The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea by Melanie Cellier
Fairy Tale. 334 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
One dark and stormy night, lost and alone, Alyssa finds herself knocking on the door of a castle.
After a lifetime spent in the deep forest, Alyssa has no idea what to expect on the other side.
What she finds is two unruly young princesses and one very handsome prince. When Alyssa accepts the job of Princess Companion she knows her life will change. What she doesn’t know is that the royal family is about to be swept up in unexpected danger and intrigue and that she just might be the only thing standing between her kingdom and destruction.
This retelling of the classic fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea, reimagines the risks and rewards that come when one royal family goes searching for a true princess.
Danger and romance await a woodcutter’s daughter in a royal palace.
My Review:
Book 1 in Melanie Cellier’s Four Kingdom’s Series! Princess and the Pea is so underrated, but this retelling totally took the cake! The story nodded to the fairytale, but grew a life all it’s own–an intricate and thrilling life! The plot drew me in and held suspense and tension in many points. I also really liked the way the book was formatted. Not only was it well-written, but it was well-formatted too, and in such a way as to draw the reader in even further to the plot. I particularly enjoyed the few chapters from alternate povs. (I hear there’s a version from Max’s pov?! Where and how can I get it?!) I fell for the characters! And I am thoroughly intrigued by Ella’s story. I certainly hope that’s to come soon! I liked both the MCs and the SCs, which is always a nice touch. The secondary’s felt alluring and I hope to see more of them. Many of the characters held a reality to them that I enjoyed. And, of course, I’m totally hooked into this world! The setting and world-building continue to thrill me. I am increasingly intrigued by the political system Cellier has designed and by the laws of the land. I hope to see more of that elaborated upon too. On to book 2!!
Mild violence, very mild romance, no language. Definitely recommend and consider appropriate for even the younger kids.
More:
Book 2 of The Four Kingdoms 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 4 is The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty (5 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.
ON GRACEBOUGHT
Check out my review of the next book in the series here!
Also, check out my thoughts on the spin-off series, Beyond the Four Kingdoms!
More fairytale retellings! My favorite!
Ooh! And these are all excellent!!! I love this author!!
I’ll have to add them to my already-long to read list haha
Do!! Haha, the to-read list is never-ending! I read these on Kindle Unlimited, but you can get the paperback or kindle versions on Amazon.