A True Princess

Nov 19, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, library, fantasy, cybils

The more I look at the cover of A True Princess by Diane Zahler, the more I think this cover is really pretty. Friends, I’m really just attracted to bright colors, magpie syndrome and all. I guess I’m also really attracted to fairy tale retellings, especially when it’s an under the radar fairy tale. Zahler takes on The Princess And The Pea in A True Princess.

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tale

A student said this is her favorite book and I “had to read it.”

Lilia is an orphan taken in by a family with two children close to her in age, Kai and Karina. Their mother has died and the stepmother does not like her adopted children. Pregnant with her first child she wants to sell Lilia to the Miller’s household to be a servant. The Miller is mean and Lilia decides to runaway and find her family. She knows her family is from the North and she has a blanket that she was found wrapped in as a ba...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Kiera Beddes rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: tween with no previous cultural attachments to traditional stories

Shelves: ya-lit, mythology, fantasy

Genre: fractured fairytale, princess and the pea
Summary: Lilia is a dreamer and not a great servant. She was brought to a poor woodcutter's home through mysterious circumstances so she goes off into the world with her best friends Karina and Kai to find where she really comes from.
Response: Uh,well this book seemed to have a good idea but I think the execution was a little off. The author tried to mix to many disparate elements and the resulting clash of cultures was both a little off-putting a...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

The life of an orphan girl who cannot cook porridge is not an easy one, as Lilia has reason to know. She was discovered in a wrapped in a rainbow blanket in a basket that had floated down the river from the north and nobody knew who she might be. A kind man with two children of his own took her in, but his new wife was not so kind. She treated Lilia like a servant and when it came time to have a child of her own she was determined to send Lilia to a new, more cruel, master. Lilia ran away withou...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Sarah BT rated it 4 of 5 stars

If your tween (or even teen) readers are anything like the ones I know at my library, fairy tales always go over well. A True Princess has it's roots in The Princess and the Pea, but that's only part of the story and the plot stands firmly on its own.

Lilia is searching for her family but also searching for a way to rescue Kai. These stories weave together nicely and have a very fairy tale feel to them. While the story might be a bit predictable, especially for older readers, it's still a lot of...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Cindy Hudson rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are many rules to define a true princess, and Lilia seems to break all of them. Breaking the first one, A True Princess Does Not Eavesdrop, is how Lilia finds out that her stepmother plans to sell her as a serving girl to the miller. It’s a fateful moment, because that’s when she decides to run away to the north. As a baby she was found floating in a basket down the river from that direction, and she longs to discover who she truly is.

Joining her on the journey are her adopted sister and b...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, middle-grades, fairy-tales

There are several things in life that I find hard to resist: shoes, free books, and retellings of fairy tales. A True Princess (Diane Zahler) was a quaint retelling of the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” Unlike the well-known fairy tale version, however, this retelling is packed full of adventure and “girl power."

The story begins when Lilia, the adventurous protagonist of the story, finds herself in a very difficult situation. She has to decide whether or not to run away from the...more There are several things in life that I find hard to resist: shoes, free books, and retellings of fairy tales. A True Princess (Diane Zahler) was a quaint retelling of the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” Unlike the well-known fairy tale version, however, this retelling is packed full of adventure and “girl power."

The story begins when Lilia, the adventurous protagonist of the story, finds herself in a very difficult situation. She has to decide whether or not to run away from the only home and family she has ever known. If she stays, her stepmother will sell her to the local Miller. If she runs away, however, she will be on her own in a strange land without any protection. The decision may seem daunting to some, but Lilia does not falter from her choice: she will run away.

While on her way out of town, Lilia is met by her adopted brother and sister, Karina and Kai. The two siblings tracked Lilia easily using the family’s dog as their guide. Together, the three companions set out to find Lilia’s true parents. Unfortunately, their trip would not go as smoothly as they had planned. A close call with a group of robbers in Bitra Forest leaves the group lost in the Elf-King’s territory. Knowing the horrible danger they are in, they become even more distraught when Kai falls under the Elf-King’s daughter’s evil spell. Luckily, Lilia is a fast thinker. She makes a deal with the Elf-King, but he gives her only two weeks to carry out the bargain. Thus, Lilia and Karina find themselves posing as servants in the local castle while they desperately try to devise a plan to save Kai.

Keeping with the genre of fairy tale retellings, the remainder of the plot holds true to the story of “The Princess and the Pea.” However, there are a few twists in the new version. As the title hints, “a true princess” will be found; she’s just not what everyone expected. This retelling shows that a princess can come in any form. It’s very pleasing to find a strong female character for young readers. Lilia is confident, courageous, and loyal. All of her honorable traits become evident throughout the book, and develop to make her an enjoyable character. Also, the development of the characters is fantastic, and makes the reader imagine they are a third party in the conversations between Karina, Kai, and Lilia. Fans of fantasy and fairy tales will enjoy this novel.

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Apr 18, 2013 Fairytalecritic rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-princess-and-the-pea-retellings

When I first began reading A True Princess by Diane Zahler, I didn’t have high expectations. Within the first chapter, we learn that our main character, Lilia, is an orphan who was found floating down the river in a basket. OK, so she’s Moses? Not only that, but her adopted father initially only keeps her because of her stunning violet eyes. Really? On top of all that, she’s pretty useless. The book opens with Lilia eavesdropping on Jorgen and Ylva, the couple who raised her. Ylva has never like...more When I first began reading A True Princess by Diane Zahler, I didn’t have high expectations. Within the first chapter, we learn that our main character, Lilia, is an orphan who was found floating down the river in a basket. OK, so she’s Moses? Not only that, but her adopted father initially only keeps her because of her stunning violet eyes. Really? On top of all that, she’s pretty useless. The book opens with Lilia eavesdropping on Jorgen and Ylva, the couple who raised her. Ylva has never liked Lilia because she can’t do chores, can’t cook, can’t clean… can’t really do anything, actually. Ylva is now pregnant, and since Jorgen wants to keep his two children from a previous marriage, Karina and Kai, and they don’t have room for a new child, Ylva wants to send Lilia to be a servant for the miller. And while Ylva is portrayed from the beginning as a cruel step-mother figure and Jorgen the more sympathetic parent, she has a point. OK, yes, it’s pretty cruel to send Lilia away to the odious miller, but Ylva is right about Lilia not being very helpful. Within the next few pages, we see that Lilia cannot herd sheep, cannot cook, and of all things, falls asleep whenever she’s supposed to be doing these things. Her herding the sheep consists of taking a nap. She doses off while stirring porridge and cleaning. Who does that? You’ve got to be pretty exhausted to fall asleep while cooking.

Lilia plans to head north in hopes of finding her family. She knows she is from the north because of her dark hair and violet eyes, which apparently everyone in the north has. So she’s not a special little snowflake. And pretty much from the beginning of this journey it’s established that although Lilia may be useless on a farm, she’s the only one of the group with any travel sense and she quickly becomes the leader of their little group. Karina soon establishes that she is afraid of everything, and Kai establishes that…well… I’m not really sure. He’s a boy? He likes Lilia? He’s sort of brave? Those are really the only three things I can think of.

Soon enough, the trio comes to an inn. While there, they meet three lords, one of whom sings the song of the Elf-King. What he actually sings is the accepted English translation of the poem “Der Erlkönig” by von Goethe. The song basically establishes that elves are pretty scary and will steal and enchant children, and the lord advises them to avoid the elves when they cross through the Bitra forest.

Well, they predictably walk smack into the elves’ midsummer feast. Since Kai is a boy (one of his few character traits) he is immediately enchanted by the Elf-King’s daughter. But Lilia strikes a deal with the Elf-King and his daughter that she will find Odin’s cloak clasp, which has magical powers or something, and will exchange it for Kai and all the changelings, but she has only a fortnight.

So Lilia and Karina set off for the castle where the cloak clasp is hidden. They become chambermaids in the castle so that they can look for the clasp. At the palace, the prince is part of a princess and the pea type of thing and he can only marry a true princess, which is how this story is related to the princess and the pea fairy tale.

So, that’s A True Princess. I actually did enjoy this book, I think just because it’s well written and has some interesting and sometimes original concepts in it. Is it clichéd at times? Yes. Is it often nonsensical? Certainly. But I still liked it. Would I make an effort to read it again or buy it? No…but I still enjoyed it while it lasted.

Read my complete review (including spoilers) here: http://fairytalecritic.tumblr.com/pos...(less)

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Mar 31, 2011 Tessa Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Lilia can’t concentrate on her chores at Jorgen’s farm, yet she loves spending time with Jorgen’s children, Kai and Karina. Lilia overhears Jorgen’s wife say that she wants to sell Lilia. Lilia decides to run away, but Kai and Karina decide they want to go with her too. They travel to the Northern Kingdom and through the dangerous Forest Bitra. While traveling through the forest, Kai is enchanted by the evil Elf-King and his daughter. Lilia sees that several small children are magically imprison...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Essence Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm glad I listened to her recommendation. Though I thought the ending was kind of predictable, the rest of the story was new and fresh. As others have said, there was elements of "The Princess and the Pea", but that was only a small portion of the story.
I really enjoyed Lilia's character. She's courageous and do anything in her power to help her friends. In this way, she kinda feels like a Disney Princess (like Mulan or Merida). The way that t...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

The perfect entry for middle-schoolers into the realm of fantasy literature, A True Princess was a fun and fantastical romp through the forests and kingdoms skirting a magical elfin land. A fairytale re-telling of The Princess and the Pea, Zahler amps the action up with an empowered teenage girl on a magical road trip where she realizes her first true love and discovers that she may be more than she seems.

In Lilia, girls have a strong role model from which to learn the values of loyalty and brav...more The perfect entry for middle-schoolers into the realm of fantasy literature, A True Princess was a fun and fantastical romp through the forests and kingdoms skirting a magical elfin land. A fairytale re-telling of The Princess and the Pea, Zahler amps the action up with an empowered teenage girl on a magical road trip where she realizes her first true love and discovers that she may be more than she seems.

In Lilia, girls have a strong role model from which to learn the values of loyalty and bravery. As a young sheperdess and maid she resigns herself daily to the loss of her true family with dignity. Though seemingly enslaved by a wicked step-mothers she endures her lowly station and finds happiness in the cherishing of the bond she’s built with her adoptive parent’s children. Sadly, one day, in an effort to avoid being sold into a loveless marriage and servitude she runs away in the middle of the night. Hoping to find her real parents, or at least make her own way in the world, she sets off towards kingdoms unknown.

Not alone for long she is quickly joined by her two siblings Kai and Karina, both of whom want to get away from the wicked step-mother as well. Their journey is perilous and fraught with danger at every turn. There are sword-fights and scary passages through mystical woods filled with vicious creatures. Nevermind the difficulty of navigating the social and class structures that come along with being in the presence of royalty.

Zahler has done a fantastic job with the characters in A True Princess. Lilia is a straightforward and honest girl who is looking for nothing more than the opportunity to live the life she chooses. Moreover she’s a dedicated and supportive friend to her siblings putting their happiness and safety before her own on more occasions than not. Despite being unsure of the outcomes she has no difficulty putting herself in danger to ensure the safety and security of the people she loves. I found the secondary characters were well fleshed out as well. I was happy with the focus paid on Kai and Karina as well as the two families from which Lilia came. Their presence and actions reinforced Lilia’s story in the perfect way. Even though there wasn’t a great deal of time spent in the presence of the Elf King himself he provided a constant air of mystery and foreboding needed to keep the tale going.

Zahler has also crafted a wonderful plot. Action packed from the start there was very little room for boredom. At no time did I feel like I was looking for more out of the story. I can see where children looking for a fun fantasy tale would embrace and read through this book in one sitting. It was focused enough to keep attention but had enough twists and turns to excite and enthrall. A fast and entertaining read A True Princess is a good book for lovers of fairytales with a twist.(less)

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Apr 22, 2011 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, review-copy, signed, blog

Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

Sometime around the end of last year, I stumbled across a page for A True Princess by Diane Zahler which is a retelling of The Princess and the Pea. Retellings of this story are rare, at least to my knowledge, so I instantly interested. And then the author caught my eye. I had read The Thirteenth Princess by Diane early in 2010 and I was completely charmed by Zita and her story. Because I so enjoyed The Thirteenth Princess, wh...more Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

Sometime around the end of last year, I stumbled across a page for A True Princess by Diane Zahler which is a retelling of The Princess and the Pea. Retellings of this story are rare, at least to my knowledge, so I instantly interested. And then the author caught my eye. I had read The Thirteenth Princess by Diane early in 2010 and I was completely charmed by Zita and her story. Because I so enjoyed The Thirteenth Princess, when Misty and I began planning for Fairy Tale Fortnight, I contacted Diane, asking her if she would be interested in participating and she said yes. There is an interview and giveaway coming up soon that Diane was generous enough to contribute, and she also sent me a copy of A True Princess to review during the event.

A True Princess is the story of Lilia, a 12 year old foundling servant. Found as a child around two floating down river in a basket, Lilia has lived in the home or Jorgen and his bitter second wife Ylva. Jorgen also has two children from his first marriage, Kai, who is near Lilia's age, and Karina who is five years older. As I read, I found myself searching for the word of phrase that would best describe how I felt reading it, and I decided that I simply adored this book, and that word- adored- is able to sum up how I felt and wrap it all together far nicer than words.

While I did genuinely enjoy this story, there were two main things that I didn't love. The first is that Lilia is only 12 years old. It tells us Lilia's age in the first few pages of the story, but I promptly forgot about it, and was completely shocked when I glanced at the summary on Goodreads, and it declares her 12. I had to glance through my copy to check, because to me, nothing about Lilia is 12 years old. Not her choices, not her thoughts, not her romance, and not her actions. I spent the entire book imagining her as 15, which is worlds away from 12. Karina also did not seem five years older than either Kai or Lilia either. She seemed much closer in age, which gave more weight to the idea that Lilia couldn't possibly be only 12.

The only other thing I wish had been different is a desire for more. There were so many fabulously wonderful ideas threaded throughout this book, any number of which could have been fleshed out and given more detail. There was a lot I wish we could have learned more about. While reading it, I enjoyed the world that Zahler had created, but I wished there had been more of it. I also wished for more development in the relationships. Things moved very quickly in this story, and what suffered the most was what we were able to see develop of the relationships. Lilia leaves in the middle of the night after overhearing Ylva demand she be sent to serve in the home of the abusive miller, and Kai and Karina set out after her to travel North with her, hopefully to find out where it is she came from and how she came to be floating down the river. We know, from this, that their relationship is close, but there isn't much time for us to see it develop. We don't get to see a lot of it, which makes certain later events (such as romantic developments) a little too... sudden and easy.

Although I did wish for more a little more detail to the story and fleshing out to the relationships, this is one that I am glad to have read, and will very likely read again. I've already picked it up to reread my favorite scenes again because I enjoyed it so much the first time around. I'm not very familiar with stories involving the Fey, especially in fairy tales, but as I find myself read more and more about them in my retellings, the more I wish to know about them. The Elf-King and his lovely, enchanting daughter were fascinating in this story and I found myself gripped and captivated every time they appeared on the page.

The resolution of the story was stunning and in my opinion, the best writing of the book. All of the book is good, but the resolution is where Zahler shines especially bright in this one. I found myself holding my breath a time or two, waiting for everything to be made right or resolved. Lilia really comes into her strength as she marches back into the woods to rescue Kai, knowing that to do so in dangerous, that the Elf-King is likely not to be trusted, but needing to save Kai no matter what.

Although this story is a retelling of The Princess and the Pea, and that infamous pea does make an appearance in the story, it is a tale less about a pea under a mattress and more about what it is that will make a true princess. Given the name of the book and the nature of fairy tales, you sense the truth of Lilia's origins almost as soon as you start the story, but discovering the truth alongside Lilia still feels like an adventure and a revelation. I loved the chapter headings, each a different 'rule' for what makes a true princess, and each rule usually foreshadows a way in which Lilia will break them throughout that chapter.

A True Princess is a charming, truly delightful fairy tale, one that fits well alongside The Thirteenth Princess and other fairy tale retellings. It is a simple yet wonderful addition to any fairy tale collection, and one I will enjoy reading again.(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Princess Debz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tales, i-own-it, read-in-2012, middle-grade, retelling, best-of-2012, princess

This was such a fun little book! It had all the magic and adventure that you look for in a middle-grade fantasy. It wasn’t anything deep and heart-wrenching, but it’s something that will make you smile!
The plot was simple, but had enough to it to keep the reader turning pages. You can definitely tell it’s a retelling of the Princess and the Pea, but it has enough to it that it doesn’t have to depend on that aspect. I also thought it was clever how the “True Princess” stuff is incorporated.
The on...more

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Feb 14, 2013 The Winter Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read another book by Diane Zahler, "The Thirteenth Princess" and was not impressed by her work - the story, while cute was too flat, predictable and cloying. However, I adore fairy tales and princess stories so I eagerly devour any and all I can get my hands on. Thus I decided to give Zahler another try. I'm glad I did.

This story is much improved over the last one I read. By no means is it particularly brillant, but I found it to be a very adorable story. Zahler's writing quality and character...more I read another book by Diane Zahler, "The Thirteenth Princess" and was not impressed by her work - the story, while cute was too flat, predictable and cloying. However, I adore fairy tales and princess stories so I eagerly devour any and all I can get my hands on. Thus I decided to give Zahler another try. I'm glad I did.

This story is much improved over the last one I read. By no means is it particularly brillant, but I found it to be a very adorable story. Zahler's writing quality and characterization strengthened in this piece, though there is nothing that truly stands out about it like Jessica Day George's or Shannon Hale's work. It may not neccesarily be 4 star quality by most standards, but I decided on four stars more because I thought the story was just so darn cute!

The True Princess essentially is a retelling of the Princess and the Pea. Overall, it is a good read but there are a few parts that drag the story down slightly, I think. Mainly, I think she was doing a little too much. With the Princess and the Pea plot threa, the Odin's Hunt plot and the Elf King plot, I feel like she was trying to cram three different stories into one and I don't think it really wove together in a completely seamless and cohesive way. I get that she was using Norse mythology as the backdrop, and I like that, but I still feel it wasn't fully realized. It came off simply as three different story ideas she was attempting to join. While it wasn't totally successful, I liked the elements on their own and appreciate the setting, characters and story enough to go with it.

***SPOILER ALERT***
Another issue was that the whole aspect of royalty having some kind of special-ness in them that made it impossible to sleep on any beds but "royal bed", being able to communicate with royalty and having supernatural grace wasn't fully explored. I really wish Zahler had explained that aspect of the world more. I can totally go with there being some kind of mystical or magical powers that royalty innately has, but I need it addressed more clearly rather than just casually put forth.

But in spite of its shortcomings, I really did enjoy this book. It was just such a nice, sweet and innocent story. Is it for everyone? No. But if you are looking for a cute, light-hearted read, it's a good pick.(less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, for-review, middlegrade

Left with no family and discovered by a lowly sheepherder whom had recently been remarried, Lilia is very much out of her element. Much like Cinderella, instead of being accepted into this new family, the new wife raises her as a servant, a position to which she is quite terrible at. After the discovery that another addition to the family will end in her being “sold” Lilia decides it’s time to discover where she comes from and who she was meant to be. An adventure awaits not only her, but her co...more Left with no family and discovered by a lowly sheepherder whom had recently been remarried, Lilia is very much out of her element. Much like Cinderella, instead of being accepted into this new family, the new wife raises her as a servant, a position to which she is quite terrible at. After the discovery that another addition to the family will end in her being “sold” Lilia decides it’s time to discover where she comes from and who she was meant to be. An adventure awaits not only her, but her companions – Kai, Karina and Ove their dog.

A True Princess must be many things, but in the case of Diane Zahler’s latest middle grade novel, it must be absolutely brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book and quite honestly read it cover to cover in a single sitting. I’m now rushing to purchase Zahler’s other book The Thirteenth Princess because I enjoyed the writing and story so much. One of the things that Zahler mentioned in her 20 Questions with Turkeybird Interview (posted earlier), as well as on her own site is this…

15. Did you always want to be a writer?
Always. For as long as I can remember.

16. Why?
Well, that’s a great question! Maybe because when I was a kid I enjoyed reading so much that I wanted to give the same pleasure to other people. Maybe because I love the idea of creating different worlds filled with characters I’ve made up myself.

This is absolutely the case. The world in which Lilia lives is incredibly easy to get lost in and happens almost immediately. With the first place being the farm in which Lilia was raised and “served” on and then through the Bitra Forest and finally to the North Kingdoms. Though this may be a middle grade book I have no doubt that fantasy readers from nearly any reading level will love the world in which Lilia lives. There are no details left out, but it’s also easy enough for younger readers to delve into and fall in love with.

What was truly enjoyable about this story, outside of the world Zahler created, were the characters. Lilia was maybe a bit mature for a twelve year old, but I still think that even young readers will relate to her struggle to find herself. Her determination and courage are something that all children will be able to gain from, learning that it’s okay to take a chance on yourself and your friends. And for those who struggle to stand out from the crowd there is always Lilia’s good friend and “sister” Karina who stands by her through every bit of the adventure. These two were an inseparable duo and part of a larger cast that made this story so wonderful.

Overall A True Princess is a story I’d recommend to nearly everyone. It’s especially perfect for fantasy fans, this will be a fairytale re-telling they won’t want to miss. I absolutely adored every bit of Diane Zahler’s writing and feel strongly that this should definitely be shared with young readers. Definitely a favorite read of the year so far for me. Based loosely on the story of “The Princess and the Pea” readers of A True Princess won’t be able to sleep either, that is, until they’ve finished the story about a girl in search of her origin and destiny.(less)

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Jun 02, 2011 Miss Clark rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairytale-fantasy-sci-fi-mythology

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

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Feb 04, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, mundie-kids-reviews, 2011-release, 2011-100-book-challenge

review I absolutely loved this retelling of Princess and the Pea and it's unique spin. A True Princess is a fantastic story with a fabulous main character who's strong, independent, fearless and one I think many readers will enjoy getting to know.

Lilia doesn't know much about where she came from, and in her dreams she has flashbacks of her life before she ended up on a farm. Found when she was a toddler by a kind farmer who had two younger children of his own, she grew up close to Kia and Karin...more
review I absolutely loved this retelling of Princess and the Pea and it's unique spin. A True Princess is a fantastic story with a fabulous main character who's strong, independent, fearless and one I think many readers will enjoy getting to know.

Lilia doesn't know much about where she came from, and in her dreams she has flashbacks of her life before she ended up on a farm. Found when she was a toddler by a kind farmer who had two younger children of his own, she grew up close to Kia and Karina and they formed a strong friendship and treated each other like siblings. The farmer's second wife loathes Lilia and instead of being sold as a slave, Lilia sets out to find the homeland she can't remember.

Lilia is a brave, protagonist who seeks adventure and a longing to find out who she really is and where she came from, and with Kia, Karina and their faithful dog, they set off in search of a Lilia's northern homeland. Their adventure is one mixed with lore that I absolutely love, along with loyal Knights, Odin & his hunters, Elves and the Elf King. Upon finding themselves lost in the Bitra Forrest, the group finds themselves in the dangerous territory of the Elf King, and soon find themselves racing against time to find a precious jewel that they can trade in exchange for Kia, who's fallen under the Elf King's daughter's spell.

I really enjoyed the royal family and the plot twist that is unraveled upon getting to know them. Each of the characters that surround Lilia are fantastic! I really enjoyed the beautiful setting, the plot and the way the characters are developed. I really came to admire Lilia's courage. She defiantly has the traits of a true princess, as she's intelligent, loyal, brave and is very confident as she stands up for what she feels is right, even if it puts her in harms way.

I completely fell in love with this story, as it's a wonderful retelling of a classic fairytale with wonderful twits. I thought it was very fitting that each chapter in the book is titled with A True Princess.. and then adds in something like, Does Not Steal, which sets the tone for what you'll find in the next chapter. I am really looking forward to reading this book with my little girl when she's older. It's one I highly recommend for younger fans who enjoy fairy tales, fantasy and adventures with unforgettable characters.(less)

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Feb 04, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-100-book-challenge, arcs-i-own, mundie-kids-book-reviews

I absolutely loved this retelling of Princess and the Pea and it's unique spin. A True Princess is a fantastic story with a fabulous main character who's strong, independent, fearless and one I think many readers will enjoy getting to know.

Lilia doesn't know much about where she came from, and in her dreams she has flashbacks of her life before she ended up on a farm. Found when she was a toddler by a kind farmer who had two younger children of his own, she grew up close to Kia and Karina and th...more I absolutely loved this retelling of Princess and the Pea and it's unique spin. A True Princess is a fantastic story with a fabulous main character who's strong, independent, fearless and one I think many readers will enjoy getting to know.

Lilia doesn't know much about where she came from, and in her dreams she has flashbacks of her life before she ended up on a farm. Found when she was a toddler by a kind farmer who had two younger children of his own, she grew up close to Kia and Karina and they formed a strong friendship and treated each other like siblings. The farmer's second wife loathes Lilia and instead of being sold as a slave, Lilia sets out to find the homeland she can't remember.

Lilia is a brave, protagonist who seeks adventure and a longing to find out who she really is and where she came from, and with Kia, Karina and their faithful dog, they set off in search of a Lilia's northern homeland. Their adventure is one mixed with lore that I absolutely love, along with loyal Knights, Odin & his hunters, Elves and the Elf King. Upon finding themselves lost in the Bitra Forrest, the group finds themselves in the dangerous territory of the Elf King, and soon find themselves racing against time to find a precious jewel that they can trade in exchange for Kia, who's fallen under the Elf King's daughter's spell.

I really enjoyed the royal family and the plot twist that is unraveled upon getting to know them. Each of the characters that surround Lilia are fantastic! I really enjoyed the beautiful setting, the plot and the way the characters are developed. I really came to admire Lilia's courage. She defiantly has the traits of a true princess, as she's intelligent, loyal, brave and is very confident as she stands up for what she feels is right, even if it puts her in harms way.

I completely fell in love with this story, as it's a wonderful retelling of a classic fairytale with wonderful twits. I thought it was very fitting that each chapter in the book is titled with A True Princess.. and then adds in something like, Does Not Steal, which sets the tone for what you'll find in the next chapter. I am really looking forward to reading this book with my little girl when she's older. It's one I highly recommend for younger fans who enjoy fairy tales, fantasy and adventures with unforgettable characters.(less)

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Mar 06, 2011 Danyelle Leafty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookshelf-2011

I liked how this turned into a retelling of The Princess and the Pea. And the addition of the elf king was an interesting and fresh take on the tale. The chapter headers were fun, because they all said something like: A true princess does not gossip, and then the chapter refuted that with the MC--who is a true princess--doing just that.

There were a few logical lapses that stuck out to me, that might not stick out for those in the intended age group. Such things as how easy their escape was, that...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Brandy Painter rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, fairy-tale-retellings, fantasy

Originally posted here.

The is a book that sounded tailor made for me so I was rather disappointed at not enjoying it. There were elements of the book I enjoyed. The writing is descriptive and the northern European setting with the Northern Lights was interesting. Lilia is a brave heroine and a loyal friend. There are heroic knights, a handsome prince, and the whole "boy next door" storyline. I liked that while Lilia was the princess who passed the test the outcome revealed was far different than...more Originally posted here.

The is a book that sounded tailor made for me so I was rather disappointed at not enjoying it. There were elements of the book I enjoyed. The writing is descriptive and the northern European setting with the Northern Lights was interesting. Lilia is a brave heroine and a loyal friend. There are heroic knights, a handsome prince, and the whole "boy next door" storyline. I liked that while Lilia was the princess who passed the test the outcome revealed was far different than in "The Princess and the Pea".

So what was my problem?

This is a reworking of "The Princess and the Pea" but it also contains Goethe's "The Elf King" (in the form of actual stanzas from the poem) and has elements of Anderson's "The Snow Queen". Plus the lore of Odin's Hunt is thrown in for good measure. Both "The Elf King" and "The Snow Queen" are dark and perilous stories. This book is not dark or perilous in anyway. Goethe's Elf King is scary. That poem packs a punch and the villain in this book comes nowhere close to doing it justice. His daughter is vain, spoiled, petulant and childish nowhere near as forbidding (or seductive) as Anderson's Snow Queen. I just don't think the novel did the source material justice and adds nothing to it.

Lilia and Kai have a very sweet friendship/flirtation going on (paralleling the relationship of Gerda and Kai in Anderson's tale), except Kai is far more an innocent victim in this version and I didn't find him to be that interesting.. The romance between Prince Tycho and Karina was rather shallow. It was, look how noble he appears+look how beautiful she is=LOVE. Blech.

My final complaint was in the idea that Lilia couldn't function properly as a serving maid because she was born a princess. I'm sorry, the girl couldn't make decent porridge because princesses are inherently bad at cooking? Kai says this to her toward the end: "You were a bad servant to Ylva because you were a princess." No. No. No. She should have worked her lazy self harder and learned how to make decent porridge or sew better, or dust better. I really didn't have much respect for Lilia's character despite her bravery because she really didn't try to overcome her weaknesses. I prefer stories that show that it is how we act and not how we are born that define us as people.

The book is short, only 184 pages, and very tame. I think it would appeal most to girls in the 8-10 age range.(less)

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Jan 09, 2012 Kelsey Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fairy-tales, fantasy, elves, just-plain-sweet, magic, preteen, ya

I quite enjoyed it! Lighthearted and fast-paced, I think this will go over quite well with the middle grade age group. As it is, it's got enough of a fairy tale vibe to make me feel all warm and fuzzy, harkening back to childhood favorites like The Ordinary Princess. Spunky heroine, neat little plot, gobs of fairy tale elements...even the name selections kept me smiling. The age of the main character, Lilia, (twelve, almost thirteen) didn't sit as well with me, especially with the more romantic...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tale-retellings, fantasy, arc

Lilia has never known her true identity. When she was around two years old, she was found floating down the river in a basket. The man who rescued her took her home and raised her alongside his own children, Kai and Karina. However, the man’s cruel wife, Ylva, the children’s stepmother, insisted on treating Lilia like a servant. Now that Lilia is almost thirteen years old, and Ylva is pregnant, she has decided Lilia must leave to work as a servant for another family, for there is not enough food...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Bo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Among the many delights of Zahler's hybrid narrative are her minor characters -- the nisse, a cantankerous but well-intentioned imp, the Elf-King's daughter, an embodiment of dangerous beauty, and Ove, a charming Border collie (nicely depicted on the cover!), who is protector and companion on Lilia's journey of self-discovery.How many children's book writers are bold enough to incorporate Goethe's verse into their witch's brew of legends? More, please!

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Apr 15, 2013 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

A retelling of the Princess and the Pea. I enjoyed the story and the writing style though it was a tad predictable (We all know how the story goes). It was a great read for the day as I only had a little time to read and I wanted to have something to fill the time. I probably would have given it a 3.5 if that we an option. I would recommend it to those who likes princess stories but not to someone who is looking for a heavier read.

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Feb 17, 2011 Shanshad Whelan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, childrens

Decent fantasy read for fourth and fifth graders, but not as good as her Thirteenth Princess story. A little thin on adventure, and a little too obvious where it was going. I also admit I didn't buy the explanation about the bed too well--it's an interesting take on the Princess and the Pea story, but it just didn't work hugely well for me.

Still, not bad, especially for young readers looking for stand alone fantasy books that have engaging characters. It's a quick read and certainly not unpleasa...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, kids-books-i-would-recommend

Rather predictable, but not in an unpleasant way. The inclusion of Odin and the Elf King and his daughter was interesting and added depth to the story. I also loved the various appearances of falcons - a cool plot element. I was a little disappointed with the reunion scene, which was awfully brief and a bit unspectacular. And I wondered why no one had come to that conclusion sooner. But the story was satisfying, and since Lilia was too young to have a major romance/marriage, her foster sister Ka...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Bethe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: folktales-fairy-tale-retellings

Another great entry in Zahler's collection of fairy tale re-imaginings, this one based on "The Princess and the Pea". Her books are a good next step for readers who are ready for a little bit more that the Whatever After series but not quite ready for Jessica Day George's princess stories. Love the border collie on the cover!!

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Dec 12, 2011 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-dont-own, fairytale-esque

a quick read when your in between books and cant decide what to read next because it can easily be read in a day or two if your a quick reader, maybe even in one afternoon. The plot line was interesting for me because i was unfamiliar with "The Princess and the Pea", the story this book was based on. It was a fun book to read.

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Mar 02, 2011 Gkeller123 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book on Amazon, and because I liked her first book, The 13th Princess, I bought this one. It is a fast read, and I really liked it. It would be a great one to read to younger girls (such as my granddaughters) or a little older girl reading it my herself. I hope Diane Zahler writes more like these two books!

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Jun 03, 2013 Blue Lightning rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

A perfect blend of fantasy and romance. When Lilia overhears her step-mother Ylva threatening to sell her to a miller, she flees in search of her real family. Accompanied by her friends Kai and Karina, they soon discover the magic of Bitra forest and the amazing hidden past of Lilia. The best book I've ever read!

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