I Am Princess X
By Cherie Priest

• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Reprint edition (April 26, 2016)
• ISBN-10: 1338032356
• ISBN-13: 978-1338032352
• Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Sequential Art, Graphic Novels

Once upon a time, two best friends created a princess together. Libby drew the pictures, May wrote the tales, and their heroine, Princess X, slayed all the dragons and scaled all the mountains their imaginations could conjure.

Once upon a few years later, Libby was in the car with her mom, driving across the Ballard Bridge on a rainy night. When the car went over the side, Libby passed away, and Princess X died with her. 

Once upon a now: May is sixteen and lonely, wandering the streets of Seattle, when she sees a sticker slapped in a corner window.

Princess X?

When May looks around, she sees the Princess everywhere: Stickers. Patches. Graffiti. There’s an entire underground culture, focused around a webcomic at IAmPrincessX.com. The more May explores the webcomic, the more she sees disturbing similarities between Libby’s story and Princess X online. And that means that only one person could have started this phenomenon—her best friend, Libby, who lives.

Available from Amazon

A TACO REVIEW

Hola my appetizing apple turnovers! Today I bring forth I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest. I bought this book solely because of the author. I have reviewed one of her books in the past and loved it so much I figured anything Cherie writes has to be magically delicious. I was not wrong.

I love the fact that Cherie Priest writes such kick ass female characters. Sure, these are teenage girls but they are no less kick ass because of their age. The bonds May and Libby forged by creating Princess X was so strong it did not dissipate when Libby “died”. It broke my heart watching May discovering the Princess X sticker on that window because it ripped open a wound she thought had started heal with the time gone by. Can you imagine thinking your best friend has been dead for years and then BAM-guess what? Your best friend might not be dead and she left clues for you to find her in a webcomic.

WE’RE GOING ON AN ADVENTURE!

One that might get us killed but dude, let’s do this. Just make sure you’re home before dinner because Dad would probably freak out. Libby would do it for you.

The story is told like any other book, but what makes this awesome is the comic book pages thrown in between main story. Almost like a subplot, but not quite. The comics are the clues May needs to find Libby and with the help of her trusty sidekick, Patrick. A recent high school grad who advertises his IT help in the apartment building they live in because he lost his full ride scholarship over a girl. (Lame, I know.) She totally does find Libby.

Did I spoil the ending? Not even a little bit. Of course May was going to find Libby. No way Priest would do us wrong like that. I didn’t even tell you how *spoiler removed to protect your innocence and get you to go pick up the book, you’re welcome*

I give this Four Tacos out of the Taco Scale of Awesome. This is 240 pages of heart racing adventure with a dash of murder mystery. There is no stupid love triangles or romantic subplots. There is some chemistry between Patrick and May but it in no way takes away from the main plot: finding Libby. My only complaint, which is nonsensical really and has nothing to do with the plot, is where are their parents? There is no way I would be okay with Moose (my womb nugget) being out at all hours of the day and quite possibly going out to get murdered by a psychopath! But that’s just me.

I recommend this book if you want a quick read that has sarcasm, wit, a mystery and the power of friendship.

Until next time. This is Mon, over and out.