What by Who: Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Did you know that there are two different stories by the name of Goose Girl? And that they have absolutely nothing in common other than having a princesses tend geese?
Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee of Kildenree has a hard time trying to live up to her mother, especially since her gift of speaking with birds and other animals is an unwelcome family secret. The day her father dies, her heart is broken by her mother's announcement that she is being sent away to marry an unknown prince while her younger brother is granted the throne in her place. Rallying her courage she is determined to prove that she can be strong, only to find betrayal on the road to her new home. She must now enter the unknown kingdom of Bayern in disguise and use all her talents to reveal the impostor for who she truly is.
This book is a wonderful adventure with a strong, resourceful princess and a sprinkling of romance. The story is sad, heartwarming and funny by turns. The characters are all well written and rather vibrant, especially the friends our princess comes to make in Bayern. I rather enjoyed coming to it the way I did and searching out the original story after. I certainly would recommend it as a weekend read.
Also, if you find you enjoy this book, it is the first in a series. Each of the books that follow star one of the friends made in the first. They are also books I would recommend, though they differ in tone and theme from the Goose Girl.
I've never read the original Goose Girl, Just one altered manga version of it. There was a series that had altered versions of fairytales and it stuck me as odd why there were two different sories named "Goose Girl". This explains everything now xD
ReplyDeleteI may try to find the original after all
I looooved this book, but you are right about the tone of the following sequels being really different. I had a really hard time getting into the second book and gave up after the third chapter.
ReplyDeleteTHIS ONE is awesome though.
You can look up all the original tales online for free. The one I always knew is sometimes called the Goose Girl's Well (there isn't even a well in the story!) and the one the book is based on is sometimes called Goose Girl and Horse. But the proper title for both is simply Goose Girl.
ReplyDeleteI liked the second, seeing as I was reading it directly following one of Melissa Mar's books rather than the first book. The third was more of an adventure story. The fourth, which I think was written long after the first three since it isn't included in the box set, was where I stopped. Though I have heard it is one more along the lines of Princess Academy. A book I'll review sometime soon.