Fairytales have a dark and sordid past. Often short and simple, these tales offer lessons and morals that usually coincide with good and bad. A.G. Howard’s retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s, The Princess and the Pea, was executed with precision and adopted a gothic atmosphere that made this tale even darker than the original. Before reading on, I must warn you for this is a tale that may start with Once upon a time and end with a happily ever after, but the in between is far from either. There is abuse, death (and lots of it), and traumatic themes where you might even find the princess thrown in a ravine and left for dead. This is not a happy tale and every character faces a dark turn where they are given a choice, between good and bad; where they will either rise or fall. Prepare for a story with an unlikely princess, a beast of a prince and an evil aunt who will stop at nothing to get all that she desires.
This was a very complex story enriched with many archetypes from fairytales we all know and love. There’s Princess Lyra, whose pale complexion and feathery long lashes sets her apart from her kingdom. She fights tooth and nail to be heard but suffers in silence with only her songbird voice to comfort her. She seems to take on a little bit of Ariel from the Little Mermaid as it is her voice and her voice alone that will tell the Prince that she is the one. But in typical fashion and just like Ariel, her voice is stolen and given to an impostor. Next we have, of course the Prince, who’s anger and rage are locked inside a beast that only befriends this skinny and grungy looking boy by the name of Stain. Very beauty and the beast dynamic. And finally we have the Princess’s Aunt, Griselda. A mother to Lyra like the Stepmother in Cinderella and with 3 children that bicker and squabble just as much. She is cunning like the Evil Queen. Brutal like the Queen of Hearts. Green with envy and jealousy just like the Wicked Witch. And if the Princess didn’t already have enough to contend with, her very aunt also lacks the one thing that can make someone love, a conscience. The odds, like in any story are definitely stacked against her.
Having 516 pages worth of story allowed Howard to create and execute these hauntingly dark and twisted backstories for every character that graced the page with a complexity like no other. Every single component and scene that reveals more about someone serves a purpose and that is great writing. Her attention to detail is astounding. If you’ve read her other series, Splintered, you will know that she is a master when it comes to describing creatures and nature. Lyra has a connection to all things that linger in the shadows and the depiction that Howard crafts is both detailed and vivid.
Despite rough upbringings (they seem to go around in this world) the relationships made throughout the plot are cute and will stay with you. The friendship between Luce and Crony is hilarious! They are a bickering old couple, honestly. And Stain helped them both grow into an unlikely set of loving parents. Scenes with them will warm your heart and let you forget about the dark times, just for a little while and that was ingenious on Howard’s part. It livened and dispersed some sadness and tragedy that was way too familiar in this story and for that, I am grateful.
Let’s be honest, the center of any fairytale (or at least one that involves a princess) is usually one of love and of course, romance. This being a YA novel, there is a clear line that Howard does not cross. It is appropriate without becoming too much for this age range. The relationship between the Princess and the Prince is very unconventional. They meet without even realizing it, him as an angry prince and her disguised as a grungy, scarred boy. The real start of true love. There were so many scenes where Vesper would say the sweetest things or say something so meaningful to Lyra in such a serious and loving way that would melt anyone’s heart. I mean I don’t want to spoil anything because most of the charm in stories like this, will be lost if spoiled and not told in its entirety but let’s just say he is definitely swoon-worthy. As a promise of good faith, here’s a little tidbit from Prince Vesper to Princess Lyra.
“You know I was too arrogant to tell you then. So I’m telling you now…every time I saw you, each day when your face appeared through the trees, or framed by one of those ridiculous window panes…you lit up my whole world. It was me that needed you. That’s always been the case.”
This doesn’t do him justice either haha! This story also takes a little bit from Sleeping Beauty which sheds light on the Prince’s integrity and it will make you laugh! He knows right from the start that the impostor is not his princess and that scene is hilarious! He is a force with words! (It will make sense when you read it!) And honestly it was refreshing to see a Prince who is not completely oblivious!
“Each scar had a story to tell, each bruise and scratch were the beginning of another evidence of a subtle strength. Perhaps that was the true reflection of her mother and father.”
Every single character has to go through the plot with something missing, whether it be a memory stolen from Crony or a bargain gone wrong or even something of their own making, they all go through it. Their actions crafted their ending and for some, it was a happy one and for others justice was served. This is definitely not a bittersweet end.
There are many great things to be said about this book but I must also shed light on some less than great ones too. With having a complex story that doesn’t come together until you reach the end, can make for a slow read. This isn’t as attention grabbing at first as one would think. It’s a slow-burn and for that reason alone I give this book an 8/10.
This is definitely worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of fairytale retellings because this was executed very well. If you also enjoy in-depth plot with many moving parts, this is also one to consider. And if you enjoy this, I also recommend checking out Sophie Jordan’s, Reign of Shadows duology. It’s a well-written story that centers around a Rapunzel without sight. It is a very good series and it’s also one that showcases a princess that is at odds and is not raised in a traditional cookie-cutter palace.