Rating: I like it BUT some families may not

Reading level: Middle School

This was more of the same weaving of fairytale characters together to make drama and adventure.  

Things parents should consider: (SPOILER ALERT!)

  • Magic and those who use it: witches, wizards, sprites, fairies, evil queens, ogres.
  • Mention of curse words. There is mention at one point that people “swore” curse words. The words are not given explicitly.
  • Suggestive of immodesty. In a couple places the princess is told to change clothes and a few male servants cast glances in her direction before she says she’d rather go elsewhere. It happens again with a magic mirror.
  • Name calling. There is some mild name-calling.
  • Impropriety? When Annie & Liam adventure undercover as two boys, he gets just one room @ the inn because it would be suspicious to get two. Liam sleeps on the floor, but still sharing a room alone with a young man is probably not wise. (Nothing happens, and Liam is honorable.)
  • Missed opportunity for reconciliation. I think that the author missed an opportunity. I wish there had been reconciliation with the one who betrayed the main character but at least another character had reconciliation when a daughter found courage to be honest with her father and return home.
  • Kissing. There is a big smooch.

Things I like:

  • Princess with substance. The princess is not a diva or a bridezilla. She is brave and clever and kind.
  • Marriage. I like that a couple tied the knot after an appropriate time, instead of waiting forever in engagement.
  • Kindness wins. I like how past kindness pays off with clutch connections later on.

Most of the concerns are somewhat minor, especially for the age I recommend, so the good outweighs the bad for me on this one.

This one has a lot of references to characters from previous books in the series, so I recommend reading those first if you plan to enjoy this one.

See my reviews of Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3 in the series.