The Decoy Princess

Princess, Book 1

By: Dawn Cook - as Kim Harrison

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The Princess Contessa of Constenopolie has just learned of her true identity - that of an orphan adopted and raised as a decoy to protect the real princess. But that doesn't make Contessa less of a royal target.

©2005 Dawn Cook (P)2014 Audible Inc.

I knew I would like this book!

This is a highly original story with a different take on the usual princess thing. Great writing, and tight plotting.

Tess has been raised as the princess of Constenopolie. Although she has suffered from a prophecy that predicts possible dire consequences for the wrong person who might try to marry her (causing frequent attempts on her life for some reason), she has had a fairly easy and happy life so far. She has been primarily guarded and trained by the kingdom’s chancellor, Cavinlo. She thinks her primary skill is shopping, but Cavinlo has taught her many other things too.

There has been a project to have her married going on. When her future intended shows up at her parents’ palace months early, Tess tries to get in to have a look at him even though she is not supposed to. When she is discovered, it sets in motion a bad set of events during which her parents first tell her she is not, in fact, their daughter the princess and then Prince Garrett kills them and attempts to imprison her to marry her right away. This is all to fulfill some sort of scheme of his own to seize power and do it early. He rapidly reveals himself to be a psycho, and Tess needs to get out fast.

The rest of the story is of Tess’s adventures as she seeks to reunite with Cavinlo, who has been sent to retrieve the real princess, and then return to reclaim the palace and get rid of the horrible Prince Garrett.

I agree that I didn’t think too much about the narrator while I was listening to the book, so she must have done a good job.

great book awesome story!!!!

The cover of the book makes you think it's a teen book but it isn't, one of the best books I've listened to in awhile..loved it!!! I already listened to the second book and it was even better. I can't watt till the third book in the series!!!!

Harrison name...but just not the same.

I grabbed this because Kim Harrison is the author and I loved her Hollows series. Unfortunately, this book did not stand out for me. It is a fantasy novel I have read a thousand times. Tess had too much weakness and was just not a character I could enjoy. It was a romance novel set in a fantasy setting with a predictable outcome. Nothing makes this story stand out for me. I love Harrison, but I doubt I will continue to follow this series. There is always hopes for whatever she has next.

The narration saves it for me and was likely the reason I listened to the entire story. Gavin is great as always.

Kim Harrison fans

I was thrilled to see there were other books to read by Kim Harrison, especially after i finished the Rachel Morgan series. I needed something to fill the ache of saying goodbye to Rachel, one of my favorite literary heroes. Tess reminds me of Rachel in some ways, without being the same person. I didn't fall quite as in love with Tess or her world, but it was a good trip to take while I wait for the next project from Kim Harrison.

excellent book

this is a excellent book. I can't wait to get the next one in the series so I could know what's going to happen next. Hope you'll be reading it too

I liked it but..,.

I think one more book to be sure I like the series. Otherwise a promising start. I hate having to add more words

Fun and light-hearted fantasy read.

This is the first book in Cook’s Princess duology. Dawn Cook also writes as Kim Harrison. I enjoyed this fun fantasy adventure novel. The book is very YA in tone and is mostly about the heroine figuring out who she is (both in an actual and more philosophical sense).

I listened to this on audiobook and it was decently done. It wasn’t my favorite audiobook because I didn’t like the voice the narrator used for Tess and found it distracting. I never really got used to it. I would recommend reading this on in paperback rather than listening to it.

Tess has been raised as the crown princess of Costenopolie for her whole life (at least as much of her life as she can remember). However when a neighboring kingdom makes a bid for the throne through marriage Tess finds out she’s just a decoy.

This leaves Tess reeling. She is fleeing for her life and desperate to do what she can to help her people and kingdom...except they aren’t really her people or her kingdom now...so where does that leave her? Tess is an interesting heroine; she has mad ninja-like skills from her training but is also strangely naive because of her sheltered upbringing in the castle. This gets her into trouble more than once.

I really enjoyed our heroine and her struggles with her own identity and purpose in life. They were easy to relate to and fun to read about. There is a lot of action and adventures in this book as well. There is some romance but it is fairly light and not a huge part of the story.

Overall I enjoyed this YA fantasy adventure and plan on reading the second book in the series. Tess is a fun heroine and entertaining. I would recommend to those who enjoy YA fantasy adventure “princess” stories.

The decoy princess

Great writing kept me listening loved the first book about to listen to the second one thank you

I always enjoy this author!

Enjoyable light read. I adore the the way M. Gavin reads a story too.
Can't wait to listen to book 2 in this series.

Okay Book But Not My Taste

I love the Hollows series and and I love Margueite Gavin as a narrator so I figured I would give this series a try. I went into it knowing it was Ms. Harrision's earlier work and meant for a younger audience. I also like plenty of books meant for teens/young adults so I assumed I would enjoy it.

It started out good, with secrets and betrayal. And then it just got kind of blah and cliche. The writing was good, but I could see every twist and turn coming from a mile away, and the characters were really predictable.

And as much as I love Ms. Gavin, she has a very husky, mature voice, which oddly seemed to work for Rachel Morgan (the Hollows) but seemed out of place in this adventure. Perhaps because even though the two characters from the series may have been similar in age, Rachel was more self-assured and worldly. She knew her craft and got better. Princess Contessa didn't even know herself, let alone the world around her or place in it. It made the reading very jarring at times and I had to keep reminding myself that Contessa was only 18 or so.

Overall this isn't a bad book, it's a good beach read/listen and would actually be great fantasy for 12-15 teens. But it's fluff with no substance and not something I would read again or keep on my bookshelf.