The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty by Sleeping Beauty
Fairy Tale. 293 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
They call her the Sleeping Princess, but Celeste is far from asleep…
Celeste has been cursed since her sixteenth birthday–just not in the way the rest of the kingdom thinks. All they see is her breath-taking beauty, marred by her foolishness. Only she knows that she retains her brilliant mind. And it’s a secret she must keep at all costs.
Over the years she’s grown accustomed to the necessary deception. After all, her life depends on it. And she’s even found a way to protect her kingdom, working from the shadows. But now a dangerous new threat has emerged, one that Celeste can’t defeat alone. She needs the help of a newly-arrived prince. One who’s altogether too handsome and too charming. Somehow she needs to keep her secret, save her kingdom and find a way to free herself from the curse. The last thing she has time to do is sleep.
In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, it’s only the princess’ mind that is asleep. And sometimes appearances can be deceiving.
My Review:
Sleeping Beauty has been my favorite since I was a little girl. As I’ve gotten older, other stories and princesses have challenged her, but deep down, Aurora will always be my oldest and first fairy tale love. I can honestly say that Mrs. Celier has done her justice.
First of all, William! SQUEE! He’s positively dashing. In fact, the entire story would be well-summed up as dashing. There was quite a bit more adventure in this one than the previous ones. Even Ava wasn’t as kickbutt and awesome as Aurora! I loved the skillset she displayed and how her instincts, training, and choices played into the plot. The plot was enthralling and pretty fast-paced. The setting was gorgeous and I wanted more of it. I think Lanover may be my favorite so far (except for maybe Arcadia, because it was my first). Though each kingdom has its own strengths and forms of beauty, Lanover had that tropical paradise that I LOVE! Islands and sand and jungles and warm sunshine! Count me in! I really liked getting to see Celine so young and it makes me even more exited to see her story–which I’m hoping is the Snow Queen! The character interactions among all the siblings was precious and reminded me a little of my own family. I do hope we’ll return to the rest of the family one day. Maybe Clarisse will fall in love or the older boys? 😀 Hey, a girl can hope! The twist on the classic fairy tale was clever and completely ingenuitive. It made for a unique and vibrant retelling. Mmm, and did I mention William?! He’s the perfect Phillip. *sigh* *swoon* Well-written, intriguing plot, fantastic characters, and stunning setting. No language, sweet, sweet romance, and mild, dangerous violence. Nothing graphic. Dashing!
More:
Book 1 of The Four Kingdoms is The Princess Companion: A Retelling of the Princess and the Pea (5 Stars)
Book 2 is The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood (5 Stars)
Novella 2.5 is Happily Ever Afters: A Reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red (4 Stars)
Book 3 is The Princess Pact: A Twist on Rumpelstiltskin (5 Stars)
Novella 3.5 is A Midwinter’s Wedding: A Retelling of the Frog Prince (4 Stars)
Book 5 is The Princess Search: A Retelling of The Ugly Duckling (4 Stars)
I have reviewed each of the above on Goodreads. Follow the links to find more info on the books and then scroll down to see the reviews. Mine is among them.
Although these stories are each technically independent of one another, I would highly recommend reading them in order. The later books do include spoilers for the previous ones. It isn’t necessary to read the novellas in order with the series, but it’s a nice touch.
Also, you can check out the spin-off series Beyond the Four Kingdoms!
ON GRACEBOUGHT
If you missed it, check out my review of the previous books here! And stay tuned next week for my thoughts on the next book in the series.
The Princess Companion, The Princess Fugitive, and The Princess Pact