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Available
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Publication
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (2009), Hardcover, 280 pages
Description
A retelling of the tale of twelve princesses who wear out their shoes dancing every night, and of Galen, a former soldier now working in the king's gardens, who follows them in hopes of breaking the curse.
Media reviews
School Library Journal
Fans of fairy-tale retellings will enjoy this story for its magic, humor, and touch of romance.
Booklist
This is a well-realized and fastpaced fantasy-romance that will find favor among fans of fairy tales, feisty heroines, and dashing young men with strength, cunning, and sensitivity.
Kirkus Reviews
George takes another fairy tale, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," and turns it into a rich and engaging novel.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
Rose and her eleven sisters are cursed. For every night she, along with her sisters, must venture underground and are forced to dance through early morning for King Under Land and his Court. Rose's mother made a pact with King Under Land and since she is now deceased the girls must hold true to
Galen has known nothing but loss most of his life. He has been a soldier in the war from a very young age. And now that the war is finally over, he has no one left. Both of his parents are dead - so he travels in search of his mother's sister back in her home town. His uncle offers him an apprentice gardener position at the castle where he works. There he meets the lovely, yet strangely exhausted princesses, and he quickly realizes that he is attracted to the eldest princess, Rose.
When the King, frantic to uncover the secret of the princesses' rundown slippers and deteriorating health, offers one of his daughters in marriage to the person who uncovers the mystery - rumors of witchcraft abound, the church gets involved, and the townspeople become enraged. It will be up to Galen to uncover a way to break the spell, save the girls and possibly even their country.
Based upon tale of the The Twelve Dancing Princesses - Jessica Day George has written a fantastic retelling of this well known fairytale. I particularly liked how each princess had her own characteristics - none of them blended in. They each had their quirky traits making each one endearing.
The story is told both through the perspective of Galen and Rose so you really get a feel for both of these characters especially. Galen, the hero of our story was really my favorite character. He was so brave and noble... and he could knit. He was nice to old ladies and gentle and caring with the princesses' ... a very worthy hero.
I really enjoyed this new version (actually better than the original). I would have to say that my favorite parts were in Under Land's Kingdom. I loved the darkness and the mystery of his Court, his pallid sons and the quest to break the curse.
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their mother's bargain.Galen has known nothing but loss most of his life. He has been a soldier in the war from a very young age. And now that the war is finally over, he has no one left. Both of his parents are dead - so he travels in search of his mother's sister back in her home town. His uncle offers him an apprentice gardener position at the castle where he works. There he meets the lovely, yet strangely exhausted princesses, and he quickly realizes that he is attracted to the eldest princess, Rose.
When the King, frantic to uncover the secret of the princesses' rundown slippers and deteriorating health, offers one of his daughters in marriage to the person who uncovers the mystery - rumors of witchcraft abound, the church gets involved, and the townspeople become enraged. It will be up to Galen to uncover a way to break the spell, save the girls and possibly even their country.
Based upon tale of the The Twelve Dancing Princesses - Jessica Day George has written a fantastic retelling of this well known fairytale. I particularly liked how each princess had her own characteristics - none of them blended in. They each had their quirky traits making each one endearing.
The story is told both through the perspective of Galen and Rose so you really get a feel for both of these characters especially. Galen, the hero of our story was really my favorite character. He was so brave and noble... and he could knit. He was nice to old ladies and gentle and caring with the princesses' ... a very worthy hero.
I really enjoyed this new version (actually better than the original). I would have to say that my favorite parts were in Under Land's Kingdom. I loved the darkness and the mystery of his Court, his pallid sons and the quest to break the curse.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Princess Rose is the eldest of twelve sisters, all of whom are forced to dance every night in the palace of the King of Under Stone but as hard as they try, they cannot explain to their father why their dancing slippers are full of holes in the morning. When Galen, freshly returned from war, joins
This isn't so much a fairy tale retelling, as an expansion of the source material. George takes the simple tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses provides distinctive characters, an intriguing magical world, and a world roughly based on Europe as best suits this tale as originally shared by the Brothers' Grimm. Rose is a lovely heroine, although not as well-developed as I would hope for. Galen, however, is a gem of a hero. He is charming, polite, and he knits (and there are two knitting patterns included in the back of the book for those who might enjoy such things). But this novel is remarkable mostly for the wonderful story. George has turned a very simple tale into one that is longer but full of magic, intrigue, political machinations, a light dash of romance, and still has that wonderful feel of being a fairy tale. A fantastic read.
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the gardening staff at the palace, he develops a fondness for Rose and her sisters. When several princes die mysteriously after attempting to solve the mystery, in order to win the hand of one of the princesses, Galen offers his services to solve the mystery and save the princesses from their curse.This isn't so much a fairy tale retelling, as an expansion of the source material. George takes the simple tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses provides distinctive characters, an intriguing magical world, and a world roughly based on Europe as best suits this tale as originally shared by the Brothers' Grimm. Rose is a lovely heroine, although not as well-developed as I would hope for. Galen, however, is a gem of a hero. He is charming, polite, and he knits (and there are two knitting patterns included in the back of the book for those who might enjoy such things). But this novel is remarkable mostly for the wonderful story. George has turned a very simple tale into one that is longer but full of magic, intrigue, political machinations, a light dash of romance, and still has that wonderful feel of being a fairy tale. A fantastic read.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Princess of the Midnight Ball is a fantasy rendition of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy-tale, and is deftly handled by Jessica Day George. The basic story is fleshed out, giving us a fun story with touches of magic and romance.
Fans of fairy-tale retellings will enjoy this book, as the author
I liked that the author didn’t stray too far from the original tale, instead she built upon long established visuals to create a vivid and lasting portrait of this well loved story. If you are a fan of fairy-tale fantasy, then I believe you will enjoy this solid effort that is the Princess of the Midnight Ball.
Fans of fairy-tale retellings will enjoy this book, as the author
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kept her story very close to the original. Twelve princesses are doomed to travel underground and dance the night away, as they must work off the pledge made to the Underworld king by their deceased mother. A young soldier, turned under-gardener, vows to free the girls from their curse. Of course, as this young man is a true hero he receives some magical help along the way. I liked that the author didn’t stray too far from the original tale, instead she built upon long established visuals to create a vivid and lasting portrait of this well loved story. If you are a fan of fairy-tale fantasy, then I believe you will enjoy this solid effort that is the Princess of the Midnight Ball.
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LibraryThing member ErlangerFactionless
I do love a good re-imagined fairy tale, and was ready to see the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses get the treatment. While I enjoyed many elements of Jessica Day George's foray into the genre, especially her deft use of real historical Germanic customs, names, and words, something about it
What George did a great job of: The knitting male protagonist (yes, really); capturing the feelings of a society embroiled in a generation-long war; differentiating the princesses, even thought there are 12 of them (though some get lost in the fray); keeping true to the original story; making the reader really like and feel for almost all the characters in the story.
Things that are not so hot: Too much serendipity and deus ex machina, which is the major pitfall of almost any fantasy story; not writing the king as a consistent character; failing to develop the protagonist's relationship with his family; pacing the story a bit too fast. Actually, that last one is probably what made the story seem flattest to me. There was never any time for the reader to dwell on anything, and sometimes a little time for reflection is a good thing.
Overall, a solid addition to the re-imagined fairy tale genre that will mostly appeal to younger girls, and that happens to have two sequels that I will probably bother to read.
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felt... flat to me. What George did a great job of: The knitting male protagonist (yes, really); capturing the feelings of a society embroiled in a generation-long war; differentiating the princesses, even thought there are 12 of them (though some get lost in the fray); keeping true to the original story; making the reader really like and feel for almost all the characters in the story.
Things that are not so hot: Too much serendipity and deus ex machina, which is the major pitfall of almost any fantasy story; not writing the king as a consistent character; failing to develop the protagonist's relationship with his family; pacing the story a bit too fast. Actually, that last one is probably what made the story seem flattest to me. There was never any time for the reader to dwell on anything, and sometimes a little time for reflection is a good thing.
Overall, a solid addition to the re-imagined fairy tale genre that will mostly appeal to younger girls, and that happens to have two sequels that I will probably bother to read.
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LibraryThing member Wombat
Lady Wombat says:
A well-written, perfectly straightforward expansion into novel form of the folktale "Twelve Dancing Princesses." Nothing very exciting or novel here, but I did enjoy it.
A well-written, perfectly straightforward expansion into novel form of the folktale "Twelve Dancing Princesses." Nothing very exciting or novel here, but I did enjoy it.
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Galen comes home from his country’s successful but draining war against a rival country, orphaned and now an undergardener at the king’s palace. However, something more suspicious than regular court intrigue is underfoot at the palace: every morning the king’s twelve motherless daughters wear
The king declares that any prince who is able to solve the princesses’ mystery will marry one of them and be king. But as prince after unsuccessful prince arrive and leave, only to die in unfortunate accidents soon after, whispers spread throughout the land that the princesses are witches.
Galen is sure that the princesses are innocent, and rather are being controlled by someone—or something—powerful. And Galen is willing to put his life on the line in order to rescue the princesses. After all, you don’t need to be a prince to be worthy.
I love fairy tale retellings, and I loooove Jessica Day George’s writing! PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL swept me back to when I was young and rereading my Complete Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale book. It has everything I want in a fairy tale and everything I want in a fun YA book: handsome and gallant heroes; beautiful, troubled, yet courageous princesses; evil villains; well-developed supporting characters; mystery; magic; love. I was left satisfied with a successful retelling of a beloved story, yet renewed with the unique spins that George put in her telling.
I don’t read fairy tale retellings and expect to read about drastic anti-hero types. PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL works for me, then, because of the clichés one comes to associate with beloved fairy tales. Think Disney for tweens and teens. Doesn’t everyone enjoy a good ole happily-ever-after tale every now and then?
And Jessica Day George adds even more magic to this old favorite with her sparkling characters and prose. Her straightforward yet colorful retelling keeps you glued to the pages, and I found myself sighing about Galen after I finished the book.
Every once in a while you should just reward yourself with a well-written, feel-good, happily-ever-after read. If you’re in that mood, pick up PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL. You won’t be disappointed.
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their brand-new dance slippers out. No one knows where they go at night, and the scared princesses are muted.The king declares that any prince who is able to solve the princesses’ mystery will marry one of them and be king. But as prince after unsuccessful prince arrive and leave, only to die in unfortunate accidents soon after, whispers spread throughout the land that the princesses are witches.
Galen is sure that the princesses are innocent, and rather are being controlled by someone—or something—powerful. And Galen is willing to put his life on the line in order to rescue the princesses. After all, you don’t need to be a prince to be worthy.
I love fairy tale retellings, and I loooove Jessica Day George’s writing! PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL swept me back to when I was young and rereading my Complete Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale book. It has everything I want in a fairy tale and everything I want in a fun YA book: handsome and gallant heroes; beautiful, troubled, yet courageous princesses; evil villains; well-developed supporting characters; mystery; magic; love. I was left satisfied with a successful retelling of a beloved story, yet renewed with the unique spins that George put in her telling.
I don’t read fairy tale retellings and expect to read about drastic anti-hero types. PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL works for me, then, because of the clichés one comes to associate with beloved fairy tales. Think Disney for tweens and teens. Doesn’t everyone enjoy a good ole happily-ever-after tale every now and then?
And Jessica Day George adds even more magic to this old favorite with her sparkling characters and prose. Her straightforward yet colorful retelling keeps you glued to the pages, and I found myself sighing about Galen after I finished the book.
Every once in a while you should just reward yourself with a well-written, feel-good, happily-ever-after read. If you’re in that mood, pick up PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL. You won’t be disappointed.
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LibraryThing member knitbusy
I have always been a lover of fairy tales. One of my favorites from childhood has always been the story of the 12 Dancing Princesses. So, I was excited when this book caught my eye during a recent trip to Barnes and Noble.
The story begins as Galen, a lifelong soldier despite his youth,
is
There are many things to like about this book. Galen, the hero, is a charming character, and not just because he is an accomplished knitter. I was rooting for him to succeed after the first few pages. I found Galen's history particularly interesting. The author also did a nice job of including many of the details from the original fairy tale that I know and love. The story flows along quickly, and there really never is a lull in the action. Young adults will likely appreciate this retelling as it provides a handsome and dashing, yet kind and sensitive hero, and some wholesome romance. The character of Princess Rose is also no fainting blossom waiting to be rescued. She and her sisters all seem to be doing their best to save themselves.
I did find the writing at times a bit disjointed. At some points, I found myself noticing particular sentences that didn't seem to flow very well. For example the author described a character as, "he was so very much not happy." I'm not usually such a picky reader, as I prefer to lose myself in the story, but at times the authors voice seemed a bit unrefined. All that being said however, I found this a very pleasant read, and one that I would recommend for fans of fairy tale retellings.
The story begins as Galen, a lifelong soldier despite his youth,
is
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returning home after the completion of a war which has lasted 12 long years. Orphaned and alone, he seeks out his Aunt and Uncle. Galen's uncle is employed as the royal family gardner, and offers the hard working youth a position in the family firm. It is in the gardens that Galen first meets Princess Rose, the eldest of 12 royal princesses, and finds himself swept up in an unexpected adventure as he tries to free Rose and her sisters from a powerful curse.There are many things to like about this book. Galen, the hero, is a charming character, and not just because he is an accomplished knitter. I was rooting for him to succeed after the first few pages. I found Galen's history particularly interesting. The author also did a nice job of including many of the details from the original fairy tale that I know and love. The story flows along quickly, and there really never is a lull in the action. Young adults will likely appreciate this retelling as it provides a handsome and dashing, yet kind and sensitive hero, and some wholesome romance. The character of Princess Rose is also no fainting blossom waiting to be rescued. She and her sisters all seem to be doing their best to save themselves.
I did find the writing at times a bit disjointed. At some points, I found myself noticing particular sentences that didn't seem to flow very well. For example the author described a character as, "he was so very much not happy." I'm not usually such a picky reader, as I prefer to lose myself in the story, but at times the authors voice seemed a bit unrefined. All that being said however, I found this a very pleasant read, and one that I would recommend for fans of fairy tale retellings.
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LibraryThing member 8f_starrynight
This is a book based on the story of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", only with a lot of different perspectives from a lot of people. There is the opinion of the eldest princess, Rose, the soldier Galen, the king, and even the princes. This kind of book is only exciting if you don't know the
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fairytale at all, but I knew how the story goes, so it wasn't as exciting as it should be. But because of the new twists added to the story, it was more interesting to read in more detail, a slightly modern version of the old fairytale. It was very good to read, because it had a bit of the history, like how the princesses got the curse, and the part about the evil king. This book is recommended for people who like fairytales with a new twist! Show Less
LibraryThing member SimplyGrace
Let me just start out by saying how much I adore fairy tales! This is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and it was done beautifully. It was an old story made fresh and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Princesses in distress, held captive by an evil king, throw in a handsome and brave hero(a
So, if you are in the mood for the good guy to get the girl, the bad guy to get what he deserves, and the dead come back to life- grab this one and enjoy!
Princesses in distress, held captive by an evil king, throw in a handsome and brave hero(a
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soldier no less) and some magic wool and invisibility cape, you have the ingredients for one damn fine fairy tale! As a child, and teenager too, I devoured stories like these, so it was nice to read a gripping tale of captivity and despair and have everyone live happily ever after in the end. So, if you are in the mood for the good guy to get the girl, the bad guy to get what he deserves, and the dead come back to life- grab this one and enjoy!
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LibraryThing member cmbohn
Themes: witchcraft, good versus evil, war, love, magic
Setting: Westfalia, a medieval kingdom pretty much like Germany, but with magic
Galen is returning from war, and wants to settle down to quiet life. He heads for his aunt's house, but one the way, he meets and helps and old woman. He shares his
He's not planning on seeing the palace at all, but it turns out his uncle is gardener to King Gregor, so Galen become the new undergardener. It isn't long before he hears the rumors about the princesses, who are locked in their rooms each night, and yet wear their dancing shoes to shreds, and seem to be strangely ill.
This retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is by the author of Dragon Slippers, which is a wonderful and original story. This one is pretty familiar, at least until the end, when we get a bit more of an exciting climax than in the traditional tale, and it's all the better for it. I really enjoyed it. If you love fairy tales, this one is for you.
Setting: Westfalia, a medieval kingdom pretty much like Germany, but with magic
Galen is returning from war, and wants to settle down to quiet life. He heads for his aunt's house, but one the way, he meets and helps and old woman. He shares his
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meal and a cloak with her, and she repays him with an invisibility cloak and some wool. He will need them, she says, when he gets to the palace.He's not planning on seeing the palace at all, but it turns out his uncle is gardener to King Gregor, so Galen become the new undergardener. It isn't long before he hears the rumors about the princesses, who are locked in their rooms each night, and yet wear their dancing shoes to shreds, and seem to be strangely ill.
This retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is by the author of Dragon Slippers, which is a wonderful and original story. This one is pretty familiar, at least until the end, when we get a bit more of an exciting climax than in the traditional tale, and it's all the better for it. I really enjoyed it. If you love fairy tales, this one is for you.
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LibraryThing member Katya0133
There are people in the world who don't understand the point of the "fairy tales retold" genre. If you're familiar with the fairy tale, you already know how the story's going to end, so why bother reading it, especially if the author isn't subverting the original story à la Geoffrey
"Princess of the Midnight Ball" is a good response to critics who don't understand how a fairy tail novelization can be a good story.
First, Jessica Day George made a wise choice in picking the story of the twelve dancing princesses: It's not so obscure that no one has heard of it, but not so popular that it's been overdone. Second, she fleshes out the story by giving personality to the soldier, the king, and the individual princesses. Third, she takes unmotivated or unexplained plot points and gives an explanation for them. (Why do the princesses have to dance every night? Why are there twelve of them? Who was the old woman who gave the soldier the invisibility cloak and why did she do it?)
All in all, a delightful read.
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Maguire?"Princess of the Midnight Ball" is a good response to critics who don't understand how a fairy tail novelization can be a good story.
First, Jessica Day George made a wise choice in picking the story of the twelve dancing princesses: It's not so obscure that no one has heard of it, but not so popular that it's been overdone. Second, she fleshes out the story by giving personality to the soldier, the king, and the individual princesses. Third, she takes unmotivated or unexplained plot points and gives an explanation for them. (Why do the princesses have to dance every night? Why are there twelve of them? Who was the old woman who gave the soldier the invisibility cloak and why did she do it?)
All in all, a delightful read.
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LibraryThing member jenniferthomp75
Enjoyable re-telling of a fairy tale. Galen is a soldier home from war and hired to work with his uncle in the King's garden. When it's discovered that his 12 princess daughters are disappearing at night and waking up with worn-out dancing shoes, the King is determined to find out what the real
After receiving a magical cloak that turns him invisible, Galen follows the girls and discovers their horrible curse.
This book would be excellent to give to those that love fairy tales and "clean" reading. However, I kept comparing it to another fantasy book of the year, "Fire" by Kristin Cashore. This tale is so simple and somewhat boring in comparison...But it will definitely keep teenagers obsessed with romance a great read.
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truth is.After receiving a magical cloak that turns him invisible, Galen follows the girls and discovers their horrible curse.
This book would be excellent to give to those that love fairy tales and "clean" reading. However, I kept comparing it to another fantasy book of the year, "Fire" by Kristin Cashore. This tale is so simple and somewhat boring in comparison...But it will definitely keep teenagers obsessed with romance a great read.
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LibraryThing member macart3
Queen Maude of W. made a contract with King Under Stone to have children so that the country may have an heir. In return, the king demanded twenty-five years of dancing. When she died her responsibility fell to her twelve daughters who dance with the king's twelve sons. Forbidden to speak of where
Galen is a soldier returning from the twelve years' war of W. with its neighbors whose mother, father, and sister are all dead. He eventually finds his mother's sister and her husband and is apprenticed as under-gardener under his uncle. Working in palace grounds, he hears about the princesses' plight and is determined to figure out the mystery behind the dancing.
This is a good interpretation on 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses', portraying them as not as vapid, frivolous princesses, but as intelligent women under a curse. It's a good book incorporating the magical with the mundane setting, which has a heavy Germanic influence.
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they go and always returning with holes in their dancing slippers, the king is furious and offers the throne and one of his daughters to anyone who can find out where they go to dance as they seem to never leave the palace. Galen is a soldier returning from the twelve years' war of W. with its neighbors whose mother, father, and sister are all dead. He eventually finds his mother's sister and her husband and is apprenticed as under-gardener under his uncle. Working in palace grounds, he hears about the princesses' plight and is determined to figure out the mystery behind the dancing.
This is a good interpretation on 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses', portraying them as not as vapid, frivolous princesses, but as intelligent women under a curse. It's a good book incorporating the magical with the mundane setting, which has a heavy Germanic influence.
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LibraryThing member Ameliaiif
A pox on you, Borders and Barnes and Noble! I can't seem to find this book ANYWHERE...
LibraryThing member cooperca05
Interesting twist on the old fairytale, 'The Twelve Dancing Princess' that reminds us that fairytales end in happily ever after. If you liked 'Wicked,' you'd like how this tale is twisted to make the princess' the victims and not the frivolous girls they're made out to be by the Brothers Grimm.
LibraryThing member callmecayce
A nice, enjoyable and slightly exciting retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. While the setting isn't modern, there's a slightly modern feel to the novel which makes it quite enjoyable. Much better than the previous novel of hers I read.
LibraryThing member dasuzuki
I was drawn to this book first mainly due to the cover. I loved the dress and thought the dress was gorgeous. While the story was not bad it is not one of my favorite books. Apparently the story is based on some fairy tale that I am not familiar with but it was still an interesting concept. Galen
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was a wonderful hero although I found some of his actions to be rather inept for a professional soldier. Nonetheless he and Rose seemed perfect together and I would like to see the stories of the rest of the princesses as they all finally settle down. There is a hint that there are other portals that allow evil forces into this world and are being protected by 4 white witches. So I think that leaves room open for sequels. Galen's knitting talent holds a prominent role in the story and there was an interesting afterword that mentions knitting initially being a male only past time as it was thought to be too complex for women's minds. It even mentions how some schools required it's students to be able to knit in order to graduate. I found that to be an interesting historical tidbit as now knitting is so predominantly a woman's hobby. Show Less
LibraryThing member joyleppin
I enjoyed every moment of this book! It was interesting to me that the hero was an active knitter. At the end of the book, a footnote revealed that at time this story takes place women were not taught how to knit because it was thought knitting would be too complex for them to understand!
LibraryThing member resugo
A retelling of the fairytale the twelve dancing princesses. I was rather impressed with this retelling. Though there were serendipitous events with no real explanation as to why they happened except to get the characters out of trouble, I did like it overall. The main plot was well developed, the
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characters had character, and the main romantic relationship was developed and worked. It was enjoyable and fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
Previously I read Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George and enjoyed it. When I saw that she had done a retelling of my absolute favorite fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses I was very excited to read it. Overall it is a great read.
Rose and her sisters are cursed to dance every night
I have to say this is my all time favorite fairy tale (with Beauty and the Beast right behind it). I loved the beauty behind this story and the evilness that the beauty hides. I still remember as a little girl reading about the forest of silver leaves and being absolutely enchanted by it. So I had very high expectations for this story, which weren't quite met. That being said George does do a good job with this story.
All of the characters are very personable and sweet; George did a pretty good job keeping track of the twelve sisters by grouping them into the older set and the middle set. I was curious as to whether or not juggling 12 princesses' names would bog down the story, but it didn't. She also did an excellent job at staying true to the story and giving it a splendidly happy ending.
Rose and Galen were by far the best characters; they were smart and resourceful and oh so very sweet to each other. It was excellent how the politics of the kingdom overall were woven into the princesses' curse; this definitely filled out the story and made it more plausible.
My only problem with this story is that it was not as magical as I had hoped. The story could have used a little more description, for me it didn't convey the beautiful yet awful majesty of the under world. I didn't feel like I could picture the settings very well or hear the silver leaves tinkling in an invisible breeze. Also I felt that the "danger" the princesses were in was a bit vanilla; the King Under Stone is not all the villain he could have been and I never really felt like the princesses were in all that much danger. I guess at points the story was just a bit too Disney for me.
Overall I enjoyed reading this, but didn't think it captured the absolute danger and majesty of the original tale. It is a nice story and ends happily, overall a good light read. It is appropriate for all ages of readers and never gets too scary or too violent. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably check out her latest book using these same characters Princess of Glass.
Rose and her sisters are cursed to dance every night
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away at the King Under Stone's castle because of an agreement their mother made with him. As the mystery of their worn out shoes thickens, rumors of witchcraft abound, and the fate of their very kingdom rides on Rose and her sisters' secrets. Can Galen, a common soldier, solve the mystery behind the princesses to clear their good names and save the kingdom?I have to say this is my all time favorite fairy tale (with Beauty and the Beast right behind it). I loved the beauty behind this story and the evilness that the beauty hides. I still remember as a little girl reading about the forest of silver leaves and being absolutely enchanted by it. So I had very high expectations for this story, which weren't quite met. That being said George does do a good job with this story.
All of the characters are very personable and sweet; George did a pretty good job keeping track of the twelve sisters by grouping them into the older set and the middle set. I was curious as to whether or not juggling 12 princesses' names would bog down the story, but it didn't. She also did an excellent job at staying true to the story and giving it a splendidly happy ending.
Rose and Galen were by far the best characters; they were smart and resourceful and oh so very sweet to each other. It was excellent how the politics of the kingdom overall were woven into the princesses' curse; this definitely filled out the story and made it more plausible.
My only problem with this story is that it was not as magical as I had hoped. The story could have used a little more description, for me it didn't convey the beautiful yet awful majesty of the under world. I didn't feel like I could picture the settings very well or hear the silver leaves tinkling in an invisible breeze. Also I felt that the "danger" the princesses were in was a bit vanilla; the King Under Stone is not all the villain he could have been and I never really felt like the princesses were in all that much danger. I guess at points the story was just a bit too Disney for me.
Overall I enjoyed reading this, but didn't think it captured the absolute danger and majesty of the original tale. It is a nice story and ends happily, overall a good light read. It is appropriate for all ages of readers and never gets too scary or too violent. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably check out her latest book using these same characters Princess of Glass.
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LibraryThing member Annesanse
This was a really good book and a fast read! A cute version of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale. I especially liked reading from Galen's point of view. This is the second Twelve Dancing Princesses book I've read in the past month or two, and I think I liked the other one slightly better.
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(Entwined by Heather Dixon) However, I really enjoyed this one in different ways. The romance was really sweet. Good book. Show Less
LibraryThing member sapphire--stars
This book was pretty fun :] A retelling of the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, it was interesting and the descriptions well done. It was interesting to see the political side of this story and the ramifications it had. I would buy this book eventually because it is very cute and a well told
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retelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member yearningtoread
There’s something going on in the royal Westfalian family, and no one can figure out what it is. The twelve princesses of all different ages haven’t been to a ball in years – and yet every morning the maids wake from a deep sleep to find that the girls’ dancing slippers have been worn
Galen, a former soldier working with his uncle as one of the king’s undergardners, watches the progress as nine princes come and go with no luck in solving the mystery. Having met the princesses, Galen is concerned for their safety and decides to play his own hand, hoping that a few unexpected gifts and talents may help him along the way.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses has always been a favorite story of mine, ever since I read the Disney version in the Disney Fairytale Book. For a few years now I’ve been wanting to find a book that holds the same wonderful story I read all that time ago, but revised and for an older audience. After a little research I came across an author by the name of Jessica Day George, who had written exactly what I was looking for. I had never heard of George, but was willing to give this book a try for the sake of my love for the story.
I’m SOOOO glad I read this book! It was well told and easy to follow, but with some great twists that are George’s original addition to the story – her signature print. The princesses are easy to like, as is Galen, the wonderful hero of this story.
Since this book I’ve read George’s Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow (post coming soon!) and am currently reading her newest novel, Princess of Glass. I can officially say that I love this author. And while she’s not the next J. K. Rowling, her stories deliver, they’re fun, they’re adventurous, and they’re clean, which I’ve found can be a big problem in modern literature. All those things, and more, make George’s works so enjoyable that you’ll want to come back for more.
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through. And while the king puts up with this for a very long time, he soon comes to the end of his rope and says his throne (when he dies) and one of his daughters belongs to the man who can solve this mystery. Galen, a former soldier working with his uncle as one of the king’s undergardners, watches the progress as nine princes come and go with no luck in solving the mystery. Having met the princesses, Galen is concerned for their safety and decides to play his own hand, hoping that a few unexpected gifts and talents may help him along the way.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses has always been a favorite story of mine, ever since I read the Disney version in the Disney Fairytale Book. For a few years now I’ve been wanting to find a book that holds the same wonderful story I read all that time ago, but revised and for an older audience. After a little research I came across an author by the name of Jessica Day George, who had written exactly what I was looking for. I had never heard of George, but was willing to give this book a try for the sake of my love for the story.
I’m SOOOO glad I read this book! It was well told and easy to follow, but with some great twists that are George’s original addition to the story – her signature print. The princesses are easy to like, as is Galen, the wonderful hero of this story.
Since this book I’ve read George’s Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow (post coming soon!) and am currently reading her newest novel, Princess of Glass. I can officially say that I love this author. And while she’s not the next J. K. Rowling, her stories deliver, they’re fun, they’re adventurous, and they’re clean, which I’ve found can be a big problem in modern literature. All those things, and more, make George’s works so enjoyable that you’ll want to come back for more.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Princess of the Midnight Ball is a retelling of the well-known fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses. This time, the stakes are higher, the world is more vibrant, and the bargains are darker. Though there seems to be interesting niche out there for fairy tale retellings or expanded retellings
Set in a 15 century German-type country, readers meet young Galen, a solider returning from war who becomes a gardener for the royal family. But there's something strange about the king's twelve daughters -so strange that it becomes a scandal. Every third morning, the slippers of all the princesses are found in shreds, having been danced apart. No one seems to know what nighttime activities the girls may be engaging in, since they refuse to speak about it. Not only that, but the king locks them into their rooms every night with guards and even princes keeping a close eye on them. But still, no answer to the mystery. Meanwhile, Galen has fallen in love with the oldest princess, Rose, who seems to return his affections. But him being a soldier and gardener, rather than a prince, makes a future with Rose impossible. That is, unless he can solve the mystery of the dancing slippers...
If you're in the mood for something simple and magical, easy and quick to read but still well-written, Princess of the Midnight Ball is a delightful read. Though, yes it's predictable and short, it's well-crafted, lightening-paced and enchanting. Sometimes, I just need something simple, and Princess of the Midnight Ball satisfies that need. The world is beautifully crafted, with just enough of a dark edge to make it more adult, and George makes a pointed effort to give adequate explanations to things that, in the original, were given no explanation because of the fairy tale nature of the story.
Probably the only small issues with the story were the high predictability of the plot and the lack of characterization for the majority of the characters. Galen and Rose, the two romantic leads, were given good characterization along with the villain, but virtually of all the other characters: King Gregor,his advisors and many of the other princesses (okay, it's hard to balance twelve characters on the page at once).
It's a little tough for me to admit that I like something so predictable and simple, but sometimes you just need that in a book and I'll admit -George does it exquisitely. Princess of the Midnight Ball is an enchanting, delightful read that will keep readers flipping pages and demanding more.
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(typically of the darker shade), I haven't read any of them, typically because I have other things on list and well, it always bugged me that I would know basically the entire plot of the book before even opening it. After mountains of recommendations, I thought I'd give Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball a try.Set in a 15 century German-type country, readers meet young Galen, a solider returning from war who becomes a gardener for the royal family. But there's something strange about the king's twelve daughters -so strange that it becomes a scandal. Every third morning, the slippers of all the princesses are found in shreds, having been danced apart. No one seems to know what nighttime activities the girls may be engaging in, since they refuse to speak about it. Not only that, but the king locks them into their rooms every night with guards and even princes keeping a close eye on them. But still, no answer to the mystery. Meanwhile, Galen has fallen in love with the oldest princess, Rose, who seems to return his affections. But him being a soldier and gardener, rather than a prince, makes a future with Rose impossible. That is, unless he can solve the mystery of the dancing slippers...
If you're in the mood for something simple and magical, easy and quick to read but still well-written, Princess of the Midnight Ball is a delightful read. Though, yes it's predictable and short, it's well-crafted, lightening-paced and enchanting. Sometimes, I just need something simple, and Princess of the Midnight Ball satisfies that need. The world is beautifully crafted, with just enough of a dark edge to make it more adult, and George makes a pointed effort to give adequate explanations to things that, in the original, were given no explanation because of the fairy tale nature of the story.
Probably the only small issues with the story were the high predictability of the plot and the lack of characterization for the majority of the characters. Galen and Rose, the two romantic leads, were given good characterization along with the villain, but virtually of all the other characters: King Gregor,his advisors and many of the other princesses (okay, it's hard to balance twelve characters on the page at once).
It's a little tough for me to admit that I like something so predictable and simple, but sometimes you just need that in a book and I'll admit -George does it exquisitely. Princess of the Midnight Ball is an enchanting, delightful read that will keep readers flipping pages and demanding more.
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LibraryThing member Aerrin99
A fun and fresh fairytale retelling with engaging characters and a plot that trips along at a nice pace.
There's not a lot of depth here, but it's a lot of fun, and it delves into a fairytale that I was unfamiliar with.
Rose is the oldest of twelve, all sisters, all princesses. Their mother made a
After many failures and many mysterious deaths, a gardener and former soldier named Galen - armed with knitting needles and herblore - gives it a shot.
If you like fairy tale retellings, I definitely recommend this. I recommend the sequel - Princess of Glass - even more.
There's not a lot of depth here, but it's a lot of fun, and it delves into a fairytale that I was unfamiliar with.
Rose is the oldest of twelve, all sisters, all princesses. Their mother made a
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deadly deal with the King of Under Stone, and since her death they have been cursed to dance every night until their shoes are in tatters. They can't tell anyone what they do or where they go. When the girls get sick and their all-night dancing means they struggle to recover, the worried king offers up their hands in marriage to any prince who can uncover their secret.After many failures and many mysterious deaths, a gardener and former soldier named Galen - armed with knitting needles and herblore - gives it a shot.
If you like fairy tale retellings, I definitely recommend this. I recommend the sequel - Princess of Glass - even more.
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Awards
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2011)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2012)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Teen — 2012)
Whitney Award (Finalist — 2009)
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee — Young Adult Book Award — 2011)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2010)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to Twelve — 2010)
Language
Original publication date
2009-01-20
Physical description
280 p.; 5.75 x 0.98 inches
ISBN
1599903229 / 9781599903224
Local notes
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.