Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742379265.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. This amusing story is told through a combination of narrative form, letters, diaries, and encyclopaedia entries, and even a play. The main characters here are Princess Wisdom, otherwise known as Dizzy. Then there's Tips, a soldier who's trying to keep his true identity a secret. And last, there's Fortitude, an orphaned maid who longs for Tips and has an unusual gift of sight. They must work together in order to preserve their empire from ruin, and they might even accomplish their dreams on the way.
Wisdom's Kiss is oddly satisfying; it has an excellent cast of characters, each with well-developed, interesting personalities. It has a fun, not too serious storyline and it is consistently amusing, with some truly hilarious moments. More than all that, it's smart. There's an underlying theme of dry, funny wit throughout, and it's very cleverly written.
If it were just written in an ordinary narrative style, it'd be good, but by combining the narrative with letters, diaries, encyclopaedia entries (some amusingly informative), and for some reason a play, this makes a good story great.
Wisdom's Kiss is a funny, sometimes hilarious story with memorable characters, perfect for a light read. It doesn't take itself too seriously, so neither should you. I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student, Year 10)