The Princess Curse

Thirteen-year-old Reveka, assistant herbalist of Castle Sylvian, is determined to break the curse that leaves the twelve princesses' shoes in tatters and causes other people to fall unconscious. Unfortunately, the key lies with a terrifying underworld zmeu (dragon). Haskell's "Twelve Dancing Princesses" reimagining tantalizingly incorporates classical mythology (most notably Persephone and Hades), historical references, and plant lore within its fictional Romanian context.

Incorporating elements of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Beauty and the Beast, Merrie Haskell cleverly weaves myth, fairy tale, humor, and a touch of romance into her enchanting debut novel. Haskell has created a fully realized, fictional fifteenth-century Romanian society, with both a “World Above”and an “Underworld.”The political machinations of the region and Reveka’s skills as an apprentice herbalist are especially convincing. Reveka is a strong heroine and a witty narrator (when she first hears about the curse, her reaction is: “So what if the princesses are sleepy during the day and their slippers are holey in the morning? It’s a curse of shoes and naps.”). Throughout the book, she demonstrates tremendous compassion and loyalty to family and friends: “You don’t save people just because you get along with them. You save people because—well, it beats not saving them. And I saved more than just Pa, by coming to Thonos.” Mihas and Fromos/Dragos are engaging secondary characters. Reveka, who thinks Mihas is a cowherd, deems him to be as stupid as a cow. However, he is dedicated to Reveka and gradually proves himself “brave and stalwart.”Fromos/Dragos, for his part, is extremely compelling and mysterious. Readers, along with Reveka, will yearn to know more of his circumstances and how he ended up where he is. The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel, which will please appreciative fans.