Frogkisser by Garth Nix

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293512
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Fantasy, Classic tales, Sorcery. This novel spins a tongue in cheek fantasy/fairytale which will entertain readers of any age. Nix includes all the elements necessary for the genre, a reluctant heroine, an evil sorcerer, magic, royalty, forests, castles and talking animals.
Princess Anya is second in line to the throne of a tiny kingdom, her sister Princess Morven is self absorbed, interested only in her latest beau and throwing tantrums. Anya seeks refuge in the castle library where she reads about magic. Her step-father Duke Rikard has become obsessed with magic and sorcery and wants the kingdom for himself.
He has plans to send Anya off to a remote school from which she may never return. Rikard has been refining his transformation spells and has turned Morven's suitor into a frog. Anya has to leave and find the ingredients for a magic salve which she must spread on her lips before she kisses the frog to turn him back to a prince.
With help of the Royal Dogs she slips out of the castle knowing that Duke Rikard will be hot on her heals. Thus begins her quest. But as she travels through the fractured kingdoms she finds that the expectations of others complicate matters and her quest becomes one to return justice and rule of law to the old kingdom which has been divided by the ill use of sorcery.
I recommend you join with Garth Nix and his wonderful cast of characters in this magical fantastic journey. Of course you know that good will triumph over evil as it always finally does, but the road travelled is amusing, gripping and enthralling.
Mark Knight