This is a satisfiying conclusion to the Princess series. Frankly, Jim C. Hines should earn enough money to buy Hawaii off this series alone.

If you haven't read the Princesss novels, start at the beginning of the series with The Stepsister Scheme. It would help to read them in order.

In this, perhaps final, installment, Danielle, Talia, and Snow face thier greatest challenge and the resolutions to the question raised in previous books (so yes, the Talia/Snow question is answered).

This novel is the darkest of the four and more fully explores Snow's past.

All of the things that make the previous novels good are on display here. Friendship, different abilities, Talia the ninja, cunning but kind Danielle, and interpid Snow. There is the introduction of a new character, Greta, who is handled with Hines' expert care.

Hines' style may not be as polished and smooth as China Miéville, Neil Gaiman or those other writes who appeal to those who read "only literature" as well as those who read fantasy. Yet, in many ways, Hines' Princess novels in particular, and Hines' writing in general, is more honest. More humanist. More earnest. In part, this seems to come from the fact that he isn't trying to impress or show off, he just wants to tell a story that makes people think. Mostly, however, this comes from the humanity of the characters. In some ways, Hines is like Terry Pratchett whose works are about regular people dealing with Frodo's quest. It's humanity that intersts both Hines and Pratchett, whether it be the humanity of witches, princesses, ninjas, wizards, cats, or goblins.

It is that interst that makes the Princess novels so good. If original fairy tales were told, in part, to help prepare people for life, Hines continues in this tradition. He uses the spirit as well as the plot of the fairy tales (like Robin McKinley).

If you haven't read Jim Hines, go out and buy his books! They'll worth the money and then he can buy Hawaii.