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Author: Jessica Day George
Release Date: Out now (May 25, 2010)
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Received: borrowed; about to buy my own copy!
SUMMARY:
Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances--and potential marriages.
It's got the makings of a fairy tale--until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince.
Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.
It's got the makings of a fairy tale--until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince.
Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.
Is PRINCESS OF GLASS as fantastic on the inside as that gorgeous cover makes it out to be? Why yes, yes it is. While the novel is a companion to PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL, it isn't necessary to read one book before the other. While reading MIDNIGHT BALL first will make certain passages in GLASS make more sense, they are each self-contained novels. MIDNIGHT BALL revolves around the tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses (one of my favorite fairy tales ever) and features oldest sister Rose. GLASS is a Cinderella-inspired story featuring Poppy, who falls somewhere in the middle of the twelve sisters (I want to say 5th or 6th, but can't remember for sure). The final book featuring the sisters, PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS, comes out this year and features the youngest sister, Petunia, in a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. Each book will be self-contained and can be read for the story lying within, but each will refer back to the original MIDNIGHT BALL, in which we are introduced to the entire family.
What I liked best about PRINCESS OF GLASS is how unique it is compared to other Cinderella-inspired novels. The main heroine, Poppy, isn't even the Cinderella figure, but rather collides with Eleanora's story in a most unusual way. For those who read Jessica Day George's PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL, you'll know that the magic binding the twelve dancing princesses was dark and twisted. Having come out of one ordeal barely intact, Princess Poppy can now spot a magical curse when she sees one. All of the local princes and princesses from the various nations of Ionia go on an exchange program to other nations in order to learn to appreciate one another more. Poppy finds herself in Breton, where Prince Christian from Damerhavn has also been sent. The King of Breton has made it his mission to make sure that the prince becomes engaged to one of his citizens since his daughters aren't old enough to wed and throws a ball and a masquerade to ensure that Prince Christian will find his match. At the same time, a down-on-her-luck servant, Ellen (once called Eleanora), is desperate to leave her new rag-tag life behind. She makes a deal with the Corley, a magical being she doesn't truly understand, in order to become Lady Ella and enchant Prince Christian into taking her away into a posh life. But the Corley's magic comes with a dangerous price, and if Princess Poppy can't figure out what spell Eleanora has swept over the kingdom, it just might be too late for everyone.
Ellen isn't your traditional Cinderella heroine. She's not in love with the prince. She hates that she's fallen so far into poverty and that she's never adapted well to life as a servant. She resents Princess Poppy and Poppy's cousin, Lady Marianne, for having what she cannot when they should have been equals. She's selfish and likes to wallow. At the same time, George delves into her character and shows readers what makes her tick. Ellen goes through extreme hardships in order to carry out the Corley's magic and become Cinderella. She pays dearly for this wish. At the same time, Poppy finds herself also in Prince Christian's thrall, though she never realizes she likes him as more than a friend until he becomes magically enamored with Lady Ella. I felt that the dark magic in this book went deeper than it did in the first. The Corley was much scarier than the King Under Stone. I also love the way two fairy tales collided in unexpected ways and didn't result in the fairy tale direction I thought the novel would go in. I'm extremely excited to read PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS and see where George takes us next!
What I liked best about PRINCESS OF GLASS is how unique it is compared to other Cinderella-inspired novels. The main heroine, Poppy, isn't even the Cinderella figure, but rather collides with Eleanora's story in a most unusual way. For those who read Jessica Day George's PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL, you'll know that the magic binding the twelve dancing princesses was dark and twisted. Having come out of one ordeal barely intact, Princess Poppy can now spot a magical curse when she sees one. All of the local princes and princesses from the various nations of Ionia go on an exchange program to other nations in order to learn to appreciate one another more. Poppy finds herself in Breton, where Prince Christian from Damerhavn has also been sent. The King of Breton has made it his mission to make sure that the prince becomes engaged to one of his citizens since his daughters aren't old enough to wed and throws a ball and a masquerade to ensure that Prince Christian will find his match. At the same time, a down-on-her-luck servant, Ellen (once called Eleanora), is desperate to leave her new rag-tag life behind. She makes a deal with the Corley, a magical being she doesn't truly understand, in order to become Lady Ella and enchant Prince Christian into taking her away into a posh life. But the Corley's magic comes with a dangerous price, and if Princess Poppy can't figure out what spell Eleanora has swept over the kingdom, it just might be too late for everyone.
Ellen isn't your traditional Cinderella heroine. She's not in love with the prince. She hates that she's fallen so far into poverty and that she's never adapted well to life as a servant. She resents Princess Poppy and Poppy's cousin, Lady Marianne, for having what she cannot when they should have been equals. She's selfish and likes to wallow. At the same time, George delves into her character and shows readers what makes her tick. Ellen goes through extreme hardships in order to carry out the Corley's magic and become Cinderella. She pays dearly for this wish. At the same time, Poppy finds herself also in Prince Christian's thrall, though she never realizes she likes him as more than a friend until he becomes magically enamored with Lady Ella. I felt that the dark magic in this book went deeper than it did in the first. The Corley was much scarier than the King Under Stone. I also love the way two fairy tales collided in unexpected ways and didn't result in the fairy tale direction I thought the novel would go in. I'm extremely excited to read PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS and see where George takes us next!
COVER DESIGN:
Even though I don't love pink (and don't recall you being that pink in the book what with all the white and whatnot), I love YOU! You're the prettiest, frothiest dress, absolutely suited for a princess! I love all the embellishments.
I love the background with the weathered steps and the Greek columns. I love the way the columns take on a hue that complements that pretty, pretty dress.
There's nothing I don't like about you, you gorgeous cover, you!
I read the Midnight Ball and enjoyed it, I have been keeping my eyes open for the used copy of this one. I really want to read it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find one soon! It's really good! I liked it even better :)
DeleteI love Jessica Day George. I liked Princess of the Midnight Ball a little better, but this one was really good too. I agree, JDG incorporated the Cinderella fairy tale in a way I wasn't expecting. I also loved the idea of a royal exchange program. I can't wait for the third book! Thanks for all the info about it. I didn't know it was about the youngest sister, actually, I don't think I even knew which fairy tale was being retold. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think...I think ENTWINED tainted MIDNIGHT BALL a little for me. It was perfection. Creepier, too. But I still really like MIDNIGHT BALL (I just re-read it, actually, lol...which is maybe why it's now tainted), but I LOVE GLASS. I'm so, so excited for SILVER WOODS! I'm glad I gave you some new info! <3
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