Reviews:

"King Richon, who returns to his human form, aims to make amends for his tyrannical rule. Chala, choosing to give up her hound state, must reconcile herself to her human limitations as she wonders if she sacrificed too much. Their mutual respect and deep friendship subtly and convincingly grow into love while they explore their magical shape-shifting powers and restore peace to the kingdom. Told in third person, the chapters alternate between the points of view of the bear and the hound. The plot pacing is even and taught. Deep exploration of the main characters' flaws and values blends smoothly with an exploration of good versus evil. Some well-drawn descriptions of bloody battles between animals and humans may be too intense for some readers, but the love story is as compelling as the characters are strong and complex. [. . . ]Readers will find the relationship between independent Chala and pensive Richon appealing."—Amy J. Chow, School Library Journal.

VOYA

"In this stand-alone companion novel to The Princess and the Hound (Eos/HarperCollins, 2007/VOYA August 2007), Harrison weaves an unusual tapestry from the strands of a folktale in which humans and animals shift forms, a fairytale in which kings and princesses outwit evil, and a moral tale in which the redemptive power of love heals great wounds, enables harrowing sacrifices, and provides unexpected reservoirs of strength. The novel begins slowly as the omniscient narrator alternates chapters between the hound's and the bear's perspective. In addition, readers expecting a conventional princess tale may be put off as this heroine loves long chases and the taste of warm blood, but Harrison's vision of female strength and courage is refreshing on its own terms, and the bear's growth toward true humanity is equally." Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

KIRKUS, starred

"This beautifully understated tale is of magic and "unmagic," human and animal, forest and town. [ . . .] ichon the bear and Chala the hound move between animal and human existence; the relationships between animal and human, and the magic in being both, are exquisitely delineated, and the love story between the two strong protagonists is all the more powerful for being intensely restrained."

More:

If you want to read more about the world of The Princess and the Hound, here are other legends from the same world:

The Tale of the Cat-Man

The Tale of the Shape Changer Woman

The Tale of the Woman Who Was Not Married

The Tale of Timt and Esa

The Tale of the Boy Who Was Raised By Wolves

The Tale of The God Who Became Mortal

The Tale of the Eagle-Man

The Tale of the Wolf-Woman and the Magic-Hater

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