The Princess and the Fangirl

Ashley Poston, Quirk Books (APRIL) Hardcover $18.99 (320pp), 978-1-68369-096-2

Ashley Poston is back with The Princess and the Fangirl, another book set in the Geekerella universe of Excelsicon.

Jessica Stone plays Princess Amara in Starfield, which has a huge fan following. When her character is killed off, she’s ecstatic for the chance to pursue other roles. She’s not into the con scene, doesn’t really understand cosplay, and is tired of the Starfield franchise and its fan following—and she isn’t afraid to say so. In the fandom, however, people feel very differently, including Imogen Lovelace, the founder of the popular online campaign #Saveamara.

At the Con, when Imogen is mistaken for Jessica and is pulled onstage for a panel, things start to get tricky, especially when she says that Amara should have lived. After Jessica confronts her impersonator, parts of the script for Starfield 2 are leaked online, and it might be her fault. Realizing that she needs Imogen, she convinces her to become “Jessica” while the real Jessica does some sleuthing.

Although aspects of each character are stereotypical—there’s the shy girl, the diva, and the sensitive guy—characters prove more than their types. They are quirky, and careful details and dialogue propel their tales.

Poston does a wonderful job of painting fandoms and the passion behind them. Geeky pop culture references are laced throughout, and they add depth and credibility to the story. Two romances slowly develop over the course of the novel and are sweet without being saccharine. These relationships are a nice balance within the mystery around the leaked script.

This dynamic young adult novel captures the excitement of comic and entertainment cons and the passion of fandoms. Even if you haven’t read Geekerella, The Princess and the Fangirl stands strong all by itself.