A PRINCESS OF THE CHAMELN BOOK REVIEW
In Cherry Wilder’s “A Princess of the Chameln,” we follow the journey of the main character Dan Racha Sabeth Aidris Am Firn, or simply Aidris. At one point, Aidris looks at herself in a mirror and describes her features: high cheekbones, short crimped black hair, and green eyes. She’s noted to resemble her father’s side of the family, known for being short, sturdy, dark-complexioned, and dark-haired with broad faces and eyes in shades of brown, hazel, or green—colors of the forest. However, the book’s cover shows a blonde heroine, which does not match this description and can be a bit jarring. This mismatch between the cover and the content parallels how the plot sometimes feels disjointed.
The story tracks Aidris from her childhood to young adulthood as one half of the future rulers of Chameln on the continent of Hylor. In Chameln, it’s customary for one heir from each of the royal families to rule together. Aidris already knows the young boy who will be her co-ruler. However, her life is filled with dangers—assassination attempts, conspiracies, and a distant unknown villain causing many of the family’s troubles. Eventually, Aidris must flee to a neighboring country when her home is overtaken. She spends several years in exile, posing as a kedran, a type of female soldier, until the time comes for her to return with her supporters to fight for her right to rule.
The story spans many years, which can create a sense of detachment from the narrative. The book jumps from one significant event in Aidris’ life to another, often glossing over years at a time. This approach, although possibly necessary for the plot, weakens the story and makes it harder to stay engaged. The large cast of characters, many with unusual names, can also be difficult to keep track of. This is one of the story’s major weaknesses. Successful authors make leading characters memorable and provide reminders of who they are as the story progresses. In this book, it’s easy to lose track of characters and their importance, making the experience less enjoyable.
A glossary would have been helpful to keep track of the numerous characters. Many minor characters reappear later in the story, yet they are easy to forget. This often makes dramatic reveals fall flat, as readers may not remember the character. Using my Kindle’s search function helped, but often I didn’t feel interested enough to look back.
The romance in the story also suffers from this disjointedness. When Aidris meets an old acquaintance and eventually falls in love with him, it feels sudden and unsupported by prior interactions. I found myself rereading parts to understand the romantic development but found nothing that justified it. This lack of convincing romantic build-up made it hard to care about the relationship.
Characters that I found intriguing often vanished for years or were only mentioned briefly. Since this book is the first in a series, I hope future installments will expand on these characters and plotlines. The villain, responsible for much of Aidris’ suffering, never takes center stage. Although his minions cause trouble, his absence reduces the story’s impact.
Aidris is a likable character, and her journey kept me reading. However, she is not particularly remarkable or memorable. I had hoped for imaginative elements beyond the typical fantasy tropes, but the story didn’t hold my interest. Despite the many unanswered questions and the broader story of Hylor’s rulers, I am not inclined to continue with the series.
ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATION
This story could work well as a movie if the plot and character list were streamlined. It’s one of those rare cases where changes to the story might actually improve it. The culture of Chameln and the appearance of its people bear similarities to Amerindian and other indigenous cultures. Cherry Wilder, who was born in New Zealand, used elements of Maori culture in her other works. Casting actors from these ethnic backgrounds could add diversity and authenticity, matching the book’s descriptions. Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of a specific actress who fits the role of Aidris, but it might be an opportunity to cast a fresh face. If anyone has suggestions for indigenous actresses who fit Aidris’ description, I’d love to hear them.
OVERALL RATING
This book has its moments, but it’s not perfect. The story has potential, and Aidris is a character that readers can root for, but the execution falls short, diluting the impact of what could have been a compelling fantasy saga.
