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The Princesses of Westfalin Trilogy #3
Princess of the Silver Woods
When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse.
The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published December 11, 2012
About the author
Jessica Day George
24 books5,802 followersJessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family. These are all things to keep in mind if you ever meet her. For instance, you could bring her chocolate to make the meeting go more smoothly. You could also talk about how adorable her children are, even if you have never seen them. You could discuss dog breeds (she had a Maltese named Pippin, and grew up with a poodle mix and a Brittany Spaniel. Right now she has a Coton de Tulear named Sunny). You could talk about Norway, and how it's the Greatest Place On Earth, and Germany, The Second Greatest Place On Earth. You could ask her about yarn, and indicate a willingness to learn to knit your own socks, if you can't already do so.
And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.
She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.
And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.
She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,198 reviews
July 11, 2017
In the final installment about the Twelve Dancing Princesses of Westfalin, Petunia gets her chance for adventure.
*Editing, April 2012.
*More editing, June 2012. I have spent the last week in my bedroom, cutting 20,000 words from the manuscript. Most of those words were: clearly, actually, even, and just.
*Copy edits, August 2012.
*Galley proofs, August 2012.
*Editing, April 2012.
*More editing, June 2012. I have spent the last week in my bedroom, cutting 20,000 words from the manuscript. Most of those words were: clearly, actually, even, and just.
*Copy edits, August 2012.
*Galley proofs, August 2012.
December 11, 2017
GUYS, I THINK THAT JUST BY LOOKING A THE COVER, YOU GUYS WILL WANT TO READ THIS.
A solid 4.5 ;)
I mean, it has a princess in it. WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE??
George spins a brilliant and suspenseful story from POV’s of the twelve dancing sisters :)
you guys........this is a book to kill for
A solid 4.5 ;)
I mean, it has a princess in it. WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE??
George spins a brilliant and suspenseful story from POV’s of the twelve dancing sisters :)
you guys........
February 13, 2022
This time around one of the twelve Dancing Princesses (Petunia) lands in the role of Little Red Riding Hood. And she and her wolf will have to get creative to save not only her life, but the lives of her sisters, as well.
Petunia teams up with a young man who was swindled out of his inheritance because of some shady shenanigans that may have been ultimately engineered by the King of Underhill. He and his Robin Hood-like companions wear wolf masks and Petunia has her red cloak, as a nod to the Red Riding hood theme.
After the wolves unsuccessfully try to rob her carriage, Petunia ends up getting reluctantly taken hostage - which is how she and her wolf becomes friends. <--maybe more?
A good conclusion to everything, I suppose. Although, I have to say the battle with the sorcerers at the end was hard to follow, and I was quite shocked to learn that one of the main characters had survived because the whole thing happened in such a confusing way.
Also, I felt bad for some of the princes. It's not really their fault that they were who they were, and I would have felt a bit better if there had been some sort of epilogue for a few of the ones that didn't seem as terrible as the others.
But overall, I enjoyed this trilogy.
Petunia teams up with a young man who was swindled out of his inheritance because of some shady shenanigans that may have been ultimately engineered by the King of Underhill. He and his Robin Hood-like companions wear wolf masks and Petunia has her red cloak, as a nod to the Red Riding hood theme.
After the wolves unsuccessfully try to rob her carriage, Petunia ends up getting reluctantly taken hostage - which is how she and her wolf becomes friends. <--maybe more?
A good conclusion to everything, I suppose. Although, I have to say the battle with the sorcerers at the end was hard to follow, and I was quite shocked to learn that one of the main characters had survived because the whole thing happened in such a confusing way.
Also, I felt bad for some of the princes. It's not really their fault that they were who they were, and I would have felt a bit better if there had been some sort of epilogue for a few of the ones that didn't seem as terrible as the others.
But overall, I enjoyed this trilogy.
January 27, 2019
Westfalin’s been calm enough for a few years. Many of the twelve princesses got married or betrothed thanks to the exchange program. Petunia, the youngest girl, is one of the only sisters still at home. She’s a bit restless—she loves her sisters, but feels a desperate need for oxygen and adventure of her own.
Adventure finds Petunia while she’s off to visit the grandmotherly Grand Duchess Volaskaya, a Russakan royal who married a Westfalian baron and settled in that land…and dashing Prince Grigori, the Grand Duchess’ grandson. Adventure, in this case, takes the form of a grey-eyed young bandit lord in a wolf mask. Believing the princess to be the daughter of a wealthy-enough earl, he awkwardly abducts her in hope of some ransom money.
But this young vagabond is a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Oliver should be an earl, but when the Westfalian-Analousian border was redrawn after the war, his father’s earldom was stuck on the Analousian side. Without his criminal activities, he, his mother, brother, and vassals would have starved long ago. Swamped with guilt, Oliver brings Petunia back to his humble house before seeing her safely to the Grand Duchess’ manor—which is his by rights.
All the sisters, wherever they are, are plagued by nightmares about the Kingdom Under Stone, where they were forced to dance every night of their childhood. As the nightmares continue, they deduce that these are more than dreams…the wraithlike Princes Under Stone are determined to claim them, and use them to conquer Ionia.
Content Advisory
Violence: A few gunshots and fisticuffs, and people being dragged places. No gore.
Sex: Oliver accidentally glimpses various sisters changing or snuggling with their husbands a few times.
Language: None.
Substance Abuse: None.
Nightmare Fuel: The Princes Under Stone have two forms: in their own kingdom they look like unnaturally tall, scrawny, pallid youths; aboveground they are shadows that can physically strike people and chill them. Their courtiers are like them, but more grotesque, some of them with animal features (i.e. a guy who looks like a fox).
Politics and Religion: Depending on which character is talking, the Church is either useless or immensely powerful in the fight against black magic. Bishop Schelker is a formidable, brave, and powerful character, who tips the scales of the book itself in favor of Christianity overall. In this universe, the Church coexists comfortably with light folk magic.
Conclusions
This final installment of the Westfalin trilogy delivers the climactic battle with the denizens Under Stone that I’ve looked forward to since starting this series. I wish that the book had spent more time on that confrontation, which seems to cut off suddenly at the end.
.
Petunia is a solid main character, if not as lively as her sister Poppy. She refuses to cower before anyone, keeps a clear head, and has zero tolerance for nonsense and dishonesty.
Oliver is a likeable love interest. He’s awkward and moody and actually bears some resemblance to a real-life teenage boy. If you usually don’t like antiheroes, you might like this one—he’s really quite wholesome, selfless, and brave once you get to know him. (I still like Galen best, though).
The supporting cast is large, perhaps a bit too large. Some of them, like Grigori and Olga, seem crammed in without much depth or motivation. The Grand Duchess was a pretty good villain—and I loved how her story ties in to a throwaway scene early in book one. That’s how you do a callback!
Silver Woods is a return to the atmosphere of the first book—chilly and foreboding like the Black Forest. It effectively builds tension until , in an image that calls to mind both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the myth of Persephone. I’m not sure how much either of those stories has in common with this one, but that reference was still neat to see.
Overall, a very enjoyable book, even if the ending was rushed. It ties the trilogy up fully and neatly, and delivers the light, clean adventure, romance, and sisterhood I’ve come to expect from George. Do you like fairytales and handicrafts? Then I highly recommend this trilogy.
Adventure finds Petunia while she’s off to visit the grandmotherly Grand Duchess Volaskaya, a Russakan royal who married a Westfalian baron and settled in that land…and dashing Prince Grigori, the Grand Duchess’ grandson. Adventure, in this case, takes the form of a grey-eyed young bandit lord in a wolf mask. Believing the princess to be the daughter of a wealthy-enough earl, he awkwardly abducts her in hope of some ransom money.
But this young vagabond is a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Oliver should be an earl, but when the Westfalian-Analousian border was redrawn after the war, his father’s earldom was stuck on the Analousian side. Without his criminal activities, he, his mother, brother, and vassals would have starved long ago. Swamped with guilt, Oliver brings Petunia back to his humble house before seeing her safely to the Grand Duchess’ manor—which is his by rights.
All the sisters, wherever they are, are plagued by nightmares about the Kingdom Under Stone, where they were forced to dance every night of their childhood. As the nightmares continue, they deduce that these are more than dreams…the wraithlike Princes Under Stone are determined to claim them, and use them to conquer Ionia.
Content Advisory
Violence: A few gunshots and fisticuffs, and people being dragged places. No gore.
Sex: Oliver accidentally glimpses various sisters changing or snuggling with their husbands a few times.
Language: None.
Substance Abuse: None.
Nightmare Fuel: The Princes Under Stone have two forms: in their own kingdom they look like unnaturally tall, scrawny, pallid youths; aboveground they are shadows that can physically strike people and chill them. Their courtiers are like them, but more grotesque, some of them with animal features (i.e. a guy who looks like a fox).
Politics and Religion: Depending on which character is talking, the Church is either useless or immensely powerful in the fight against black magic. Bishop Schelker is a formidable, brave, and powerful character, who tips the scales of the book itself in favor of Christianity overall. In this universe, the Church coexists comfortably with light folk magic.
Conclusions
This final installment of the Westfalin trilogy delivers the climactic battle with the denizens Under Stone that I’ve looked forward to since starting this series. I wish that the book had spent more time on that confrontation, which seems to cut off suddenly at the end.
.
Petunia is a solid main character, if not as lively as her sister Poppy. She refuses to cower before anyone, keeps a clear head, and has zero tolerance for nonsense and dishonesty.
Oliver is a likeable love interest. He’s awkward and moody and actually bears some resemblance to a real-life teenage boy. If you usually don’t like antiheroes, you might like this one—he’s really quite wholesome, selfless, and brave once you get to know him. (I still like Galen best, though).
The supporting cast is large, perhaps a bit too large. Some of them, like Grigori and Olga, seem crammed in without much depth or motivation. The Grand Duchess was a pretty good villain—and I loved how her story ties in to a throwaway scene early in book one. That’s how you do a callback!
Silver Woods is a return to the atmosphere of the first book—chilly and foreboding like the Black Forest. It effectively builds tension until , in an image that calls to mind both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the myth of Persephone. I’m not sure how much either of those stories has in common with this one, but that reference was still neat to see.
Overall, a very enjoyable book, even if the ending was rushed. It ties the trilogy up fully and neatly, and delivers the light, clean adventure, romance, and sisterhood I’ve come to expect from George. Do you like fairytales and handicrafts? Then I highly recommend this trilogy.
July 3, 2016
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
I liked the first 2 books in the series
What I thought
This wasn't as fun as the other two, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it. Because I did, but I had a few problems. First off this was more like an extension of the first book, its almost like the second book never happened. Also there was no Fairytale aspect unlike the others. The first book being a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princess and the second being a retelling of Cinderella. As for the romance it happened way to fast. The dynamic of between the the sisters was amusing though and I and I just the love the characters. Jessica Day George has a way storytelling that is just amazing. With that said,this book was entertaining with a few twist and turns that kept me interested. Overall an enjoyable read.
Why this book?
I liked the first 2 books in the series
What I thought
This wasn't as fun as the other two, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it. Because I did, but I had a few problems. First off this was more like an extension of the first book, its almost like the second book never happened. Also there was no Fairytale aspect unlike the others. The first book being a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princess and the second being a retelling of Cinderella. As for the romance it happened way to fast. The dynamic of between the the sisters was amusing though and I and I just the love the characters. Jessica Day George has a way storytelling that is just amazing. With that said,this book was entertaining with a few twist and turns that kept me interested. Overall an enjoyable read.
May 3, 2017
*desperately wants to stab something with knitting needles*
To say this book was disappointing would definitely be an understatement. It started off well enough, but I quickly lost interest after the first 50 pages. Basically, the only reason I finished it was so I could say I finished the series. (Of which I actually enjoyed the first two books.)
With that being said, there were a FEW things I liked. *cracks knuckles and begins review*
Lovely Things:
- The fairytale aspects. I really liked the way Jessica Day George retold Little Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood (both Hoods, actually *snickers*). It was definitely a unique take, with the "wolf" actually being good in this version. THUMBS UP FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
- Poppy. Just...Poppy. I loved her in the second book, and every time she popped up (*laughs at my own pun*), I found myself smiling. SHE'S THE BEST. (And frankly, one of the only well-developed characters in this book.)
- Erm...not much else? I guess the opening few scenes were fun, though. You know, when Petunia was "accidentally" kidnapped. ;)
Not So Lovely Things:
- The plot was the SAME THING. It was literally the plot from book one rehashed. Like I didn't see the point at all of this book honestly?? I mean, sure, there was a new King Under Stone--but he was basically the same character and the plot revolved around trying to defeat him...again. *facepalm*
- The characters were so underdeveloped. I liked Galen and loved Poppy from the first two books--but honestly? Petunia and Oliver were so lame. I didn't feel like they had much personality at all, and they had incredibly boring dialogue for the most part. XD Plus, they spent hardly any time together the entire book and then we're expected to like them as a couple?? NO THANKS.
- The content. I may or may not have done a double-take when I saw language in this book. The first two books did just fine without any language, but for some reason, the author decided that this book desperately needed the characters to curse. Like whaaaat? I counted seven total uses of language. And yet, the author still says "so and so cursed." So what's the point of actually using curse words in addition? I DO NOT COMPREHEND THIS. *bangs head*
- The "conflict" was resolved in such a lame way. The characters were all like "let's just do the same thing we did last time! That will totally work and not backfire like it did before." PEOPLE. GET. SOME. SENSE. And it was just such an unbelievable ending anyway that I couldn't help chuckling.
- The dialogue. Ehehe...I may or may not have almost fallen asleep a few times. These characters are so boring. Their conversations were about as interesting as staring at a potato. #unimpressed
I could go on, but I think I've been harsh enough as it is. XD (Sorry!!) This book made me want to punch a wall--preferably, punch one of the characters into a wall. I think I'll just stick with the first two books.
1.5 stars
To say this book was disappointing would definitely be an understatement. It started off well enough, but I quickly lost interest after the first 50 pages. Basically, the only reason I finished it was so I could say I finished the series. (Of which I actually enjoyed the first two books.)
With that being said, there were a FEW things I liked. *cracks knuckles and begins review*
Lovely Things:
- The fairytale aspects. I really liked the way Jessica Day George retold Little Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood (both Hoods, actually *snickers*). It was definitely a unique take, with the "wolf" actually being good in this version. THUMBS UP FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
- Poppy. Just...Poppy. I loved her in the second book, and every time she popped up (*laughs at my own pun*), I found myself smiling. SHE'S THE BEST. (And frankly, one of the only well-developed characters in this book.)
- Erm...not much else? I guess the opening few scenes were fun, though. You know, when Petunia was "accidentally" kidnapped. ;)
Not So Lovely Things:
- The plot was the SAME THING. It was literally the plot from book one rehashed. Like I didn't see the point at all of this book honestly?? I mean, sure, there was a new King Under Stone--but he was basically the same character and the plot revolved around trying to defeat him...again. *facepalm*
- The characters were so underdeveloped. I liked Galen and loved Poppy from the first two books--but honestly? Petunia and Oliver were so lame. I didn't feel like they had much personality at all, and they had incredibly boring dialogue for the most part. XD Plus, they spent hardly any time together the entire book and then we're expected to like them as a couple?? NO THANKS.
- The content. I may or may not have done a double-take when I saw language in this book. The first two books did just fine without any language, but for some reason, the author decided that this book desperately needed the characters to curse. Like whaaaat? I counted seven total uses of language. And yet, the author still says "so and so cursed." So what's the point of actually using curse words in addition? I DO NOT COMPREHEND THIS. *bangs head*
- The "conflict" was resolved in such a lame way. The characters were all like "let's just do the same thing we did last time! That will totally work and not backfire like it did before." PEOPLE. GET. SOME. SENSE. And it was just such an unbelievable ending anyway that I couldn't help chuckling.
- The dialogue. Ehehe...I may or may not have almost fallen asleep a few times. These characters are so boring. Their conversations were about as interesting as staring at a potato. #unimpressed
I could go on, but I think I've been harsh enough as it is. XD (Sorry!!) This book made me want to punch a wall--preferably, punch one of the characters into a wall. I think I'll just stick with the first two books.
1.5 stars
April 22, 2015
GASP! Look at that pretty cover!!!! And it comes out November 13th! Can't wait :)
Update April 6: Ooh, a Robin Hood twist as well! I adore Robin Hood, so this is bound the be perfect. I'm so excited, but someone please make the cover picture normal size!
Book Review: December 19th: So, I'm finally getting around to writing another book review. I haven't been reviewing too much because of so much school work, hindering from reading a lot.
Backstory:
I'm very, very, very happy that this book FINALLY came out. Princess of the Midnight Ball was probably the first book I found on Goodreads that I wanted to read when I first joined this site a few years ago, and it has become one of my all time favorite books. It's based off my favorite fairy tale (The 12 Dancing Princesses) and I fell in love with the 12 sisters and of course, Galen and Heinrich. The villian was so freakin awesome as well.
Then the sequel came out, Princess of Glass, based on Cinderella. Princess Poppy is probably my favorite narrater out of the three princesses, mainly because she's so funny and has such an unique personality. However, that book is my least favorite of the three. The sisters aren't in the book, neither is Galen, or the Under Stone Palace. All we get is that whiny brat Ella and that weak boring hero Christian.
This book:
Finally, we have come to the end with Princess of the Silver Wood. This book was almost as good as the first. It's based off of Little Red Riding Hood, a fairy tale I've recently gotten hooked onto because of the show Once upon a time. The heroine, Petunina is haunted by the Midnight Balls she went to as a child. In fact all the princesses are. They start having vivid nightmares of thier old dancing partners, who swear they will steal the princesses back to the underground palace.
Dun, Dun, DDDUUUNNN!!!
Petunia, the baby of the family, how I identify with her. Being short and the youngest of a large family is a difficult lot in life to deal with. No one listens to her, she never gets anything new because they are poor, and she doesn't have a lot of jewelry. Plus, she never get's to dance because her family doesn't want her to relive her childhood. The poor dear. And to top off her misfortune, she's been kidnapped by a hot werewolf! Woe is her!!!
Okay, not a werewolf. Just a hot Earl named Oliver. That's a nice name, Oliver. *drools*
I am picking at Petunia a bit up there. She seems to complain a lot during the duration of the book. 'Poor me, this! Poor me, that!' It was quite annoying. She does grow as a person, and somewhat starts to feel sorry for people who actually are poor, but by the time she does we get to the actiony parts of the story and character growth takes a back seat to plot. Overall, Petunia is the weakest of the three princesses who star in these books, but that's okay, becasue Rose and Poppy are actually in this book quite a bit. In fact, I would say the plot almost revolves around a combination of Rose, Galen, Lily, Heinrich, and Oliver more than Petunia.
Oliver, Oliver, Oliver. Hot. Protective. Galen clone. The almost perfect man. I don't really mind he's Galen's clone because Galen is plain awesome and I don't mind that there are two of them.
My only complaint about this book is the end, where there is the final climatic fight between the new King Under Stone and the Princesses and co. during the penultamate chapter. The action was fast and I didn't understand what was going on half the time. However, it could be because in my mind the whole time I was chanting 'Bleep can't die! Bleep better not be dead! BLEEP!!!! *SOBS*' That went on for an entire chapter. I'm not going to say who Bleep is though, I don't want to spoil it. So, I think I really just ruined that last chapter by myself.
I would say that the book is a great, fast read. Not as good as the first one, but in my opinion, it's better than the second. It's more for fans of the Princess series, because it gives us a great conclusion for the characters and we get to see them get a Happily Ever After.
Update April 6: Ooh, a Robin Hood twist as well! I adore Robin Hood, so this is bound the be perfect. I'm so excited, but someone please make the cover picture normal size!
Book Review: December 19th: So, I'm finally getting around to writing another book review. I haven't been reviewing too much because of so much school work, hindering from reading a lot.
Backstory:
I'm very, very, very happy that this book FINALLY came out. Princess of the Midnight Ball was probably the first book I found on Goodreads that I wanted to read when I first joined this site a few years ago, and it has become one of my all time favorite books. It's based off my favorite fairy tale (The 12 Dancing Princesses) and I fell in love with the 12 sisters and of course, Galen and Heinrich. The villian was so freakin awesome as well.
Then the sequel came out, Princess of Glass, based on Cinderella. Princess Poppy is probably my favorite narrater out of the three princesses, mainly because she's so funny and has such an unique personality. However, that book is my least favorite of the three. The sisters aren't in the book, neither is Galen, or the Under Stone Palace. All we get is that whiny brat Ella and that weak boring hero Christian.
This book:
Finally, we have come to the end with Princess of the Silver Wood. This book was almost as good as the first. It's based off of Little Red Riding Hood, a fairy tale I've recently gotten hooked onto because of the show Once upon a time. The heroine, Petunina is haunted by the Midnight Balls she went to as a child. In fact all the princesses are. They start having vivid nightmares of thier old dancing partners, who swear they will steal the princesses back to the underground palace.
Dun, Dun, DDDUUUNNN!!!
Petunia, the baby of the family, how I identify with her. Being short and the youngest of a large family is a difficult lot in life to deal with. No one listens to her, she never gets anything new because they are poor, and she doesn't have a lot of jewelry. Plus, she never get's to dance because her family doesn't want her to relive her childhood. The poor dear. And to top off her misfortune, she's been kidnapped by a hot werewolf! Woe is her!!!
Okay, not a werewolf. Just a hot Earl named Oliver. That's a nice name, Oliver. *drools*
I am picking at Petunia a bit up there. She seems to complain a lot during the duration of the book. 'Poor me, this! Poor me, that!' It was quite annoying. She does grow as a person, and somewhat starts to feel sorry for people who actually are poor, but by the time she does we get to the actiony parts of the story and character growth takes a back seat to plot. Overall, Petunia is the weakest of the three princesses who star in these books, but that's okay, becasue Rose and Poppy are actually in this book quite a bit. In fact, I would say the plot almost revolves around a combination of Rose, Galen, Lily, Heinrich, and Oliver more than Petunia.
Oliver, Oliver, Oliver. Hot. Protective. Galen clone. The almost perfect man. I don't really mind he's Galen's clone because Galen is plain awesome and I don't mind that there are two of them.
My only complaint about this book is the end, where there is the final climatic fight between the new King Under Stone and the Princesses and co. during the penultamate chapter. The action was fast and I didn't understand what was going on half the time. However, it could be because in my mind the whole time I was chanting 'Bleep can't die! Bleep better not be dead! BLEEP!!!! *SOBS*' That went on for an entire chapter. I'm not going to say who Bleep is though, I don't want to spoil it. So, I think I really just ruined that last chapter by myself.
I would say that the book is a great, fast read. Not as good as the first one, but in my opinion, it's better than the second. It's more for fans of the Princess series, because it gives us a great conclusion for the characters and we get to see them get a Happily Ever After.
January 23, 2016
Jessica Day George's middle grade/YA "Princess" series ends with this novel, which has just the slightest nod to "Little Red Riding Hood" (in a very offbeat sort of way), but really is more about continuing and wrapping up the story of the twelve dancing princesses from Princess of the Midnight Ball. Which was fine with me. I actually thought this was the strongest book in this series.
This isn't a good stand-alone read; you need to read at least the first book, and preferably the second as well, Princess of Glass, before opening this one, both for context and spoiler reasons.
Full review to come.
This isn't a good stand-alone read; you need to read at least the first book, and preferably the second as well, Princess of Glass, before opening this one, both for context and spoiler reasons.
Full review to come.
December 29, 2017
I abducted Princess Petunia last week. I didn’t harm her; I delivered her to the Grand Duchess Volenskaya, but now she is in terrible danger.
Many years have passed since Petunia, youngest of Westfalin's twelve princesses, was forced to dance every night for the King Under Stone. But now those powers are stirring again. Every night Petunia dreams that the Prince she always danced with comes to take her away. To get away, she travels to the estate belonging to the Grand Duchess Volenskaya - but on the way there she is abducted by a band of outlaws. And soon a line of suspicious events are unravelled.
In short; the King Under Stone is not coming soon to take Petunia and her sisters away. His people are already there.
This book is the perfect ending to this trilogy. Petunia is the perfect image of a youngest sister; beloved and a bit spoiled by her father, and with a tendency to ignore the wise words of those who are older than her. The story leans on the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale as well as the legend of Robin Hood - and, of course, the tale of the 12 Dancing Princesses. It is an exciting, fun and easy read. Which is why I cannot give it a full 5 stars; there are several things that could have been developed and made more complicated, or explored further, in order to make this an even better story. But it is still a very, very good conclusion and I'm going to miss these tales. Wouldn't mind a spin-off at all!
November 16, 2013
*SQUEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* I AM SO EXCITED! I absolutely love the first two books in the series and have been on pins and needles of excitement since finding out a third one was coming!!
MAY 2013 EDIT:
ROBIN HOOD IS IN THIS????????????? COME ON. I NEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDD TO GO HOME AND GET THIS BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY ALREADY!
July 2013 REVIEW:
Mixed feelings about this book.
Cover is as beautiful as I've come to expect from this series. Just because you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover doesn't mean you can't enjoy that cover.
I like the characters. Petunia us really gutsy and awesome and Oliver falls more towards being Galen-like then Christian-like so that's good. I liked more of Galen and Heinrich, especially because Heinrich hasn't had much of a role to play in previous books despite being an important character. I can't remember how old Poppy was in her book, but it rather seems like a long engagement between her and Christian. Didn't particularly find Christian that noteworthy in the second book, however I felt like his character and the other husbands outside of Galen and Heinrich sort of get conveniently set aside.
I was disappointed in the other princesses. Even Rose. Lily is supposed to be one of the "brave" sisters, but she bawls and moans and generally seems rather pathetic throughout most of the book. Rose, who I totally loved in Twelve Dancing Princesses is composed but nothing more. Except near the end when she gets shot, that was kind of cool. But mostly she's...one-dimensional. All the sisters are. Poppy is "snappy"...but because Petunia is supposed to be spunky their characters seem to have little variation except that Poppy likes horses and Petunia doesn't and Petunia is the main character so we get more of her. It was clever bringing back the "villains" from the first book, tying that all in, and I enjoyed the banter between Petunia and her would-be husband. However, it overall felt more like a watered down version of Twelve Dancing Princesses. Petunia even alludes to that when she's like "Galen will save the day and we'll all go home again."
Seriously, it's almost to obvious to have to explain. Oliver is a poor young man who should have no pretension towards a princess (like Galen), he meets her once and falls for her after three meetings(as pointed out by that former soldier himself...exactly like Galen), because of this sudden passion and love for a girl he barely knows (but oh, she's so spunky!......okay) he's willing to risk death, his relationship with Petunia is not appreciated by her Father (the King didn't exactly accept Galen with open arms), and Petunia herself is almost a combination of Rose and Poppy. I *do* like that her character was made unique because she wasn't unhappy dancing. Portraying her as the 6-year-old who knew no other life....that was good. However, outside of that and a half-hearted crush on a dude you're supposed to get is older than her? (how old was Gregori supposed to be? That was just random) and a general sense of gullibility we have a clone of Rose's calm and maturity and Poppy's spice. While I liked Petunia's character, I liked what was trying to be done with her, it also felt...thin. It was potential not entirely resolved.
Going back again to the whole Oliver-a-clone-of-Galen thing, the problem with Christian was that he was a likable dude who didn't really hold a candle to Galen. But he at least was distinct. In making Oliver in a sort of pseudo-Galen you risk comparison, and Oliver doesn't come the better for the comparison. Does he knit? Has he seen the war and returned a man the wiser for it? Has he manners and sweetness? No, no, and not like Galen. Galen himself, though, in this book isn't up to his full potential. He's sort of a dork. Maybe it's because he's supposed to be older. But ten years have passed and he's crown-prince and he just sort of sits around....knitting and studying magic. It felt like something was missing.
The plot itself was good but again, mirrored the first book in the series.
It was better than the sequel in this series, yet not topping the first book. It was interesting and fun....but fluff. A little disappointing.
The biggest problem I had with this book though was that...
THE KNITTING PATTERNS IN THE BACK WERE KIND OF LAME. So yeah, I don't really know anyone who would want to knit chain-links that Galen used to seal them in (as the pattern is in the first book) but at least they were relevant to the story! Knitting really did not play that huge of a part in this book. It wasn't that remarkable. And so the reader gets...finger-less gloves and a baby blanket. Neither of those were that important to the story and the patterns themselves are sort of...non-unique. It's not that hard to find a baby blanket pattern. Or finger-less gloves. Rose's shall, that was cool. It tied in with the plot. Poppy's patterns were so fun and key parts of the story. The patterns from this book feel more like afterthoughts. It almost would have been just as relevant to include a pattern for the knitted magic garters the girls wear!
A disappointment...and a yet a good book. I was excited to find "Robin Hood" but once again it was a plot element verging on something great that sort of was...so so. Lots of almost there that never fully becomes...perfect.
MAY 2013 EDIT:
ROBIN HOOD IS IN THIS????????????? COME ON. I NEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDD TO GO HOME AND GET THIS BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY ALREADY!
July 2013 REVIEW:
Mixed feelings about this book.
Cover is as beautiful as I've come to expect from this series. Just because you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover doesn't mean you can't enjoy that cover.
I like the characters. Petunia us really gutsy and awesome and Oliver falls more towards being Galen-like then Christian-like so that's good. I liked more of Galen and Heinrich, especially because Heinrich hasn't had much of a role to play in previous books despite being an important character. I can't remember how old Poppy was in her book, but it rather seems like a long engagement between her and Christian. Didn't particularly find Christian that noteworthy in the second book, however I felt like his character and the other husbands outside of Galen and Heinrich sort of get conveniently set aside.
I was disappointed in the other princesses. Even Rose. Lily is supposed to be one of the "brave" sisters, but she bawls and moans and generally seems rather pathetic throughout most of the book. Rose, who I totally loved in Twelve Dancing Princesses is composed but nothing more. Except near the end when she gets shot, that was kind of cool. But mostly she's...one-dimensional. All the sisters are. Poppy is "snappy"...but because Petunia is supposed to be spunky their characters seem to have little variation except that Poppy likes horses and Petunia doesn't and Petunia is the main character so we get more of her. It was clever bringing back the "villains" from the first book, tying that all in, and I enjoyed the banter between Petunia and her would-be husband. However, it overall felt more like a watered down version of Twelve Dancing Princesses. Petunia even alludes to that when she's like "Galen will save the day and we'll all go home again."
Seriously, it's almost to obvious to have to explain. Oliver is a poor young man who should have no pretension towards a princess (like Galen), he meets her once and falls for her after three meetings(as pointed out by that former soldier himself...exactly like Galen), because of this sudden passion and love for a girl he barely knows (but oh, she's so spunky!......okay) he's willing to risk death, his relationship with Petunia is not appreciated by her Father (the King didn't exactly accept Galen with open arms), and Petunia herself is almost a combination of Rose and Poppy. I *do* like that her character was made unique because she wasn't unhappy dancing. Portraying her as the 6-year-old who knew no other life....that was good. However, outside of that and a half-hearted crush on a dude you're supposed to get is older than her? (how old was Gregori supposed to be? That was just random) and a general sense of gullibility we have a clone of Rose's calm and maturity and Poppy's spice. While I liked Petunia's character, I liked what was trying to be done with her, it also felt...thin. It was potential not entirely resolved.
Going back again to the whole Oliver-a-clone-of-Galen thing, the problem with Christian was that he was a likable dude who didn't really hold a candle to Galen. But he at least was distinct. In making Oliver in a sort of pseudo-Galen you risk comparison, and Oliver doesn't come the better for the comparison. Does he knit? Has he seen the war and returned a man the wiser for it? Has he manners and sweetness? No, no, and not like Galen. Galen himself, though, in this book isn't up to his full potential. He's sort of a dork. Maybe it's because he's supposed to be older. But ten years have passed and he's crown-prince and he just sort of sits around....knitting and studying magic. It felt like something was missing.
The plot itself was good but again, mirrored the first book in the series.
It was better than the sequel in this series, yet not topping the first book. It was interesting and fun....but fluff. A little disappointing.
The biggest problem I had with this book though was that...
THE KNITTING PATTERNS IN THE BACK WERE KIND OF LAME. So yeah, I don't really know anyone who would want to knit chain-links that Galen used to seal them in (as the pattern is in the first book) but at least they were relevant to the story! Knitting really did not play that huge of a part in this book. It wasn't that remarkable. And so the reader gets...finger-less gloves and a baby blanket. Neither of those were that important to the story and the patterns themselves are sort of...non-unique. It's not that hard to find a baby blanket pattern. Or finger-less gloves. Rose's shall, that was cool. It tied in with the plot. Poppy's patterns were so fun and key parts of the story. The patterns from this book feel more like afterthoughts. It almost would have been just as relevant to include a pattern for the knitted magic garters the girls wear!
A disappointment...and a yet a good book. I was excited to find "Robin Hood" but once again it was a plot element verging on something great that sort of was...so so. Lots of almost there that never fully becomes...perfect.
January 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this series and have been looking forward to this final book for a long time. This story follows Petunia, the youngest of the dancing princesses. I liked Petunia, she was pretty feisty. Her older sisters tend to baby her and she is tired of being babies and overlooked. She really comes into her own in this one. Our hero in this book, Oliver, was likable. I think I liked Galen and Christian a bit more, but he still had his own charm. I guess he came across a little young to me. While I enjoyed the book, I think I liked the first two a bit more. The plot seemed a little too similar to the first book and it did get a little confusing with so many characters (all twelve princesses, some of their husbands, and the remaining evil princes and a handful of other side characters). It moved along nicely though and kept me turning the pages.
There were a few plot points that didn’t make sense to me.
Overall, a fun series and one I look forward to sharing with my little girl when she is old enough to enjoy it.
Content: Clean, a couple mild swearwords.
There were a few plot points that didn’t make sense to me.
Overall, a fun series and one I look forward to sharing with my little girl when she is old enough to enjoy it.
Content: Clean, a couple mild swearwords.
March 21, 2023
In my mind, this is the sequel to book 1. Kudos to the author, JDG, for making the characters come alive and lovable. I enjoyed having all 12 sisters on centre stage again like it was in the first book. They banded together, and in perfect solidarity they defeated the king of the underworld and his cohorts.
It was fast paced and highly entertaining. I loved it very much. 4 stars.
It was fast paced and highly entertaining. I loved it very much. 4 stars.
March 1, 2021
This adaptation really is quite excellent with strong, well-developed characters and a unique, original plot. I haven’t read the first two volumes in this trilogy, but this novel reads fine as a standalone, which is also impressive. There are plenty of curses, mysterious shadows, magic, and even a wolf or two. You won’t need breadcrumbs for this trip into the woods but a pistol and some silver bullets will certainly be useful.
November 13, 2012
*****FINAL RATING: 4.65 STARS*****
CATCHALL
I love, love, love Jessica Day George. Her entire Princess trilogy has been fantastic, and this book was no exception. It was romantic and sweet but also a bit daring and dangerous, and overall fabulous. Though I didn't love this one as much as the previous two and it is my least favorite book in the trilogy, I still absolutely loved it. It was a fantastic conclusion and it excited me to my very bones. Every danger was very real, and the mystery was intense. I fell in love with the story and didn't want it to end.
THE HEROINE
PETUNIA
Petunia is again, probably my least favorite of the three princesses featured in this series, but I still adored her. She was brave, and although she could be impulsive and a bit dense, she still was fun to be around. She was far from perfect, although I still had a difficult time connecting to her for whatever reason. She wasn't entirely relatable. Even so, she never whined, which was a relief. There wasn't one defining thing about her that I disliked, and overall she was a well-developed character.
THE LOVE INTEREST
OLIVER
Oliver is introduced as somewhat of a bandit. Cheated by the war with Analousia, his land has been taken away and in order to feed his people and survive, he's had to steal and trespass. Even so, he's far from bad-hearted. He only does this for survival. He's angry, but he still doesn't take hard vengeance where he could, not when he knows it's better not to. And he's fiercely loyal. He'll do anything for Petunia, take any risk, if it means keeping her safe. He puts others before himself no matter what.
THE PLOT
Oh my, the plot. Fantastic, of course. When I first read about it, I feared that it might be too similar to the others. I could not be more pleased to be wrong. It was definitely a unique tale in its own right and a pleasure to read. I loved the fairytale aspect and the way it was woven into the story, all while remaining true to itself.
It's a retelling of Red Riding Hood, but there were some other fantastic things mixed in. The King Under Stone is back, and he'll do anything to get Rose and his sisters trapped in his realm. There's an elderly grandmother whose plans may not be all innocence, and a handsome prince who might only be in this for his own gain. There are also wolves, but they may not be the enemy.
There was mystery, which was awesome. Gotta love mystery. You don't really know who is on what side until the end, or where everything is going.
There are appearances by several older and much-loved characters who end up having surprisingly major roles. Everyone is important in this story.
More than that, though, is that there is tragedy, and that's what really opened up this book for me. I cried. I cried my eyes out. For while there was happiness and love, there was also great sacrifice. And that sacrifice broke my heart. I love that it wasn't all simple, and that there was pain.
THE ROMANCE
So, the romance. Eee! Well, to be honest, it was a tad instalovey. Even so, it wasn't horribly instalovey and I did like it. For the longest time I had a difficult time seeing what they loved about each other, but eventually it really did become apparent. It wasn't perfect, but it could have been worse. I also think that a different path in the romance might have been interesting, but it was barely explored. Even so, I do like Oliver and Petunia together. I like the bond they share. We also get glimpses at the other princess' romances and I adored that too.
THE WRITING
Jess' writing is fantastic. It really is. It uses alternate POV from Petunia and Oliver. It's third person, and yet we still get very deep insights into the person. It's awesome being inside their heads and amazing how she manages to give each character such a unique voice. I could always tell who was speaking. Also, the description was marvelous. I love the way she describes the different worlds and places. It's like they literally come to life, real places that truly exist.
THE ENDING
The ending was marvelous. For the longest I was worried, wondering how she was going to make it into a happy ending. There as so much trouble and drama that it seemed like things could never be resolved. But of course, they were! There was happy fairy tale magic that thrilled me and was absolutely perfect. There was so much sweetness and happiness I thought that I would burst (in a good way!). There were other characters too who finally get their own happy endings, and it was basically just perfection.
WRAPUP
So, did I absolutely love Princess of the Silver Woods? Um, heck yes! I'll definitely be rereading it in the future, as well as whatever Jessica decides to publish. I am totally a fan for life. I also wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a sweet, cute fantastical romance with a bit of mystery and a dash of magic, making it fun and gorgeous. It is a truly enjoyable read that I think will find its way into many reader's hearts. I absolutely adored it, and I think if you give it a try you will, too. You can also read any of these three books without reading the others, but it's preferable to read all three!
FINE.
Find more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!
CATCHALL
I love, love, love Jessica Day George. Her entire Princess trilogy has been fantastic, and this book was no exception. It was romantic and sweet but also a bit daring and dangerous, and overall fabulous. Though I didn't love this one as much as the previous two and it is my least favorite book in the trilogy, I still absolutely loved it. It was a fantastic conclusion and it excited me to my very bones. Every danger was very real, and the mystery was intense. I fell in love with the story and didn't want it to end.
THE HEROINE
PETUNIA
Petunia is again, probably my least favorite of the three princesses featured in this series, but I still adored her. She was brave, and although she could be impulsive and a bit dense, she still was fun to be around. She was far from perfect, although I still had a difficult time connecting to her for whatever reason. She wasn't entirely relatable. Even so, she never whined, which was a relief. There wasn't one defining thing about her that I disliked, and overall she was a well-developed character.
THE LOVE INTEREST
OLIVER
Oliver is introduced as somewhat of a bandit. Cheated by the war with Analousia, his land has been taken away and in order to feed his people and survive, he's had to steal and trespass. Even so, he's far from bad-hearted. He only does this for survival. He's angry, but he still doesn't take hard vengeance where he could, not when he knows it's better not to. And he's fiercely loyal. He'll do anything for Petunia, take any risk, if it means keeping her safe. He puts others before himself no matter what.
THE PLOT
Oh my, the plot. Fantastic, of course. When I first read about it, I feared that it might be too similar to the others. I could not be more pleased to be wrong. It was definitely a unique tale in its own right and a pleasure to read. I loved the fairytale aspect and the way it was woven into the story, all while remaining true to itself.
It's a retelling of Red Riding Hood, but there were some other fantastic things mixed in. The King Under Stone is back, and he'll do anything to get Rose and his sisters trapped in his realm. There's an elderly grandmother whose plans may not be all innocence, and a handsome prince who might only be in this for his own gain. There are also wolves, but they may not be the enemy.
There was mystery, which was awesome. Gotta love mystery. You don't really know who is on what side until the end, or where everything is going.
There are appearances by several older and much-loved characters who end up having surprisingly major roles. Everyone is important in this story.
More than that, though, is that there is tragedy, and that's what really opened up this book for me. I cried. I cried my eyes out. For while there was happiness and love, there was also great sacrifice. And that sacrifice broke my heart. I love that it wasn't all simple, and that there was pain.
THE ROMANCE
So, the romance. Eee! Well, to be honest, it was a tad instalovey. Even so, it wasn't horribly instalovey and I did like it. For the longest time I had a difficult time seeing what they loved about each other, but eventually it really did become apparent. It wasn't perfect, but it could have been worse. I also think that a different path in the romance might have been interesting, but it was barely explored. Even so, I do like Oliver and Petunia together. I like the bond they share. We also get glimpses at the other princess' romances and I adored that too.
THE WRITING
Jess' writing is fantastic. It really is. It uses alternate POV from Petunia and Oliver. It's third person, and yet we still get very deep insights into the person. It's awesome being inside their heads and amazing how she manages to give each character such a unique voice. I could always tell who was speaking. Also, the description was marvelous. I love the way she describes the different worlds and places. It's like they literally come to life, real places that truly exist.
THE ENDING
The ending was marvelous. For the longest I was worried, wondering how she was going to make it into a happy ending. There as so much trouble and drama that it seemed like things could never be resolved. But of course, they were! There was happy fairy tale magic that thrilled me and was absolutely perfect. There was so much sweetness and happiness I thought that I would burst (in a good way!). There were other characters too who finally get their own happy endings, and it was basically just perfection.
WRAPUP
So, did I absolutely love Princess of the Silver Woods? Um, heck yes! I'll definitely be rereading it in the future, as well as whatever Jessica decides to publish. I am totally a fan for life. I also wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a sweet, cute fantastical romance with a bit of mystery and a dash of magic, making it fun and gorgeous. It is a truly enjoyable read that I think will find its way into many reader's hearts. I absolutely adored it, and I think if you give it a try you will, too. You can also read any of these three books without reading the others, but it's preferable to read all three!
FINE.
Find more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!
December 8, 2012
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
The twelve princesses of Westfalin are back in Princess of the Silver Woods - and out to face the bitter enemies of their childhood once again, once and for all. Petunia is the youngest of all twelve princesses, and has always been treated as the little girl, the baby, the child that needs protecting and coddling. But Pet is anything but a hapless little girl - now sixteen years old, though small in stature, the youngest princess of Westfalin has enough gumption and courage to measure up to her brassiest older sisters. When she travels to visit the Russaka Grand Duchess Volenskaya at her country estate, Petunia's coach is held up by the much afeared Wolves of the Westfalian Woods. Abducted and taken in by the Wolves' leader, Petunia learns much about the bandits feared throughout the kingdom - they are actually a ragtag group of men, following the displaced teenage Earl Oliver Saxeborg-Rohlstein, whose lands were lost following the Analousian war. In order to feed his people and keep them safe, Oliver has taken to stealing from well-to-do coaches traveling the woods - in other words, stealing from the rich to feed the poor. His mother, a former lady-in-waiting (and fellow Britton) to the late Queen, insists that Oliver safely escort Petunia on her way to the Duchess Volenskaya's home, which he grudgingly does. Not all is well at the Duchess's home, however, as Oliver sees mysterious shadowy figures roaming the estate grounds at night, attacking Petunia's room.
Determined to help the princess, and finally deciding to take his Earldom back no matter what the consequences, Oliver travels to the palace and informs the king that he is the leader of the Wolves, guilty of robbery and abducting her royal highness - but also warns that some evil is befalling the King's youngest daughter.
And, as it turns out, that evil affects every last one of the Princesses of Westfalin. Nightmares haunt the sisters, in which they are forced to dance all night, every night with their shadowy suitors, the sons of the King Under Stone. Even though Rose and Galen defeated the first King Under Stone and sealed his realm, the new King and his brothers are finding ways to escape their prison. It is up to the unlikely Petunia, her new friend Oliver, and all the friends that the princesses have made over the years to escape the Under Stone realm once and for all.
The third and final book in the trilogy, Princess of the Silver Woods takes the Westfalian sisters back to where it all began and makes the girls confront the realm of Under Stone for one last showdown. Using the familiar elements of Red Riding Hood (sort of) and Robin Hood (sort of), this ultimate installment follows an unlikely pair in the young Petunia and her love interest Oliver. While I like the air of finality to this book, Princess of the Silver Woods is decidedly my least favorite of the trilogy - in part because of its insta-love-y lead pair, in part because it negates the purpose of the entire second book, in part because the story, while engaging, still feels somewhat sanitized and safe.
On a character front, Petunia is my least favorite of the series heroines, though not really through any fault of her own. She's brave and kind-hearted, she stands up for herself and feels like a believable youngest sister that is sick and tired of being coddled. That said, Petunia is also irritatingly cliched, from her slightly petulant attitude to her dainty little body and extreme beauty. Seriously, Oliver sniffs her a couple of times (in complete stalker fashion, I might add) and comments on Petunia smelling of cinnamon and roses - because that is just how she smells. Oookay. Of course, the fact that Petunia is so adorable and irresistible is hardly her fault - but her personality also comes across as somewhat thin and predictable. She doesn't question the strange things that happen around her, nor does she put together the pieces of the mystery of who is working with King Under Stone until the villains unveil themselves to her. Oliver is a more palatable character - although the love that blossoms between him and Petunia is ridiculously trite, I like that Oliver at least admits to himself (and to the King) that his motivation for finally attempting to regain his Earldom and turning himself in is not wholly because of Petunia; instead, his motivation is the fact that he's finally old enough and ready to take responsibility for his life. Which is refreshing. That said, Oliver displays some of my least favorite traits in a hero on occasion, too - sneaking into Petunia's room, hiding under her bed, gingerly planting a kiss on her cinnamon and rose scented hair while she's asleep (and they are still strangers at this point, having only seen each other twice).
From a story perspective, things are a little better. I love that things come full circle quite nicely in this final book, with the girls having to face their greatest fears once again (having not fully defeated Under Stone the first time around). The only regret I have is that the fact that this book goes back to the realm of Under Stone basically negates the entire relevance of the second book in this trilogy! Poppy is a strong presence here, but her husband-to-be Christian is absent for the entire novel. There's no further mention of the Corley, of any of the actions or characters from the second book. It's puzzling, and perhaps all the more glaring as I just finished reading Princess of Glass a few days before Princess of the Silver Woods. Also mystifying was the lack of fairy tale integration in this third book - whereas Princess of the Midnight Ball was a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses, whereas Princess of Glass is a fantastic twist on Cinderella, Princess of the Silver Woods is...not. It continues in the same world as the Twelve Dancing Princesses, it has a dash of Robin Hood (in that Oliver steals from the rich to feed his people), I guess one could say it has a touch of Red Riding Hood (in that Pet wears a red cloak...and Oliver wears a wolf mask...), but the tie is tenuous indeed. The more interesting fairy tale here, to me, was the story of the Nine Daughters of Russaka - nine sisters locked in a tower by their father the King, who each give birth to sons on the same night after being seduced by the same sorcerer. (Guess who? Yeah, it's obvious, right? Not to Petunia though.) Needless to say, I wasn't quite convinced by the fairy tale-ish aspect to this book, though I must give Jessica Day George credit because her writing is as beautifully even handed and wonderful as ever. Even with the more frustrating aspects of the characters and plot - namely the lack of any true danger or intensity facing these beautiful, resourceful princesses and suitors - Princess of the Silver Woods is a well-spun, engaging tale.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and the trilogy overall - but I wanted to love it. I have yet to discover that truly amazing, knock-your-socks-off, love-it Jessica Day George book, but I'm determined to give her another shot.
The twelve princesses of Westfalin are back in Princess of the Silver Woods - and out to face the bitter enemies of their childhood once again, once and for all. Petunia is the youngest of all twelve princesses, and has always been treated as the little girl, the baby, the child that needs protecting and coddling. But Pet is anything but a hapless little girl - now sixteen years old, though small in stature, the youngest princess of Westfalin has enough gumption and courage to measure up to her brassiest older sisters. When she travels to visit the Russaka Grand Duchess Volenskaya at her country estate, Petunia's coach is held up by the much afeared Wolves of the Westfalian Woods. Abducted and taken in by the Wolves' leader, Petunia learns much about the bandits feared throughout the kingdom - they are actually a ragtag group of men, following the displaced teenage Earl Oliver Saxeborg-Rohlstein, whose lands were lost following the Analousian war. In order to feed his people and keep them safe, Oliver has taken to stealing from well-to-do coaches traveling the woods - in other words, stealing from the rich to feed the poor. His mother, a former lady-in-waiting (and fellow Britton) to the late Queen, insists that Oliver safely escort Petunia on her way to the Duchess Volenskaya's home, which he grudgingly does. Not all is well at the Duchess's home, however, as Oliver sees mysterious shadowy figures roaming the estate grounds at night, attacking Petunia's room.
Determined to help the princess, and finally deciding to take his Earldom back no matter what the consequences, Oliver travels to the palace and informs the king that he is the leader of the Wolves, guilty of robbery and abducting her royal highness - but also warns that some evil is befalling the King's youngest daughter.
And, as it turns out, that evil affects every last one of the Princesses of Westfalin. Nightmares haunt the sisters, in which they are forced to dance all night, every night with their shadowy suitors, the sons of the King Under Stone. Even though Rose and Galen defeated the first King Under Stone and sealed his realm, the new King and his brothers are finding ways to escape their prison. It is up to the unlikely Petunia, her new friend Oliver, and all the friends that the princesses have made over the years to escape the Under Stone realm once and for all.
The third and final book in the trilogy, Princess of the Silver Woods takes the Westfalian sisters back to where it all began and makes the girls confront the realm of Under Stone for one last showdown. Using the familiar elements of Red Riding Hood (sort of) and Robin Hood (sort of), this ultimate installment follows an unlikely pair in the young Petunia and her love interest Oliver. While I like the air of finality to this book, Princess of the Silver Woods is decidedly my least favorite of the trilogy - in part because of its insta-love-y lead pair, in part because it negates the purpose of the entire second book, in part because the story, while engaging, still feels somewhat sanitized and safe.
On a character front, Petunia is my least favorite of the series heroines, though not really through any fault of her own. She's brave and kind-hearted, she stands up for herself and feels like a believable youngest sister that is sick and tired of being coddled. That said, Petunia is also irritatingly cliched, from her slightly petulant attitude to her dainty little body and extreme beauty. Seriously, Oliver sniffs her a couple of times (in complete stalker fashion, I might add) and comments on Petunia smelling of cinnamon and roses - because that is just how she smells. Oookay. Of course, the fact that Petunia is so adorable and irresistible is hardly her fault - but her personality also comes across as somewhat thin and predictable. She doesn't question the strange things that happen around her, nor does she put together the pieces of the mystery of who is working with King Under Stone until the villains unveil themselves to her. Oliver is a more palatable character - although the love that blossoms between him and Petunia is ridiculously trite, I like that Oliver at least admits to himself (and to the King) that his motivation for finally attempting to regain his Earldom and turning himself in is not wholly because of Petunia; instead, his motivation is the fact that he's finally old enough and ready to take responsibility for his life. Which is refreshing. That said, Oliver displays some of my least favorite traits in a hero on occasion, too - sneaking into Petunia's room, hiding under her bed, gingerly planting a kiss on her cinnamon and rose scented hair while she's asleep (and they are still strangers at this point, having only seen each other twice).
From a story perspective, things are a little better. I love that things come full circle quite nicely in this final book, with the girls having to face their greatest fears once again (having not fully defeated Under Stone the first time around). The only regret I have is that the fact that this book goes back to the realm of Under Stone basically negates the entire relevance of the second book in this trilogy! Poppy is a strong presence here, but her husband-to-be Christian is absent for the entire novel. There's no further mention of the Corley, of any of the actions or characters from the second book. It's puzzling, and perhaps all the more glaring as I just finished reading Princess of Glass a few days before Princess of the Silver Woods. Also mystifying was the lack of fairy tale integration in this third book - whereas Princess of the Midnight Ball was a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses, whereas Princess of Glass is a fantastic twist on Cinderella, Princess of the Silver Woods is...not. It continues in the same world as the Twelve Dancing Princesses, it has a dash of Robin Hood (in that Oliver steals from the rich to feed his people), I guess one could say it has a touch of Red Riding Hood (in that Pet wears a red cloak...and Oliver wears a wolf mask...), but the tie is tenuous indeed. The more interesting fairy tale here, to me, was the story of the Nine Daughters of Russaka - nine sisters locked in a tower by their father the King, who each give birth to sons on the same night after being seduced by the same sorcerer. (Guess who? Yeah, it's obvious, right? Not to Petunia though.) Needless to say, I wasn't quite convinced by the fairy tale-ish aspect to this book, though I must give Jessica Day George credit because her writing is as beautifully even handed and wonderful as ever. Even with the more frustrating aspects of the characters and plot - namely the lack of any true danger or intensity facing these beautiful, resourceful princesses and suitors - Princess of the Silver Woods is a well-spun, engaging tale.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and the trilogy overall - but I wanted to love it. I have yet to discover that truly amazing, knock-your-socks-off, love-it Jessica Day George book, but I'm determined to give her another shot.
October 23, 2022
*Galin still being the hero of the series*
November 19, 2012
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
This is a review for the third and final novel in the series about Twelve Dancing Princesses, but what I say here about Princess of the Silver Woods holds true for all of the books. I so wanted to love these - I had heard great things and excitedly requested this as an ARC, even without reading the first two. Sadly, I was confused, bored, uninvolved from the very start, so I DNF'd 50 pages in. A week or so later, the first two went on sale for ebooks for less than $2 each. I thought I would give it another try - this time with the benefit of reading the series in order. I read the first two... and it wasn't pretty. They aren't the worst books I've ever read, but I am hard-pressed to remember a series as lackluster and unengaging as this was for me.
Each novel tackles a different fairytale, and occasionally Day George would create a new twist or idea that worked well for her books. I liked the spin on Red Riding Hood meets Robin Hood, but it's hard to recall a lot about these novels. What didn't work well, ever, were her characters. Galen, Rose, Poppy, Christian, and here in book three, Petunia and Oliver all come across as wooden and flat for the duration. Their actions are contrived, their dialogue laughable or vague, their magic and abilities too convenient or too unexplained.I wanted to like them, but their trials, tribulations and eventual coupledom were all too expected and very predictable.
Also working against the books is the worldbuilding. Or rather, the lack of any substantial effort to create a real, vibrant setting for these characters to operate upon. The thinly veiled countries that represent a more magical Europe (Breton = Britain, Spania = Spain, Russaka = Russia, so on and so forth) left a lot to be desired in terms of backdrop. It's all too simple and easy across the board - the relationships, the magic, the world itself. I wanted more from Jessica Day George, and what is provided leaves a lot to be desired.At several points in each novel, I would think that these books and characters came across as much more MG than YA in tone and characterization.
This series is too simple and predictable to be memorable. I read all three in a four day span, and I doubt I will remember anything about any of them in a week's time. All in all: third verse, same as the first. Too simple, too easy, too predictable, too short to pack a punch. The magic is too vague, or too silly (the whole knitting aspect just makes me laugh, every time), and once again, none of the characters really stood out as remarkable, or even really three-dimensional. This series is just not for me, though I can see why others are drawn to it and enjoy it.
This is a review for the third and final novel in the series about Twelve Dancing Princesses, but what I say here about Princess of the Silver Woods holds true for all of the books. I so wanted to love these - I had heard great things and excitedly requested this as an ARC, even without reading the first two. Sadly, I was confused, bored, uninvolved from the very start, so I DNF'd 50 pages in. A week or so later, the first two went on sale for ebooks for less than $2 each. I thought I would give it another try - this time with the benefit of reading the series in order. I read the first two... and it wasn't pretty. They aren't the worst books I've ever read, but I am hard-pressed to remember a series as lackluster and unengaging as this was for me.
Each novel tackles a different fairytale, and occasionally Day George would create a new twist or idea that worked well for her books. I liked the spin on Red Riding Hood meets Robin Hood, but it's hard to recall a lot about these novels. What didn't work well, ever, were her characters. Galen, Rose, Poppy, Christian, and here in book three, Petunia and Oliver all come across as wooden and flat for the duration. Their actions are contrived, their dialogue laughable or vague, their magic and abilities too convenient or too unexplained.I wanted to like them, but their trials, tribulations and eventual coupledom were all too expected and very predictable.
Also working against the books is the worldbuilding. Or rather, the lack of any substantial effort to create a real, vibrant setting for these characters to operate upon. The thinly veiled countries that represent a more magical Europe (Breton = Britain, Spania = Spain, Russaka = Russia, so on and so forth) left a lot to be desired in terms of backdrop. It's all too simple and easy across the board - the relationships, the magic, the world itself. I wanted more from Jessica Day George, and what is provided leaves a lot to be desired.At several points in each novel, I would think that these books and characters came across as much more MG than YA in tone and characterization.
This series is too simple and predictable to be memorable. I read all three in a four day span, and I doubt I will remember anything about any of them in a week's time. All in all: third verse, same as the first. Too simple, too easy, too predictable, too short to pack a punch. The magic is too vague, or too silly (the whole knitting aspect just makes me laugh, every time), and once again, none of the characters really stood out as remarkable, or even really three-dimensional. This series is just not for me, though I can see why others are drawn to it and enjoy it.
December 12, 2012
I love princess fairy tale stories they always leave me happy and enchanted. This story was a lot of fun to read and speculate on how it was all going to work out in the end. I loved how Mrs. George interweaves Little Red Riding Hood's story with that of Robin Hood. She takes the familiar tale and puts an original twist too it. I thought it was very creative and interesting.
We find ourselves with Petunia who is the youngest of the King's twelve daughter's. She is on her way to visit an old family friend when her coach is waylaid by robbers/two legged wolves. I liked the wolves! (sorry don't want to spoil it for you can't say anymore about them). One thing leads to another and the next thing Petunia knows, she is being abducted by Oliver. I really liked Oliver he is sweet, courageous, thoughtful, and flawed. Petunia is pretty courageous too, sweet, and kind. Once Oliver realizes his mistake he agrees to help her get to her destination which is the Grand Duchess Volenskaya's estate. The adventures continue from here. Petunia's dreams become more and more frightening and insightful. The Grand Duchess and her estate is not all that it seems to be,danger is emanate.
This was such a fun and quick read. All the loose ends are tied up nicely with the King of the Under Stone. We also get to visit with some of our favorite characters from the first two books. I really enjoy it when authors let you revisit previous characters. I love Mrs. Georges writing it flows beautifully and what feels like effortlessly. Would recommend it to anyone young or old who loves a good fairy tale.
We find ourselves with Petunia who is the youngest of the King's twelve daughter's. She is on her way to visit an old family friend when her coach is waylaid by robbers/two legged wolves. I liked the wolves! (sorry don't want to spoil it for you can't say anymore about them). One thing leads to another and the next thing Petunia knows, she is being abducted by Oliver. I really liked Oliver he is sweet, courageous, thoughtful, and flawed. Petunia is pretty courageous too, sweet, and kind. Once Oliver realizes his mistake he agrees to help her get to her destination which is the Grand Duchess Volenskaya's estate. The adventures continue from here. Petunia's dreams become more and more frightening and insightful. The Grand Duchess and her estate is not all that it seems to be,danger is emanate.
This was such a fun and quick read. All the loose ends are tied up nicely with the King of the Under Stone. We also get to visit with some of our favorite characters from the first two books. I really enjoy it when authors let you revisit previous characters. I love Mrs. Georges writing it flows beautifully and what feels like effortlessly. Would recommend it to anyone young or old who loves a good fairy tale.
April 15, 2018
The story was really good but I just think the world and the characters of this series don't intrigue me enough for me to care.
January 27, 2019
This book is like drinking a vanilla latte after years of nothing but pure black coffee. So light! So sugary! ...and I think I'm starting to feel a little sick to my stomach. It's not a bad book, I guess, although similar enough to the first one (which I liked, almost ten years ago) that one wonders if it's really necessary, but I'm way over the instalove and spunky 16 year old heroine who falls for ridiculously transparent traps.
Meh.
Meh.
December 19, 2012
Excited!!
IT'S HERE!!
Now that's what I call quality shipping....
It's so pretty. And, holla! It's longer than the other two.
*Edit*
3.5 stars.
I liked it a lot. Not as much as Princess of the Midnight Ball but more so than Princess of Glass.
Red Riding Hood, Robin Hood, AND The Twelve Dancing Princesses?! EEP.
Cover: They match! They match!! *does dance of joy* They are so pretty....
Story: I was slightly confused at times. It was choppy and there were too many things being thrown at you at once.
Characters:
Petunia: I must say I rather loved her. She was smart. Brave. Not nearly as sassy as Poppy. *boo* She carries a pistol and matches with her wherever she goes. Good friends with awesome brothers-in-law, Galen and Heinrich. (I'm sorry, who wouldn't love those two?) She is willing to sacrifice a lot for family and those she cares about.
I really found one aspect of her character fascinating. The fact that she was so little when she was cursed. That was all she'd ever known. Dancing and dancing every night. Her sisters being slowly torn apart by the curse. But Pet was so small. That was her life. When the curse was broken, she didn't shun dancing. She didn't quite understand what had happened nor what was going on. So she ended up, I felt, quite different from her sisters.
Oliver: You didn't quite live up to Galen standards but close. Close.
Oliver is an earl. Or was. Before the war and the witchcraft accusations being thrown around and his earldom getting ripped away and handed off to others.
He is a Wolf of the Wolves of Westfalin Woods. (bwah hah hah) And, while robbing (ROBIN HOOD, BABY!!) Petunia's carriage, he has a pistol aimed at his head. What a way to meet your future love interest. She's petite and has a pistol she isn't afraid to use. He should be scared. Well, shenanigans ensue and he ends up abducting her. And taking her home to meet Mother.
Mother: Oliver, darling. You poor sweet thing. Be a good boy and escort her to where she was going originally.
Oliver: *confused*
Petunia: *equally confused*
Mother: I knew your mother, dear.
Petunia and Oliver: Oooh. Gotcha now.
....
The King Under Stone is back. Well, one of his sons has ascended the throne and is out to fetch him and his brothers some brides.
And Petunia, being a sweet dear willing to do most anything for family and wishing to be rid of this curse hanging over their family once and for all, ventures into the Kingdom Under Stone....
I LOVED that ending! Not as much as for what we got on Oliver and Petunia, but what we got on some of the others characters.
A wholly enjoyable, wonderfully satisfying book and ending to a great fairytale series.
Highly recommended.
IT'S HERE!!
Now that's what I call quality shipping....
It's so pretty. And, holla! It's longer than the other two.
*Edit*
3.5 stars.
I liked it a lot. Not as much as Princess of the Midnight Ball but more so than Princess of Glass.
Red Riding Hood, Robin Hood, AND The Twelve Dancing Princesses?! EEP.
Cover: They match! They match!! *does dance of joy* They are so pretty....
Story: I was slightly confused at times. It was choppy and there were too many things being thrown at you at once.
Characters:
Petunia: I must say I rather loved her. She was smart. Brave. Not nearly as sassy as Poppy. *boo* She carries a pistol and matches with her wherever she goes. Good friends with awesome brothers-in-law, Galen and Heinrich. (I'm sorry, who wouldn't love those two?) She is willing to sacrifice a lot for family and those she cares about.
I really found one aspect of her character fascinating. The fact that she was so little when she was cursed. That was all she'd ever known. Dancing and dancing every night. Her sisters being slowly torn apart by the curse. But Pet was so small. That was her life. When the curse was broken, she didn't shun dancing. She didn't quite understand what had happened nor what was going on. So she ended up, I felt, quite different from her sisters.
Oliver: You didn't quite live up to Galen standards but close. Close.
Oliver is an earl. Or was. Before the war and the witchcraft accusations being thrown around and his earldom getting ripped away and handed off to others.
He is a Wolf of the Wolves of Westfalin Woods. (bwah hah hah) And, while robbing (ROBIN HOOD, BABY!!) Petunia's carriage, he has a pistol aimed at his head. What a way to meet your future love interest. She's petite and has a pistol she isn't afraid to use. He should be scared. Well, shenanigans ensue and he ends up abducting her. And taking her home to meet Mother.
Mother: Oliver, darling. You poor sweet thing. Be a good boy and escort her to where she was going originally.
Oliver: *confused*
Petunia: *equally confused*
Mother: I knew your mother, dear.
Petunia and Oliver: Oooh. Gotcha now.
....
The King Under Stone is back. Well, one of his sons has ascended the throne and is out to fetch him and his brothers some brides.
And Petunia, being a sweet dear willing to do most anything for family and wishing to be rid of this curse hanging over their family once and for all, ventures into the Kingdom Under Stone....
I LOVED that ending! Not as much as for what we got on Oliver and Petunia, but what we got on some of the others characters.
A wholly enjoyable, wonderfully satisfying book and ending to a great fairytale series.
Highly recommended.
January 18, 2013
This story certainly started off well! I was captivated and wanted to know more about the spunky heroine and her adventures. The cover was eye-catching (without being cliche) and I loved the fantastic flowing red cape. There was one aspect that made me grimace: love at first sight. Ugh.
Usually the whole oh-I-fell-in-love-at-first-sight thing kinda bothers me. (What am I doing using that flimsy word "kinda" when I really mean, "totally infuriates"?) And initially I was annoyed because this novel was starting to follow the same typical pattern. But then my view kind of shifted. Strangely enough, it was the author's use of magic that convinced me this scenario was different. Even the characters in the story addressed the whole love at first sight predicament. They acknowledged the craziness of it and even seemed to poke a little fun while doing so. And for some reason, that made my usual feelings of unrest totally at ease. I was completely fine with the whole love at first sight syndrome because it was illustrated in this magical realm where strange things happen. And hey, if girls can magically be trapped in a creepy underworld at night and forced to dance until their slippers wore out, why can't they magically fall in love at first sight too?
Okay, mini rant over. Here are some other things I noticed about the book. It was pretty clean, so no objectionable content. The characters were interesting; they weren't flat or superficial. There were definitely parts in the story where I was particularly muddled because I didn't know HOW the characters were going to get out of their unfortunate situations. I enjoyed seeing the sisters together again and was dismayed at the idea of them all having to go back to the King Under Stone. I also was pretty involved in the story and I think I read it in one sitting. I didn't like the ending though. Maybe because it seemed rushed (especially at the climax,) but I wanted a longer explanation, a prolonged dramatic conclusion. Everything seemed to resolve in a short span of pages and that was a little disappointing. The ending also seemed a little too reminiscent of the first book. But all in all, Princess of the Silver Woods was entertaining, fun main characters, and an interesting story line. Fans of Shannon Hale should also check out this series. I'd recommend.
*Thanks to Bloomsbury for allowing me to be part of the blog tour and providing a copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
**Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
Usually the whole oh-I-fell-in-love-at-first-sight thing kinda bothers me. (What am I doing using that flimsy word "kinda" when I really mean, "totally infuriates"?) And initially I was annoyed because this novel was starting to follow the same typical pattern. But then my view kind of shifted. Strangely enough, it was the author's use of magic that convinced me this scenario was different. Even the characters in the story addressed the whole love at first sight predicament. They acknowledged the craziness of it and even seemed to poke a little fun while doing so. And for some reason, that made my usual feelings of unrest totally at ease. I was completely fine with the whole love at first sight syndrome because it was illustrated in this magical realm where strange things happen. And hey, if girls can magically be trapped in a creepy underworld at night and forced to dance until their slippers wore out, why can't they magically fall in love at first sight too?
Okay, mini rant over. Here are some other things I noticed about the book. It was pretty clean, so no objectionable content. The characters were interesting; they weren't flat or superficial. There were definitely parts in the story where I was particularly muddled because I didn't know HOW the characters were going to get out of their unfortunate situations. I enjoyed seeing the sisters together again and was dismayed at the idea of them all having to go back to the King Under Stone. I also was pretty involved in the story and I think I read it in one sitting. I didn't like the ending though. Maybe because it seemed rushed (especially at the climax,) but I wanted a longer explanation, a prolonged dramatic conclusion. Everything seemed to resolve in a short span of pages and that was a little disappointing. The ending also seemed a little too reminiscent of the first book. But all in all, Princess of the Silver Woods was entertaining, fun main characters, and an interesting story line. Fans of Shannon Hale should also check out this series. I'd recommend.
*Thanks to Bloomsbury for allowing me to be part of the blog tour and providing a copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
**Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...
June 17, 2013
This seems to happen quite a bit when I read one of Jessica Day George's books. At first I get all excited and can't wait for the book to come out. Then I get the book and start reading it as soon as possible. The beginning is great and I start believing this is going to be her best book yet. Then somewhere near the end it gets a little weird. I think it may have to do with the magic of the world. Sometimes it doesn't make sense, like it wasn't fully fleshed out or something.
This is the third book in the twelve dancing princess series featuring Petunia (the youngest). She goes to Westfalin but on her way there she encounters bandits-one of them being Oliver. This however, is not her only problem. The new King Under Stone and his brothers are still out to get the sisters.
I'm glad I got to see more of the sisters, though it is mostly Petunia and Oliver in the beginning. Oliver kind of reminds me of Robin Hood so that was cool. Almost like a retelling for both main characters.
I like all the princesses that have been featured in this series by George for different reasons. Petunia is spunky (I suppose that is what you call a short girl that has a backbone), though she has her vulnerability. Petunia and Oliver are a charming duo. I'd say cute but usually leave that reserved for puppies and babies.
I'm not a huge fan of love at first sight in books, most of the time it seems the guy/girl just seems to think the person is beautiful/handsome and that is mostly what they base there love on from there. In most cases I'm okay with it and this one handled it well enough, it's not exactly love at first sight.
Too bad this is the last of the series, but it ended well. I recommend the series to fairy tales lovers.
This is the third book in the twelve dancing princess series featuring Petunia (the youngest). She goes to Westfalin but on her way there she encounters bandits-one of them being Oliver. This however, is not her only problem. The new King Under Stone and his brothers are still out to get the sisters.
I'm glad I got to see more of the sisters, though it is mostly Petunia and Oliver in the beginning. Oliver kind of reminds me of Robin Hood so that was cool. Almost like a retelling for both main characters.
I like all the princesses that have been featured in this series by George for different reasons. Petunia is spunky (I suppose that is what you call a short girl that has a backbone), though she has her vulnerability. Petunia and Oliver are a charming duo. I'd say cute but usually leave that reserved for puppies and babies.
I'm not a huge fan of love at first sight in books, most of the time it seems the guy/girl just seems to think the person is beautiful/handsome and that is mostly what they base there love on from there. In most cases I'm okay with it and this one handled it well enough, it's not exactly love at first sight.
Too bad this is the last of the series, but it ended well. I recommend the series to fairy tales lovers.
September 23, 2015
Princess of the Silver Woods was a good conclusion to this series. I liked how everything wrapped up and the story was interesting. There were even some moments when I wasn't sure what was going to happen next! I'm glad I read this series. :)
December 4, 2018
[review retracted because it was 13-year-old-me screeching.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2016
I am a little sad that this is the final installment of the Twelve Dancing Princesses series, but that aside I must applaud Jessica Day George for putting forth a wonderful conclusion to her trilogy. Princess of the Silver Woods is a delightful read and a shining example of George's ability to reinvent the well known into something enchantingly original.
Before I get into Oliver and Petunia's tale I want to say how impressed I was with George's treatment of Galen and Rose. The first book in a series always holds a special place with readers, but unfortunately the main characters of those books tend to fall by the wayside as they become supporting cast members of later installments. Princess of the Silver Woods is a rare exception in that the title couple have their moments, but they do not eclipse the strengths exhibited by the original couple in the first story. I really appreciate George for the obvious care she took in crafting this piece and her dedication both to her readers and the continuity of her work.
The Princess of the Silver Woods is told from Petunia's point of view. The youngest of the twelve sisters she was but six years old when George first took her readers to Westfalin. Now sixteen, Petunia wants nothing more than to be seen as the independent young woman she is. George showcases Petunia's personality and character by integrating it with that of Little Red Riding Hood. I really liked the idea and while I feel it worked in the author's favor, this strength also made the less impressive link between Oliver and Robin Hood all the more evident. It starts out strong, but doesn't maintain momentum through the entire novel, something I found very frustrating as George managed it so nicely with her heroine.
Maybe not as impressive as the opening volume of the series, but a worthwhile conclusion nonetheless.
Before I get into Oliver and Petunia's tale I want to say how impressed I was with George's treatment of Galen and Rose. The first book in a series always holds a special place with readers, but unfortunately the main characters of those books tend to fall by the wayside as they become supporting cast members of later installments. Princess of the Silver Woods is a rare exception in that the title couple have their moments, but they do not eclipse the strengths exhibited by the original couple in the first story. I really appreciate George for the obvious care she took in crafting this piece and her dedication both to her readers and the continuity of her work.
The Princess of the Silver Woods is told from Petunia's point of view. The youngest of the twelve sisters she was but six years old when George first took her readers to Westfalin. Now sixteen, Petunia wants nothing more than to be seen as the independent young woman she is. George showcases Petunia's personality and character by integrating it with that of Little Red Riding Hood. I really liked the idea and while I feel it worked in the author's favor, this strength also made the less impressive link between Oliver and Robin Hood all the more evident. It starts out strong, but doesn't maintain momentum through the entire novel, something I found very frustrating as George managed it so nicely with her heroine.
Maybe not as impressive as the opening volume of the series, but a worthwhile conclusion nonetheless.
January 2, 2018
The third book in The Princesses of Westfalin Trilogy by Jessica Day George. Princess Petunia is on her way to visit the Grand Duchess Volenskaya when her coach is detained by bandits in wolf masks. A series of mishaps has the princess and her coach escaping only to have an accident down the road. There she ends up being kidnapped by the bandits and taken to their home. Oliver is really an Earl but after the war, his lands were divided and given away. He and his family live in a forgotten estate and he is forced to rob from the rich to give to his poor.
It's been a while since I read the first 2 books but it wasn't hard to follow. As stated in the description, the stories of Robin Hood and Red Riding Hood are touched on in the book. The hero, Oliver, being both Robin Hood and the wolf, at first. Petunia wears a red hooded cloak, hence the "red riding hood". Then there is the issue of the "12 dancing princesses" and the King Under Stone that comes back to haunt them.
I felt it was a good addition to the series but it wasn't my favorite. Though I did love Petunia and I did like Oliver, I would have liked more page time with the two together. Plus, this book takes place quite a while after the other two. Which, since it involves the youngest princess, I guess it had to. But I did like it and enjoyed reading it.
It's been a while since I read the first 2 books but it wasn't hard to follow. As stated in the description, the stories of Robin Hood and Red Riding Hood are touched on in the book. The hero, Oliver, being both Robin Hood and the wolf, at first. Petunia wears a red hooded cloak, hence the "red riding hood". Then there is the issue of the "12 dancing princesses" and the King Under Stone that comes back to haunt them.
I felt it was a good addition to the series but it wasn't my favorite. Though I did love Petunia and I did like Oliver, I would have liked more page time with the two together. Plus, this book takes place quite a while after the other two. Which, since it involves the youngest princess, I guess it had to. But I did like it and enjoyed reading it.
May 22, 2016
The third of the 12 Dancing Princesses stories is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and it s just as delightful as the first two books. Petunia is the youngest sister and as such has slightly different memories of the King under stone and all that happened to her as a small child. When her carriage is stopped by highwaymen dressed as wolves she doesn't hesitate to fight back. Quite well. Which gifts her with an unusual friendship with a young man. When she discovers that someone she is supposed to trust has actually betrayed her and her sisters she discovers that new alliances can be extremely helpful. It's a delightful story with another of George's signature vibrant heroines.
May 8, 2024
Cackling at the review I left when I was 14. Listened to it again as an audiobook, and the romance was not as good as I remembered hehe.
Review 1/1/13:
What can I say? I absolutely love retellings, and Jessica Day George is a master at them. I love all her books. And I'm pretty sure I own all of them. That's how much I love them. And this book was no exception. I loved every minute of it! I had to steal it from my sister because she wanted to read it before me, but I beat her to it. hee hee :) An excellent end to a wonderful series.
Review 1/1/13:
What can I say? I absolutely love retellings, and Jessica Day George is a master at them. I love all her books. And I'm pretty sure I own all of them. That's how much I love them. And this book was no exception. I loved every minute of it! I had to steal it from my sister because she wanted to read it before me, but I beat her to it. hee hee :) An excellent end to a wonderful series.
June 15, 2015
No where near as good as the first two in the series.
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