"Princess of Glass" by Jessica Day George [4]

Having once been cursed to dance every night with her sisters, princess Poppy has vowed never again to put on a pair of dancing slippers. Which is why she's reluctant to participate in the royal exchange program that her father and some of their neighbor kings have cooked up.

Life in far-off Breton isn't so bad, not when there's money to be won playing cards and a handsome prince promising friendship ...
and maybe something more. But when a hapless servant named Eleanora enters the picture and sets her sights on the prince, too, which girl will win his heart? And who is behind the magnificent gowns and slippers that the penniless Eleanora has been wearing to the balls? Only Princess Poppy can see through the magic that holds the rest of the kingdom in it's spell. And having fought against one curse before, she's just the girl to take on another!

The sequel to "The princess of the Midnight Ball" or I think a companion, as it is a novel in itself. I really enjoyed this next one, even more than the first. Ball gowns, cinders, enchanted glass slippers - all reminds you of the fairy tale Cinderella, but with a little twist to it. I love the character of Poppy, she is one determined and feisty girl, who has been through a terrible ordeal with her sisters, now she has to find a way to help Ellen, the clumsy maid ... but is she?

Really well written, flows beautifully, the story stands on it's own two feet, and you get caught up in it and before you know you've finished it. I hope that the author might write another novel in this lovely series about another of the sisters ... great teen read, the girls will just love it!

I rate this book 4 stars.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (4)

Returning home from the war, young Galen finds work with his mother’s family in the royal gardens. There he learns that the king’s twelve daughters have a secret: every night they dance their shoes to tatters, but no one knows how or why. When prince after prince tries and fails to find the answer, and the family is haunted by accusations of witchcraft, Galen decides to help. Armed with a pair of silver knitting needles and an invisibility cloak given to him by a strange old woman, he follows the princesses and unlocks the secret of their curse.

Aren't you just diggin the cover ...... And jealous that it is hardback to boot ...... lol .......

Excited when this was chosen as a book club read as I have wanted to purchase this for a while ...

It is a retell of a old fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm entitled 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' .... But a more lighter version ....

I have to say I really enjoyed this novel it was a light and easy read ... And I finished it in two sitting .... I would definitely give it to my daughter to read as it is a young teen read ...

The story is about a young Hero named Galen and how he goes about to save the Princesses from the wicked King Under Stone ( Booooooo ) .... As all fairy tales there is romance and also magic ....

My only complaint with the book was the ending .... The book flowed really well until the end and then in a couple of short chapters it was all tied up very quickly ... Too quickly in my opinion .... I would have liked to see a few more chapters :( ........

If you are looking for a easy read or a good wee book for your teen daughter then this book is for you ........ Ohhh and there is a bonus of some knitting patterns at the end ....

I rate this book 4 stars

Books in the series in order
Princess of the Midnight Ball
Princess of Glass (25th May 2010)

Discussion Questions for Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

1) As this is a retelling of an old fairy tale .... do you think that it works?

2) Did you feel that the book fulfilled your expectations? Were you disappointed?

3) Describe Galen ... What kind of person is he? ... How much do we really know about him? ... Is he a good hero?

4) Did the author seem to appear in the book? How? Why? Was the presence of the author disruptive?

5) How did the book compare to other books by the author ( or other books in the same genre)?

6) What about the plot? Did it pull you in, or did you feel you had to force yourself to read the book?

7) There are 12 Sisters and 12 brothers do you think that it was to many characters in the novel? ... or did you find that it worked?

8) The Queen had a choice to make which untimately decided on the fate of her daughters ... Why did she make that choice? ..... Would you have made a similar choice? ... Could the Queen have made a different choice? ... How do you think the daughters feel with there lot in life?

9) What are some of the challenges that the Princesses face?

10) Do you think the king truely loves his daughters? Discuss

11) Throughout the novel there is a social divide discuss? .... Is it still true for our day (eg ... a gardener would never marry a Princess)

12) Who are the important characters in the novel?

13) Where you happy with how the book ended? What other ending(s) could there have been?

'Princess of the Midnight Ball' [3 1/2 ]

Princess Rose is the eldest of twelve sisters condemned to dance

each night for the wicked King Under Stone in his palace deep within the earth.

It is a curse that has haunted the girls since their birth -

and only death will set them free.

Then Rose meets Galen, a young soldier-turned-gardener

with an eye for adventure and a resolve that matches her own,

and freedom suddenly begins to seem a little less impossible. To defeat the King

and his dark court, they will need one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit

with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all -

true love.

This is our book club read for February...

I actually quite enjoyed reading this novel. It is loosely based on the fairy tale of the 'Twelve Dancing Princess' which I think is an old German fairy Tale.

Well written and easy to read, you'd be able to finish this novel in a sitting or two.

The two main characters of Princess Rose and soldier-turned-gardener Galen are very easy to like, and before you realize it you are hooked into their stories.

As in most fairy tales good fights against evil and hopefully good wins.

Of course there has to be romance involved and this was beautifully done.

It is a book that 14-15 year old girls will love to read.

Enjoyed Greatly.

I rate this book 3 1/2 stars...

That time of year again :)

Well it is that time of the year again when we pick our choices for next years reads ..... So here is what we have got so far .........

Irish

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

Kristie

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Legs

The Shack by William P Young

In the Woods by Tana French

Samantha

Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan

Sharon

Austenland - A Novel by Shannon Hale

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George



Native

Have a Little Faith - A true Story by Mitch Albom

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet