Book Review: "Princess of Glass" by Jessica Day George

Title: Princess of Glass

Author: Jessica Day George

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

ISBN, PUB Date: 97801-59990-478-8; May 25, 2010

Reviewed by: Jennifer Shaw for Author Exposure

Princess of Glass is a fantastic spin-off of the classic Cinderella story. Who doesn’t love a fairytale? In Princess of Glass, every angle of the typical, yet time-honored, Cinderella story is turned upside down—giving birth to a fresh and exciting cast of characters.

The young royals from different kingdoms are tossed together by their parents in a “Royal Exchange Program”. This is done both in an attempt to find their prospective romantic partners and with the hope of strengthening their respective kingdoms. Prince Christian has never been allowed to leave the Dane kingdom due to his parents’ fear of history repeating itself. Years earlier, the king of Westfalin had pleaded for a prince to help solve the mystery of the twelve princesses’ worn-out dancing shoes; after each prince failed, they returned home only to meet their demise.

Princess Poppy, one of the twelve princesses, is quite taken by Prince Christian upon meeting him. As their flirtations increase, Eleanor, a maid who was once royalty, enters the picture and draws more than just Christian’s attention. Eleanor, green with envy of the other princesses, enlists the help of her godmother, who turns the happy household into an emotional battleground. Magic, as well as love, is brewing and time is running out for all involved.

George concocted a fascinating and enchanting world of magic and love. The story flowed nicely without lulls, keeping the reader entertained and attached to the characters. The world building was enchanting and had an amazingly realistic feel. I highly recommend Princess of Glass. It is definitely a good choice for any reading group. Without a doubt, George is being added to my favorite author list.