** spoiler alert ** This is the only book I've read in a good long while that I've genuinely disliked; I was surprised to realize this is by the same author who wrote the Shadow Children series, which I've never read but have heard good things about. The writing style is clunky and awkward and frustrating. The main character is supposed to be strong-willed and independent but just comes off as bratty and entitled. Most of the other characters were caricatures: the handsome but stupid prince, the beautiful but empty-headed courtiers, the good and earnest tutor, the manipulative and evil governess. The last character, especially, is nasty for no good reason; if she really believes that Ella will someday be queen, why is she so thoroughly horrible to her?

But the truly unbearable aspect of this book is the plot. I understand that it's making a point about happily ever afters, about the fact that love at first sight and the prince carrying the beautiful maiden off on his horse is not a reliable way to find happiness. But the author does this by creating a scenario which is far more implausible: the royal court has a dark, evil side, and, when Ella decides she no longer wants to be princess, they think that imprisonment, murder and threats of rape will change her mind. Say what? That's supposed to keep her docile for the rest of her life? They really can't find anyone else to be queen? And these geniuses are supposed to be running the country? It's so improbable, so thoroughly nonsensical, that I could barely stomach it.

And then she runs away, dedicates her life to social work, and marries the commoner. I get what Haddix is trying to do, but the fact is that as an inversion of the fairy tale--If you care about what you look like, you must be evil and stupid!--it's so heavy-handed and impossible that it loses any effect it wanted to have.