Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

The members of the League of Princes, good-hearted if only semicompetent heroes, are dubbed outlaws when accused of murder most foul! Strange things are afoot in the Thirteen Kingdoms, none stranger than the wanted posters proclaiming that the League of Princes murdered sometimes-antagonist Princess Briar Rose. The reward for their capture, literally "untold riches," sets bounty hunters after them, and Gustav, Frederic and Rapunzel are captured. In a wacky sequence of mistakes and flukes, two sets of rescuers—Duncan and Snow, and Ella and Liam—fall in and out of the bounty hunters' clutches until the princesses are trapped beyond rescue, and the brave princes run away. Their stories diverge, as the princes have swashbuckling adventures that ultimately strand them on an island. Meanwhile, the princesses spend quality time in jail alongside bread thief Val Jeanval, until their imminent executions necessitate a jailbreak. While initially portrayed as more competent than their princes, the princesses soon reveal themselves as just as hilariously dysfunctional. Throughout the heroes' and heroines' travels, the antiprince conspiracy is revealed in each kingdom—it's directly related to loose ends from The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle (2013). Side characters make comedic final appearances, and a surprise villain team-up provides closure to the trilogy. Part screwball comedy, part sly wit and all fun. (Fantasy. 8 & up)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6 The third installment in this series finds the League of Princes on the run, falsely accused of murdering Briar Rose. Prince Frederic, Prince Gustav, Prince Liam, and Prince Duncan (the jokester of the group), along with Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Princess Lila devise a plan to clear their names so that they can stop the evil Lord Rundark from taking over the 13 Kingdoms. Midway through the story, the princesses form their own band of do-gooders. Chaos ensues as they and the princes spend a good portion of the narrative tripping one another up in the race to prove Briar Rose is still alive. Countless battles take placeone in each Kingdom. Enemies include giant mongoose, pirates, and bounty hunters. Surprises abound with the reappearance of past foes, including the evil witch, Zaubera. Powerful Magic Orbs are Lord Rundark's secret weapons of choice. There's really something for everyone here, although sometimes it feels as if there is just too much going on. Readers new to the series will probably find the going a bit tough at times trying to keep track of who's who. Nevertheless, Healy has a good understanding of middle-grade humor and his audience in general. With its gender-bending stereotypes and oodles of action, this addition will be welcomed by fans of the series. Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The members of the League of Princes, good-hearted if only semicompetent heroes, are dubbed outlaws when accused of murder most foul! Strange things are afoot in the Thirteen Kingdoms, none stranger than the wanted posters proclaiming that the League of Princes murdered sometimes-antagonist Princess Briar Rose. The reward for their capture, literally "untold riches," sets bounty hunters after them, and Gustav, Frederic and Rapunzel are captured. In a wacky sequence of mistakes and flukes, two sets of rescuers—Duncan and Snow, and Ella and Liam—fall in and out of the bounty hunters' clutches until the princesses are trapped beyond rescue, and the brave princes run away. Their stories diverge, as the princes have swashbuckling adventures that ultimately strand them on an island. Meanwhile, the princesses spend quality time in jail alongside bread thief Val Jeanval, until their imminent executions necessitate a jailbreak. While initially portrayed as more competent than their princes, the princesses soon reveal themselves as just as hilariously dysfunctional. Throughout the heroes' and heroines' travels, the antiprince conspiracy is revealed in each kingdom—it's directly related to loose ends from The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle (2013). Side characters make comedic final appearances, and a surprise villain team-up provides closure to the trilogy. Part screwball comedy, part sly wit and all fun. (Fantasy. 8 & up)

ALA Booklist

Four Princes Charming find themselves on the wrong side of the law after being accused of murdering Briar Rose, and together with Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Princess Lila, they fight desperately to clear their names. And fight they must, many times in many different kingdoms against many different beasts as this fractured-fairy-tale series winds up in a manner that is as funny as the previous two Hero's Guide titles, as hyper as a child after ingesting a pint of sugar, and as long as a phone book (whatever that is). Fans won't want the fun to end, happily ever after or otherwise.

Horn Book

The trilogy that began with The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom reaches its riotous, satisfying conclusion. Someone nefarious is trying to take over the Thirteen Kingdoms, and they are getting the League of Princes and their princess counterparts out of the way by accusing them of Briar Rose's murder. As in the previous books, nimble wordplay and daffy antics abound.