Name: Orne Biglia's review of A world without princes by Soman Chainani
Item: A world without princes
Rating: 3.5
Author: Orne Biglia

Soman Chainani

When Agatha wishes she'd chosen a different Happy Ending, she accidentally reopens the gates to the School for Good and Evil. But when the girls return, they notice that the world they knew has changed. Witches and princesses reside at the School for Girls, where they've been inspired to live a life without princes, while Tedros and the boys are camping in Evil's old towers. A war is brewing between the schools, but can Agatha and Sophie restore peace? Can Sophie stay good with Tedros on the hunt? And whose heart does Agatha's belong to -- her best friend or her prince?

A world without princes

This paperback edition features extra content including deleted scenes from book one, a chat with Soman Chainani, and a sneak peek at The School for Good and Evil #3: The Last Ever After In the New York Times bestselling sequel to Soman Chainani's debut, The School for Good and Evil, Sophie and Agatha are back in Gavaldon, living out their Happily Ever After, but life isn't quite the fairy tale they expected. When Agatha wishes she'd chosen a different Happy Ending, she accidentally reopens the gates to the School for Good and Evil, and the girls find that the world they knew has changed. Witches and princesses reside at the School for Girls, where they've been inspired to live a life without princes, while Tedros and the boys are camping in Evil's old towers. A war is brewing between the schools, but can Agatha and Sophie restore the peace? Can Sophie stay good with Tedros on the hunt? And whose heart does Agatha's belong to--her best friend or her prince? Soman Chainani has created a spectacular world that Newbery Medal-winning author Ann M. Martin calls "a fairy tale like no other, complete with romance, magic, humor, and a riddle that will keep you turning pages until the end."

A World Without Princes

Jess Armstrong

Orne Biglia

When best friends Sophie and Agatha return to a fairy tale world, they find that old enemies are no longer fighting, but a war begins to brew as an enemy arises from within.

Monicap

Omigod, Soman Chainani, you better get writing!

THIS. BOOK.

As with the first one, I had trouble getting into Sophie’s character. Unlike the first one, by the end of this book, I NEEDED Sophie’s character. This whole story really hinges on Sophie’s character.

Sophie did get a lot more backstory with this one, but, backstory and exposition a good character does not make. But, in the last third of the story, a situation came about that put Sophie’s character into a situation with other characters and it was so perfect and I got so into Sophie’s character and the relationship that arose.

By the way, Soman Chainani, YOU HAD BETTER GIVE THAT RELATIONSHIP BACK TO ME. That was the BEST relationship in the series. Better even than Sophie and Agatha, because, like I said in my review of the first one, I never really got that relationship. I still don’t. I get why Agatha’s in it, that’s explained time and time again and makes sense. Sophie’s side, though? I’m still drawing a blank. I just don’t see why Sophie is in that relationship.
Actually let me revise that last statement. 
After book 1, I get why Sophie is in the relationship, But I still don’t get why she was in it to begin with. 

I also need to address the ending just a tad. What I love about this series, is that focuses on the friendship rather than the romance. And I swear to god, Soman Chainani, you better keep that going, After an end like that, I’m having trouble seeing how it will happen, but I need that friendship. I need that friendship between Sophie and Agatha. Actually, what I REALLY need is FOR OPHIE TO BE FRIENDS WITH TEDROS.

(view spoiler)[Now, I’m just going to address that relationship for one hot second here. The Tedros and Sophie/Filip friendship. Like I said, THIS IS THE BEST RELATIONSHIP in the books. I felt it more than any other relationship. And, while Sophie was Filip, I kept saying, “Please, let’s keep this relationship going after she turns back into a girl. Let’s not have them try to kill each other.” And yet, at the same time, I saw how this relationship would fall apart once she turned back into a girl. And yet, this is not the first relationship of it’s kind that I’ve run across. 
In the show Merlin, sorcery and magic and whatnot in outlawed. If Merlin were to be found out as a wizard, he would be killed. And yet, he is best friends with Arthur, the son on the man who outlawed magic, and is constantly using his magic to save Arthur. Not, it’s not exactly the same relationship, but the premise is there: A friendship built while one fundamental fact about one of the people remains hidden. A friendship built upon, essentially, a lie. 
Of course. Merlin ran it’s course over five seasons, and around season three I got to the point where I was begging Merlin to reveal his secret to Arthur EACH EPISODE. Because, at that point, The friendship was strong enough that I believe Arthur would have accepted him and it wasn’t too long of a wait for their friendship to have been corroded by this lie. 
But keep in mind, that friendship lasted, essentially, FIVE YEARS. There was a point in that relationship, where Merlin could have revealed his secret and had Arthur accept him. 
Tedros and Sophie/Filip’s relationship lasted THREE DAYS. There was not a point in that relationship where Sophie could have revealed her secret and had Tedros accept it. 
Ooh, I’m just frustrated. (hide spoiler)] 
 
I really just need the next book to be out, like, yesterday, Soman Chainani. So GET ON IT!!!

Beatrix Haase

I liked this book more than the first book in the series. I'm excited to see what the 3rd one holds, might be a while since I do not have the book.

fatim

I LOVE IT SOO MUCH. i pick up this series for the first time when i was in middle school (the first book). so it’s such a long time to finally read the second book of this series. there are many things that i love about this book — ; 

i love how this book portrayed the world without princes, without men. how messed up it is when hatred (mainly towards men) are too much and disrupt the balance between men and women. also, the character development is soo beautiful! especially the friendship between agatha and the witches (dot, anadil, and hester). yess i love them so much! 

this book, again, successfully brought me into agatha and shopie’s amazing, wonderful journey — see how it went and finally ended (and to be continued in the third book, ofc).

in conclusion, i love the second book as much as i love the first book. and let’s continue the journey to the third book!

Nicole Sonja

Couldn’t take it anymore! Horrible writing. Nothing happening. Back and forth. Character stupidity ALL THE TIME. My advice is to look up on google for summaries of the books. That’s about as good as reading them.

Izza

I'm so mad at the ending!!! I can't wait to get the next one!

Shereen Evans

The beginning had be a little lost but after rereading the last couple of the first book I was able to get into the book. I did almost DNF this book but it was about mid way the story started to pick up and was easier for me to want to continue to read.

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Another trip to the Schools for Good and Evil on the wings of Agatha's wish for her prince despite kissing her best friend Sophie at the end of the first book and being whisked home for their new Ever After back in their village. The village isn't so sure they want them back and begin to turn on the girls, all the while Agatha realizes she can't stop thinking about what if she had kissed Tedros instead? Doubting themselves and their choices at every turn, coupled with the power of Agatha's secret wish, they return to school (still can't figure out exactly how that happened magically speaking) only to find that their upending of their fairy tale has twisted the schools in their absence, with Nevers and Evers joined and split into girls versus boys schools that are in constant conflict. Of course it's up to Sophie and Agatha to figure out what to do, should Agatha kiss Tedros if it means losing Sophie forever? Is Sophie actually good, or is evil bubbling beneath her gorgeous face? With a new, sinister Dean at the head of the girls' school with magical butterfly spies everywhere, all the old teachers whispering and plotting for the return to the way things were, and the Nevers and Evers in a very uneasy truce by gender, Sophie and Agatha are in more danger than ever. A final trial is set to decide their fate and the world of good and evil hangs in the balance. Ridiculous fun with lots of plot and characters rushing by, but somehow making the pages fly.

Nadia Borgdorff

I love the world, I don't like the story that much. All characters except Sophie seem underdeveloped. Especially Agatha had way less of a personality than in the first book. The ending was also weird, since it felt like it was written at a point the author knew he would make a third book. It both felt rushed and wrong. Overall, it's a good world to escape to, but I can't wait to read books 4 to 6 with new characters.

Anastaciya

Melea Mullican

The ending of this book was definitely better than the first half. Unfortunately, this book has a lot of problematic messages for younger girls. I think if the characters were aged up and the writing more applicable to YA readers, I might have been okay with it. But 12 year olds entire lives hinging on kissing boys just doesn’t sit well with me.

Gaelle claeys

vely

** spoiler alert **
           It was interesting. This book was, to be quite honest, a load. With the whole 'boys as slaves' and 'girls DEAD' thing, it was... interesting. I love the genderbend, Filip thing, just because it all folds together. And, I mean Sophie-Tedros bromance is always good.

Roos Kuijper 

3.5

The first half was really slow and I was thinking about DNF'ing it but the second half made it a lot better!

Marissa

It’s all happy ever after in the School for Good and Evil... or is it? The second title in the NYT bestselling fantasy adventure series – perfect for girls who prefer their fairy tales with a twist.

A World Without Princes (The School for Good and Evil, Book 2)

Isabella Tuohy

Piliii

Susanna Nordmark

Vanessa Egger

The School for Good and Evil 2-Book Box Set; PB 9780062424372] Enjoy Soman Chainani's New York Times bestselling series, The School for Good and Evil, in this paperback box set featuring the first two books--The School for Good and Evil and The School for Good and Evil: A World Without Princes. This is an epic journey to a dazzling new world in which best friends Sophie and Agatha enter the School for Good and Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy-tale heroes and villains. Sophie, with her glass slippers and pink dresses, thinks she'll earn top marks at the School for Good. Meanwhile, Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks and wicked black cat, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil. But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes are reversed.... The aftermath leads to unexpected paths, new alliances, and an exhilarating quest to find their true Ever After. Soman Chainani has created a spectacular world that Rick Riordan, author of the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, says "reimagines the world of fairy tales and will make you question who is good and who is evil," and that Newbery Medal-winning author Ann M. Martin calls "a fairy tale like no other, complete with romance, magic, humor, and a riddle that will keep you turning pages until the end."

Orne Biglia &
A world without princes by Soman Chainani

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