A True Princess  by Diane Zahler
182 pgs.
Target audience: Age 8-12
Rating: Wizard

Lilia is on a quest to the North to find her true family. She is joined by her best friend, Kai, his sister Karina and their dog Ove. On the way they get lost in the perilous Bitra forest, the land of the Elf-King where Kai is placed under an enchantment. Lilia must find a precious jeweled clasp hidden somewhere in the North Kingdom in return for her friend's freedom. But finding the jewel places her in the middle of a contest for Prince Tycho's hand in marriage. Based on The Princess and the Pea, Zahler's graceful storytelling brings this time honored tale to life. Each chapter heading denotes a rule from the prince's handbook on how to be a true princess. Lilia possesses strength, tenacity and resourcefulness, qualities which incidentally are not valued in the true princess handbook. This is a delightfully light and entertaining story blending romance and adventure. It is bound to be a hit with readers of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
308 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

Synopsis from inside front cover

"It isn't easy being Sunday's child, not when you're the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday's only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes as a terrible tendency to come true.
     When Sunday meets an echanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night, Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland -- and a man Sunday's family despises.
     The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction to this prince she barely knows? and what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past -- and hers?"


First I must say that I simply adore fairy tales and the only thing better is retelling fairy tales and Alethea Kontis most definitely has the gift. From the synopsis you'd think it was a simple Frog Prince story, but oh no, this story is so much more. Into the love story of Sunday Woodcutter and her handsome frog turned prince, she weaves subtle hints and flavorings of many other tales including Cinderella, Princess and the Pea, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Warrior Princess, Rumpelstiltskin, and The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. She does this so seemlessly throughout the book that you don't even notice at first -- it's just part of the story. This technique gives it depth and richness.

"Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace.
Wednesday's child is full of woe.
Thursday's child hsa far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving.
Saturday's child works hard for a living.
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is blithe and bonny and good and gay."

I loved this verse and how the meanings were slowly revealed as the story progressed. I found myself going back and re-reading the lines when certain sisters were highlighted. The two meddling fairy godmothers good and evil were aptly named as Joy and Sorrow. All the threads are brought together in the end making this a wondrous, romatic and ethereal fantasy.I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to more from this author. Perfect for fans of Jessica Day George.