Editorial Review
A kingdom beset by monsters...
A disease that weakens and destroys...
An epic poem and a hero of long ago...
A story of danger and desperation.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other.
Then disaster strikes, and Addie -- terrified and unprepared -- sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sister's lives -- and Barmarre's fate -- hang in the balance.
Gail Carson Levine left her mark on fantasy with her well-loved 1998 Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted. Now she has created another shimmering and tapestried landscape of fantasy and fairies. Bamarre and the journeys of its two princesses will burn themselves into the minds of readers, and all will relish this moving saga about two sisters groping their way toward heroism.
Performed by Lynn Redgrave
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Customer Reviews
This book is really good. a real fantasy adventure book. 
2007-05-06
I read this I would say about five years ago. I thought it was really good. I loved the romance, the adventure, and the wonderful ending. It's very much of a girly fairy tale book, but still enjoyable. I loved when Addie and Rye fell
in love.
you should definitely read
this book and her other book
Ella Enchanted.
thank you for your time,
Loran
Pretty good but I found it frustrating 
2007-04-29
It drove me crazy that time was ticking away and it seemed impossible that Addie could save her sister. But maybe I am just too impatient. I couldn't read all of the section about being kept prisoner by the dragon because I have claustrophobia.
Also, I didn't like the ending but objectively, it was a fitting one.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre 2007-04-25
In Bamarre people have died violent deaths from retched ogres and fire breathing dragon, but the grey death also contributes a great number to the losses of life in Bamarre. For hundreds of years, the people of Bamarre have suffered the gray death, and lost many loved ones. The gray death is a horrible sickness that has no cure and always ends in death. The grey death comes in three phases. The first is the weakness. In this phase, the person who is sick becomes extremely weak. They have trouble doing the simplest tasks. This phase can last for up to a month. The next phase is the slumber. In this phase, the person who is ill sleeps for 8-10 days. Last is the phase is the fever. During this time, the person's face turns an ash gray and they have a high fever. At the end of this phase, the person dies.
The two main characters in this book are Princess Meryl and Princess Addie. Meryl is brave and adventurous. She one day hopes to find a cure for the gray death. Her dream is to be on a quest battling monsters to help her people. Addie is meek and shy. She is afraid of wild beast such as ogres. Addie would much rather practice embroidery than sword fight. She fears for Meryl's safety, and she doesn't want Meryl to search for the cure to the gray death. Addie believes you can defeat the gray death by not giving into it. For example, during the weakness, stay active, and during the slumber, stay awake. The sisters are, as you see, quite contrary to each other.
One day, Meryl finds herself nearly collapsing doing hardly any difficult work at all. When the castle nurse comes to see her, she says that it is none other than the grey death! Addie can't believe her eyes. Meryl tries to fight the gray death, but every day just keeps getting worse. Soon, Addie feels she has no choice but to search for a cure to the grey death.
Now, Addie finds herself battling ogres and dragons to save her sister. Her quest and the rest of the book is filled with adventures, surprises, and heart-warming moments. This book is thrilling and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to you! To see if Addie can conquer her fears, find the cure, and reach Meryl in time you'll have to read the book!
WARNING: this review includes parts of story's end 
2007-04-09
This story is all about how Princess Addie tries to save her sister Meryl, from the Gray Death (a deadly sickness). She fights monsters and even escapes a dragon. Addie, Rhys, and Meryl go to where the cure is, fighting monsters all the way. Addie is almost squished by an ogre and screams. Meryl turns back making her not reach the cure. Suddenly, the cure is found, rain falls all over Bamarre and noone will have the gray death again. Then they all fall asleep. Fairies carry them up to their palace and soon, Addie finds out that her sister is a fairy now. She is told that Meryl can no longer be her sister, Addie cannot live with her, Addie cannot go on adventures with her (because they're special adventures),that she must go live with her dad, who didn't want to come to her wedding because he thought this book called Homely Truths was telling him not to, and that all this happened because she was ALMOST dead. But she wasn't! I would've rated this book 5 stars if the ending hadn't made me cry. I still think you should read this book if things like that aren't too sad for you. I just don't like anything that's remotely sad.
The Coward will find Courage... 2007-03-30
Addie and Meryl are best friends, sisters, and the two princesses of Bamarre. Addie and Meryl are always together, but they are still very different. Meryl wants to rid the kingdom of Bamarre of gryphons, ogres, and spectors, but Addie would rather just stick to embroidering scenes from Drault, a legend of the man who had once saved Bamarre. Ill luck soon falls on the two sisters. Meryl catches the deadly disease called the Grey Death, and Addie finds some courage and sets out to find the cure, because that is what Meryl would have done for her. Addie sets out across Bamarre to find the cure and defeats ogres, dragons, and gryphons along the way. But, when she finally found the cure to the Grey Death Meryl didn't have much time. Addie saves Meryl in the end, and herself. Addie becomes brave and strong for herself and her country. The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine was very well written, I recommend it to anyone who likes adventure or fantasy books.
One reason I liked this book was the ongoing suspense. When Addie goes on her adventure to save Meryl you can not help but wonder what is going to happen to Addie or Meryl. Will Meryl be saved in time? Will Addie be brave enough to find the cure? This book keeps you on the edge of your seat always, and you can practically never put it down.
Another reason I like this book is because the characters. Addie and Meryl are completely different but are so close. Meryl is courageous and seeks adventures, but is stuck in her home, Addie is completely different. Addie is scared of most everything in the beginning of the book. But, towards the end of the book she becomes very brave and can support herself without Meryl's help.
This book was also very unique, unlike many other fantasy stories I have read. Most other fantasy stories have very similar formats to each other, but this story was very different. Have you heard of other stories that have an invisible fairy mountain named Mount Ziriat? Or a dragon that treats her upcoming meal like friends and gives them gifts to keep (only as long as they live?)I didn't think so.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine was very well written, suspenseful, and unique. You can never put this book down (and you would never want to.) This book has such a good story line and many good characters. I recommend The Two Princesses of Bamarre to all age groups who like fantasy and adventure stories.
M.HoM...2011...Mr.Cosby...So Cool...not Mr.Cosby...me...jk Mr Cosby...ur cool too...sort of...u know
Very good 2008-01-28
The Two Princesses of Bamarre is a really good book. One of the Princess Meryl(I think?) is sick and her sister, Pincess Addie, goes on a quest to try to find the cure. Addie has many interesting encounters with mythical creatures on her way. It is a very good book for around 10 and on up. I enjoyed it and you will too if you like fantasy, princesses, adventure, ect..
Read it again and again! 2007-11-09
I absolutely love this book! I got it for the first time when I was probably about twelve (i'm 18 now), and I've probably read it about fifty times since. It's one of those books that every once in a while you realize you don't remember ever last detail and that you absolutely must go read it again. The fascinating way it's crafted around an epic poem captivates me. The best part of her beautifuly written fantasy world is that, although I found plenty to like when I was younger, I find even more to like now. It's not something I grew out of, and it's wonderful! I would reccomend it to absolutely anybody!
Good Summer Book 2007-06-14
This is what I have come to call a rennaissace chick flick of a book. The story was a bit bland but still fun. A book about sisters who are so polar in the character and talents yet are so closely tied. I hope everyone reads this book, even tough ella enchanted is so so good too. You cannot just skip over this one. It is a fun, and quick read.
Light Hearted Adventure 2007-05-15
I have to be honest, the only reason I picked up this book in the first place was the girl on the cover resembled Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter movies. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. Sure, I had a hard time getting into the story at first, the writing was choppy and I had a hard time distinguishing between the characters at times, but once I was able to get past its few shortcomings it was a fairly pleasant experience. It was a quick read (only 240 pages) and a cute story, perfect for any child (or child at heart) who loves fantasy novels or light hearted adventure stories.
Princess Meryl is an adventurous young girl who does nothing except practice her swordsmanship and dream about charging into battle against the many monsters the plague Bamarre. While her sister Princess Addie is just the opposite, she is timid, shy, and scared of her own shadow. One day however Meryl is taken ill with the 'Gray Death' (a terrible diseases which always ends in death. no cure has ever been found). Addie, although still very scared, sets out on a journey to find the cure. On her quest she encounters Ogres, Gryphons, Specters, Dragons, and Fairies. Overcoming the odds she hopes for a fairy tale ending.
I'm going to list and describe Addies magical items that she takes with her because I feel like they are an important part of the story and/or might give you a little more incentive to pick up the book.
Shadow's Cloak: Not a true invisibility cloak, but as long as the user stays in the shadows he or she will be unseen by most creatures (does not work on Specters or Dragons).
The Tablecloth: At the users command it sets a table and provides an endless amount of food.
Blood-Biter: Meryl's sword, given to Addie.
Moily Herb: An elf remedy that gives you strength to go on, also can heal burns.
Seven-League Boots: When wearing these boots a single step will carry you thousands of miles.
Spyglass: Allows the user to see thousands of miles in any direction. Addie uses this to keep an eye on Meryl's condition and to plan her steps with the League Boots.
This book is a great quick read for anyone looking for a light hearted adventure novel. Perfect for rainy days or summer readings.
Fun read! 2007-05-12
This book was perfect for when I was sick and stuck in bed all day. Levine does her magic again with creating a different world, adventurous and strong female characters, and an adorable romance. No really, romantic interest was dreamy! However, the writing of this book is just not as strong as that of Ella Enchanted - some of it seems too slow or too unrealistic (if that's even possible in the fantasy world) at times. And maybe it's just because I'm older now, but it was often too easy to guess where the story was going. I would suggest this book as an easy, entertaining, and sweet read. Just tell your inner critic to shush until after you finish.
