Princess of the Midnight Ball

Written by Jessica Day George

Narrated by Eva Kaminsky

A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn…

Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all?true love?to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.

Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George's take on the Grimms' tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980094111

Jessica Day George

JESSICA DAY GEORGE is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tuesdays at the Castle series, the Twelve Dancing Princesses series, and the Dragon Slippers trilogy. Originally from Idaho, she studied at Brigham Young University and worked as a librarian and bookseller before turning to writing full-time. She now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their three young children. www.jessicadaygeorge.com @jessdaygeorge

Reviews for Princess of the Midnight Ball

[Paige Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The narration of this story was great. A highly creative and imaginative retelling of a classic fairytale that fills in the holes in the original’s plot. I’ll be reading the rest of the series if they are anything like this book.

[David Hill · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this book!! It is a brilliant book for 11 and 12 year old girls. By far my favourite book!!! ❤Hannah

[Kristen Yu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story was actually better than I expected! And not a dull moment with good characters in it.

[mutantpudding · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

As someone who has taken upon themselves to read all the 12 Dancing Princesses retellings I can get my hands on this one is just ok.

[Appa Steen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a funny and cute fairytale. Definitely worth the read if you need something light and positive.

[Laura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this book is Amazing! a Great story I loved it

[Madison Sickler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite takes on the 12 dancing princesses! Such a phenomenal author!

[Karyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am 10 and love this book it is amazing I have listened to it like 4-5 times and still love it.

[xofelf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my goodness, this was just lovely. I've read retellings of The Twelve Princesses before, but none made the man/boy(depending on the retelling) quite as endearing and lifelike as they did the princesses. When, really, he is just as important if not more important than they are. I like how she makes each of the princesses different enough from each other that you don't have to keep going back and wonder, "Wait, this is WHICH princess again?" Overall, this is wonderful enough that even though I read the sequel first(I usually just HATE when I do that because it can ruin the previous novel/rest of the series for me) it wasn't ruined for me because she only vaguely referenced this tale in the sequel.

[tikimoof · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ehhhh. I was down with it being an expansion of the "zertanzten Schuhe" fairy tale except for not being at all invested in the witchcraft/heresy plotline at all.

I wasn't down for any of the raised stakes, actually. It really marred my enjoyment of an otherwise pretty cute YA romance thing.

The knitting was realistic though. I liked that part.

[naleagdeco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A soldier dude named Galen saves a kingdom and its princesses from political intrigue and a lord of the univerworld via knitting.
Since I am the protagonist's namesake, I understandably have a soft spot for this book.

The book reads quickly; each chapter takes about five minutes if you savour each word, and it was written to be easily read.

The characters are enjoyable. Everyone is amiable; the villains are amiably evil, or at least the tone of the book is never such that you are actually worried about the good characters not persevering.
The princesses are there to be rescued like the gendered stereotype they are, but they have personalities and skillsets (and in one case, pistol-skill) that will fare them quite well when facing mundane nogoodniks that aren't supernatural powers of darkness. The prominent ones could be fine protagonists themselves should the author wish it.

There's some interesting witch vs. organized religion stuff going on in here for a world that is a fictionalize medieval Earth, interplay of old forces giving way to the "new" Church.

It's a better read and a nicer (in many senses) world than much fantasy, esp. the new darker and edgier fantasy worlds that have taken hold.

Plus, free knitting recipes in the back :D

[fireformed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting book. I loved the re-telling of the twelve dancing princesses (a childhood favorite) and thought that the author gave a convincing reason for the sisters to go dancing each night. I however didn't really strongly connect to the two main characters, though perhaps it was because I read it a little to late in life. Still I think that this book will really reach its target audience and it would be one that I would read to my children (if I ever have any).

[annieseiler-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a nice read, but I wish the characters were a little more believable. It was cute, though.

[susangeiss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fun take on an age old fairy tale!
Can't wait to read the others.

[zarasecker18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a nice and fun read. I enjoyed it. Naturally it had a happy ending but it was easy tell that that was the way it was going to go right from the beginning so it wasn't a surprise. I would still recommend people to read it simply for the pure enjoyment of doing so.

[prescottkris · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have read a few other books that were a retelling of the same story. Personally I thought the book Entwined was a better version of this story, but this was definitely a faster read.

[laurat81 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've always enjoyed the Grimms' story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and I found this novel to be a sweet and exciting retelling. From what I recall about the traditional tale, it seems to follow pretty soundly. The story moved along at a good adventure pace, but I would have liked to seen a bit more character development. Though, I did fall for Galen a little bit myself. He can shoot a musket and knit, maybe even at the same time. :) Princess of the Midnight Ball is the perfect "get away from it all", romantic read.

[humouress · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a YA retelling of the folk tale of 'The Twelve Princesses', which is one of the Grimm fairytales with, of course, origins going further back.The twelve princesses are all sisters, named for flowers. Their mother, Queen Maude of Westfallia (Germany), made a weighted bargain with the King Under Stone, in return for which she agreed to dance at his balls. When she died before managing to fulfill her end of the bargain, it fell to the young princesses to complete it. Though they wear out a pair of dancing shoes each every three nights and are exhausted, they are unable to tell anybody about their enchantment.Galen, a young soldier returning from the recent war with Analousia (Spain), finds a job within the palace. On his journey home, in return for sharing his meagre rations, he was given a cloak to make him invisible, a ball of white wool and a ball of black wool, by a mysterious old crone. Can he use these and his native wit to defeat the nefarious plans of the King Under Stone and save the twelve dancing princesses - especially Rose?I used to read a lot of fairytales when I was very young, and I vaguely remember this story too. Day George fills in the details in this book, which makes the characters more real for young readers. A pleasant re-telling;very readable.(LT recommended)***3.5On rereading this, before going on to the next book, I'm increasing my rating to 4****Very nicely written, with inconsequential details becoming relevant later. Though the main protagonists are about 19 years old, this is light enough for younger readers, with any hints of romance kept in the background. And actually, it's s more realistic way of falling in love, caring about a person's welfare than being smitten at first sight.

[themadhatters_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fairy tales seem to be extremely popular lately, and while I was skeptical of yet another retelling, this version of the 12 dancing princesses was surprisingly enjoyable.

[empress8411 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first of three books I read that retell the story of the Twelve Dancing Princess, first introduced by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. Of the three, this one follows the original tale closest. The twelve princess are named for flowers (a common choice in retellings of this fable) and they are run from late teens to toddler. One of the reasons this tale is easy to retell without getting boring is the original never specifies why they dance - whether cursed, forced, choice or joy. This story chose cursed, a curse that twisted well with the hero, a solider, and the secondary plot of a country broken by war. The world-building, the war, the people, are loosely based on European society, but not enough that it loses it's magical quality. The hero, Galen, has a depth the is pleasant to read. A solider who fought and lived through horrible events, but maintains a lightness, a humor, and a humility that makes him a wonderful character. And the knitting! Galen knits, part of his appeal, and it becomes pivotal in the story. The author even includes a pattern in the back of the book! The princess had less depth, aside from the oldest few, which is to be expected. It would be impossible to build detailed characters in a YA novel and have it be short enough. Rose, the main princess, was an endearing character, her pain, joy, loyalty to her sisters and concern for her country gave her a depth I enjoyed. As for the love story, it was obvious, but still sweet and believable. Over all, this was a delightful retelling, one I would recommend.

[laneliterati · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had often read this "fairy tale" to my daughter when she was young called "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". She loved the story and we read it night after night. When I saw this book, I did not realize it was the same story only in detail. A fun read with the same happily ever after ending.

[district13_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales, the Twelve Dancing Princesses. The characters were well developed, interesting, the setting was key character of the story as well and there was a lot of action in this fairy tale, which is really refreshing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales.

[jami_leigh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The style kept me hooked.

[krumbs_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I always loved the story of the 12 Dancing Princesses, and this is a fantastic retelling. The author does an excellent job of giving each of the twelve sisters a distinct personality, the soldier is presented as a more complete character, and the gardeners are well done. The bad guys were a bit weak, and I don't know that the church needed to be brought into the story at all, but it was still entertaining.

[raschneid_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Okay people, observe - this is how fluffy middle-grade/YA fantasy fiction should be done. Definitely a light tale, but the stakes were compelling, the plot and characters were thoughtfully constructed, and the writing was excellent. And if "soldier who knits" isn't high concept, I don't know what is. :)

And now I have read my first book with knitting patterns included at the end.

[erlangerfactionless · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I do love a good re-imagined fairy tale, and was ready to see the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses get the treatment. While I enjoyed many elements of Jessica Day George's foray into the genre, especially her deft use of real historical Germanic customs, names, and words, something about it felt... flat to me. What George did a great job of: The knitting male protagonist (yes, really); capturing the feelings of a society embroiled in a generation-long war; differentiating the princesses, even thought there are 12 of them (though some get lost in the fray); keeping true to the original story; making the reader really like and feel for almost all the characters in the story.Things that are not so hot: Too much serendipity and deus ex machina, which is the major pitfall of almost any fantasy story; not writing the king as a consistent character; failing to develop the protagonist's relationship with his family; pacing the story a bit too fast. Actually, that last one is probably what made the story seem flattest to me. There was never any time for the reader to dwell on anything, and sometimes a little time for reflection is a good thing.Overall, a solid addition to the re-imagined fairy tale genre that will mostly appeal to younger girls, and that happens to have two sequels that I will probably bother to read.

[pacey1927 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I adore fairy tales. I am an adult woman with three teenage children so some may find that odd but I just find pleasure suspending disbelief and believing for awhile in magic, romance, castles, and princes and princesses. I may not be picky enough when it comes to my fairy tales though. No matter how they are written, no matter how they are changed or unchanged from the original tales, I still seem to at least mostly enjoy them. "Princess of the Midnight Ball" though went beyond my expectations. I love the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and I was actual thrilled to discover this was a retelling of that story rather than the one I assumed by the title, "Cinderella".I very much enjoyed this version about a young man home from war. He is making his way to the home of his aunt and uncle who are his only known living relatives. They don't know Galen and he isn't sure how they will feel about his sudden appearance in their lives. Galen has come to possess a magical item and I eagerly awaited finding out how he was going to use it. Galen is brave and kind. Everything you want in a hero. Plus he knits! How cool is that? He gets a job in the royal gardens that are run by his uncle. Rose is the eldest daughter of the King. The community is all gossiping about how Rose and her eleven sisters manage to wear out their dancing slippers every three nights. No one sees them come and go but without fail those slippers are ruined regularly. The girls physically can not explain what happens to them at night. They become tongue tied or start sprouting gibberish when the topic comes up. When the King declares that whomever can solve the mystery of the girls dancing slippers will earn the hand of one of the daughters, things get even crazier. Galen and Rose are attracted to each other but of course Rose can't think of loving a common man. But Galen is far from common.The story moves at a brisk pace. Even though I know this basic fairy tale very well, I was still completely captivated and eager to find out each new detail of the book. The underground world was portrayed beautifully. "The Midnight Ball" was creepy indeed but I did happen to find myself feeling somewhat sorry for the 12 men who had to dance nightly with the stubborn sisters. There was quite a bit of humor sprinkled throughout the story and I giggled out loud over a scene where the boat suddenly feels heavier and the princess is made to feel like she gained weight. Bottom line is that this book is delightful. Fairy tale lovers should grab this one. I am eager to read the two companion novels.Recommendations: Fans of this book will also fully appreciate Heather Dixon's "Entwined", another amazing version of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. The two books are different enough that you'll enjoy them both.

[francescadefreitas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun reselling of the 12 dancing princesses, a young man returns orphaned from a war and works with his uncle in the palace gardens. The princesses accused of plotting the death of the princes that try to solve the mystery of their slippers.Not as lush as Entwine or Wildwood Dancing.

[annesanse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really good book and a fast read! A cute version of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale. I especially liked reading from Galen's point of view. This is the second Twelve Dancing Princesses book I've read in the past month or two, and I think I liked the other one slightly better. (Entwined by Heather Dixon) However, I really enjoyed this one in different ways. The romance was really sweet. Good book.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite fairy tales, fascinatingly retold. I love the story of the 12 Dancing Princesses, although the characters are cardboard at best and are frequently rewarded for behaving badly (stealing the tinderbox, for example). Here is the same story (more or less - she leaves out the dogs entirely), told with lively, interesting characters and good solid backgrounds for each. The princesses are hard to keep straight, despite being quite individual - well, twelve flower names?! But the heroine, Rose, is clear, and each one seems reasonably distinguishable by behavior, even if I'm not quite clear if it's Poppy or Pansy that's the youngest and so on. Galen is great - I like his story (soldier's son become soldier in his early teens, and now sick of war), his determination to work, his knitting (it's actually quite pertinent to the story), and his careful dancing around Rose. The king, the archbishop, the old gardener, the chief gardener and his family, the inquistor bishop - all of them are richly depicted and act from reasonable motivations. The explanation for the curse on the princesses actually makes sense; the (aforementioned) inquisitor bishop is a nice complication. The way Galen solves the puzzle, not quickly or easily but working his way through the possibilities, and occasionally being stalled until he gets help, again enriches the fairy tale beyond the rote movements of the original. I loved it. Now I need to find the next story in this series...Jessica Day George is definitely a new favorite.