amelia. As Telmund noted, she was practical to the point of being bossy. It also didn't help that she was unconscious and/or under the effects of the henbane for much of the first several chapters. Once she was conscious and more involved in things, though, I liked her more.
On the list of things that bothered/perplexed me about Amelia... her take on curses and witches. She knows that trolls exist. And fairies too, even if she doesn't know one lives in her garden (). But she doesn't believe in witches and curses? Or did she only come to believe in all of these after her adventures with Telmund? But if she knows local politics, she knows that there are ambassadors to the fairy court (even if she doesn't remember it's Telmund's brother), right? Like I said, I was confused.
I enjoyed all of Telmund's transformations and the animal personality that would come up each time. I loved Telmund's time as a dog the best. I think that was my favorite transformation.
I really liked the last page. They are friends now, with maybe a little more - not a teenage Great Passionate Romance. It is a great ending, especially for two young teenage characters. Yes, HEA could be possible, but a lot of their story is left to be told.
Overall, I enjoyed it. A fun, light read as an adult, though there are other fractured fairy tales with a bit more 'meat' if that's what you enjoy. I'd recommend it for fans of E.D. Baker, Gail Carson Levine, and similar re-writers of fairy tales.
May 27, 2025
A cute fairy tale book for kids around the age of 14, I think.
Here we have a princess aged 15 who is being asked by her 'mushy, romantic' parents to start considering which of the princes of neighboring kingdoms she might like to get to know better, for when the time comes to have an alliance/marriage. They're really nice about it, helping her dodge the cretins and encouraging her while *NOT* pressuring her. But she's always been pragmatic, and needs some nudging.
Telmund is the fourth of five princes, and has a spoiled 'youngest child' little brother - the baby of the family who thinks he can get away with anything. By trying to rein bratty lil' brother in (he's assigned that particular duty), Telmund raises the ire of a witch, who casts a spell on him. And he spends the rest of the book getting knocked unconscious repeatedly, so that every time he wakes up, he's in another form.
The premise was seriously cute, but the problem was that the author didn't flesh out the story. AT ALL. There's very little description, there's little detail of what they're thinking or feeling, there's no real development of *ANYTHING* - it's just a quick, mad rush of transformations as they ping-pong between two kingdoms, trying to escape the clutches of a baddy who is too easily disposed of by the author, in too pat an ending.
Another hundred pages would've made this a LOT better.
On the other hand, it gave me an idea to toy with. Because I take books that are rushed and ruined like this and *always* try to make them better. So there's that.
Here we have a princess aged 15 who is being asked by her 'mushy, romantic' parents to start considering which of the princes of neighboring kingdoms she might like to get to know better, for when the time comes to have an alliance/marriage. They're really nice about it, helping her dodge the cretins and encouraging her while *NOT* pressuring her. But she's always been pragmatic, and needs some nudging.
Telmund is the fourth of five princes, and has a spoiled 'youngest child' little brother - the baby of the family who thinks he can get away with anything. By trying to rein bratty lil' brother in (he's assigned that particular duty), Telmund raises the ire of a witch, who casts a spell on him. And he spends the rest of the book getting knocked unconscious repeatedly, so that every time he wakes up, he's in another form.
The premise was seriously cute, but the problem was that the author didn't flesh out the story. AT ALL. There's very little description, there's little detail of what they're thinking or feeling, there's no real development of *ANYTHING* - it's just a quick, mad rush of transformations as they ping-pong between two kingdoms, trying to escape the clutches of a baddy who is too easily disposed of by the author, in too pat an ending.
Another hundred pages would've made this a LOT better.
On the other hand, it gave me an idea to toy with. Because I take books that are rushed and ruined like this and *always* try to make them better. So there's that.
May 29, 2023
I began reading this fictionalized tale with a positive a priori, having read and enjoyed all Vivian Vande Velde's previous books. This one is aimed at young readers, which I'd put at elementary school level, and it targets this audience accurately and effectively.
Right from the start, we know that this princess and this prince are going to meet and have adventures together, because that's what the story is about. The princess looks like a modern young heroine, independent and tenacious. The prince, on the other hand, is gentle and the target of a malicious spell that causes him to undergo a series of transformations. The twists and turns are fantastic, as befits a fairy tale. I won't give away the ending!
What I really like about this author's writing is her slightly offbeat point of view, her facetiousness and light-hearted humor. I also like her approach to animals, which are often characters in her creations, as is the case here.
Right from the start, we know that this princess and this prince are going to meet and have adventures together, because that's what the story is about. The princess looks like a modern young heroine, independent and tenacious. The prince, on the other hand, is gentle and the target of a malicious spell that causes him to undergo a series of transformations. The twists and turns are fantastic, as befits a fairy tale. I won't give away the ending!
What I really like about this author's writing is her slightly offbeat point of view, her facetiousness and light-hearted humor. I also like her approach to animals, which are often characters in her creations, as is the case here.
January 4, 2023
A fun romp. Princess Amelia is a serious, fact-loving, practical princess, who is kidnapped by the villainous Prince Sheridan. Prince Telmund is a sensitive, thoughtful, fairy-tale loving prince, who is bewitched to turn into a different animal every time he falls asleep (human every other time) by a judgmental witch. Their paths cross, and as Prince Telmund attempts a storybook rescue (or rescues), they become friends. Two engaging characters and lots of humorous exploration of fairy tale tropes, within a convincing world that keeps to its own laws.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2022
An adorable page-turning adventure that I read in one sitting. Themes: 'rescuing' doesn't happen just once, & both characters can be both rescuer and rescuee, and: both non-fiction and stories are important books.
I do like original fairy tales, and fractured ones, and Vande Velde's worth whether light or intense. If you like any of the above, give this a whirl.
I do like original fairy tales, and fractured ones, and Vande Velde's worth whether light or intense. If you like any of the above, give this a whirl.
December 29, 2018
This was such a cute, fun, quick read. I had to get use to Amelia as a smarty princess and Telmund not having a concussion by the end of the story, but overall a very delightful middle-grade book thats not an a-typical fairytale. I'll be sure to check out other books by this author.
January 28, 2019
This is actually a nice pleasant read. Both the princess and the prince save each other. My favorite chapter is 9 when the Amelia is captured by the bad prince and she keeps talking (think Foghorn Leghorn skit where he says he can shut up while still talking a lot). Overall a good read.
February 20, 2019
This story is very interesting and I found myself reading it very often. I didn't want to stop. I especially love the characters and the plot. What I didn't like is that it was too short. The depth of the story-line made up for that though. (Review by Daphne, 6th grader)
December 11, 2018
A charming, fun, and quick read for fairy-tale lovers of all ages
December 22, 2018
Wonderful twists and turns!
January 19, 2019
Very fun, quick-moving, unique fairy tale.
January 28, 2019
Cute, but a little tedious. I'd have probably liked it when I was a kid.
February 11, 2019
I liked it. It was newly imaginative. I especially liked the portrayal of how the prince would act differently given each new animal shape. Will look at other of her books.
March 18, 2019
It was brilliant! I would recommend to anyone who likes the E.D. Baker books or the Chris Colfer books. Amazing!
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December 4, 2021Un jeune prince se fait jeter un sort, une jeune princesse se fait kidnapper, ils se sauvent l'un et l'autre et c'est aussi adorable que the princess switch dans le temps de Noël.
April 22, 2024
I liked the humor in this. It was a cute coming of age story of adventure and curses.
February 10, 2019
When you have a princess who's practical and doesn't believe in magic, along with a prince whose head is stuck in the fairy tales he loves so much, you are in for a wild ride full of misunderstandings and crazy happenings. This is a fun new twist, full of magical mayhem!
Read
January 26, 2020This wasn't a bad read, I'm just realizing that I enjoy VVV's YA much more than her MG - which is not really surprising, since YA is my bread and butter. So I'm going to forbear from rating it because my level of enjoyment was more likely a situation of me not being the right reader for the story than very much to do with the story itself. Though, that said, I do think readers will find Amelia's passages in the first third of the book rather slow going. Telmund is a dear.
March 22, 2022
Cute, sweet fairytale.
December 29, 2023
Review February 13, 2021
Oohh. These books just make me feel... relaxed I guess. Eager for more.
Oohh. These books just make me feel... relaxed I guess. Eager for more.
November 1, 2025
This was a very cute story and I was sympathetic to the main character the whole time. He was nothing but kind and genuine when trying to help and was extremely likeable!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews