Pennyroyal Academy

It's been a few days since M.A. Larson's "Pennyroyal Academy" has been released. I've just finished the audiobook version, and because this is the Internet I'm going to make opinion-things at people who don't care. It's the Internet Way.Just because people like disclosures... I know M.A. Larson casually. He doesn't owe me any money, and so the photographs will remain secret. For now. That being said, this review is strictly on the merits of the book itself, uncolored (I hope) by whatever I may feel about his other works.I will do my best to not be spoiler-y. If you want zero risk of spoilers, though, don't proceed beyond this point, other than to read these words: "Well worth it. Go read it."WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT"Pennyroyal Academy" is the first in a series of fantasy novels aimed at young adults. In this series of books, we will follow Evie, a 15-year-old girl, as she enters the Academy for which the books are named. Evie, as she joins the Academy has little idea of its purpose, but finds out very quickly what it's all about. In this highly magical world, in which the tropes of fairy-tales have literal meaning, being a Princess or a Knight has a singular purpose. Its graduates defend the rest of humanity from the evil counterparts of Princesses and Knights: witches and dragons. It is at the Academy where Princesses and Knights, under the tutelage of those who have come before (Cinderella? Graduated centuries ago. Snow White? One of the greats, probably wrote several of the student's textbooks) and their magical allies, are trained and hardened for their role in the world.Boys become Knights; Knights slay dragons. Girls become Princesses; Princesses vanquish witches. That's how it is, was, and will be. Right?But things are different now. Absolutes are not as absolute as people thought they were. And what people had taken for granted isn't certain any longer. Evie, in particular, has a great deal to learn and a great deal of un-thinking to do.HOW IT'S WRITTENM.A. Larson likes to play with tropes and formulas. From beginning to end, just as the reader is rolling his eyes at the same old tired stereotypes and plot elements (mean step-sister? Check. Boorish child-of-privilege thinking he's All That? Got it. Young gentleman destined for greatness? You bet! I Am Your Father, Luke... wait, is this Star Wars?), a curve ball is thrown... every time. Count upon it. The author loves to set people up so he can surprise them, and this is something done very well. This is a good thing, as the young-adult fantasy field is choked with "Harry Potter" wannabes who slavishly, shallowly follow the path laid down by J.K. Rowling. The well-worn tropes are Larson's playthings, and he takes a wicked delight in turning things upside down, taking the reader into unexpected directions. It doesn't matter that you quickly learn to expect surprises; when they land, you're surprised anyway.Larson is also an accomplished wordsmith, and artful turns of phrase are a foundation of his writer's craft. This is, in itself, a hallmark of modern light fantasy. Many authors in this genre try too hard, forcing wordplay in a way that doesn't ring true, but for Larson it is natural and right. Rather than relying upon puns or sarcasm, it's the clever twist, the throw-and-catch, which are the tools used most often. "Fairy Drill Sergeant" indeed...The characters are an interesting lot. While based upon threadbare archetypes, they all have something to them that pulls them out of the overworn ruts these archetypes have etched into the genre. It doesn't take long to figure out that there will be something to break the mold for everyone involved, and looking forward to see in which direction the characters will jump is a distinct pleasure.A side note: it's about princesses, but this is not a "girls-only" book by any means. People who are familiar with Larson's television writing will know very well that this is a trap that Larson will never fall into, ever.WHERE CAN IT BE IMPROVED?The overall reading level is appropriate for its intended audience. There are a few places here and there in which obscure vocabulary or complex sentence structures might heavily challenge a teenaged reader or jar him out of immersion in the story, but these patches of difficult reading don't present an insurmountable wall. I expect that future installments in the series will have fewer of these rough spots.There are also some issues with pacing. It takes a little while to get going, and some scenes drag on longer than they probably should (which can be an issue when the scene is a pivotal moment or concerns fast, intense action). This mostly occurs early in the book and is largely a non-issue by halfway through. It is possible that this is only a problem in the audiobook, as delivery through spoken word has a different pacing than reading. I will go back and read the book in printed form and see if that is the case.Dialog also has its rough patches. If I had a dollar for each "oh please!"... well, I'd have a bunch of dollars. Again, this may be more of an issue in the audiobook than the written form.Speaking of the audiobook...ABOUT THAT READING...The reader, Susan Duerden has the stately "once upon a time" voicing that is absolutely classic to the fairy tale genre. Hers is the voice people remember... or imagine that they remember... reading from Aesop's Fables or The Brothers Grimm. This is a voicing style that is mesmerizing for a five-minute story, comfortable for a half-hour story, and numbing for an eight-hour story such as this. After a while, the charm wears thin.This is a common issue, not only in audiobooks but also in writing. Short fiction or short readings can be intensely over-the-top in style, extreme in voicing, strong in presentation. "Purple prose" is just fine in quick, fiery stories. The longer the work, however, the more the reader/author needs to tone it down, as it quickly wears down the reader/listener. While the aforementioned "purple prose" isn't a problem, the highly distinctive "turn it up to eleven" delivery of the audiobook... is. After about an hour, even if you've devoted more time than that for the reading, you need a nice long break.However, not everyone consumes eight-hour audiobooks in a single sitting. For people who consume their audiobooks a chapter at a time, perhaps over the duration of a commute, this is a non-issue. I do not intend these comments to be a harsh criticism, as Ms. Duerden knows exactly what she is doing. She has mastered the reading of this genre, and when heard in the manner in which her style is intended to be heard, she is intense and effective.SUMMARYThis is a good read. A very strong foundation has been laid, one which will sustain the series and keep the reader looking forward to the next installment. If it can get attention in the sea of Potter knock-offs, people will realize there's something bold and unique here. It is my understanding that there is already Hollywood interest in this series (unsurprising, given Larson's strong scriptwriting credibility and connections), and this will make a very fine movie series.We've got a good understanding of the Academy itself, and I am very much hoping to learn more about the wider world. Where do witches come from? What are the Dragon Lands like? Complexity in these "evil" societies has been hinted at, so let's see it! World-building is my opium, and I'm hoping for a nice strong fix in book two.Will "Pennyroyal" join the lofty heights dominated by "Harry Potter" and by "The Chronicles of Narnia"? Perhaps... the potential is there, if the genre has room for it and the nitpicks are addressed. However, it is certain that "Pennyroyal Academy" is a standout, head and shoulders above so much of what is being purveyed today. Young women and young men alike will find plenty to entertain, and a few important things to think about. Older readers will find a solid effort that stands alongside "The Princess Bride" in its unapologetic messing with the fairy-tale genre.Go buy it.After all, nobody makes Princesses like M.A. Larson...

great productmy 11 year old grand daughter liked this product very muchwould highly recommend this product

I ended up going with 3 stars for this one. It's not horribly bad, but it doesn't jump off the page at you, begging for one more chapter.I've only read the 1st one so far, and there's plenty of material to expand on, as well as a sufficient amount of characters to build on.It seems a lot of people felt it lacked in a detailed explanation on whatever given scene it was on at the moment. I felt they all related to the broader plot, and not just one particular scene at a time. Would a 500 + page book hold the core population long enough to get through that much? I doubt it. The average adolescent mind doesn't have the same attention span as an older audience may have -especially in this current overly-stimulated market of today's world.I imagine when writing for children as the target audience, there's a difference in the criteria used than when writing for an older audience. You're trying to keep it at a level that's high spirited without too much doom and gloom, engaging but limited on certain factors which may overwhelm the yourger mindset, and the more light-hearted side of the hi-jinx involved to keep the focal point directed to this youthful clientele.I believe the author achieved all of this, but on the flipside, could've expanded on some parts of the telling of the story.I'll continue on with series, and hope for the best.Oh and one last thing. Why must everything that's from the fantasy genre be compared to Harry Potter? Eventually, that's going to end up being a classic for that generation to come. Not every book will be on that level, whether it's 8-10 years old or 8 to 90+. The publisher does a disservice to the current book by putting that thought out there.

I googled for a book like Harry Potter and by god I think it's better xUnputdownable if that's even a word

Me and my daughter enjoyed reading this, such a great female role model. A bit dark and scary in places but my 9 year old daughter was fine, it just added to the excitement. A much appreciated source of entertainment during bad weather days on holiday.

Brilliantly written book from start to finish!I didn't want it to end.Great for all ages.An absolute must read!