Princess of Secrets by A. G. Marshall
Fantasy. 512 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
All she needs is a clue
After a disastrous Princess Test, Carina tries to pick up the pieces and prove she is still a trustworthy spy. But all her evidence points to magical interference, and her father won’t believe such preposterous theories without proof. She’ll have to solve this mystery fast to salvage her reputation, but can she do it alone?
All he needs is a kiss
When Carina refuses to attend his brother’s wedding, Prince Stefan crosses the ocean to change her mind. But the perfect surprise turns into a perfect disaster when a witch transforms him into a frog. Only a kiss from Princess Carina can break the curse, and she doesn’t seem inclined to kiss anyone. Can Stefan win her heart before it’s too late?
Or will dark magic sweep them all away?
The Frog Prince is a retold fairy tale and the second book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series. These books take place in the same world, and each novel is a stand-alone with a fairy tale ending. Enjoy them one by one or read the entire series to see how everything connects.
If you like strong characters, sweet romance, and daring escapades, download a Fairy Tale Adventure today!
My Review:
I love a good mystery! This ball of fun drew together some really cool things, I thought.
The Frog Prince is a fun story on it’s own, a bit strange, but generally a heartwarming tale. Here Marshall has taken the classic elements of The Frog Prince and sewn them seamlessly into her world. I was actually really, really excited to see how she addressed classic points in the original tale–such as the spoiled princess, the gold ball, the well, the frog’s barter, etc.–and thought they were very cleverly handled. It was one of the best parts of the book for me. I loved seeing why the golden trinket was so important to the princess, what prompted the frog to seek companionship the way he did, and especially a good reason for why the princess up and ran away as soon as the frog retrieved her treasure. Each element had such a natural explanation, but even more so than that, it held a meaning to the story that ran deeper than simply a nod to the classic. Marshall created a story and she wove the elements into it as if it had been hers all along.
Furthermore, I really enjoyed the story Marshall spun. I liked Carina before, but getting to know her like this was a treat. Same for Stefan, honestly. I’d liked him in book one–I’d really liked the relationship between him and Alaric, which appropriately drove Stefan to this adventure–but getting to know him as the lead was a lot of fun. I loved how they depended on each other, how they each needed something from the other, but they wouldn’t or couldn’t trust one another, especially right off the bat. Seeing Carina’s home and family gave me a much deeper appreciation for her. I do hope we get to see more of Seraphina, and maybe even of their mother, at some point. I keenly felt the loss that weighted Carina down and the expectation that pressed into her. Her family dynamic really brought life to the characters here. Similarly, it was really cool to see Stefan’s true colors shine when Heinrich tagged along. I think the story would have been quite a bit different without the dutiful tailor. Oh, and sidenote, Stefan’s gift there at the end was priceless!! Absolutely excellent. Loved that!!
We kind of got to see the world Marshall had built in book one open up and expand in this book. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a sucker for mermaids. So, in part, I started this series just to get to book three and see The Little Mermaid. But truthfully? I don’t know how it’s going to beat this one or book one. First of all, I did not expect to see mermaids in the Frog Prince story, but they were an essential element and that alone makes this one of the best retellings ever! But more than that, the world is clearly one world, a world where every part works alongside the rest. The story’s aren’t so easily separated and pulled apart, which is really neat! First we had a goblin fighting shadow warrior, which is epic, and then we moved to a underestimated spy vying for her position and love and just trying to save her family and country. These two heroines are not your typical gals. They aren’t afraid of climbing walls and diving head first into danger. They stand between those they love and the threat of dark forces. These girls are the perfect balance of real, raw fears and courageous, adventurous spirits. I loved seeing the world crafted in such a way to make these characters and plots come to life and propel one another forward.
This book had it all: adventure, mystery and intrigue, a dash of danger, a slow-boiled romance, and the suspense that drives your curiosity and wins your heart. Clean story with no language, clean romance, and mild violence at the hands of a crafty monster. I’d highly recommend it (after book one of course) and happily so to preteens and up.
More:
Book 1 of the Fairy Tale Adventures is Princess of Shadows (5 Stars)
Book 3 is the Princess of Mermaids (5 Stars)
Book 4 is in the works!
I have rated and reviewed the above on GR. You can click on the links and check them out. The series is very interconnected and I would recommend reading it in order!
On GraceBought
Missed the review of Book 1? Check it out below! And stay tuned next week for my thoughts on the sequel!
Princess of Shadows