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Sep 13, 2011

Cara rated it:

I couldn't fall asleep one night and without even realizing it I was so caught up and enchanted by the story it was six in the morining when I finished the book.

This is a retelling but I'm not familar with the original tale, so I can't say how close it is to the original. It stands on it's own though and you don't need any prior knowledge of the story to enjoy it.

The story starts out with our hero Gaylen (great name by the way) coming back from a war that he and his fello More...

0 comments like (8 people liked it)

Jan 17, 2009

Gkeller123 rated it:

I bought this book yesterday at work, and was excited to start it. I had some time in the evening and read a few pages. When I woke early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, I decided to read for a while. I couldn't stop until I had finished the WHOLE THING! I loved it. I have read other variations on the 12 dancing princesses, but this one had different twist and turns that made it so much different (and better!).

0 comments like (15 people liked it)

Sep 04, 2011

Steve rated it:

I love all of Jessica's books. They are fantasic reads. Her creative story lines and well developed characters are always a joy. I can never put her books down. I'm always so sad when I finish reading one because I want the next one immediatly. If you haven't read Jessica's books you need to. They are all fantasic.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 02, 2011

Katie rated it:

While I wouldn't normally pick up a fantasy/fairytale book (as fantasy isn't my favorite genre), Princess of the Midnight Ball was highly recommended to my by a friend. After reading the book, I am glad I took her advice to get a copy!

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet fairytale! It made for a very easy read and the story plot captivated me. Galen was easy to grow to like as the hero of this tale. I was surprised that most often the story was written from his POV (point of view) and no More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 29, 2009

Amber rated it:

This story was lacking in too many elements to be enjoyable for me. The characters were so underdeveloped that the weren't likable- the writing didn't make me love the hero or hate the villain. The romance lacked passion and believability. I couldn't ever figure out what the hero and heroine saw in each other, and why the hero would go to such lengths to save the heroine. And the plot was so predicable- I never wondered whether or not the princesses would be saved in the end, and the ending More...

3 comments like (17 people liked it)

Sep 02, 2011

Pamela(AllHoney) rated it:

Delightful and enchanting. I really enjoyed it. There is not a lot of development of the characters in the story but if there was it would probably not appeal to the younger crowd it was written for. Its been a long time since I've read the original fairy tale but I think it remained true to the story. I would definitely recommend this to young people of all ages.

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 08, 2009

Candi rated it:

This is a great re-telling of the 12 dancing princesses with true love, mystery, knitting, and a really good bad guy. I already like Jessica Day George and my favorite novel of hers has been "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow," but I think this book is my new favorite. Ordinarily I have a hard time with 12 dancing princess stories because it is hard to keep track of that many characters that are very similar by nature, all pretty girls, princesses, etc., but this story does a very good job More...

4 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 17, 2009

Claire rated it:

The title lets us know that we are in for a retelling of the 12 dancing princesses. Jessica Day George provides back story, the girls mother, desperate for an heir, makes a deal with the evil King Under Stone, who was banished by 12 magicians eons ago. She will dance with him periodically for a favor. The wily King entraps Queen Maude, she dies and her daughters are doomed to pay her debt nightly to the King and his pallid sons. Enter good hearted, wise (yet still young, handsome, strong and lu More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 17, 2009

Lindsey rated it:

I really loved this book! I'd only heard good reviews about it, so when I read it...it met my expectations of being great. I wanted to keep reading. The storyline was appealing and the characters were well done. I loved the sisters relationships with one another as well, it was perfect. I could totally see myself as a sister and joining in on the teasing yet caring atmosphere. It was a bit hard though to keep track of them all. But when there's twelve of anything in a book, it's going to be hard More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jul 17, 2010

Anne rated it:

Galen is a soldier, who knits his own socks, has lost his entire family in the Analousian War, and has survived to begin a new life. He follows the tales of his dead mother to find her living sister. And his uncle, who happens to be the head gardener for the king. Thus Galen becomes an undergardener.

And privy to the most dramatic mystery in the kingdom.

For no one, especially the daughters of the king, can tell where they disappear each night. And why their slippers are al More...

13 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 10, 2008

Rachel rated it:

Perfection. A wonderful story with wonderful characters, traditional with great twists.

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Aug 01, 2011

Isabel rated it:

So, unfortunately I promised a few people that I would write a review on this book (I mean, maybe one... or two...) so here's my best attempt at writing one: (note: I am not particularly good at writing thoughtful, lengthy reviews)

To be quite frank, upon finishing Princess of the Midnight Ball I felt deeply annoyed at myself for ever having picked up this book -- and having it sit in the corner of my room, making me feel guilty, for almost eight months. At times this book showed some More...

15 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 12, 2010

Ash rated it:

I loved Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by this author and when I heard she had another book coming out I got pretty excited. It delivered, but fell just a bit short. I'd never heard the original story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses so I didn't know what was going to happen. I think it gives a chance to judge the book on its own instead of comparing it to the origianl tale.
The story was slow at the beginning and I kept waiting for something big to happen. It kept me interested though. The bo More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 21, 2011

Mira rated it:

Who doesn't like to have a bit of magic every now and then?! Well, if you don't like to, or think yourself too sophisticated to enjoy such things, then this book is certainly NOT for you. I, on the contrary, LOVE fairy tales, as they present me a light, swift, mood-changing read when I feel like it. Based on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Princess of the Midnight Ball is sweet, simple, and easy to get through. However, a bit more humor would've fitted perfectly, and a stronger c More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 01, 2011

Melissa rated it:

Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit, and enchanted silver knitting needles . Unfortantly evil is working against them above and below ground, but with a good plan can they make everything "happily ever after More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 24, 2009

Chantel rated it:

This is my favorite retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses. Jessica Day George stays true to the original fairy tale and explains parts that have never made sense to me before. For instance, why did the silly girls go down the magical stairs in the first place? Did they want to stay up all night ruining their shoes and worrying their parents? What compelled them to keep visiting the underground island? I loved Princess of the Midnight Ball! Go Jessica!

*A side note... my husband More...

5 comments like (4 people liked it)

Feb 21, 2009

Farida rated it:

The good: knitting (and even some wet-felting!) is an important motif running through the plot. There are patterns at the end of the book, too.

What I could have lived without: the witch-hunt perpetuated by members of the Catholic church. What, you don't remember that part of the fairy tale?

4 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 09, 2011

Reading Vacation's Mom rated it:

Review

The Queen’s Dollmaker tells two tragic stories set in the late 1700’s in Paris and London.

First, there is the story of Claudette, the orphaned French dollmaker. Claudette has many struggles in her young life – surviving a fire that kills her parents, becoming a servant, leaving her native country, being separated from her fiance’ and more. Claudette reminded me a women’s movement leader because she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, she stood up to men, and she had a career. She would not More...

1 comment like

Mar 24, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Based on the fairy tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Jessica Day George pens her version of Rose and her eleven sisters. Due to a bargain their mother made, they must go down to Court of King Under Stone and dance the night away.

What first begins as a mystery to the numerous ruined pairs of dancing slippers soon becomes the most gossiped rumor in the land. The girls are forbidden to talk about their curse; thus their f More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 07, 2009

Emily added it

It's official. Jessica Day George is one of my favorite authors. From this point forward, I will be sure to own all of her books as soon as they are released. I loved Dragon Slippers and the sequels and Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.
Besides loving her books, I've heard her speak and believe me, she's a red-headed riot. Here's an interview I did with her a while back.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Princess of the Midnight Ball is a retelling o More...

1 comment like

Jan 20, 2009

Lenore rated it:

If you are familiar with the Grimm fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, then you already know the main plot points of this retelling. Author Jessica Day George adds depth to the story of the young solider charged with finding out why the kingdom’s 12 princesses wear out their dancing shoes every night by setting it in a place with magic even darker than the original.
Galen makes a fine hero, he’s a noble orphan who knits and is kind to old ladies (traits which serve him well as the sto More...

0 comments like

Dec 29, 2008

Michelle rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like

Jan 03, 2012

Kath Ann rated it:

This was an enjoyable retelling of the fairytale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, who are bound by a curse to dance each night away in the underground kingdom of King Under Stone. Many try to discover where the princesses go each night, as they are unable to speak of what binds them, but none succeed until former soldier,Galen, now under gardener in the palace garden takes up the challenge with a little magic of his own.

If you enjoy this, you might also try, Entwined by Heather Dixo More...

0 comments like

Oct 19, 2011

Mary rated it:

This book is kind of addicting, for one that's kind of short. It's a re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which isn't a very common story...! The main idea is that twelve princesses come back every night with worn out shoes and it's up to a prince to figure it out, and the author puts and interesting twist on it. A dark twist, but not... not creepy dark, but just darker than a fairy tale.
The main character Galen is a young man back from war and he takes up living with his aunt and More...

0 comments like

Aug 08, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like

Aug 01, 2011

Meggy added it

A good book and interesting retelling of the well-known tale, but it does come with a few noticeable faults. I didn't really like that the two main characters, Galen and Rose, were described as "handsome" and "beautiful", respectively. Although it isn't bad, per se, to have beautiful characters, I don't think it should be their most primary feature or characteristic. However, the characters did gain personality throughout the book (although I'm still a bit wary of Galen and R More...

0 comments like

Jul 29, 2011

Kelly added it

The tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses has served as the basics for this captivating story, there are twelve princesses, varying in age from seventeen all the way down to six. They have flower names, ranging from the obvious names such as Rose, Poppy, Daisy, Lily, Petunia and Violet to lesser known flowers as names like Hyacinth, Orchid, Pansy, Jonquil, Lilac and Iris. In the classic story, the princess dance the night away in freedom and happiness. However Jessica Day George creates a dar More...

0 comments like

May 19, 2011

Em rated it:

Oh. My. Heck.

I don't even have words for how much I love this book!

First off, the plot was unbelievably original -- how she managed that while at the same time echoing a fairytale is beyond me. She added twists and turns to the plot of a (somewhat boring) fairytale, (in my opinion) and I thought it was unpredictable. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Second, most books I read don't leave me asking any questions. This book did. My brain was at war with itself tryin More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

May 07, 2011

Rachma rated it:

Dua belas putri, satu kutukan, berdansa atau mati. Novel ini dibuat berdasarkan dongeng klasik Brother Grimm ‘Twelve Dancing Princesses’. Alkisah di negeri Westfalin, Ratu Maude sangat mendambakan kehadiran seorang anak. Berbagai upaya yang tak kunjung membuahkan hasil mendorongnya membuat perjanjian dengan penyihir hitam yang telah disegel di bawah tanah, Raja Under Stone. Setahun kemudian lahirlah Putri Rose, disusul 11 putri lainnya di tahun-tahun berikutnya. Tak satupun lahir pewaris laki-la More...

0 comments like

Mar 16, 2011

Emily rated it:

My favorite fairy tale is the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I'm not sure where this started, though I suspect it comes from the book of fairy tales I bought at a used book sale once and would take babysitting. One family I sat for a lot had two girls, Emily and Ellen, and as I recall it was their favorite, so I read it a lot. Twelve has been my lucky number for as long as I can remember, so that could have something to do with it, too.

Anyway, this was the first retelling of The Twelve More...

0 comments like