Rapunzel's Gambit by Mary Mecham

Princess Rapunzel is not happy with the way her father is running the kingdom, or her life.  When he promises her hand in marriage to any nobleman who can kill the dragon, she decides she might be better off with the dragon than with her eager suitors. On the last day before she escapes the castle she plays and loses a game of chess with a handsome and diffident squire.  If only her high-born suitors were as handsome and well mannered as he!  When Rapunzel arrives at the Dragon's lair, she proposes that together they could set up a scam to raise money for the poor in the kingdom. They would kidnap the knights that try to rescue her and then send them back only after they pay a hefty ransom. Their scheme works well, and the dragon and Rapunzel establish a genial raport. But Rapunzel can't get the squire, Griffin out of her mind.  He may just be the only person she would be happy spending her life with, but how could a princess marry a squire?

This is an interesting reimagining of the Rapunzel story, with a heavy dose of Beauty and the Beast added in. Rapunzel has a spunky personality and Mecham writes in a bunch of snappy repartee, which is fun.  The story is clearly aimed at teens, as there is a lot of romantic vacillation and raging hormones, though it doesn't really every wander past a PG rating. The one thing that bothered me about the book is that the magic system isn't very well thought out. Magic objects in the Dragon's castle seem to produce limitless supplies of food and luxury items, but at no cost. I may be spoiled by the likes of Brandon Sanderson, but I think if magic produces something, it has to take something as well. Why steal from the wealthy knights to feed the poor, if you can just give them an enchanted table instead that will provide for them all the food they could eat. Despite that, it is a fun read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to the fantasy-loving young people I know. (2025, 248 p)