What do you think?
Rate this book
Fairy Tale Princesses
Sleeping Beauty's Daughters
The classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty is transformed by Diane Zahler, the acclaimed author of The Thirteenth Princess, into a dazzling new story of two sisters fighting a powerful curse. Briskly paced and full of lush descriptions, readers who enjoy the work of Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine will be swept away by this spellbinding novel.
The daughters of Sleeping Beauty, Princesses Aurora and Luna, have grown up in a cliff-top palace by the sea, where they are carefully protected by their parents. No one visits, the girls cannot stray beyond the castle walls, and all sharp objects are forbidden here.
But accidents will happen—particularly when an old curse still has power. Soon, in spite of all precautions, Aurora is struggling not to slip into an enchanted sleep.
Frantic, the princesses accept the help of a young fisherman named Symon and embark on a daring ocean voyage to find their aunt—a fairy who may be able to break the spell. From fearsome beasts to raging storms, many dangers befall them, yet they must not give up . . . for if Aurora sleeps, she will not wake for one hundred years.
The daughters of Sleeping Beauty, Princesses Aurora and Luna, have grown up in a cliff-top palace by the sea, where they are carefully protected by their parents. No one visits, the girls cannot stray beyond the castle walls, and all sharp objects are forbidden here.
But accidents will happen—particularly when an old curse still has power. Soon, in spite of all precautions, Aurora is struggling not to slip into an enchanted sleep.
Frantic, the princesses accept the help of a young fisherman named Symon and embark on a daring ocean voyage to find their aunt—a fairy who may be able to break the spell. From fearsome beasts to raging storms, many dangers befall them, yet they must not give up . . . for if Aurora sleeps, she will not wake for one hundred years.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2013
22 people are currently reading
2442 people want to read
About the author
Diane Zahler
16 books242 followersI grew up reading children's books and never wanted to do anything but write them. I'm the author of nine middle grade novels, and my newest book is a historical novel called WILD BIRD. I live in the country with my husband and very enthusiastic dog Jinx. Visit my website at www.dianezahler.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
February 25, 2022
(old review)
Absolutely delightful and charming. Sweetly written and with a kind of Jules Verne-esque type seafaring adventure that adding a really unique spin to yet another magical fairy tale offering - adding to that the premise which was both intriguing and humorous (and had me chuckling out loud and flying through the pages) and we have a really fun book.
The only things I didn't like was that Luna was a bit of a brat. I was rather shocked at the end of the book to discover that Aurora was only 12 - I think they should have mentioned that earlier. She seemed a lot older than that; especially after she kisses a boy (who also seemed a lot older).
Aside from that - an absolute treat.
Content: Very slight preteen romance, magic, magical creatures and one dark/creepy moment at the end with the main villains.
Absolutely delightful and charming. Sweetly written and with a kind of Jules Verne-esque type seafaring adventure that adding a really unique spin to yet another magical fairy tale offering - adding to that the premise which was both intriguing and humorous (and had me chuckling out loud and flying through the pages) and we have a really fun book.
The only things I didn't like was that Luna was a bit of a brat. I was rather shocked at the end of the book to discover that Aurora was only 12 - I think they should have mentioned that earlier. She seemed a lot older than that; especially after she kisses a boy (who also seemed a lot older).
Aside from that - an absolute treat.
Content: Very slight preteen romance, magic, magical creatures and one dark/creepy moment at the end with the main villains.
Read
June 17, 2019SO MUCH MIDDLE SCHOOL NOSTALGIA WITH ME AND ALL MY FAIRYTALE RETELLINGS I USED TO READ I CRY
December 4, 2013
An interesting tale about a curse affecting the daughters of Sleeping Beauty, Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters takes us into the world of Princesses Aurora and Luna. Since the daughters were born, Sleeping Beauty has been living under the fear that something bad could happen. Hoping to protect the children, she makes the decision to stay inside the high walls of the castle and keep her children away from strangers. Can she really protect her daughters from harm and danger?
This is a quick read. For a middle-grade novel, I like that Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters shares many positive messages that are worthy for group discussion. The two princesses have very different personality and while they live in a highly protective environment, they aren’t spoiled or rotten. Being the younger of the two, Luna is a lot more carefree. She has an adventurous soul and I like that she’s very creative at finding new ways to support her sister. Aurora is not as jovial as her sibling but I like that she learns to overcome her weaknesses as she grows up. I think this is a fairly beautiful story and although this is not exactly a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, there are familiar elements. I think young readers will welcome this as an addition to their library. :)
--
Originally posted on LeisureReads.com
This is a quick read. For a middle-grade novel, I like that Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters shares many positive messages that are worthy for group discussion. The two princesses have very different personality and while they live in a highly protective environment, they aren’t spoiled or rotten. Being the younger of the two, Luna is a lot more carefree. She has an adventurous soul and I like that she’s very creative at finding new ways to support her sister. Aurora is not as jovial as her sibling but I like that she learns to overcome her weaknesses as she grows up. I think this is a fairly beautiful story and although this is not exactly a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, there are familiar elements. I think young readers will welcome this as an addition to their library. :)
--
Originally posted on LeisureReads.com
September 11, 2018
“Sleep felt as I had always imagined death would feel - a slow, dizzying fall into a void.”
When Sleeping Beauty's daughters first learn of the curse their mother had been under, their sheltered life finally makes sense to them as the oldest, Aurora, has also fallen under the spell. Together with her younger sister Luna and the fisherboy Symon, they set out on a sea voyage in hopes of finding their fairy godmother, so that she may lift the curse once and for all.
Sleeping Beauty's Daughters starts weak, has a great adventurous middle and then plunges back into a weak finale. This is my least favourite of Zahler's works, but it still proves to be an interesting take on Sleeping Beauty and their fantastic voyage almost makes up for the shortcomings.
The story opens poorly in that it gives a bad first impression of the characters; Aurora, our narrator, comes across as a goody-two-shoes while Luna starts off as such an annoying brat. Sleeping Beauty herself, here known as Rosamund, is so fragile - there's so much drama and tears that it almost made me want to stop reading. The only character who was remotely interesting was their tutor Julien. He was introduced with a backstory and all only to be dropped - he is close to not relevant to the plot that I wondered why he was there at all. And considering I thought him interesting, I felt rather cheated!
Events and characters improve immensely once the sisters set out on their quest. Luna is no longer annoying and instead lives out her boyish side while facing all dangers with sass. Aurora slowly allows herself to step out of line and even makes a joke or two. The two of them make a lovely sister pair and their friend Symon makes a great addition to their team as they set out on his small ship.
Unfortunately, Aurora doesn't make an optimal narrator. Given that she is cursed and ought to fall asleep if not for the anti-sleep drought she continuously takes, her actions and mind strike me as far too alert. Apart from the mention of her feeling drowsy, we rarely see it and it makes the curse seem far less of a threat. But on the other hand, I did like her observations, especially about Luna.
For such a short book, they get to see remarkably many places and things. Each island they visit is different and all are home to different kinds of creatures. Apart from your common sirens and fairies, there are several creatures mentioned of which I have either never heard of before or have only come across rarely. Their discoveries are both beautiful and dangerous and it gets you speeding through the pages.
The actual conclusion and showdown weren't very satisfying. And it's a shame - there's quite a bit of build up and then the revelation is so simple as much as their way to victory is easy. I just couldn't help but feel that there had to be a lot more after such a journey. Either way, it is still a cute story and I quite like that the focus is on the sisterly bond while the romance seems more of a sub-plot.
December 30, 2018
The book was the best books I have ever read that was based on a Disney princess, but the difference is that the mom is sleeping beauty and the daughter is Aurora.
September 28, 2025
What a delightful little story! The characters were charming and the adventures were fun.
November 19, 2014
Anther wonderful example of what may have happened after "The End" of a fairy tale. I enjoyed this tale of what happens to the daughters of Sleeping Beauty. It did feel like a mash up of Odysseus and the Sleeping Beauty tale.
July 1, 2016
Great book. New twist on an old story. Full of adventure and fun; great middle grade read. The only thing I didn't love is that I couldn't tell how old Aurora was - it wasn't mentioned until the end of the book. She's 12, in case you're wondering.
June 1, 2017
A charming and entertaining retelling. Perfect for middle grade readers.
January 13, 2014
So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (somtimes a little funny.):)
December 24, 2024
This is one of my favorites. It's fun, exciting, adventurous, and a clean quick read. Tiniest bit of romance between two characters. I love Diane Zahler!
January 23, 2020
I recently read Diane Zahler's other book The Thirteenth Princess and while I didn't hate it, I was very far off from loving or even liking it. Unfortunately, I'm a sucker for retellings and this is just shy of being one so despite that when I saw this book at the library I just had to read it.
It was equally disappointing.
Aurora and her younger sister Luna are two princesses who live with their parents in a castle removed from society. They are not allowed to leave the castle for any reason, and there are no sharp objects of any kind. It turns out this is because their mother was Sleeping Beauty and after pricking her finger was forced to sleep the full hundred years before her Prince, their father, stumbled upon her castle. After Aurora was born the fairy that cursed Sleeping Beauty cursed Aurora similarly; the exception being that while Sleeping Beauty at least had her entire castle to sleep with her, Aurora will have no one. Thus, leaving her totally alone if she were fall prey to the curse. In order to keep her safe their parents had them secluded away as they don't know when exactly the curse is supposed to be enacted. Obviously, Aurora does prick her finger regardless. The two, with the help of a fisherman named Symon, must then set off to find their fairy godmother Emmeline to see if she can help them fix it.
First off, the book immediately makes no sense. The magic like The Thirteenth Princess has no internal logic. Aurora is cursed and yet the curse just doesn't take effect? Like all they have to do is pinch her or splash water in her face and she's able to stay awake. Yet, the fairy that they're all scared of is supposed to be super strong. I don't see how when her curse literally doesn't even work for absolutely no reason.
Second, the characters are painfully shallow. Other than basic traits there isn't anything there at all. Aurora is timid until she's not, Luna is brash until she's not, Symon is a fisherman until he's not. No real arcs only the semblance of them. There is a moment when Aurora is justified in being mad at Luna, but it goes nowhere because the author is writing surface level relationships. It's not about actually showing growth. It's as if she's going through the motions instead of trying to truly expand on the characters she made.
Lastly, the whole story is totally anti-climactic. The trek to find Emmeline is repetitive. Nothing of consequence happens until the very end. And the ending is lazy. Also there's a weird age reveal? I spent the whole book thinking Aurora was late teens only for her to randomly be only twelve which made me have to adjust my whole mindset in regards to the book. Her and Luna were acting as if they were years older than they were so that was another strike against the characterization. It also wasn't beneficial to the book that the two girls were so young. A lot of interesting potential character dynamics totally lost by them not even being teenagers.
It's a simple short book. I read this almost entirely on my lunch breaks at work. However, unlike the Thirteenth Princess I did actively dislike this book a bit. I took another chance as dumb as that was on another of Zahler's books and that's on me, but this really was worse than what I already thought was a pretty meh book. I can separate my enjoyment of a book from the objective quality of it, but this is not very good on top of me not liking it.
It was equally disappointing.
Aurora and her younger sister Luna are two princesses who live with their parents in a castle removed from society. They are not allowed to leave the castle for any reason, and there are no sharp objects of any kind. It turns out this is because their mother was Sleeping Beauty and after pricking her finger was forced to sleep the full hundred years before her Prince, their father, stumbled upon her castle. After Aurora was born the fairy that cursed Sleeping Beauty cursed Aurora similarly; the exception being that while Sleeping Beauty at least had her entire castle to sleep with her, Aurora will have no one. Thus, leaving her totally alone if she were fall prey to the curse. In order to keep her safe their parents had them secluded away as they don't know when exactly the curse is supposed to be enacted. Obviously, Aurora does prick her finger regardless. The two, with the help of a fisherman named Symon, must then set off to find their fairy godmother Emmeline to see if she can help them fix it.
First off, the book immediately makes no sense. The magic like The Thirteenth Princess has no internal logic. Aurora is cursed and yet the curse just doesn't take effect? Like all they have to do is pinch her or splash water in her face and she's able to stay awake. Yet, the fairy that they're all scared of is supposed to be super strong. I don't see how when her curse literally doesn't even work for absolutely no reason.
Second, the characters are painfully shallow. Other than basic traits there isn't anything there at all. Aurora is timid until she's not, Luna is brash until she's not, Symon is a fisherman until he's not. No real arcs only the semblance of them. There is a moment when Aurora is justified in being mad at Luna, but it goes nowhere because the author is writing surface level relationships. It's not about actually showing growth. It's as if she's going through the motions instead of trying to truly expand on the characters she made.
Lastly, the whole story is totally anti-climactic. The trek to find Emmeline is repetitive. Nothing of consequence happens until the very end. And the ending is lazy. Also there's a weird age reveal? I spent the whole book thinking Aurora was late teens only for her to randomly be only twelve which made me have to adjust my whole mindset in regards to the book. Her and Luna were acting as if they were years older than they were so that was another strike against the characterization. It also wasn't beneficial to the book that the two girls were so young. A lot of interesting potential character dynamics totally lost by them not even being teenagers.
It's a simple short book. I read this almost entirely on my lunch breaks at work. However, unlike the Thirteenth Princess I did actively dislike this book a bit. I took another chance as dumb as that was on another of Zahler's books and that's on me, but this really was worse than what I already thought was a pretty meh book. I can separate my enjoyment of a book from the objective quality of it, but this is not very good on top of me not liking it.
December 21, 2024
-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-
I really don't know how to feel about this. Maybe it reads too young for me. But I've read other children's and MG novels with no issue, never feeling like I was 'too old' for them. Maybe this book just isn't good. But that can't be it either, because there's nothing really wrong with it to make me not like it. Maybe it's just one of those stories that I didn't fully vibe with even though objectively there was nothing wrong with it.
And indeed, there was still a lot that I liked in it. I liked the idea of how this is a continuation of Sleeping Beauty, the Brothers Grimm version specifically, because the princess's name is Rosamund. I like the focus on sisterhood, and the fact they need to go on a quest to help themselves. I also like the idea of them being related to fairies, because Sleeping Beauty is a story very deep in fairy folklore, especially the French and Italian versions. Though this one isn't based on that, but again, it doesn't really matter. The references to mythology, the fact they had the same names as the other children of Sleeping Beauty, such as Dawn or Moon. The sisters having to step out of their comfort zones and do things they didn't think they were capable of. There was plenty of good stuff here.
I found the villain pretty weak. She wasn't built up to be a proper threat, her motivation wasn't good, and she dies in a really anticlimactic way. Not even on the page! There were references to this world being fairytale-savvy, knowing the tropes and trying to work around them, but they felt kinda unnecessary, especially because nothing much was really done with them either way. They were more just there for the sake of being there. I know this is a children's book but Aurora read way too old to me, and the reveal that she was only twelve was very strange. I know that's also a common thing, like how when you read American Girl you're floored by how these girls are all only nine years old because they all act so much older than that, but this was a bit ridiculous in my opinion.
I really wish I could give this a higher rating, because there's nothing wrong with it. It's a good story. But somehow, I just didn't vibe with it. I really want to give more than just three stars because so many books I've been giving this year, and many years recently, have just bee three stars, but I'm not going to lie just to have a rating I want. Sometimes I don't vibe with good stories, and I have to accept that.
I really don't know how to feel about this. Maybe it reads too young for me. But I've read other children's and MG novels with no issue, never feeling like I was 'too old' for them. Maybe this book just isn't good. But that can't be it either, because there's nothing really wrong with it to make me not like it. Maybe it's just one of those stories that I didn't fully vibe with even though objectively there was nothing wrong with it.
And indeed, there was still a lot that I liked in it. I liked the idea of how this is a continuation of Sleeping Beauty, the Brothers Grimm version specifically, because the princess's name is Rosamund. I like the focus on sisterhood, and the fact they need to go on a quest to help themselves. I also like the idea of them being related to fairies, because Sleeping Beauty is a story very deep in fairy folklore, especially the French and Italian versions. Though this one isn't based on that, but again, it doesn't really matter. The references to mythology, the fact they had the same names as the other children of Sleeping Beauty, such as Dawn or Moon. The sisters having to step out of their comfort zones and do things they didn't think they were capable of. There was plenty of good stuff here.
I found the villain pretty weak. She wasn't built up to be a proper threat, her motivation wasn't good, and she dies in a really anticlimactic way. Not even on the page! There were references to this world being fairytale-savvy, knowing the tropes and trying to work around them, but they felt kinda unnecessary, especially because nothing much was really done with them either way. They were more just there for the sake of being there. I know this is a children's book but Aurora read way too old to me, and the reveal that she was only twelve was very strange. I know that's also a common thing, like how when you read American Girl you're floored by how these girls are all only nine years old because they all act so much older than that, but this was a bit ridiculous in my opinion.
I really wish I could give this a higher rating, because there's nothing wrong with it. It's a good story. But somehow, I just didn't vibe with it. I really want to give more than just three stars because so many books I've been giving this year, and many years recently, have just bee three stars, but I'm not going to lie just to have a rating I want. Sometimes I don't vibe with good stories, and I have to accept that.
June 5, 2018
DNF
Admittedly I was reading this as an adult but I was horribly bored. I found the writing to be weak and non-engaging, ditto with the story. This isn't really a fresh take on the Sleeping Beauty story; in fact, it might have been better if the lead character WAS Sleeping Beauty valiantly trying to save her people from eternal slumber. Instead, Sleeping Beauty is now a queen who repeatedly takes to her bed with the vapours and who repeats the mistakes of her parents by (a) isolating her cursed eldest daughter, (b) not telling her about the curse (until she's a teen), (c) trying to keep all sharp things out of the castle. Except that she does prick her finger, the curse does activate, and then she.... runs away (knowing she'll never get to say I love You or Goodbye to her parents ever again if she fails) to try and find the good fairy and drinking copious amounts of coffee-equivalent to try and stay awake for DAYS, all while being pursued by evil fairy who has nothing better to do (over a 100 years after the original curse)....
Admittedly I was reading this as an adult but I was horribly bored. I found the writing to be weak and non-engaging, ditto with the story. This isn't really a fresh take on the Sleeping Beauty story; in fact, it might have been better if the lead character WAS Sleeping Beauty valiantly trying to save her people from eternal slumber. Instead, Sleeping Beauty is now a queen who repeatedly takes to her bed with the vapours and who repeats the mistakes of her parents by (a) isolating her cursed eldest daughter, (b) not telling her about the curse (until she's a teen), (c) trying to keep all sharp things out of the castle. Except that she does prick her finger, the curse does activate, and then she.... runs away (knowing she'll never get to say I love You or Goodbye to her parents ever again if she fails) to try and find the good fairy and drinking copious amounts of coffee-equivalent to try and stay awake for DAYS, all while being pursued by evil fairy who has nothing better to do (over a 100 years after the original curse)....
January 7, 2023
I feel like this was one of her weakest works. I loved the stories and descriptions, but the character of Luna was impossible to read. She was constantly bratty, annoying, and a pick-me-girl. Diane clearly has issues with writing headstrong girls that HATE corsets because they're unberable, like the main character in Princess of the Swans, but at least that character was bearable. I could not stand Luna in the slightest. Also, corsets are not bad. No period accurate piece would ever have a character complaining about them. And also, why is a little girl wearing a corset? The family line was a little hard to follow with the fact that Manon was somehow related to the girls and I wish it was simpler. I know Diane is a good writer, one of my favourites of her books was her adaptation of the twelve dancing princesses, but this simply was not it.
January 6, 2024
Interesting concept, to imagine what it might be like if Sleeping Beauty had a daughter similarly cursed. I'm not really in to stories with fairies, magical curses, etc. It wasn't bad but Manon was a strong negative aspect to the whole story and there was a decent amount of peril. Aurora is 12 in the story, I'm not sure I know how old her younger sister is. I did like seeing their relationship and Symon's character. One thing I will say is I have very strong feelings about covers that don't match descriptions within the story and I was so happy when I read the scene describing the cover (it matched).
November 22, 2023
I have a lot of dislikes about this book. I did not love the characters much. I thought that the backstory was meh. The plot wasn't very good. The Viliam wasn't really address and they hardly gave any backstory on her and then she dies by exploding......could have done so much better with her character. Just could have done so much better overall with this book. I like the concept but the excision was horrible. Only gave a 2 star rating because I love a retelling of fairy tales, if not for that it would have been 1 star.
February 19, 2025
This book is a beautiful story of what could have happened after Sleeping Beauty got married. I love this author for how she remakes classic tales to look at them with a new perspective. Looking for a sweet and sophisticated fairytail for young souls? Look no further.
March 1, 2017
Very well done! Well worth reading!
January 31, 2018
A fairy tale's next generation, fairies, adventure and more. A great read, 3 stars!
July 6, 2018
Not quite as interesting as some of her other stories but a pleasant read, as all Zahler's stories are.
June 30, 2019
I was so surprised to find out Aurora was only twelve years old the whole time! I really liked this book, but it wasn't one of my absolute favorites.
July 17, 2019
A good book, not quit as aw inspiringas I'd like. Also a little too easy.
March 9, 2020
3.5 stars
April 14, 2020
Loved it!
June 2, 2020
Loved the "continual" tale spun with a twist at the beginning, a reason for an evil fairy to bewitch a child.
May 23, 2022
A cute story that’s perfect for young readers who like fairytales and adventures.
November 6, 2024
I liked this book, and it was very creative. I want to write my own fairy tale remakes and things like this thanks to Diane Zahler. Even though it is not my favorite Diane Zahler book, I did like it.
August 29, 2013
4.5 stars
Originally posted here http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/?p=9073
Welcome to my stop on Diane Zahler’s blog tour for her newly released Middle Grade fantasy Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters. I’m excited to be part of this tour because I love Diane’s books! I’ve read almost all of them, and they have all captivated me with her twists on familiar fairy tales. As the title of Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters suggests, this is an alternate version of Sleeping Beauty that chronicles the adventures of Sleeping Beauty’s daughters. They are 12 and 9, and don’t understand why they live such an isolated existence. There are no sharp knives or scissors, or anything with a pointy end to be found anywhere in the castle. All food is sent from the local village in bite sized pieces. Their father heads to the village to get his hair cut, and the castle guards don’t even have weapons (maybe they have mallets to fight off possible threats of attack?).
After Luna accidentally cuts herself, giving their emotionally fragile mother quite a fright, they learn about their mother’s history. She was cursed as a baby, and after being pricked on the finger, she fell into a deep, deep sleep that lasted one hundred years. Their father awakened her with a kiss, and when the evil fairy Manon discovered that they were living their happy ever after, she cursed them again. This time, it would be one of their daughters that would fall into a deep, deep slumber, only when she woke up, everyone she knew and loved would be dead and gone. That’s really scary! It would terrify me to find myself completely alone, so I could easily imagine how terrifying that thought was to Luna and Aurora. When Aurora pricks her finger due to Luna’s carelessness, it becomes a desperate race to find their fairy godmother before Aurora takes a really, really long nap.
As in every Diane Zahler book, the characters made the story for me. They are young and have little practical world experience, yet they rally together to accomplish great things. Luna is stubborn and bold, while Aurora is more timid and hesitant to face new challenges. Her idea of a good time, like mine, is curling up in the library with a good book. The curse and the threat of sleeping for a century get them both moving to find a cure, and with the help of an orphan fisherman, they head off into danger. Each adds strength to their group, and without all three working together, they would fail at their task. They all grow and gain confidence as they face one frightening challenge after another. They aren’t content to just sit around and wait for an adult to solve their problems; nope, they dive right into action, determined to find a way to reverse the terrible curse that’s been placed on Aurora.
The other thing I love about these books is that the girls don’t take a backseat to the boys. They are every bit as brave, strong, and courageous as the guys. Probably more so, because the girls are the ones to get things moving in the first place. I like that they wait to be rescued; they take control of their own destiny and try to figure things out for themselves.
Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters is very fast-paced, as the sisters race against time to save Aurora from her terrible fate. Along the way they learn to embrace both the good and bad in each other. They also make friendships that will last a lifetime, and face terrors beyond their imagining. Through all of their adventures, they discover a new appreciation for each other, and the courage to overcome any obstacle – together.
So…did I like it? You bet! 4.5 / 5 stars!
Originally posted here http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/?p=9073
Welcome to my stop on Diane Zahler’s blog tour for her newly released Middle Grade fantasy Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters. I’m excited to be part of this tour because I love Diane’s books! I’ve read almost all of them, and they have all captivated me with her twists on familiar fairy tales. As the title of Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters suggests, this is an alternate version of Sleeping Beauty that chronicles the adventures of Sleeping Beauty’s daughters. They are 12 and 9, and don’t understand why they live such an isolated existence. There are no sharp knives or scissors, or anything with a pointy end to be found anywhere in the castle. All food is sent from the local village in bite sized pieces. Their father heads to the village to get his hair cut, and the castle guards don’t even have weapons (maybe they have mallets to fight off possible threats of attack?).
After Luna accidentally cuts herself, giving their emotionally fragile mother quite a fright, they learn about their mother’s history. She was cursed as a baby, and after being pricked on the finger, she fell into a deep, deep sleep that lasted one hundred years. Their father awakened her with a kiss, and when the evil fairy Manon discovered that they were living their happy ever after, she cursed them again. This time, it would be one of their daughters that would fall into a deep, deep slumber, only when she woke up, everyone she knew and loved would be dead and gone. That’s really scary! It would terrify me to find myself completely alone, so I could easily imagine how terrifying that thought was to Luna and Aurora. When Aurora pricks her finger due to Luna’s carelessness, it becomes a desperate race to find their fairy godmother before Aurora takes a really, really long nap.
As in every Diane Zahler book, the characters made the story for me. They are young and have little practical world experience, yet they rally together to accomplish great things. Luna is stubborn and bold, while Aurora is more timid and hesitant to face new challenges. Her idea of a good time, like mine, is curling up in the library with a good book. The curse and the threat of sleeping for a century get them both moving to find a cure, and with the help of an orphan fisherman, they head off into danger. Each adds strength to their group, and without all three working together, they would fail at their task. They all grow and gain confidence as they face one frightening challenge after another. They aren’t content to just sit around and wait for an adult to solve their problems; nope, they dive right into action, determined to find a way to reverse the terrible curse that’s been placed on Aurora.
The other thing I love about these books is that the girls don’t take a backseat to the boys. They are every bit as brave, strong, and courageous as the guys. Probably more so, because the girls are the ones to get things moving in the first place. I like that they wait to be rescued; they take control of their own destiny and try to figure things out for themselves.
Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters is very fast-paced, as the sisters race against time to save Aurora from her terrible fate. Along the way they learn to embrace both the good and bad in each other. They also make friendships that will last a lifetime, and face terrors beyond their imagining. Through all of their adventures, they discover a new appreciation for each other, and the courage to overcome any obstacle – together.
So…did I like it? You bet! 4.5 / 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews