The Princess Curse in Mock Newbery 2026

Apr 11, 2011 Shanshad Whelan rated it really liked it

Another take on the 12 dancing princesses with a little of beauty and the beast and Persephone thrown in. The beginning part of the story is fascinating and I was really enjoying tracking our young protagonists adventure . . . then at a point about two thirds the way through everything suddenly shifted and the bottom seemed to fall out of the story. I have to wonder if this is the first book in a series, since the whole thing felt . . . unfinished at the end.

I liked a lot about this one . . . bu ...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Kristen Jorgensen rated it really liked it

Shelves: mock-newbery-2012

3.5 to 4 stars

This book is a great rendition of the 12 dancing princesses, and I found it rather original. Even if it reminded me quite a bit of Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. Truth be known I prefer George's version a little better, but this story is not without its own twists in tale, by taking a detour from the traditional fairy tale with a change in perspective and story involving a tiny bit of the ever popular one-girl-in-love-with-two-perfect-men plot mingled, a littl ...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Lisa Nocita rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, ya-2011, tag-2012-13

Reveka is a thirteen year old apprenticed to an herbalist in the Eastern European land of Sylvania. Her father is in the employ of the Prince who has a big problem. Although he has twelve daughters, he has no male heir and this no line of succession making him politically vulnerable. Additionally, his twelve daughters have been cursed and mysteriously appear each morning in tattered, often bloody, slippers. Any one who has attempted to follow the princesses to decipher the curse ends up in a per ...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Claire rated it liked it

Shelves: 9-to-11-year-old-readers, 10-to-12-year-old-readers, first-person-narrator-all-ages, retelling-12-dancing-princesses

Ok this tips it, now there is a shelf just for 12 dancing princesses retellings. What amazes me is the huge difference in each tale.
In The Princess Curse there are interesting twists as the story is sympathetic to the underworld King who entraps the princesses who must visit and dance every night. Reveka is a young herbalist trained in convents now living with her dad for the first time, because he has stopped being a soldier and can care for her. They have a prickly relationship because the Ab ...more

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Dec 10, 2013 Michele rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, childrens-chapter-4-8

This was a clever twist on the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses... I liked the addition of regional legends as part of the explanation. The end of the story was very reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast and left me wondering if there is a sequel forthcoming.

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Apr 28, 2013 Inoli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, middle-grade, fantasy-adventure, fairytales_retold, recommend, fantasy-childrens, own, ftf-2013

This might actually be my favorite retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and I've read a couple really good ones. Reveka is a great character and her story goes beyond a retelling of the tale. ...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Dolores rated it really liked it

"The Princess Curse" blends "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", "Beauty and the Beast" and the story of Hades and Persephone into one seamless story. And it all makes sense. Reveka is both a strong and smart heroine, but she has her flaws. There were occasions along the way when she had to wrestle with her conscience over the right thing to do, and the reader had the good fortune to have a front row seat for those bouts. The book has plenty of humor and adventure and leaves the end open for a seque ...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Bekah rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, children, tween-falls-under-children-and-ya, fairytale-folklore-retelling

A retelling of the 12 dancing Princesses with an interesting twist at the end. I enjoyed the 2nd half of the book better- I felt the writing became more engaging. And since this is her first book (I'm pretty sure) I will probably keep an eye out for other books in hopes that the writing continues to improve.
The main character in this book is an apprentice herbalist and honestly I was a bit sick of "herbal" stuff by the end of the book and that may have jaded my rating as well. ...more

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Apr 05, 2014 June rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, children-s-fiction, magic, princess, fairy-tales

I really enjoyed this novel retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses, with Persephone and Beauty and the Beast hints. Reveka's only interest is to win the reward money so she can buy a position as master herbalist in a convent. However, she becomes friends with the other apprentice herbalist and finds out about the sleepers, she finds herself drawn deeper. ...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Crystal rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-lit, fantasy, retelling-or-inspired-by-another

I loved feisty Reveka and the way the book wrapped the Twelve Dancing Princesses up with a kind of Beauty and the Beast. Anyone that enjoyed Ella Enchanted would probably enjoy this one too. Great wintery gray afternoon reading.

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