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The Thirteenth Princess
The true story of the twelve dancing princesses has now been recorded…
Thirteen sisters have grown up hidden away by their Uncle, who rules the kingdom by proxy. When the eldest sister marries, her husband will take the throne. But the king has no intention of giving up his crown.
Navigating an underground world, breaking an enchantment, and enduring the prospect of a forced marriage, these are the trials the thirteenth princess must endure to see her sisters and their kingdom free…
Thirteen sisters have grown up hidden away by their Uncle, who rules the kingdom by proxy. When the eldest sister marries, her husband will take the throne. But the king has no intention of giving up his crown.
Navigating an underground world, breaking an enchantment, and enduring the prospect of a forced marriage, these are the trials the thirteenth princess must endure to see her sisters and their kingdom free…
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
131 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Nina Clare
26 books110 followersWhen she’s not writing stories or thinking up stories or reading other people’s stories, Nina likes to paint and collage pictures, get taken for long walks by her adorable dogs, and cook all things plant-based. She also does other things, like office work, but that’s the boring bit. She lives very happily in rural Cornwall, England with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 12, 2016
This book is basically a “behind the story” retelling of the classic Grimm’s fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Except, in this tale, the “true” recounting of the story, there are thirteen princesses. It is this thirteenth princess, the one who was “forgotten” in the original story, according to her and the chronicler due to “precision”, who is our narrator.
This is light reading, but with lots of details, gems that relate to the names of each of the princesses and their princes, a few of which I had never heard of before. There was plenty of opportunity to look up the names and details of which I was unfamiliar. Yet it is still written out as a fairy tale, told in a way which is suitable for children. There isn’t a high amount of action and it is easy for the reader to see where the tale is going, most particularly if you are aware of the original tale, although it is done with a few twists to give it a better HEA ending. Considering some of the difficult words, I wouldn’t recommend it for the youngest of children, but if I had children myself I would certainly be reading it to them myself if they were old enough.
All in all, a good fun tale that, with a little patience, shines in its own way.
Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked
This is light reading, but with lots of details, gems that relate to the names of each of the princesses and their princes, a few of which I had never heard of before. There was plenty of opportunity to look up the names and details of which I was unfamiliar. Yet it is still written out as a fairy tale, told in a way which is suitable for children. There isn’t a high amount of action and it is easy for the reader to see where the tale is going, most particularly if you are aware of the original tale, although it is done with a few twists to give it a better HEA ending. Considering some of the difficult words, I wouldn’t recommend it for the youngest of children, but if I had children myself I would certainly be reading it to them myself if they were old enough.
All in all, a good fun tale that, with a little patience, shines in its own way.
Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked
September 8, 2019
You've all heard the story of the twelve dancing princesses...but what about the thirteenth princess, the one with no name who was written out of the story? A blight on the perfect symmetry of her four sets of triplet siblings, "Princess" is the unpolished stone in a family of gems. But although she may not be mathematical, musical, artistic, or literary, "Princess" is full of heart and courage.
Orphaned at a young age, the girls are taken care of by a faery governess named Beryl. They watch as their nefarious Uncle rules as regent, driving the kingdom into misery and poverty with his despotic dictates. The law decrees that when the oldest sister takes a husband, that prince will become king. But Uncle has no plans to give up the throne, and he will use the blackest magic possible to make sure that any suitors for his nieces' hands in marriage disappear into the netherworld. With the help of her beloved governess Beryl, Princess discovers the truth of Uncle's plans. But can she awaken the minds of her grieving sisters before everything comes crumbling down?
This fairy tale is retold in gorgeous prose with a unique twist to the original. In some ways, it was more of a mother-daughter story than a romance, for although Princess receives both a name and a husband at the end, the story is more about the relationship between her and Beryl. Mysterious, selfless, and tender-hearted, Beryl is the perfect guardian for the gems in her care. I liked it that the older sisters, although there were too many of them to be distinct characters, were all kind and affectionate towards Princess. Minor characters like Lapido, the taciturn gem carver, stand out with their originality but also their authenticity to the world of "once upon a time."
I previously enjoyed Nina Clare's retelling of Lohengrin in The Swan King, and this story of The Thirteenth Princess was even better.
Orphaned at a young age, the girls are taken care of by a faery governess named Beryl. They watch as their nefarious Uncle rules as regent, driving the kingdom into misery and poverty with his despotic dictates. The law decrees that when the oldest sister takes a husband, that prince will become king. But Uncle has no plans to give up the throne, and he will use the blackest magic possible to make sure that any suitors for his nieces' hands in marriage disappear into the netherworld. With the help of her beloved governess Beryl, Princess discovers the truth of Uncle's plans. But can she awaken the minds of her grieving sisters before everything comes crumbling down?
This fairy tale is retold in gorgeous prose with a unique twist to the original. In some ways, it was more of a mother-daughter story than a romance, for although Princess receives both a name and a husband at the end, the story is more about the relationship between her and Beryl. Mysterious, selfless, and tender-hearted, Beryl is the perfect guardian for the gems in her care. I liked it that the older sisters, although there were too many of them to be distinct characters, were all kind and affectionate towards Princess. Minor characters like Lapido, the taciturn gem carver, stand out with their originality but also their authenticity to the world of "once upon a time."
I previously enjoyed Nina Clare's retelling of Lohengrin in The Swan King, and this story of The Thirteenth Princess was even better.
May 31, 2019
Another beautiful and original fairy-tale retelling from one of my favorite authors. We discover that there were really thirteen sisters dancing their shoes into holes, and that there is a whole lot more to their story!
I loved pretty much everything about this lovely book, from the heroine to the hero to the mystery to the setting to the beautiful writing. Well worth the read!
I loved pretty much everything about this lovely book, from the heroine to the hero to the mystery to the setting to the beautiful writing. Well worth the read!
September 7, 2019
I really loved this book
I love the author's telling of this story The Thirteenth Princess. Princess is the only daughter without a name. All her sisters are
named after crystals except for her. Each girl
had a naming ceremony except for the youngest
Princess. The story is quite interesting and full
of mystery. I recommend this book.
I love the author's telling of this story The Thirteenth Princess. Princess is the only daughter without a name. All her sisters are
named after crystals except for her. Each girl
had a naming ceremony except for the youngest
Princess. The story is quite interesting and full
of mystery. I recommend this book.
March 12, 2018
This was a very cozy read, like meeting a stranger who immediately feels like an old friend.
November 4, 2018
Rated as 3 1/2 stars
Cute YA princess story that I remember as a child. Nicely done.
Cute YA princess story that I remember as a child. Nicely done.
November 2, 2025
I recently received an ARC of The Thirteenth Princess by Nina Clare, a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," one of my favorite fairy tales. Most adaptations of this story present the magical underground world and magnificent nightly balls as a curse that needs to be broken, a trend that began with Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball. Although this is one viable interpretation of the fairy tale, I prefer to think of the enchanting balls as a form of escapism the princesses use to escape their stressful lives, as in the Barbie interpretation. This version takes a middle ground. Although there is a curse involved, the princesses are happy for the opportunity to enter the enchanted realm and dance with their beloved princes until they can be together without the confines of a curse.
As the title suggests, this book is told from the perspective of the unknown thirteenth princess, who shares the other princesses' experiences in the fairy tale but is considered an outcast because of her unlucky placement in their birth order. Though her twelve sisters are named after precious gems, the thirteenth is not given a name a simply known as "Princess." Her late parents' treatment of her does not seem to extend to her sisters, who treat her with the same kindness and respect they show each other, but her stunted placement in line to the throne allows her to fall into the "unassuming princess" trope. For most of the book, she sees herself as inferior to her more polished sisters.
When the princesses' uncle decrees that the throne will not be passed on until all thirteen princesses are betrothed, a series of balls is held to find suitors for each one. This seemingly impossible task is accomplished with very little effort. Within a few short chapters, all thirteen princesses are engaged, although there is some confusion regarding who the thirteenth is betrothed to since he did not ask for her hand directly. Though it was obvious to me as a reader, Princess spends the majority of the book thinking she is engaged to a different prince, which prevents any romantic tension that could have built up over the course of the book.
This is the second book I've read from this author and is consistent with her writing style, which focuses on beautiful imagery and dreamlike descriptions rather than character or plot development. The story is mostly a direct retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," but the lovely descriptions of palaces, gowns, gems, and underground passages make it a pleasant way to reexperience a familiar tale. Nina Clare's whimsical imagery is accompanied in this edition by lovely black and white illustrations that precede each chapter. These illustrations evoke the classical fairy tale imagery of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books and complement the author's unique form of expression.
The Thirteenth Princess is a beautifully written retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" that offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale by focusing on the unknown thirteenth princess. While the story may follow a familiar path, Nina Clare's enchanting descriptions and dreamlike imagery bring new life to the narrative, making it a delightful read for fans of fairy tale retellings. The addition of classical illustrations adds to the book's whimsical charm, making it a lovely addition to any fairy tale collection. If you're looking for a lighthearted, visually stunning retelling with a strong focus on atmosphere, The Thirteenth Princess is a great choice.
As the title suggests, this book is told from the perspective of the unknown thirteenth princess, who shares the other princesses' experiences in the fairy tale but is considered an outcast because of her unlucky placement in their birth order. Though her twelve sisters are named after precious gems, the thirteenth is not given a name a simply known as "Princess." Her late parents' treatment of her does not seem to extend to her sisters, who treat her with the same kindness and respect they show each other, but her stunted placement in line to the throne allows her to fall into the "unassuming princess" trope. For most of the book, she sees herself as inferior to her more polished sisters.
When the princesses' uncle decrees that the throne will not be passed on until all thirteen princesses are betrothed, a series of balls is held to find suitors for each one. This seemingly impossible task is accomplished with very little effort. Within a few short chapters, all thirteen princesses are engaged, although there is some confusion regarding who the thirteenth is betrothed to since he did not ask for her hand directly. Though it was obvious to me as a reader, Princess spends the majority of the book thinking she is engaged to a different prince, which prevents any romantic tension that could have built up over the course of the book.
This is the second book I've read from this author and is consistent with her writing style, which focuses on beautiful imagery and dreamlike descriptions rather than character or plot development. The story is mostly a direct retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," but the lovely descriptions of palaces, gowns, gems, and underground passages make it a pleasant way to reexperience a familiar tale. Nina Clare's whimsical imagery is accompanied in this edition by lovely black and white illustrations that precede each chapter. These illustrations evoke the classical fairy tale imagery of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books and complement the author's unique form of expression.
The Thirteenth Princess is a beautifully written retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" that offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale by focusing on the unknown thirteenth princess. While the story may follow a familiar path, Nina Clare's enchanting descriptions and dreamlike imagery bring new life to the narrative, making it a delightful read for fans of fairy tale retellings. The addition of classical illustrations adds to the book's whimsical charm, making it a lovely addition to any fairy tale collection. If you're looking for a lighthearted, visually stunning retelling with a strong focus on atmosphere, The Thirteenth Princess is a great choice.
January 18, 2019
Nice sweet story
Older kids might enjoy this, not very complex, light simple retelling (not so much in-depth insights, etc) of the 12 dancing princesses.
Older kids might enjoy this, not very complex, light simple retelling (not so much in-depth insights, etc) of the 12 dancing princesses.
October 28, 2020
3.5 stars.
Okay, so I will admit that my first reactions and criticisms of this story were a bit harsh. I started drafting a review before I was halfway through, and while some of it still stands, the second half of the book changed my perspective a bit. While it's not the best retelling of the story I've ever seen (I know a lot of people dislike it, but I still think Entwined by Heather Dixon is the best retelling), it is cute and fun. I'm a bit conflicted whether this should be middle grade or YA, because I felt the way it's written would probably appeal more to the 11-13 crowd than to older teens. The main character is supposed to be 16, but at times, especially near the beginning, she feels a lot younger than that, though she later seems to mature a bit.
Princess felt very young to me, to the point where I kept imaging her as 12 or 13 rather than 16. She pouts when things don't go her way in the beginning, even though she did things she wasn't supposed to do, and she seems a bit whiny there too, although she is better later on. Also, the names felt a bit silly for a book aimed at young adults. Usually with retellings of this fairy tale, authors choose flower names, but this author chose the names of precious stones, which is fine. But not just for the princesses themselves. No, it was for everyone, it seems. All the suitors also have jewel names, and it feels a bit over the top. It reminds me of how in books for young children the characters often have silly names.
The beginning of the book focused on symmetry a bit too much. This kingdom is obsessed with symmetry, so having an odd number of children isn't good. These people have to have their rooms symmetrical and arrange their furniture so it's symmetrical. It was mentioned so many times at the beginning of the book. It didn't need to be mentioned so much, because it felt like the author wasn't trusting that readers would understand why this is important, and it seemed like they were trying too hard to make sure that it was obvious Princess was different. She is the only single baby born into a family with four prior sets of triplets (apparently there's a magical explanation), she is the youngest child, and she wasn't even given a proper name. She is sort of alienated in this society that values symmetry because she is literally the odd one out, making the family unbalanced. I would argue that you can still have symmetry with an odd number, because if you lined all of them up, you could have one in the middle and 6 on either side. I really didn't see what the problem was. Now, if it was that the society was obsessed with having even numbers, or if they considered 13 to be an unlucky number, I would buy it, but the whole symmetry thing just seemed a bit silly. I think instead of focusing on the symmetry so much, the author should have focused on how Princess couldn't be given an actual name because no one had been sent to search through far away lands for a jewel that would be presented to her to give her a name because they were mourning the death of her mother. I thought that surely at some point they would have given her an actual name, even if it was an ordinary name, but they didn't. I found it a bit unsettling that she was just called Princess, because her title basically became her name.
Initially, I didn't like the writing style, but later in the story it kind of grew on me. It was written in a sort of fairy tale style, but it was more telling than showing. I think that works when it's a fairy tale and it's short. I didn't think it would work with a novel at first, but it did, because with 13 princesses things can get repetitive pretty fast, so we were able to skip over some things. Also, the author was trying to make the princesses sound like they speak more formally by not using contractions, but this makes the dialogue feel stilted. It feels very unnatural, and took me out of the story because I kept noticing when they said things like "did not" all the time. Yes, a princess would speak differently than a peasant, but I think there are better ways of getting the formality of the voice without eliminating contractions altogether. It wasn't necessarily consistent all the way through, either. For example, at least once, Beryl says "don't" instead of do not, but most of the time contractions are not used when she is speaking.
I felt that the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially in the beginning. This was one of my original critiques, and I think it is still valid, though the other princesses did gain a little more personality as time went on. Mostly they seemed pretty interchangeable, referred to within their respective set of triplets, and only distinguished by their different hobbies. I think it might have been better if the other sisters were not all triplets, because it's nice to have a range of ages. All 13 of these girls were born within five years, and they're so close in age, which I think again contributes to the problem of them being interchangeable and not seeming unique. What I like most about retellings of this story is that there are so many princesses, and it is interesting to see what the author does with the relationships between the sisters and the different personalities, but there wasn't much of that here. We got to see a bit more in the second half, which I think is where the author really hit their stride and got into the story. I just wanted the characters to be fleshed out more because it is novel length, not a short story, so there is plenty of space to do so.
When I got closer to that half way point, I was questioning what the beginning part had to do with the story, because we hadn't had the dancing and the mysteriously worn through slippers yet. But when I had read a little further, I understood how it was relevant. We don't get to the details from the original story until a little before the half way point.
I think the beginning of the story could have used a bit of work, because it wasn't as strong as the latter parts. I think instead of the prologue with the Chronicler, the information from the first three or so chapters should have been in the prologue. Those initial chapters felt like set up for the story, but it felt kind of like info-dumping. I know fairy tales usually have a little bit of set up in the beginning, but for a novel because there is more space, I think the information could have been either presented in the prologue or woven throughout the story a bit more.
When I started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to finish it, but I'm glad I did, and maybe I will reread it again someday.
Spoilers!
I was a bit disappointed in the final reveal of Princess' name. Iola doesn't sound that pretty to me, and it actually reminds me of the word iota, which means an extremely small amount, sometimes with a negative connotation. The iolite stone is really pretty, though. I had thought Sunny would bring her a Tiger's eye because she had talked about wanting see the world, including the tigers she had learned about in her studies.
I felt the relationships between the princesses and their princes could have been developed a bit more. I know it is sort of an homage to fairy tales where princes and princesses fall in love at first sight, but I think it may have helped to give the princesses a bit more personality as well. Even Princess seems to immediately fall in love with Sunny, even though they had not talked long when they first met and she didn't think about him at all afterwards.
Some things did feel a bit predictable, like the sorcerer really being their uncle's father, or, in my opinion, Beryl dying. I had figured that by the end she would die or leave because the princesses were all grown up, married, and starting their own lives. They didn't need her to watch over them anymore. I think the ending was well done, though, because I actually almost felt like I wanted to cry. Princess/Iola seemed a lot more grown up in the second half of the book, and I liked that, because there it felt more YA to me. The ending gave me the sort of bittersweet feelings I got at the end of Little Women and Anne of Green Gables because in a way, it felt like we got to watch Princess mature from a child into a young woman who is now going to build her own life. I'm not sure if I explained that well, or if anyone else got a similar feeling, but that's the only way I really know how to describe it. It's the being sad because something is ending, but also looking into the future and knowing there's a new beginning.
Okay, so I will admit that my first reactions and criticisms of this story were a bit harsh. I started drafting a review before I was halfway through, and while some of it still stands, the second half of the book changed my perspective a bit. While it's not the best retelling of the story I've ever seen (I know a lot of people dislike it, but I still think Entwined by Heather Dixon is the best retelling), it is cute and fun. I'm a bit conflicted whether this should be middle grade or YA, because I felt the way it's written would probably appeal more to the 11-13 crowd than to older teens. The main character is supposed to be 16, but at times, especially near the beginning, she feels a lot younger than that, though she later seems to mature a bit.
Princess felt very young to me, to the point where I kept imaging her as 12 or 13 rather than 16. She pouts when things don't go her way in the beginning, even though she did things she wasn't supposed to do, and she seems a bit whiny there too, although she is better later on. Also, the names felt a bit silly for a book aimed at young adults. Usually with retellings of this fairy tale, authors choose flower names, but this author chose the names of precious stones, which is fine. But not just for the princesses themselves. No, it was for everyone, it seems. All the suitors also have jewel names, and it feels a bit over the top. It reminds me of how in books for young children the characters often have silly names.
The beginning of the book focused on symmetry a bit too much. This kingdom is obsessed with symmetry, so having an odd number of children isn't good. These people have to have their rooms symmetrical and arrange their furniture so it's symmetrical. It was mentioned so many times at the beginning of the book. It didn't need to be mentioned so much, because it felt like the author wasn't trusting that readers would understand why this is important, and it seemed like they were trying too hard to make sure that it was obvious Princess was different. She is the only single baby born into a family with four prior sets of triplets (apparently there's a magical explanation), she is the youngest child, and she wasn't even given a proper name. She is sort of alienated in this society that values symmetry because she is literally the odd one out, making the family unbalanced. I would argue that you can still have symmetry with an odd number, because if you lined all of them up, you could have one in the middle and 6 on either side. I really didn't see what the problem was. Now, if it was that the society was obsessed with having even numbers, or if they considered 13 to be an unlucky number, I would buy it, but the whole symmetry thing just seemed a bit silly. I think instead of focusing on the symmetry so much, the author should have focused on how Princess couldn't be given an actual name because no one had been sent to search through far away lands for a jewel that would be presented to her to give her a name because they were mourning the death of her mother. I thought that surely at some point they would have given her an actual name, even if it was an ordinary name, but they didn't. I found it a bit unsettling that she was just called Princess, because her title basically became her name.
Initially, I didn't like the writing style, but later in the story it kind of grew on me. It was written in a sort of fairy tale style, but it was more telling than showing. I think that works when it's a fairy tale and it's short. I didn't think it would work with a novel at first, but it did, because with 13 princesses things can get repetitive pretty fast, so we were able to skip over some things. Also, the author was trying to make the princesses sound like they speak more formally by not using contractions, but this makes the dialogue feel stilted. It feels very unnatural, and took me out of the story because I kept noticing when they said things like "did not" all the time. Yes, a princess would speak differently than a peasant, but I think there are better ways of getting the formality of the voice without eliminating contractions altogether. It wasn't necessarily consistent all the way through, either. For example, at least once, Beryl says "don't" instead of do not, but most of the time contractions are not used when she is speaking.
I felt that the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially in the beginning. This was one of my original critiques, and I think it is still valid, though the other princesses did gain a little more personality as time went on. Mostly they seemed pretty interchangeable, referred to within their respective set of triplets, and only distinguished by their different hobbies. I think it might have been better if the other sisters were not all triplets, because it's nice to have a range of ages. All 13 of these girls were born within five years, and they're so close in age, which I think again contributes to the problem of them being interchangeable and not seeming unique. What I like most about retellings of this story is that there are so many princesses, and it is interesting to see what the author does with the relationships between the sisters and the different personalities, but there wasn't much of that here. We got to see a bit more in the second half, which I think is where the author really hit their stride and got into the story. I just wanted the characters to be fleshed out more because it is novel length, not a short story, so there is plenty of space to do so.
When I got closer to that half way point, I was questioning what the beginning part had to do with the story, because we hadn't had the dancing and the mysteriously worn through slippers yet. But when I had read a little further, I understood how it was relevant. We don't get to the details from the original story until a little before the half way point.
I think the beginning of the story could have used a bit of work, because it wasn't as strong as the latter parts. I think instead of the prologue with the Chronicler, the information from the first three or so chapters should have been in the prologue. Those initial chapters felt like set up for the story, but it felt kind of like info-dumping. I know fairy tales usually have a little bit of set up in the beginning, but for a novel because there is more space, I think the information could have been either presented in the prologue or woven throughout the story a bit more.
When I started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to finish it, but I'm glad I did, and maybe I will reread it again someday.
Spoilers!
I was a bit disappointed in the final reveal of Princess' name. Iola doesn't sound that pretty to me, and it actually reminds me of the word iota, which means an extremely small amount, sometimes with a negative connotation. The iolite stone is really pretty, though. I had thought Sunny would bring her a Tiger's eye because she had talked about wanting see the world, including the tigers she had learned about in her studies.
I felt the relationships between the princesses and their princes could have been developed a bit more. I know it is sort of an homage to fairy tales where princes and princesses fall in love at first sight, but I think it may have helped to give the princesses a bit more personality as well. Even Princess seems to immediately fall in love with Sunny, even though they had not talked long when they first met and she didn't think about him at all afterwards.
Some things did feel a bit predictable, like the sorcerer really being their uncle's father, or, in my opinion, Beryl dying. I had figured that by the end she would die or leave because the princesses were all grown up, married, and starting their own lives. They didn't need her to watch over them anymore. I think the ending was well done, though, because I actually almost felt like I wanted to cry. Princess/Iola seemed a lot more grown up in the second half of the book, and I liked that, because there it felt more YA to me. The ending gave me the sort of bittersweet feelings I got at the end of Little Women and Anne of Green Gables because in a way, it felt like we got to watch Princess mature from a child into a young woman who is now going to build her own life. I'm not sure if I explained that well, or if anyone else got a similar feeling, but that's the only way I really know how to describe it. It's the being sad because something is ending, but also looking into the future and knowing there's a new beginning.
December 1, 2016
Sweet Fairy Tale
I loved this story. It drew me in so quickly, I just couldn't put it down. A truly wonderful fairy tale. Read it!
I loved this story. It drew me in so quickly, I just couldn't put it down. A truly wonderful fairy tale. Read it!
December 4, 2016
Classic tale well done
Simple but beautiful retelling of a classic tale. I love the narrator. The author does a good on keeping the fairytale feel to the story
Simple but beautiful retelling of a classic tale. I love the narrator. The author does a good on keeping the fairytale feel to the story
September 24, 2020
History must have order and some symmetry of meaning so its students can process its content in an organized fashion. Consequently, history only records twelve princesses, a highly composite number, when in truth there were thirteen of them.
History also records those princesses going to sleep every night and waking up to find their slippers worn through. Where had they gone? Why were their slippers riddled with holes? And why were they exhausted after a long night’s sleep?
So the king ordered that any prince who could solve the conundrum would win the hand of the eldest princess and inherit the crown. But if he failed, he’d be immediately executed.
Author Nina Clare has rifled through the historical archives bringing her readers a 284-page novel telling the true story of Princess, the thirteenth princess who was shamelessly neglected by her parents. They didn’t even bother to name her.
Their Uncle has hid Princess and her twelve sisters away for years. He has ruled the kingdom by proxy since the girls’ parents’ death. Only when Diamond, the eldest has come of age and takes a mate will the crown be given to the queen. However, Uncle has no intentions of giving up his power, so the girls were hidden away in the castle.
Through imaginative story telling, a gripping plot, excellent characterization, and cinematic setting descriptions, Nina Clare, through the eyes of the thirteenth princess, tells her story—the true story—of her sisters. The Thirteenth Princess is an enjoyable and easy read for YA readers.
History also records those princesses going to sleep every night and waking up to find their slippers worn through. Where had they gone? Why were their slippers riddled with holes? And why were they exhausted after a long night’s sleep?
So the king ordered that any prince who could solve the conundrum would win the hand of the eldest princess and inherit the crown. But if he failed, he’d be immediately executed.
Author Nina Clare has rifled through the historical archives bringing her readers a 284-page novel telling the true story of Princess, the thirteenth princess who was shamelessly neglected by her parents. They didn’t even bother to name her.
Their Uncle has hid Princess and her twelve sisters away for years. He has ruled the kingdom by proxy since the girls’ parents’ death. Only when Diamond, the eldest has come of age and takes a mate will the crown be given to the queen. However, Uncle has no intentions of giving up his power, so the girls were hidden away in the castle.
Through imaginative story telling, a gripping plot, excellent characterization, and cinematic setting descriptions, Nina Clare, through the eyes of the thirteenth princess, tells her story—the true story—of her sisters. The Thirteenth Princess is an enjoyable and easy read for YA readers.
November 12, 2022
This was a delightful 12 Dancing Princesses retelling. Told from the POV of "Princess" the unnamed, un-remembered 13th princess from the tale, cut out of the story by historians with a penchant for tidy, symmetry, this is a gorgeous take on an old familiar.
Things I loved:
-Beryl - the fairy godmother of the princesses, whom almost no one knows is a fairy
-Princess - oh she is such a delightful character to hang out with as she is telling the story. Feeling unwanted, out of place, and severely inferior to her radiant sisters who each have triplet buddies... Princess doesn't grow bitter about her lot in life. She finds ways to enjoy it, and when she discovers an invisibility cloak... she absolutely uses it to the fullest.
-I enjoyed the the author handled the large cast, though I didn't feel like I got to know the 12 princesses very well, but it was okay, because I was seeing them through a bit of an "outsider's" pov (at least, Princess believes herself to be an outsider.
-The plot. So many twisty turns and intrigues!
-The evil uncle King Regent trying to keep the throne... this was a very interesting take on the story
-The fact that the executioners did not follow the Uncle's orders to kill anyone who didn't solve the puzzle, but rather spirited them quietly out of the country.
-The very gentle and sweet romances between the princesses and their various princes.
There is a lot to love in this story, and the final chapter brought sorrowful tears and sweet ones of joy.
Highly recommend.
Things I loved:
-Beryl - the fairy godmother of the princesses, whom almost no one knows is a fairy
-Princess - oh she is such a delightful character to hang out with as she is telling the story. Feeling unwanted, out of place, and severely inferior to her radiant sisters who each have triplet buddies... Princess doesn't grow bitter about her lot in life. She finds ways to enjoy it, and when she discovers an invisibility cloak... she absolutely uses it to the fullest.
-I enjoyed the the author handled the large cast, though I didn't feel like I got to know the 12 princesses very well, but it was okay, because I was seeing them through a bit of an "outsider's" pov (at least, Princess believes herself to be an outsider.
-The plot. So many twisty turns and intrigues!
-The evil uncle King Regent trying to keep the throne... this was a very interesting take on the story
-The fact that the executioners did not follow the Uncle's orders to kill anyone who didn't solve the puzzle, but rather spirited them quietly out of the country.
-The very gentle and sweet romances between the princesses and their various princes.
There is a lot to love in this story, and the final chapter brought sorrowful tears and sweet ones of joy.
Highly recommend.
July 29, 2017
I've read a lot of fairy tales, but this one was new to me. So to me it wasn't a retelling, but a new story. It had a lot of things these kinds of tales have: princesses and princes, a scheming king, a sorcerer and an apprentice, a good faery. And it's all woven together into a pretty engaging story.
I would have liked the youngest princess's character to be expanded more. Calling her Princess throughout the story was a bit odd and made her seem... bland and without personality. We also don't learn very much about her prince. Finally, and this is an observation rather than a criticism, the story was a bit repetitious, for example, when the sisters were getting ready for their banquets. The first four or five sisters' preparations were described in detail, though they were almost the same.
I did like this story, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a light hearted, quick read with a fairy tale vibe.
I would have liked the youngest princess's character to be expanded more. Calling her Princess throughout the story was a bit odd and made her seem... bland and without personality. We also don't learn very much about her prince. Finally, and this is an observation rather than a criticism, the story was a bit repetitious, for example, when the sisters were getting ready for their banquets. The first four or five sisters' preparations were described in detail, though they were almost the same.
I did like this story, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a light hearted, quick read with a fairy tale vibe.
September 14, 2021
I Adored this Book
I think this is a new favorite book for me. I have read alot of reimagined fairytales in past years and the ones that I simply adore are those that take the original tale, use it as a starting point and do all sorts of clever things with the story making it into something new, surprising, and sparkling with life. This book, "The Thirteenth Princess," is one of those; a rare and special book that I know I will be reading again and again. Highly recommended!
I think this is a new favorite book for me. I have read alot of reimagined fairytales in past years and the ones that I simply adore are those that take the original tale, use it as a starting point and do all sorts of clever things with the story making it into something new, surprising, and sparkling with life. This book, "The Thirteenth Princess," is one of those; a rare and special book that I know I will be reading again and again. Highly recommended!
December 22, 2024
Sweet Fairy Tale retelling!
I have read many fairy tales and own even more retold fairy tale stories on my Kindle app. It is one of my favorites genres. Nina Clare doesn’t disappoint in this relatively short but sweet variation of the Twelve Dancing Princess (or thirteen to be more exact). This is a quick read - I wish it was longer and that we got to spend more time with Sunny. But I enjoyed it for what it was. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I have read many fairy tales and own even more retold fairy tale stories on my Kindle app. It is one of my favorites genres. Nina Clare doesn’t disappoint in this relatively short but sweet variation of the Twelve Dancing Princess (or thirteen to be more exact). This is a quick read - I wish it was longer and that we got to spend more time with Sunny. But I enjoyed it for what it was. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
October 28, 2018
Good, cushy read
This was an easy-read book. It wasn’t like a must-read, but it kept me interested. There are princesses and faeries and magic but not a whole lot of “Oooo, I hate that guy!”, so it’s like a good I-just-wanna-sit-down-with-a-box-of-Cheez-its-and-not-think-about-that-pile-of-dishes-or-any-other-problems-for-that-matter kind of read.
This was an easy-read book. It wasn’t like a must-read, but it kept me interested. There are princesses and faeries and magic but not a whole lot of “Oooo, I hate that guy!”, so it’s like a good I-just-wanna-sit-down-with-a-box-of-Cheez-its-and-not-think-about-that-pile-of-dishes-or-any-other-problems-for-that-matter kind of read.
January 2, 2019
Wonderful rendition
I have to admit I am not real familiar with the twelve dancing princess story. However after reading this I plan on looking that up. I love how the author used the original story line as prelude to her story. I would love to see what else this author has written.
I have to admit I am not real familiar with the twelve dancing princess story. However after reading this I plan on looking that up. I love how the author used the original story line as prelude to her story. I would love to see what else this author has written.
July 3, 2019
Oh what a good story!
I loved the twists. I loved how the story was written so well I could just picture it clearly and be in it. I normally read quickly, this story I delighted in. It is a twist on the 12 dancing princesses with a lovely addition of the thirteenth sister telling the story of what really happened. Love.
I loved the twists. I loved how the story was written so well I could just picture it clearly and be in it. I normally read quickly, this story I delighted in. It is a twist on the 12 dancing princesses with a lovely addition of the thirteenth sister telling the story of what really happened. Love.
March 26, 2017
Great Read!
This story is so good. There was enough action to make your heart race and not lose the touch of the fairytale effect. This book is great for anyone who's interested in fairytales with an illogical twist.
This story is so good. There was enough action to make your heart race and not lose the touch of the fairytale effect. This book is great for anyone who's interested in fairytales with an illogical twist.
December 18, 2017
A different view point on the original more commonly known story of the 12 dancing princesses. Very well done. Light read, on the train. Worked swell and passed the time. Only given three stars because it wasn't quite my sort of read, however don't let this put you off. I'm more of a heavy reader.
May 23, 2019
What a great twist on a beloved fairy tale!
What a great twist on a beloved fairy tale! This was a wonderful story. Told from the perspective of the youngest, thirteenth princess, it's subtle magic gleams like precious stones cut to reveal the hidden beauty shining within.
What a great twist on a beloved fairy tale! This was a wonderful story. Told from the perspective of the youngest, thirteenth princess, it's subtle magic gleams like precious stones cut to reveal the hidden beauty shining within.
August 19, 2019
A nice retelling of a fairy tale. Mostly well paced, with details for the first couple of princesses but not repeating it 13 times in full , which was nice. The princesses names where a bit cheesy for me, but the climax was two quick for more than three stars from me
November 19, 2019
Beautifully reimagined
Her value and gifts, were hidden for years as she walked in the shadows of her twelve sisters, but the truth will illuminate her worth.
A intriguing rewrite of the twelve dancing princess. A fun read.
Her value and gifts, were hidden for years as she walked in the shadows of her twelve sisters, but the truth will illuminate her worth.
A intriguing rewrite of the twelve dancing princess. A fun read.
January 22, 2021
If you are considering trying a book by Nina Clare, I recommend starting with this one. It has a slow pace, but I found myself drawn in by Princess's quest to save her sisters and their beloveds. This is my favorite twelve dancing princesses retelling - it really becomes more than the original fairytale.
November 2, 2025
This clean retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses was so fun to read! I loved the twists that this version made possible, as well as the way the main character figured out the mystery in this version of the fairytale. I received an ARC copy and this is my review.
October 28, 2017
I enjoyed reading this charming fairytale retelling. It is engagingly written, with a personable protagonist and an interesting angle on the story.
November 29, 2018
Review
It was a cute fun story that kept me engaged throughout the book. If your looking for a light, fun, fantasy filled, clean chick book, this is it.
It was a cute fun story that kept me engaged throughout the book. If your looking for a light, fun, fantasy filled, clean chick book, this is it.
December 8, 2018
Loved it
This is a very well written tale. The characters are so loveable. It is so easy to kick back and relax with this fantastic story.
This is a very well written tale. The characters are so loveable. It is so easy to kick back and relax with this fantastic story.
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