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The Princesses of Westfalin Trilogy #1
Princess of the Midnight Ball
A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn…
Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.
Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.
Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.
Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2009
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 3,868 reviews
March 22, 2023
There really isn't a whole lot to the original fairytale.
12 wily princesses sneak out every night to dance with mysterious princes, returning at dawn with fucked up shoes. When asked to explain their nocturnal adventures, they simply refuse to fess up.
Because, hello!? Time of their lives!
Their father (who is at his wit's end) sends out an all-call promising one of his daughter's hands in marriage AND his kingdom eventually, if only SOMEONE can figure out how the hell these party girls are getting out every night.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right? Men should be lining up around the block for this deal.
NO. Because this is a fairytale, so the king sets an arbitrary time limit to do it (3 days and 3 nights) and if the said heroic-y hero fails to get the job done, Big Papa will have him killed.
For reasons.
SEVERAL DEAD PRINCES LATER...
A crusty old soldier runs into an old woman in the woods who gives him an invisibility cloak and some solid advice about not accepting roofied food and beverages from royal party girls.
So when he hears of this kingdom to be won by tracking a pack of floozies, he grabs his magic cape and jumps on that shit.
The soldier is well received at the castle by the king, no doubt because no one else wants to play the odds. He then proceeds to suss out how the ladies are making their getaway every night by pretending to drink their drugged booze, acting like he's stoned, then following them down the trapdoor in their bedroom that leads to a magical Studio 54.
Ok. Not really. It's a magical grove with leaves of silver, gold, and diamonds. It ends at a lake that has 12 boats and 12 princes to row them across the lake to...Studio 54!
True story.
The soldier follows the girls for 3 days and 3 nights, taking branches and cups and whatnot back with him as proof of where they've been.
Now, the princesses are just kind of assholes. Especially the oldest one, who seems to be the ringleader. They're all happily frittering their evenings away with these hot princes, meanwhile, daddy is steadily executing all the guys they've drugged, just so they can keep this party train rolling.
Toot-toot, bitches!
The climax is pretty anti-climactic.
The soldier tells the king where they've been going, how they've been getting there, and produces the proof of his story.
The princesses fess up.
And in a shocking turn of events, the soldier says he's too old for any of the younger princesses and will marry the oldest.
The End.
Ok. George's version of this tale takes the basic plot and turns it into a story that makes more sense. 12 royal sisters are forced to dance every night with evil fae princes due to a bad bargain their mother foolishly made. Part of the curse stops them from being able to tell anyone what is happening to them.
A (young) soldier takes up the task of finding out what is wrong with the beloved princesses because he comes to work in the castle after the war, and he has grown to care about all of them.
Especially the oldest.
Their father is a kind king who does ask for help from neighboring kingdoms and offer a daughter's hand in marriage for anyone who can save them. He does not kill anyone who fails.
But the evil fae king just might.
This may not be a perfect retelling, but I think the author does an excellent job working the kinks out of a crusty fairytale.
12 wily princesses sneak out every night to dance with mysterious princes, returning at dawn with fucked up shoes. When asked to explain their nocturnal adventures, they simply refuse to fess up.
Because, hello!? Time of their lives!
Their father (who is at his wit's end) sends out an all-call promising one of his daughter's hands in marriage AND his kingdom eventually, if only SOMEONE can figure out how the hell these party girls are getting out every night.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy, right? Men should be lining up around the block for this deal.
NO. Because this is a fairytale, so the king sets an arbitrary time limit to do it (3 days and 3 nights) and if the said heroic-y hero fails to get the job done, Big Papa will have him killed.
For reasons.
SEVERAL DEAD PRINCES LATER...
A crusty old soldier runs into an old woman in the woods who gives him an invisibility cloak and some solid advice about not accepting roofied food and beverages from royal party girls.
So when he hears of this kingdom to be won by tracking a pack of floozies, he grabs his magic cape and jumps on that shit.
The soldier is well received at the castle by the king, no doubt because no one else wants to play the odds. He then proceeds to suss out how the ladies are making their getaway every night by pretending to drink their drugged booze, acting like he's stoned, then following them down the trapdoor in their bedroom that leads to a magical Studio 54.
Ok. Not really. It's a magical grove with leaves of silver, gold, and diamonds. It ends at a lake that has 12 boats and 12 princes to row them across the lake to...Studio 54!
True story.
The soldier follows the girls for 3 days and 3 nights, taking branches and cups and whatnot back with him as proof of where they've been.
Now, the princesses are just kind of assholes. Especially the oldest one, who seems to be the ringleader. They're all happily frittering their evenings away with these hot princes, meanwhile, daddy is steadily executing all the guys they've drugged, just so they can keep this party train rolling.
Toot-toot, bitches!
The climax is pretty anti-climactic.
The soldier tells the king where they've been going, how they've been getting there, and produces the proof of his story.
The princesses fess up.
And in a shocking turn of events, the soldier says he's too old for any of the younger princesses and will marry the oldest.
The End.
Ok. George's version of this tale takes the basic plot and turns it into a story that makes more sense. 12 royal sisters are forced to dance every night with evil fae princes due to a bad bargain their mother foolishly made. Part of the curse stops them from being able to tell anyone what is happening to them.
A (young) soldier takes up the task of finding out what is wrong with the beloved princesses because he comes to work in the castle after the war, and he has grown to care about all of them.
Especially the oldest.
Their father is a kind king who does ask for help from neighboring kingdoms and offer a daughter's hand in marriage for anyone who can save them. He does not kill anyone who fails.
But the evil fae king just might.
This may not be a perfect retelling, but I think the author does an excellent job working the kinks out of a crusty fairytale.
March 29, 2009
This story was lacking in too many elements to be enjoyable for me. The characters were so underdeveloped that the weren't likable- the writing didn't make me love the hero or hate the villain. The romance lacked passion and believability. I couldn't ever figure out what the hero and heroine saw in each other, and why the hero would go to such lengths to save the heroine. And the plot was so predicable- I never wondered whether or not the princesses would be saved in the end, and the ending wasn't suspenseful at all. I would have liked more detail and description in this story.
April 10, 2011
Reread this April 2011, as I get ready to write the third book. Kinda impressed with myself . . . fun characters, and I'm excited to get back into their heads.
July 21, 2016
Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
The malevolent King Under Stone cuts not one deal, but two, with the queen of the country of Westfalin: first, that she will be able to have children; second, that Westfalin will be victorious in its battles against other countries. In return, the human queen agrees to spend one night per week dancing with the King Under Stone in his underground kingdom. But the once-human king has an agenda, and supernatural beings have a way of twisting their agreements to find loopholes. The Westfalin queen bears no sons, but has twelve daughters ― not coincidentally, matching the number of half-human sons of the King Under Stone, who plans for his sons to have mortal wives and thus break the king out of his underground bondage.
When the queen dies before fulfilling her bargain, the King Under Stone forces her twelve daughters to finish the contract by secretly coming down to his kingdom and dancing with his dark sons. In fact, he has no intention of releasing them, and is slowly binding the girls with his magic to his kingdom, as well as preventing them from telling anyone what is happening to them. Their frantic father, the King of Westfalin, begs for help from neighboring royalty and nobility, but each young man who tries to find out why the princesses are exhausted and have worn-out dancing slippers falls asleep, fails to solve the puzzle … and then mysteriously dies. But a polite young soldier named Galen, returning from Westfalin’s latest war, is kind to an old woman who then gifts him with an invisibility cloak and some very good advice.
This young adult retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” recreates their story with a few minor twists, such as the scheming role of the King Under Stone (who is the person responsible for the young men’s deaths, not the girls’ father), the fuller development of a relationship between the oldest princess and the soldier, and Galen’s unusual aptitude for knitting (apparently it’s very useful for soldiers to be able to knit socks), which will eventually play a role in the resolution of the mystery. But in general Jessica Day George follows the traditional plotline, so the surprises are relatively mild for any reader familiar with the original story.
All twelve princesses are named after flowers ― Rose, Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet and so forth. Who knew there were so many flower names for girls? I wasn’t able to keep any of them straight except for the two eldest, Rose and Lily, and the priggish Hyacinth. Still, with twelve sisters, this likely would have been an issue for me no matter what they were named.
I found Princess of the Midnight Ball pleasant reading but not memorable. In fairness, though, this middle grade/young adult novel seems to be aimed at a fairly young audience, who may not be familiar with the original fairy tale and who will be more apt to be enchanted by the magical world George creates and the budding romance between Galen and the oldest princess, Rose. For readers who enjoy young adult fairy tale retellings but are looking for a greater amount of depth and more twists on the original twelve dancing princesses tale, I recommend Juliet Marillier’s Romanian-based retelling, Wildwood Dancing.
George has written two sequels, Princess of Glass and Princess of the Silver Woods, which continue the series with two of the younger princesses as main characters, and also weave in themes and elements from other fairy tales (Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, respectively). I actually consider both of these sequels stronger works than this first book in the series, primarily because of the greater creativity in their plots. If you or your child enjoys Princess of the Midnight Ball, it’s worth continuing with the series.
Initial thoughts: There are YA books that are detailed and complex enough for adults to enjoy, and then there are those that are so simply told that they truly are just for the kids. This, I think, is one of the latter.
Somehow three different novelizations of The Twelve Dancing Princesses have come my way in the last three or four months: this book, Entwined and Wildwood Dancing. (None of them is perfect, but I liked Wildwood Dancing the best.) Midnight Ball will appeal mostly to girls in the 10-16 age range, I think. The writing is on the simplistic side. It was a pleasant, unobjectionable read and a fairly straightforward retelling of the original fairy tale. To put it another way, it felt very middle school-ish. Which is fine if you're 13.
ETA: This book and my review just resurfaced in the comment thread, and I've been thinking again about this one and Wildwood Dancing. It's worth mentioning that I just increased my rating of Wildwood to 5 stars, and one year after reading Princess of the Midnight Ball, I have absolutely no recollection of the plot of this book, or how it's distinguishable from multiple other retellings of the twelve dancing princesses fairy tale. None. That doesn't mean it's a bad book, just that, for me, it was completely forgettable.
The malevolent King Under Stone cuts not one deal, but two, with the queen of the country of Westfalin: first, that she will be able to have children; second, that Westfalin will be victorious in its battles against other countries. In return, the human queen agrees to spend one night per week dancing with the King Under Stone in his underground kingdom. But the once-human king has an agenda, and supernatural beings have a way of twisting their agreements to find loopholes. The Westfalin queen bears no sons, but has twelve daughters ― not coincidentally, matching the number of half-human sons of the King Under Stone, who plans for his sons to have mortal wives and thus break the king out of his underground bondage.
When the queen dies before fulfilling her bargain, the King Under Stone forces her twelve daughters to finish the contract by secretly coming down to his kingdom and dancing with his dark sons. In fact, he has no intention of releasing them, and is slowly binding the girls with his magic to his kingdom, as well as preventing them from telling anyone what is happening to them. Their frantic father, the King of Westfalin, begs for help from neighboring royalty and nobility, but each young man who tries to find out why the princesses are exhausted and have worn-out dancing slippers falls asleep, fails to solve the puzzle … and then mysteriously dies. But a polite young soldier named Galen, returning from Westfalin’s latest war, is kind to an old woman who then gifts him with an invisibility cloak and some very good advice.
This young adult retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” recreates their story with a few minor twists, such as the scheming role of the King Under Stone (who is the person responsible for the young men’s deaths, not the girls’ father), the fuller development of a relationship between the oldest princess and the soldier, and Galen’s unusual aptitude for knitting (apparently it’s very useful for soldiers to be able to knit socks), which will eventually play a role in the resolution of the mystery. But in general Jessica Day George follows the traditional plotline, so the surprises are relatively mild for any reader familiar with the original story.
All twelve princesses are named after flowers ― Rose, Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet and so forth. Who knew there were so many flower names for girls? I wasn’t able to keep any of them straight except for the two eldest, Rose and Lily, and the priggish Hyacinth. Still, with twelve sisters, this likely would have been an issue for me no matter what they were named.
I found Princess of the Midnight Ball pleasant reading but not memorable. In fairness, though, this middle grade/young adult novel seems to be aimed at a fairly young audience, who may not be familiar with the original fairy tale and who will be more apt to be enchanted by the magical world George creates and the budding romance between Galen and the oldest princess, Rose. For readers who enjoy young adult fairy tale retellings but are looking for a greater amount of depth and more twists on the original twelve dancing princesses tale, I recommend Juliet Marillier’s Romanian-based retelling, Wildwood Dancing.
George has written two sequels, Princess of Glass and Princess of the Silver Woods, which continue the series with two of the younger princesses as main characters, and also weave in themes and elements from other fairy tales (Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, respectively). I actually consider both of these sequels stronger works than this first book in the series, primarily because of the greater creativity in their plots. If you or your child enjoys Princess of the Midnight Ball, it’s worth continuing with the series.
Initial thoughts: There are YA books that are detailed and complex enough for adults to enjoy, and then there are those that are so simply told that they truly are just for the kids. This, I think, is one of the latter.
Somehow three different novelizations of The Twelve Dancing Princesses have come my way in the last three or four months: this book, Entwined and Wildwood Dancing. (None of them is perfect, but I liked Wildwood Dancing the best.) Midnight Ball will appeal mostly to girls in the 10-16 age range, I think. The writing is on the simplistic side. It was a pleasant, unobjectionable read and a fairly straightforward retelling of the original fairy tale. To put it another way, it felt very middle school-ish. Which is fine if you're 13.
ETA: This book and my review just resurfaced in the comment thread, and I've been thinking again about this one and Wildwood Dancing. It's worth mentioning that I just increased my rating of Wildwood to 5 stars, and one year after reading Princess of the Midnight Ball, I have absolutely no recollection of the plot of this book, or how it's distinguishable from multiple other retellings of the twelve dancing princesses fairy tale. None. That doesn't mean it's a bad book, just that, for me, it was completely forgettable.
September 1, 2016
I couldn't fall asleep one night and without even realizing it I was so caught up and enchanted by the story it was six in the morning when I finished the book.
This is a retelling but I'm not familiar with the original tale, so I can't say how close it is to the original. It stands on it's own though and you don't need any prior knowledge of the story to enjoy it.
The story starts out with our hero Galen (great name by the way) coming back from a war that he and his fellow soldiers have been fighting in for twelve years. At eighteen he has seen more tragedy and bloodshed than most have in their lives. Despite and because of all this he is such a lovable character. I won't go into detail but eventually his path crosses with the beloved twelve princesses of Westfalin (what would be considered Germany today most probably).
There is a mystery surrounding the twelve princesses, for some reason their dancing slippers our all worn through every third night. No one sees where they go and can't seem to explain why this happens. The princesses: Rose, Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet, Poppy, Daisy, Lilac, Iris, Orchid, Pansy, and Petunia (all named after flowers obviously) have to dance to serve a debt but they can't tell anybody.
I did have trouble keeping up with which sister was which, but other than that the story flowed well. My sister who recommended it to me said that the beginning was slow going to her, but I thought the story had enough going on to keep the reader engaged. I can't say how much I loved the Galen character (too bad he isn't real and in reality I don't think there could be, but a girl can dream...) This enchanting, romantic, adventurous tale of Rose and Galen is a must read.
This is a retelling but I'm not familiar with the original tale, so I can't say how close it is to the original. It stands on it's own though and you don't need any prior knowledge of the story to enjoy it.
The story starts out with our hero Galen (great name by the way) coming back from a war that he and his fellow soldiers have been fighting in for twelve years. At eighteen he has seen more tragedy and bloodshed than most have in their lives. Despite and because of all this he is such a lovable character. I won't go into detail but eventually his path crosses with the beloved twelve princesses of Westfalin (what would be considered Germany today most probably).
There is a mystery surrounding the twelve princesses, for some reason their dancing slippers our all worn through every third night. No one sees where they go and can't seem to explain why this happens. The princesses: Rose, Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet, Poppy, Daisy, Lilac, Iris, Orchid, Pansy, and Petunia (all named after flowers obviously) have to dance to serve a debt but they can't tell anybody.
I did have trouble keeping up with which sister was which, but other than that the story flowed well. My sister who recommended it to me said that the beginning was slow going to her, but I thought the story had enough going on to keep the reader engaged. I can't say how much I loved the Galen character (too bad he isn't real and in reality I don't think there could be, but a girl can dream...) This enchanting, romantic, adventurous tale of Rose and Galen is a must read.
December 11, 2018
The Ionian continent has been devastated by the ten-year war between the kingdoms of Westfalin and Analousia, which ended with Westfalin barely victorious, famine, a depressed economy, and thousands upon untold thousands of deaths.
Galen is a young veteran who lost his father, mother, and little sister during the war. He finds employment at the royal residence in Westfalin’s capitol, one of many men tending the late Queen’s massive, impractical flower garden. There he meets the twelve princesses, secretive girls suffering under a curse...or are they the ones doing the cursing?
Rose, the King’s eldest daughter, likes Galen right away. But when he offers to solve her mystery, she’s dismayed. Many young men before him have tried to solve the curse. They were all princes, and all of them met wretched fates…
There’s an evil underground, just waiting until its descendants are human enough to walk abroad in sunlight.
Content Advisory
Violence: A guy stabs a humanoid monster with a silver stake. Someone is knocked out, tied up, and imprisoned in a wardrobe. A little kid is bullied and forcibly interrogated by a crew of grown men while her father and sisters are absent. A woman is threatened with hanging. Characters frequently discuss the people they lost in the war and the pain they still feel.
Sex: At the beginning, we hear a storyteller spin the tale of four sisters who were locked in a tower to protect them from evil influences, only for all four girls to be impregnated by the King Under Stone (in other news, the King Under Stone is Zeus). No details given.
One of the princes is supposedly given to making suggestive comments, but none of his (or anyone else’s) actual dialogue is remotely risqué.
Galen and Rose kiss exactly once.
Language: None.
Substance Abuse: None that I remember.
Nightmare Fuel: The King Under Stone and most of his court look human, if rather pasty and elongated and generally Tim Burton-ish. But after centuries of living within the magical confines of their underworld, they can no longer go aboveground. The King’s sons are half-human and can endure fresh air, but like vampires and Uruk-hai, they cannot withstand sunlight.
.
Politics and Religion: The palace at Bruch becomes a battleground between kind Bishop Schelker and corrupt Bishop Angier. Angier is convinced that someone in the royal household is practicing black magic; Schelker, who baptized and catechized the princesses, knows that they are not the cause of these frightening events. Angier places the whole kingdom of Westfalin under Interdiction (no sacraments) until the “witch” is found, causing riots. Crosses, silver, and various folk remedies are all employed against the King Under Stone and his minions.
Conclusions
In Princess of the Midnight Ball, Jessica Day George does a superb job creating a tangible, richly atmospheric fantasy land very close to nineteenth-century Germany, conveying a sense of pleasant history, current hard times, and growing unrest. “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” is a rather strange tale, and George is the only author of a retelling whom I’ve really seen tackle how the sisters’ vanishing act would disturb the people of the kingdom.
I noticed in Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow that George seems fascinated with handicrafts (indeed, this book ends with instructions on how to knit the shawls and scarves described in the novel). Here, it serves the story well indeed. Knitting and cooking soup have a way of making characters grounded and real, no matter how outlandish their surroundings and stories may be.
Rose is mostly a noble character, whose main focus is on causing as little damage as she can. She’s not perfect—her lack of concern when the first several suitors die is disconcerting, to say the least. They were obnoxious, granted, but they were still human beings and they mattered to someone. But given Rose’s situation, it makes sense that she does not get attached to people easily. She’s a practical, level-headed leader, and the younger princesses could not ask for a better older sister.
Galen is shrewd and charming. The book spends equal time looking through his eyes and Rose’s, which gives him a lot more depth than the average love interest in a fairytale retelling. I loved his bravery and his attitude—after living through the war that killed his entire family, he has no time for the King Under Stone’s nonsense. I also loved his interactions with the little girls and his sweet knitting skills. He’s as swoon-worthy as Eugenides of Eddis and George Cooper, and twice as wholesome. He’s one for the Heroic Heartthrob Hall of Fame.
The King Under Stone is suitably terrifying, although I feel like a lot of questions remain about him. That said, this is the first book in a series...
This is a gently paced story that steeps the reader in a world of wool clothing, cold evenings, soup for supper, and slowly building dread. The characters are worth cheering for, and reading more about. There’s daring escapes, romance, chills, and humor. Highly recommended. Princess of Glass is in transit to my library and I can’t wait.
Galen is a young veteran who lost his father, mother, and little sister during the war. He finds employment at the royal residence in Westfalin’s capitol, one of many men tending the late Queen’s massive, impractical flower garden. There he meets the twelve princesses, secretive girls suffering under a curse...or are they the ones doing the cursing?
Rose, the King’s eldest daughter, likes Galen right away. But when he offers to solve her mystery, she’s dismayed. Many young men before him have tried to solve the curse. They were all princes, and all of them met wretched fates…
There’s an evil underground, just waiting until its descendants are human enough to walk abroad in sunlight.
Content Advisory
Violence: A guy stabs a humanoid monster with a silver stake. Someone is knocked out, tied up, and imprisoned in a wardrobe. A little kid is bullied and forcibly interrogated by a crew of grown men while her father and sisters are absent. A woman is threatened with hanging. Characters frequently discuss the people they lost in the war and the pain they still feel.
Sex: At the beginning, we hear a storyteller spin the tale of four sisters who were locked in a tower to protect them from evil influences, only for all four girls to be impregnated by the King Under Stone (in other news, the King Under Stone is Zeus). No details given.
One of the princes is supposedly given to making suggestive comments, but none of his (or anyone else’s) actual dialogue is remotely risqué.
Galen and Rose kiss exactly once.
Language: None.
Substance Abuse: None that I remember.
Nightmare Fuel: The King Under Stone and most of his court look human, if rather pasty and elongated and generally Tim Burton-ish. But after centuries of living within the magical confines of their underworld, they can no longer go aboveground. The King’s sons are half-human and can endure fresh air, but like vampires and Uruk-hai, they cannot withstand sunlight.
.
Politics and Religion: The palace at Bruch becomes a battleground between kind Bishop Schelker and corrupt Bishop Angier. Angier is convinced that someone in the royal household is practicing black magic; Schelker, who baptized and catechized the princesses, knows that they are not the cause of these frightening events. Angier places the whole kingdom of Westfalin under Interdiction (no sacraments) until the “witch” is found, causing riots. Crosses, silver, and various folk remedies are all employed against the King Under Stone and his minions.
Conclusions
In Princess of the Midnight Ball, Jessica Day George does a superb job creating a tangible, richly atmospheric fantasy land very close to nineteenth-century Germany, conveying a sense of pleasant history, current hard times, and growing unrest. “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” is a rather strange tale, and George is the only author of a retelling whom I’ve really seen tackle how the sisters’ vanishing act would disturb the people of the kingdom.
I noticed in Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow that George seems fascinated with handicrafts (indeed, this book ends with instructions on how to knit the shawls and scarves described in the novel). Here, it serves the story well indeed. Knitting and cooking soup have a way of making characters grounded and real, no matter how outlandish their surroundings and stories may be.
Rose is mostly a noble character, whose main focus is on causing as little damage as she can. She’s not perfect—her lack of concern when the first several suitors die is disconcerting, to say the least. They were obnoxious, granted, but they were still human beings and they mattered to someone. But given Rose’s situation, it makes sense that she does not get attached to people easily. She’s a practical, level-headed leader, and the younger princesses could not ask for a better older sister.
Galen is shrewd and charming. The book spends equal time looking through his eyes and Rose’s, which gives him a lot more depth than the average love interest in a fairytale retelling. I loved his bravery and his attitude—after living through the war that killed his entire family, he has no time for the King Under Stone’s nonsense. I also loved his interactions with the little girls and his sweet knitting skills. He’s as swoon-worthy as Eugenides of Eddis and George Cooper, and twice as wholesome. He’s one for the Heroic Heartthrob Hall of Fame.
The King Under Stone is suitably terrifying, although I feel like a lot of questions remain about him. That said, this is the first book in a series...
This is a gently paced story that steeps the reader in a world of wool clothing, cold evenings, soup for supper, and slowly building dread. The characters are worth cheering for, and reading more about. There’s daring escapes, romance, chills, and humor. Highly recommended. Princess of Glass is in transit to my library and I can’t wait.
January 17, 2009
I bought this book yesterday at work, and was excited to start it. I had some time in the evening and read a few pages. When I woke early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, I decided to read for a while. I couldn't stop until I had finished the WHOLE THING! I loved it. I have read other variations on the 12 dancing princesses, but this one had different twist and turns that made it so much different (and better!).
September 22, 2020
He smiled his cold smile. "Keeping one's hands clean – maintaining one's innocence. Is that not the human way?”
― Jessica Day George, Princess of the Midnight Ball
DNF.
I gave it a three even though I did not read to the end. My issue is I had thought it would be a darker little tale then it was.
So I had an interest in this story. I read two books about it. This and one called Entwined.
My issue with this one is it is really slow moving and felt very YA. Plus, I read a good deal in and nothing much had happened. I found there was not really alot going on, not at least when I stopped reading which was over 50 pages in.
Not having read the book in its entirety I do not know whether it picked up but I got a bit impatient with this one.
I really wanted a dark adult book that retold this story and this was a slow moving YA that may have become darker but I just lacked the determination top keep going.
I did enjoy the other one a bit more. My feeling is the story in and of itself is so fascinating but it IS dark and I thought it might be fun reading a few remakes.
I have found though that the more remakes I read the less I like. I read a remake of Rebecca..a YA version and did not really love that one either so I suppose I may just not be the target audience.
Check out the cover art on this one though..awesome!
― Jessica Day George, Princess of the Midnight Ball
DNF.
I gave it a three even though I did not read to the end. My issue is I had thought it would be a darker little tale then it was.
So I had an interest in this story. I read two books about it. This and one called Entwined.
My issue with this one is it is really slow moving and felt very YA. Plus, I read a good deal in and nothing much had happened. I found there was not really alot going on, not at least when I stopped reading which was over 50 pages in.
Not having read the book in its entirety I do not know whether it picked up but I got a bit impatient with this one.
I really wanted a dark adult book that retold this story and this was a slow moving YA that may have become darker but I just lacked the determination top keep going.
I did enjoy the other one a bit more. My feeling is the story in and of itself is so fascinating but it IS dark and I thought it might be fun reading a few remakes.
I have found though that the more remakes I read the less I like. I read a remake of Rebecca..a YA version and did not really love that one either so I suppose I may just not be the target audience.
Check out the cover art on this one though..awesome!
September 15, 2022
This is beautiful.
*bows* That's all I have to say.
*bows* That's all I have to say.
August 11, 2018
princess of the midnight ball is a classic take on the well-known fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses , but decidedly much darker. this version of the story involves an ancient curse passed down to the princesses from their foolish mother and the mysterious deaths of the several princes who try to solve the mystery. its plot, however, doesn't really veer into unexpected territory, which meant that it was mostly just a very fleshed out version of the original fairy tale, albeit with some minor twists.
the characters were extremely underdeveloped and therefore a huge meh for me. the romance lacked passion and believability. i couldn't keep track of the princesses and their names, couldn't care less about Galen (more on that later) or Rose or their romance, and basically i think the only character in this story i remotely cared about was Gregor, the princesses' father. in the prologue, the villain of this book, a powerful dark magician, described him as fat and foolish and horrible but he ISN'T. he tries his best to be a good father and he actually would die for his daughters in an instant and he protects them at all costs and that's beautiful. #dadgoals
okay anyway moving on, Galen actually put me off because he's obviously the white knight of the story and he's too perfect and never makes a single mistake idk?? i mean somehow when problems occur he thinks of a solution in like three minutes. and also he's supposed to be a Gentleman who is Gallant and Chivalrous, blah blah, but i think this just made his character really bland and boring. *it's probably a personal preference so take this with a pinch of salt.
i don't really have much to say in this review because i don't really care about the book like it made me feel absolutely nothing and i skimmed at some points. however, i will admit that jessica day george has much talent in writing. her settings were descriptive and the fairytale backdrop felt almost magical to me. i did like another book of hers called Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow , so maybe it's just that i couldn't connect to the characters in this one.
one more thing worth mentioning is Galen's unusual aptitude for knitting, and knitting plays quite an important role in this book. also, the author wrote this with influences from German (language, etc) and i found that quite interesting because i didn't associate Germany with the original fairy tale.
the characters were extremely underdeveloped and therefore a huge meh for me. the romance lacked passion and believability. i couldn't keep track of the princesses and their names, couldn't care less about Galen (more on that later) or Rose or their romance, and basically i think the only character in this story i remotely cared about was Gregor, the princesses' father. in the prologue, the villain of this book, a powerful dark magician, described him as fat and foolish and horrible but he ISN'T. he tries his best to be a good father and he actually would die for his daughters in an instant and he protects them at all costs and that's beautiful. #dadgoals
okay anyway moving on, Galen actually put me off because he's obviously the white knight of the story and he's too perfect and never makes a single mistake idk?? i mean somehow when problems occur he thinks of a solution in like three minutes. and also he's supposed to be a Gentleman who is Gallant and Chivalrous, blah blah, but i think this just made his character really bland and boring. *it's probably a personal preference so take this with a pinch of salt.
i don't really have much to say in this review because i don't really care about the book like it made me feel absolutely nothing and i skimmed at some points. however, i will admit that jessica day george has much talent in writing. her settings were descriptive and the fairytale backdrop felt almost magical to me. i did like another book of hers called Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow , so maybe it's just that i couldn't connect to the characters in this one.
one more thing worth mentioning is Galen's unusual aptitude for knitting, and knitting plays quite an important role in this book. also, the author wrote this with influences from German (language, etc) and i found that quite interesting because i didn't associate Germany with the original fairy tale.
"Just you remember: when you make a deal with them as lives below, there’s always a hidden price.”
August 13, 2010
Princess of the Midnight Ball is an utterly inoffensive retelling of Brothers Grimm's fairy tale Twelve Dancing Princesses. No gore, no violence here, suitable for pretty much any age.
The premise is straight forward - the King of Westfalin's 12 daughters nightly wear out their dancing slippers. Several princes attempt to uncover the princesses' secret for a reward of inheriting the Kingdom, but fail. Only 19-year old Galen - an ex-soldier/now gardener - succeeds in finding out the truth with the help of an invisibility cloak and some magical wool.
I am not familiar with the original tale, so it's hard to tell how much the author has expanded on it. Princess of the Midnight Ball is a nicely written story with an interesting setting and likable characters. Galen is certainly a peculiar hero with a penchant for knitting (yeah, I know, not necessarily a turn-on for me either) and princesses are mostly interesting too, especially those who are developed better.
The main weakness of the story IMO is that the magic is a bit shaky - it is unexplained why Galen knows how to do certain things.
I can't say there is anything remarkable or of a wow quality here - no spectacular writing or characterization or mythology, but overall the novel is a cute, light, engaging read. I will probably read more retellings by Jessica Day George, whenever mood calls for something like it. As for the original fairy tale, I'd like to read Juliet Marillier's version - Wildwood Dancing or, gasp, an erotic version The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Nancy Madore. Maybe these two put some new, interesting spin on it.
The premise is straight forward - the King of Westfalin's 12 daughters nightly wear out their dancing slippers. Several princes attempt to uncover the princesses' secret for a reward of inheriting the Kingdom, but fail. Only 19-year old Galen - an ex-soldier/now gardener - succeeds in finding out the truth with the help of an invisibility cloak and some magical wool.
I am not familiar with the original tale, so it's hard to tell how much the author has expanded on it. Princess of the Midnight Ball is a nicely written story with an interesting setting and likable characters. Galen is certainly a peculiar hero with a penchant for knitting (yeah, I know, not necessarily a turn-on for me either) and princesses are mostly interesting too, especially those who are developed better.
The main weakness of the story IMO is that the magic is a bit shaky - it is unexplained why Galen knows how to do certain things.
I can't say there is anything remarkable or of a wow quality here - no spectacular writing or characterization or mythology, but overall the novel is a cute, light, engaging read. I will probably read more retellings by Jessica Day George, whenever mood calls for something like it. As for the original fairy tale, I'd like to read Juliet Marillier's version - Wildwood Dancing or, gasp, an erotic version The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Nancy Madore. Maybe these two put some new, interesting spin on it.
Read
January 27, 2023Felt just like the fairytales I grew up on. Maybe not my favorite book as far as YA or romance, but it was still spellbinding from first page to last, there's just something special about the storytelling that made me feel as if I were reliving the old illustrated collection I grew up on. I would get this book for anyone that loves fairytales in a heartbeat.
November 17, 2022
DNF at 68%
There is nothing wrong with this book, just the pace is too slow for me and the writing style isn't my thing, and also the way the characters talk is getting on my nerves...it's probably just a me thing...lol...again, nothing wrong just not my personal cup of tea.
There is nothing wrong with this book, just the pace is too slow for me and the writing style isn't my thing, and also the way the characters talk is getting on my nerves...it's probably just a me thing...lol...again, nothing wrong just not my personal cup of tea.
July 27, 2011
So, unfortunately I promised a few people that I would write a review on this book (I mean, maybe one... or two...) so here's my best attempt at writing one: (note: I am not particularly good at writing thoughtful, lengthy reviews)
To be quite frank, upon finishing Princess of the Midnight Ball I felt deeply annoyed at myself for ever having picked up this book -- and having it sit in the corner of my room, making me feel guilty, for almost eight months. At times this book showed some potential (most definitely not as a YA book, however) but the plot was so askew and the characters -- especially Galen and Rose, two of the most annoying POVs ever -- were cliche and didn't have the slightest depth. I got so bored mid-way through the book, and already felt like it should have ended by then even though the story is already very short at 272 pages. There were lots of problems with the story itself, and it lacked much excitement and most definitely a good romance. Galen and Rose were such an annoying pair and their feelings for each other didn't seem real to me; I honestly didn't much care whether their "relationship" would work out in the end or not. And -- I suppose this is a spoiler, but it was so pathetically lame that I don't think it really matters if you read on -- Heinrich returning to Lily in the end (during Galen and Rose's WEDDING, wow) made me groan and actually put down the book for a few minutes. The King Under Stone was a terrible villain, and Rose's story began to get quite tiresome to me. There were many loopholes in the plot, too -- for one, why did the king only realize that the princesses wore out their dancing slippers every third night after they had already been doing it for YEARS? And why did Angier still seem completely oblivious to what was going on with the princesses even after gaining possession of Queen Maude's diary?
Despite its many faults, I do believe that if I had picked up Princess of the Midnight Ball at an earlier age I might have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately, though, I don't think I'll be giving any of Jessica Day George's other books a shot for a while now. Perhaps they just aren't my thing. I also know how much thought and hard work goes into writing a book like this, and I appreciate that fully -- this is purely my opinion, not meant to offend anybody. I did enjoy some of the humor in this book, and some parts of it were pleasurable. But I must say I'm glad to have finally gotten it over with.
To be quite frank, upon finishing Princess of the Midnight Ball I felt deeply annoyed at myself for ever having picked up this book -- and having it sit in the corner of my room, making me feel guilty, for almost eight months. At times this book showed some potential (most definitely not as a YA book, however) but the plot was so askew and the characters -- especially Galen and Rose, two of the most annoying POVs ever -- were cliche and didn't have the slightest depth. I got so bored mid-way through the book, and already felt like it should have ended by then even though the story is already very short at 272 pages. There were lots of problems with the story itself, and it lacked much excitement and most definitely a good romance. Galen and Rose were such an annoying pair and their feelings for each other didn't seem real to me; I honestly didn't much care whether their "relationship" would work out in the end or not. And -- I suppose this is a spoiler, but it was so pathetically lame that I don't think it really matters if you read on -- Heinrich returning to Lily in the end (during Galen and Rose's WEDDING, wow) made me groan and actually put down the book for a few minutes. The King Under Stone was a terrible villain, and Rose's story began to get quite tiresome to me. There were many loopholes in the plot, too -- for one, why did the king only realize that the princesses wore out their dancing slippers every third night after they had already been doing it for YEARS? And why did Angier still seem completely oblivious to what was going on with the princesses even after gaining possession of Queen Maude's diary?
Despite its many faults, I do believe that if I had picked up Princess of the Midnight Ball at an earlier age I might have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately, though, I don't think I'll be giving any of Jessica Day George's other books a shot for a while now. Perhaps they just aren't my thing. I also know how much thought and hard work goes into writing a book like this, and I appreciate that fully -- this is purely my opinion, not meant to offend anybody. I did enjoy some of the humor in this book, and some parts of it were pleasurable. But I must say I'm glad to have finally gotten it over with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2021
5 out of 10
ревью на русском/review in russian
Short-Soundtrack:
Pianochocolate – Waltz
Cassidy Ladden – Shine
Yuriko Nakamura – Flower
Well, I don’t know what to say. I thought it would be a true retelling for young adult auditory but this is an extended version of the old Grimm’s tale for middle-grade people or even children.
The plot is more than close to the original story about twelve princesses.
The book is good but the idea and its execution were shamelessly stolen. Okay, it's a retelling, usually, this is normal. But only if you take an idea and develop it in your own way. When you transform a 30-pages-story into a 280-pages-one (a lot of dialogues and inner monologues make wonders) by pouring water between the lines and then sign the result with your name... that smells like plagiarism. Or laziness.
I was waiting for unexpected twists, for some underground-orgies, court intrigues, and revolutions… even a mere good romance could save the story for me. But all I’ve got was a chip rainbow.
The book is well-written, its fairytale-stuff looks nice, but the author did miss with her audience. The plot is too simple, clean, and steady for ya-guys, there is no blood, real kisses, or strong language. So why YA?
For me, the book was a waste of time. But juveniles would love it, I guess.
The Princesses of Westfalin (Принцессы Вестафалина):
— Princess of the Midnight Ball (Принцесса полночного бала) #1/3
— Princess of Glass (Принцесса стекла) #2/3
— Princess of the Silver Woods (Принцесса серебряных лесов) #3/3
October 30, 2020
Like many re-reads of former favorites, I found it slower than I remembered. But still an old favorite that left me determined to learn how to knit...if only to make myself Rose's shall. (I never did get past a doll's scarf, though.)
January 10, 2020
"Psst, Galen?" Pansy tugged on his arm. Galen leaned down. "If Rose doesn't want you," the little girl whispered loudly, "you can marry me."
^^^ meeeeee
This series means so much to me, tbh. I don't hesitate to say it changed my life in a lot of ways. It introduced me to fairytale retellings, it revitalized my love of writing, it inspired me in all the best ways and stuck with me forever. To this day I'm still always a little surprised with 12DP retellings don't involve a gardener. xD
There's just so much to love about this book, okay? Supportive sisters, adorable romance, banter, sass, intrigue, it's just so good, ahh! The plot is engaging, the characters are wonderful, the setting is fascinating, and really, it's just the best classic Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling I've read. It holds a special place in my heart.
Five stars from me.
^^^ meeeeee
This series means so much to me, tbh. I don't hesitate to say it changed my life in a lot of ways. It introduced me to fairytale retellings, it revitalized my love of writing, it inspired me in all the best ways and stuck with me forever. To this day I'm still always a little surprised with 12DP retellings don't involve a gardener. xD
There's just so much to love about this book, okay? Supportive sisters, adorable romance, banter, sass, intrigue, it's just so good, ahh! The plot is engaging, the characters are wonderful, the setting is fascinating, and really, it's just the best classic Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling I've read. It holds a special place in my heart.
Five stars from me.
February 21, 2012
Princess of the Midnight Ball is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses story. Maybe I haven't looked closely enough, but one rarely sees this particular story get retold. Probably because it requires a big cast of characters. Yes, there are indeed twelve dancing princesses here, and George tries valiantly to give them all personality, but there's only so much an author can do in 270 pages. That said, the featured princesses were all interesting enough that it didn't bother me that some (Daisy, for example) weren't given much substance. I was also thoroughly charmed by our hero, Galen. I will cheerfully admit that I decided to read this book because Galen is a knitter. And his knitting is not only an integral part of the character, it's an integral part of the plot.
The story itself is mostly a straight-forward retelling of the original. Mostly. The last bit of the book is taken up largely with unnecessary complications that result mostly from Galen, who before had always been clever and wise, acting like a bit of an idiot. Also largely unnecessary is the plot thread about the princesses being considered witches.
And yet, I still enjoyed the book. There's something to be said for a retelling that doesn't mess too much with the source material. And there's something to be said for a sweet and simple fantasy with a nice romance.
The story itself is mostly a straight-forward retelling of the original. Mostly. The last bit of the book is taken up largely with unnecessary complications that result mostly from Galen, who before had always been clever and wise, acting like a bit of an idiot. Also largely unnecessary is the plot thread about the princesses being considered witches.
And yet, I still enjoyed the book. There's something to be said for a retelling that doesn't mess too much with the source material. And there's something to be said for a sweet and simple fantasy with a nice romance.
August 17, 2021
This is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy-tale. It turned out really cute.
Twelve princesses, named after flowers, have dancing shoes that are mysteriously worn out every morning. It’s part of a curse, and they are unable to tell what’s happening because of the curse. Gaylen, a young war veteran, is kind and humble and perfect. And he can knit. Gaylen and the oldest princess start crushing on each other, and of course it’s up to him to break the curse (with the girls’ help).
The whole plot was incredibly engaging and got super suspenseful by the end. I seriously got very worried for Gaylen and the princesses despite also being sure there HAD to be a fairy-tale happily ever after. It’s a positive, uplifting book.
Language: None
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Some stabbing and gunshots; not graphic; mentions of war
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
Twelve princesses, named after flowers, have dancing shoes that are mysteriously worn out every morning. It’s part of a curse, and they are unable to tell what’s happening because of the curse. Gaylen, a young war veteran, is kind and humble and perfect. And he can knit. Gaylen and the oldest princess start crushing on each other, and of course it’s up to him to break the curse (with the girls’ help).
The whole plot was incredibly engaging and got super suspenseful by the end. I seriously got very worried for Gaylen and the princesses despite also being sure there HAD to be a fairy-tale happily ever after. It’s a positive, uplifting book.
Language: None
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Some stabbing and gunshots; not graphic; mentions of war
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
July 24, 2015
“What young girl wouldn’t love to dance away her nights in this splendid castle in the arms of a handsome suitor?”
I was hooked with the blurb of this book because I used to watch Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses (don't judge, asshole).
Princess of the Midnight Ball is a fun read. I enjoyed reading it because on a scale from 1-10, the fluffiness level of this book would be 7.5.Don't expect this to be an epic read because it's not. This book is just perfect if you want to read something breezy with a little mystery.
We're all familiar with the original story. There was a king (because we can't have princesses without a king) and this king has 12 daughters. These poor princesses were cursed to dance every night... you know how it goes.
This is supposed to be a 3 star rate but because the author has this certain charm of weaving different fairy tales into one whole story, I gave it an additional star.
December 22, 2021
A delightful retelling! Going into this I knew very little about the Grimm brothers’ original fairytale of “The Twelve Dancing Princess”, so it’s safe to say this would be an enjoyable read regardless of whether you’re familiar with the original story or not.
The characters were fairly good; the protagonist was someone you’d root for and the antagonists were beings you’d hate. I found it particularly impressive how the author managed to give most of the 12 princesses distinct personalities and interactions considering that’s quite hard to do when you have a very large group of people together all at once. And the author’s great writing skills were further evident in some of the hilarious descriptions and interactions during the first half of the book. I really enjoyed the writing style throughout this well-crafted book.
Now, if you know me, you know that I berate any book that has even a semblance of a “happily ever after” ending. However, I was quite alright with this book’s “happily ever after” ending, not only because it seemed appropriate for a fairytale retelling, but also because Galen and Rose were just so darn cute and I was rooting for them to be together the whole time. Their sweet romance was the entire reason why I read this book and it did not disappoint!
The characters were fairly good; the protagonist was someone you’d root for and the antagonists were beings you’d hate. I found it particularly impressive how the author managed to give most of the 12 princesses distinct personalities and interactions considering that’s quite hard to do when you have a very large group of people together all at once. And the author’s great writing skills were further evident in some of the hilarious descriptions and interactions during the first half of the book. I really enjoyed the writing style throughout this well-crafted book.
Now, if you know me, you know that I berate any book that has even a semblance of a “happily ever after” ending. However, I was quite alright with this book’s “happily ever after” ending, not only because it seemed appropriate for a fairytale retelling, but also because Galen and Rose were just so darn cute and I was rooting for them to be together the whole time. Their sweet romance was the entire reason why I read this book and it did not disappoint!
February 26, 2022
Rose is the eldest of her twelve sisters and has to fill in the role as mother which leaves her wanting to pull her hair out and scream sometimes. This one’s more heavily magic based. It’s a super sweet story about two people that are struggling find each other and sparking joy in each other with every encounter, but at the same time, there’s lots of intrigue, danger, and adventure. It’s especially fun because it’s one of those books where you know things and are watching the characters totter around and then a new element/plot twist comes in and changes the picture. This book is definitely one of my all time favorites!
Some people say they don’t like “instant love” where two people meet and they have a connection. But I don’t mind because sometimes people just know when the person’s right. I’ve heard of plenty of such cases in real life (and I know many personally) so as long as it’s well done and believable I don’t mind. Some people are just luckier than others and meet their other halves earlier.
Some people say they don’t like “instant love” where two people meet and they have a connection. But I don’t mind because sometimes people just know when the person’s right. I’ve heard of plenty of such cases in real life (and I know many personally) so as long as it’s well done and believable I don’t mind. Some people are just luckier than others and meet their other halves earlier.
October 29, 2019
I enjoyed this version of an old favorite fairy tale. The author made me care about the plight of the princesses as they danced nightly to fulfill the promise their mother made to the evil Under Stone. Along came our clever hero. Even though I knew the tale Jessica George skillfully wove in new characters and plot twists that kept me intrigued. I am sure to read the next book in this series sometime soon.
May 16, 2018
A truly delightful retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale that follows a soldier who is returning from war and is caught up in the intrigue of where the princesses go each night and how to help them. There is gardening. There is knitting. There is snappy dialogue and unforgettable characters. And, oh yeah, this book is dedicated to me, so there is that as well.
January 21, 2020
This book was a favorite when I was a teen and still has my undying love. The definitive Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling in my mind ❤️❤️❤️
October 22, 2019
A pretty darn good fairy tale retelling. I quite liked Galen as the soldier who knits!
September 4, 2014
A retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, this charming novel for early teens is also good for a grownup reader. Unlike the original fairy tale, in this story, the princesses don’t want to dance at the Midnight Ball every night but they have no choice: they are under a curse by an evil sorcerer. Moreover, the curse makes it impossible for them to tell anyone or to ask for help.
The heroes of this story, the eldest princess, eighteen-year-old Rose, and a former soldier, nineteen-year-old Galen, fall in love, of course, while Galen tries to figure out Rose’s secret and how to help her and her sisters. The plot follows the source pretty closely, but as always with fairy tales, the characters are much better developed.
Rose, as the oldest, feels responsible for her younger sisters. She is a delightful girl, beautiful inside and out. She would do anything to break the spell hanging over her sisters’ heads, but there is nothing she can do until Galen comes along.
A son of a soldier, Galen grew up with the army. He fought in battles since he was fourteen. At nineteen, he is a veteran. Fortunately, the long war is finally over, and he finds a job as a gardener in the king’s gardens. He is a practical guy, with no illusions but lots of compassion. He is brave. He sees that the princesses suffer and he longs to help.
It was a light, uncomplicated book. A little magic, a little teenage affection, and everything clean and sparkling, with no resemblance to anything even remotely related to real life. Even the writer’s attempts to indulge in political machinations are simplified, while she builds her tension and ups the stakes for the protagonists.
The only complaint I have is that the author named all twelve princesses, all by different flower names, and I couldn’t distinguish between them, neither names nor ages, no matter how much I tried. Otherwise, it was a book to rest your soul after all the battles and flawed heroes of modern adult fantasy.
I must be sliding back into childhood: I’m developing a taste for children’s fantasy, and Ms. George is helping me. I already read a couple of her other books and I’m going to read more. They make me happy.
The heroes of this story, the eldest princess, eighteen-year-old Rose, and a former soldier, nineteen-year-old Galen, fall in love, of course, while Galen tries to figure out Rose’s secret and how to help her and her sisters. The plot follows the source pretty closely, but as always with fairy tales, the characters are much better developed.
Rose, as the oldest, feels responsible for her younger sisters. She is a delightful girl, beautiful inside and out. She would do anything to break the spell hanging over her sisters’ heads, but there is nothing she can do until Galen comes along.
A son of a soldier, Galen grew up with the army. He fought in battles since he was fourteen. At nineteen, he is a veteran. Fortunately, the long war is finally over, and he finds a job as a gardener in the king’s gardens. He is a practical guy, with no illusions but lots of compassion. He is brave. He sees that the princesses suffer and he longs to help.
It was a light, uncomplicated book. A little magic, a little teenage affection, and everything clean and sparkling, with no resemblance to anything even remotely related to real life. Even the writer’s attempts to indulge in political machinations are simplified, while she builds her tension and ups the stakes for the protagonists.
The only complaint I have is that the author named all twelve princesses, all by different flower names, and I couldn’t distinguish between them, neither names nor ages, no matter how much I tried. Otherwise, it was a book to rest your soul after all the battles and flawed heroes of modern adult fantasy.
I must be sliding back into childhood: I’m developing a taste for children’s fantasy, and Ms. George is helping me. I already read a couple of her other books and I’m going to read more. They make me happy.
Read
May 11, 2014This is going to be a real quick overview since I don't have much time right now but I cannot hold in all my feels for this book.
This is a dark re-telling but at the same time it's kind of fluffy. It has that fairy tale feel to it (since well it is a re-telling) so not everything will always line up but somehow this story still charmed me to no ends.
The romance could be seen as insta, no doubt, but it didn't bother me. I enjoyed it if only I wished there was a little more development going on but that's what I mean when I say this is kind of fluffy. There are some things that are done in a very fairy-taleish way but it works.
I mean with a soldier turned gardner who is to save the day with his epic knitting skills, how can you not help but be charmed?
The characters, were so adorable too! Both Rose and Galen are mature but at the same time, they seem innocent too in this childish way that is just so hard to put into words.
The secondary characters were SO SO FUN. They made this book so much more funner to read.
The plot, I'd say could use a little more polishing but at the end of the day, this was a highly entertaining read and I couldn't help but be charmed.
This book in general, as you can conclude from my overview, is somewhat hard for me to describe or explain because it seems almost contradictory. It's dark, no doubt, with it's setting and just the general atmosphere of the book but at the same time, it'll make you smile and giggle and just leave you with a huge smile on your face, the kind you'd get from reading a fluffy book.
It's a quick read too so if you're not sure about it, I'd still tell you to give it a shot because you might just end up liking it!
With all that said, I have no idea what to rate this book so I am just going to leave it as it is.
This is a dark re-telling but at the same time it's kind of fluffy. It has that fairy tale feel to it (since well it is a re-telling) so not everything will always line up but somehow this story still charmed me to no ends.
The romance could be seen as insta, no doubt, but it didn't bother me. I enjoyed it if only I wished there was a little more development going on but that's what I mean when I say this is kind of fluffy. There are some things that are done in a very fairy-taleish way but it works.
I mean with a soldier turned gardner who is to save the day with his epic knitting skills, how can you not help but be charmed?
The characters, were so adorable too! Both Rose and Galen are mature but at the same time, they seem innocent too in this childish way that is just so hard to put into words.
The secondary characters were SO SO FUN. They made this book so much more funner to read.
The plot, I'd say could use a little more polishing but at the end of the day, this was a highly entertaining read and I couldn't help but be charmed.
This book in general, as you can conclude from my overview, is somewhat hard for me to describe or explain because it seems almost contradictory. It's dark, no doubt, with it's setting and just the general atmosphere of the book but at the same time, it'll make you smile and giggle and just leave you with a huge smile on your face, the kind you'd get from reading a fluffy book.
It's a quick read too so if you're not sure about it, I'd still tell you to give it a shot because you might just end up liking it!
With all that said, I have no idea what to rate this book so I am just going to leave it as it is.
December 2, 2011
While I wouldn't normally pick up a fantasy/fairytale book (as fantasy isn't my favorite genre), Princess of the Midnight Ball was highly recommended to my by a friend. After reading the book, I am glad I took her advice to get a copy!
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet fairytale! It made for a very easy read and the story plot captivated me. Galen was easy to grow to like as the hero of this tale. I was surprised that most often the story was written from his POV (point of view) and not Princess Rose, but it wasn't a bad surprise---Jessica wove together the entire story wonderfully well. And I enjoyed reading it from a guy's POV.
All in all, a delightful fairytale that young teens and adults will both be sure to enjoy. It's a very light, quick, easy read. There is a bit of 'magic' in the book, as the girls go to an 'underworld' of sorts, but the magic wasn't a very heavy part of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet fairytale! It made for a very easy read and the story plot captivated me. Galen was easy to grow to like as the hero of this tale. I was surprised that most often the story was written from his POV (point of view) and not Princess Rose, but it wasn't a bad surprise---Jessica wove together the entire story wonderfully well. And I enjoyed reading it from a guy's POV.
All in all, a delightful fairytale that young teens and adults will both be sure to enjoy. It's a very light, quick, easy read. There is a bit of 'magic' in the book, as the girls go to an 'underworld' of sorts, but the magic wasn't a very heavy part of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
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