Misfits (Royal Academy Rebels, 1)

2 very cranky and disappointed stars for Misfits, in which we follow Devin, a princess who would much rather spend her time taking care of sick and injured animals than doing the usual princess-y things. Devin's special skill of being able to communicate with animals makes her a natural at tending to their healthcare needs, and she spends much of her time sneaking away from the castle to partake in "Animal Care".

Unfortunately, the kingdom requires that all princes and princesses attend the renowned Royal Academy to learn how to be good royal leaders and do royal stuff like going to balls, being saved by princes/saving princesses, and the ultimate goal of "catching" the right prince or princess to marry. Somehow, Devin, clever as she is, has overlooked this mandatory attendance thing and thought that she would be able to avoid going to RA. Of course, she is mistaken and gets her butt shipped off to the Academy before she knows what's what.

As I read this book, I was hovering between giving it 3 and 4 stars most of the time. This is a light and fluffy read with some amusing little snippets and clever nods to beloved fairy tales here and there. There are definitely an awful lot of over-used YA tropes to be found (quirky MC with a special skill who does not follow the rules especially when the rules involve not using her special skill, dealing with cliques, mysterious and potentially evil happenings that get explained away too easily, friends who stop being friends when quirky MC keeps breaking rules and gets friends in trouble), but for the most part this is a fun read and I figure that the middle grade kids this book seems to target will not be as weary as I am with these plotlines.

But then I got to the end. Or, rather, the complete lack of an ending. There is no happily ever after here because there is no ending. The book just stops in the middle of the story with a clue about where things will go next. Now, to be clear, I don't mind a series with a story arc that continues from book to book to book. I don't even mind if a story gets wrapped up and then the characters find themselves suddenly thrust into a new adventure at the very end of a book that is obviously a lead-in to the next in series.

What I do mind, however, is a book that indicates you are heading into the climax of the story only to discover that the climax is not going to happen and you'll have to wait for the next book. Except you know the next book is just going to drag things out, too, and who knows how many books you're going to end up waiting on before you actually get a real climax and a proper ending.

It's like helping your mom to bake cookies, then being told you have to help clean up if you want a cookie, then once everything is clean you still have to wait until the cookies finish cooling before you can have one, but by the time they're cool, suddenly it's too close to dinner and you can't have one until after dinner, except then dinner is liver and boiled Brussels sprouts and, well, that's just not happening, so it turns out there will be no cookies for you. And now I remember why I don't like oatmeal-raisin cookies (besides the obvious that raisins are vastly inferior to chocolate chips).

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky for providing me with a DRC of this book.

Jen Calonita has done it again in this series set in the same kingdom as Fairy Tale Reform School. Every prince and princess is required by law to attend the Royal Academy which is run by Fairy Godmother Olivina. Too bad for Devin, because she doesn't want to leave her home and the woodland animals that she cares for. As she tries to fit in and do what she thinks is right, she is reprimanded again and again by Olivina and warned to act like a true princess. But things at the academy are not what they seem. How do harpies manage to crash the first ball of the year? Why is there a dragon running amok and trying to barbecue students? Events just aren't adding up. Devin will need help from her roommates Sasha and Raina and her friends Heath and Logan to try and get to the bottom of the mystery.

Fans of FTRS will be delighted with this new look at Enchantasia from a young royal perspective. Those readers who haven't met Gilly and the others from Reform School will still be able to plunge right in and cheer for Devin and her classmates as they attend classes while surrounded by pixies, talking mirrors, and all the rules in the school manual.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings, feisty heroines, and lots of humor to go with the danger and mystery. The characters are all unique - prince who is allergic to dragons, a princess who writes a tabloid column, etc. and the setting is magical (really).

Great read for middle schoolers.

Our Elementary kids love to have this book checked out.

I loved reading this book it has a great plot and is very exiting!

I loved Devin - for her feminist ways, for her ability to save herself and others. I admired her strength and determination - even in a world that didn't make sense for her. I loved her ways with animals and how she befriended and helped them. I liked the moments with her roommates - from their horror at her priorities to how they stood with her. I loved her fashion sense - pockets and pants. Of course there are mentions of other fairy tales. I can't wait to see where this story goes next.