Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede

First book of a series, a princess wants more than just marry a handsome prince and living a boring life in a castle. When her parents tire of her trying to learn sword play, cooking, and magic, they try to marry her off to a prince. When she runs into a garden and yells, "I would rather be eaten by a dragon", a talking frog tells her that could be arranged. Listening to frog, she runs away to the dragons. If you know your fairy tales and legends, you will get the "inside jokes" , but don't worry many other joke are included for those who don't. Everyone I have given this to loved it and read the other 3 books. My step daughter read all 4 while riding up north in Michigan and back so she wouldn't have to talk to me.