As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

December 30, 2011

PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL by Jessica Day George, 2009

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. (Goodreads)


(We have two reviewers for this book)

Review by Rosanna Clark 


I really enjoyed Princess of the Midnight Ball. It's a retelling of the 12 dancing princesses. It answered questions that everyone has always wondered about and it's the kind of book you can't put down until its completely read. It was delightful!

Review by Amy Finnegan - writer, reader, Bookshop Talk host

Right out of the gates, I have to comment on this cover! What a dress, right?? It was one of those covers that—especially because I love fantasy and historical fiction—made me shrill with delight, as if the novel was written just for ME! And the cover was dead on—I loved this book!

Following the original tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in remarkably unique ways, Jessica Day George still manages to keep the core plot of the fairytale intact. It’s rather mindboggling how she pulls that off. But there is so much going on outside of the midnight balls—and the requisite princes who must try to discover the dark secret the King’s daughters are hiding—that the story feels entirely fresh rather than a “retelling.”

As usual, Jessica Day George has created characters who you could swear were real. Galen is an especially enjoyable person to share your (reading) day with. Though he has spent the last few years fighting in a heated war, he still tells his part of this story with humor and endless charm. I loved that even in a “princess story,” Galen shines as the star protagonist.

But the charm doesn’t end there. Princess Rose, along with her eleven sisters, all have dynamic personalities of their own. They move the story forward with genuine emotion, each with their own sense of anxiety over their precarious situation. I loved Rose because she was the calm, level-headed sister of the bunch. She is the glue that holds them all together, and makes them feel like an actual family that could live in the castle down the street.

Read this book! You’ll love it!


Market: Young Adult
Language: None
Sensuality: None
Violence: Mild
Mature Themes: depression a little

Book Formats:

5 comments:

Shelby said...

One of the best books ever! I don't think I'll be able to wait until next fall to get the third in the series!!!!!

MKHutchins said...

I'm a sucker for retold fairy tales, and this book was just plain fun!

Anonymous said...

I loved, loved, LOVED this book!

Kammy T said...

What a great story! I loved this retelling and the details that made it unique. I agree with the reviewer, Galen really shines!

Rosebriars said...

This book is one of the kindle specials for January so it's only $2.99 right now! I was totally stoked and snatched it right up. I haven't read it yet but I'm excited to.