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)

The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (5)

When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment. As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—one welcome, and the other decidedly less so—brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows. With Shannon Hale’s lyrical language, this forgotten but classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset on the central Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise.

I was so excited to find this book the other day and couldn't wait to read it .... It took me all of 2 days ... Mainly because I had to stop reading to look after my family ... :) lol .....

This is a great wee book I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to dive in with the Princess Academy which I will be reading next ... I think I have discovered a new favourite author ...

Dashti is a wonderful character and the book is written in a journal form from Dashti's perspective .... Which is interesting .... You go through the different emotions with her whether it is saddest, joy or humorous ... She just writes down her want she is thinking which is refreshing to read .... I have to say that she has the patience of a saint when it comes to her Lady Saren I think I would have strangled her after day 10 never mind day 932 ....

This is a wonderful book for Young Girls to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it from the beginning to end ... I love how Shannon has mingled drawings throughout and you really feel a close bond to Dashti ...

This is a gorgeous book of Adventure and Romance and it will have you swooning ... No matter how old you are !!! .... I will definitely be giving this book to my daughter to read .....

I rate this book 5*****

It is nice to think to that she is LDS and she says “I say a prayer before I begin my writing time each day. By no means do I think that my books are ‘inspired,’ but I believe the Lord does give us a lift and aids us in completing our righteous endeavors when we seek His help.”