Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Elisianna (Elise) & Liam’s points of view
– Elise’s curse makes her so fragile that bruises form just from a slightly harder touch/tap and sitting too long
– it is mentioned that a character (not our narrators) had been abused by their father when they were young (this is told with a few details to explain their deep connection with one of our main characters & later mentioned once more in a sentence)
Review:
I just finished this last night! I loved this Princess and the Pea retelling! I loved the world Kayla Eshbaugh created as well as the hints she began planting about future events/pairings for the series. The world is so cool and I love that there were legends/rumors mentioned of the kingdom/land they were in. I’m curious if any of the rumors Elise heard were true at one point or if they aren’t, who is spreading them. I loved Elise’s determination to participate in things despite her physical disability. She didn’t allow it to define her or what she was capable of. I loved that Liam & Odette saw that after spending time with her and allowed her to tell them her own limits rather than assuming. I loved Elise’s friendship with Odette and a few of the other princesses. They were happy to celebrate each other’s wins and joys despite being in competition with each other. I loved Liam & Elise’s friendship as well! They were so sweet after their initial meeting and I looked forward to each and every time they could get away on their own. Two side characters that made me laugh a lot were Wes & Teddy. Their hijinks, though separately done, was hilarious. I loved them both so much! Some of my other favorite scenes/moments included: Elise & Liam’s letters, the tourney trials, the balls, Liam’s odd behavior due to falling for Elise, Liam & Teddy’s banter, Odette & Wes’s banter, horseback riding, and the flower garden.
Summary:
Princess Elise was cursed at birth, a curse that causes bruises to bloom on her skin from the littlest touches. Because of this, she was nicknamed the Fragile Princess and her curse makes it so that Elise can’t do as much as a normal person can without a lot of bedrest afterwards. But with all the quiet time to herself, Elise has learned and gathered information to better her kingdom. To break her curse, she needs someone to see the strength her mind has given her and fall in love with her because of it. When Elise is given the opportunity to travel and participate in a princess tourney, she is delighted to do something around people who don’t know the extent of her curse. For once, she can attempt to feel like a normal person instead of someone who must be announced at every turn in order to avoid accidentally hitting into her and causing her pain. And hopefully a prince or courtier she meets there will be the one to finally break her curse…
Prince Liam’s kingdom had been cursed to be covered in darkness and only the love and marriage to a true princess can break the curse. With their kingdom’s coffers dwindling to almost nothing and the darkness closing it to devastating levels, they can’t wait much longer for the curse to be broken. In order to hopefully have their curse broken, the king and queen call for a princess tourney where princesses from the nearby kingdoms will compete for the hand of Prince Liam. Though Liam is doubtful that this will end in a love match, he is willing to do anything to end his people’s suffering. When he meets an unrecognizable princess and accuses her of being a servant, she is quick to put him in his place. Liam can’t get her out of his head as he gets to know her more through the tourney and begins to believe it’s possible to find a love match with one of the contestants. But will she be able to win the tourney or will he have to let her go in order to keep his promise to marry the winner?
