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Fairy Tale Adventures #2
Princess of Secrets
All she needs is a clue
After a disastrous Princess Test, Carina tries to pick up the pieces and prove she is still a trustworthy spy. But all her evidence points to magical interference, and her father won’t believe such preposterous theories without proof. She’ll have to solve this mystery fast to salvage her reputation, but can she do it alone?
All he needs is a kiss
When Carina refuses to attend his brother’s wedding, Prince Stefan crosses the ocean to change her mind. But the perfect surprise turns into a perfect disaster when a witch transforms him into a frog. Only a kiss from Princess Carina can break the curse, and she doesn’t seem inclined to kiss anyone. Can Stefan win her heart before it’s too late?
Or will dark magic sweep them all away?
The Frog Prince is a retold fairy tale and the second book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series. These books take place in the same world, and each novel is a stand-alone with a fairy tale ending. Enjoy them one by one or read the entire series to see how everything connects.
If you like strong characters, sweet romance, and daring escapades, download a Fairy Tale Adventure today!
After a disastrous Princess Test, Carina tries to pick up the pieces and prove she is still a trustworthy spy. But all her evidence points to magical interference, and her father won’t believe such preposterous theories without proof. She’ll have to solve this mystery fast to salvage her reputation, but can she do it alone?
All he needs is a kiss
When Carina refuses to attend his brother’s wedding, Prince Stefan crosses the ocean to change her mind. But the perfect surprise turns into a perfect disaster when a witch transforms him into a frog. Only a kiss from Princess Carina can break the curse, and she doesn’t seem inclined to kiss anyone. Can Stefan win her heart before it’s too late?
Or will dark magic sweep them all away?
The Frog Prince is a retold fairy tale and the second book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series. These books take place in the same world, and each novel is a stand-alone with a fairy tale ending. Enjoy them one by one or read the entire series to see how everything connects.
If you like strong characters, sweet romance, and daring escapades, download a Fairy Tale Adventure today!
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2017
331 people are currently reading
893 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Marshall
24 books308 followersAngela Marshall loves fairy tales and has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She works as a professional pianist and teacher and enjoys crocheting.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
January 9, 2023
4.5 Stars
She looked to Stefan for conformation. He smiled at her and nodded.
"It isn't easy to get a girl to kiss you when you're a frog, Your Majesty."
"It isn't easy when you're human." Demarco muttered.
Serafina glared at the guard, and he snapped his mouth shut.
/aww, poor Demarco🤣🤣🤣/
She looked to Stefan for conformation. He smiled at her and nodded.
"It isn't easy to get a girl to kiss you when you're a frog, Your Majesty."
"It isn't easy when you're human." Demarco muttered.
Serafina glared at the guard, and he snapped his mouth shut.
/aww, poor Demarco🤣🤣🤣/
August 19, 2018
What a delightful book this is!
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to think of Prince Stefan at first. He seemed flaky and irresponsible, not exactly heroic. But he grew as a character, and he grew on me. Princess Carina is a smart, tough cookie, and the two of them make an adorable couple.
I really enjoy A.G. Marshall's retellings! They are unique, funny, and imaginative, not to mention filled with magical action, mystery, and adventure. This frog prince story was excellent--Prince Stefan managed to be both appealing and heroic in amphibian form.
Highly recommended to readers like me, who enjoy books filled with adventure and laughter along with the fairy-tale romance.
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to think of Prince Stefan at first. He seemed flaky and irresponsible, not exactly heroic. But he grew as a character, and he grew on me. Princess Carina is a smart, tough cookie, and the two of them make an adorable couple.
I really enjoy A.G. Marshall's retellings! They are unique, funny, and imaginative, not to mention filled with magical action, mystery, and adventure. This frog prince story was excellent--Prince Stefan managed to be both appealing and heroic in amphibian form.
Highly recommended to readers like me, who enjoy books filled with adventure and laughter along with the fairy-tale romance.
December 11, 2024
Really enjoyed this one! Carina and Stefan were fun MCs. I enjoyed the plot as well! The only thing is that the romance subplot was underdeveloped for my taste. Otherwise, I enjoyed this story!
January 6, 2024
I'm such a sucker for fairytales. In fact, I am currently mentally living in a carefully constructed fairytale dream world that I much prefer over reality. I just have such a weakness for kingdoms, princes, princesses, and fantasy. Y'all, I just REALLY LOVE FAIRYTALES. Book wise, I like to read a very specific sort of fairytale genre that can be hard to find (a genre that is more so fairytale and less fantasy, I'm not a fan of sword and knight game of thrones type fantasy) and A.G. Marshall writes just the kind of fairytales I like to read. The Princess and the Pea was one of my favorite books of 2016 so I was definitely excited to pick up the sequel (and not just because I named two of the ships in this book hehe)
Princess Carina is a secret spy for her father, the cold and strict King Giuseppe. When Carina gets an invitation to Lina and Alaric's wedding, the king declines the invitation against Carina's wishes, so that she can investigate a royal treasury robbery instead. Lina is upset over having to have a stranger be her wedding attendant, so Alaric's brother, Prince Stefan, decides to surprise her by sailing to Santelle to convince Carina to attend the wedding. Unfortunately, on his way to Santelle, he runs across a pair of mermaids who curse him by turning him into a frog.
Meanwhile, ships have been missing or damaged, and the Aeonia royal treasury is being robbed while there's no way the thief could escape unless they went underwater. Reports are saying that the ships are being attacked by a sea monster, while other sailors are claiming involvement of mermaids. Carina remains open minded at the possibility of sea monsters while her father is having done of it.
“The only way someone could have infiltrated the treasury is to go underwater .”
“What are you suggesting, Carina ?”
"You know what I’m suggesting .”
The idea hung unspoken between them. Magic. Sea monsters.
Ironically, some characters in this book still don't believe in magic, calling the events of the first novel a hoax. However, all the conflicts in this story revolve around magic. Carina must solve the mystery of the stolen treasury in order to prove her worth to her parents, an incident that seems to involve magic. And of course, there is Stefan's curse to deal with.
I think that the two genres where effective world building is most important are fairytales and fantasy. For me, the most important part of a fairytale is the setting. In fact, it's probably why I even like fairytales so much to begin with. I love the concept of kingdoms with kings, queens, and magical lands. It is important for the reader to be able to visualize the setting, which is the key element of a good fairytale. How is this done? Through descriptions and information about the surrounding kingdoms so that we can get a sense of the fairytale world. With this book, I never had any trouble visualizing anything. This book painted the perfect fairytale kingdom that I was able to easily immerse myself into. However, I would have liked descriptions about not just Santelle, but also the surrounding kingdoms which would really paint a picture of what the fairytale world is like (what are the other kingdoms like? Is one a desert kingdom and another a kingdom of ice? Maybe one of them is known for having mountains and caverns and another has flowers that bloom all year round. With fairytales, the world building possibilities are endless). Bonus points to the book for having a map, maps in fairytales are always great!
I also love the usage of mythological creatures in this series. The first book dealt with goblins and this book has mermaids and kraken's which was super exciting! I'm hoping the later books will have unicorns and dragons, my personal favorites. I'm a fan of this series and I'll definitely keep reading them because I love the fairytale world that A.G. Marshall has painted. Be sure to keep an eye out for the 2 ships I named, Seawolfe and Delphinette :)
Princess Carina is a secret spy for her father, the cold and strict King Giuseppe. When Carina gets an invitation to Lina and Alaric's wedding, the king declines the invitation against Carina's wishes, so that she can investigate a royal treasury robbery instead. Lina is upset over having to have a stranger be her wedding attendant, so Alaric's brother, Prince Stefan, decides to surprise her by sailing to Santelle to convince Carina to attend the wedding. Unfortunately, on his way to Santelle, he runs across a pair of mermaids who curse him by turning him into a frog.
Meanwhile, ships have been missing or damaged, and the Aeonia royal treasury is being robbed while there's no way the thief could escape unless they went underwater. Reports are saying that the ships are being attacked by a sea monster, while other sailors are claiming involvement of mermaids. Carina remains open minded at the possibility of sea monsters while her father is having done of it.
“The only way someone could have infiltrated the treasury is to go underwater .”
“What are you suggesting, Carina ?”
"You know what I’m suggesting .”
The idea hung unspoken between them. Magic. Sea monsters.
Ironically, some characters in this book still don't believe in magic, calling the events of the first novel a hoax. However, all the conflicts in this story revolve around magic. Carina must solve the mystery of the stolen treasury in order to prove her worth to her parents, an incident that seems to involve magic. And of course, there is Stefan's curse to deal with.
I think that the two genres where effective world building is most important are fairytales and fantasy. For me, the most important part of a fairytale is the setting. In fact, it's probably why I even like fairytales so much to begin with. I love the concept of kingdoms with kings, queens, and magical lands. It is important for the reader to be able to visualize the setting, which is the key element of a good fairytale. How is this done? Through descriptions and information about the surrounding kingdoms so that we can get a sense of the fairytale world. With this book, I never had any trouble visualizing anything. This book painted the perfect fairytale kingdom that I was able to easily immerse myself into. However, I would have liked descriptions about not just Santelle, but also the surrounding kingdoms which would really paint a picture of what the fairytale world is like (what are the other kingdoms like? Is one a desert kingdom and another a kingdom of ice? Maybe one of them is known for having mountains and caverns and another has flowers that bloom all year round. With fairytales, the world building possibilities are endless). Bonus points to the book for having a map, maps in fairytales are always great!
I also love the usage of mythological creatures in this series. The first book dealt with goblins and this book has mermaids and kraken's which was super exciting! I'm hoping the later books will have unicorns and dragons, my personal favorites. I'm a fan of this series and I'll definitely keep reading them because I love the fairytale world that A.G. Marshall has painted. Be sure to keep an eye out for the 2 ships I named, Seawolfe and Delphinette :)
January 12, 2021
Just thinking about this book puts a goofy smile on my face. THIS is why I love fairytale retellings. Carina and Stefan are the best, both as individuals and as a couple, and even the side characters that don’t show up much are amazing. Six out of five stars.
Also I read the entire book twice through within a couple months, while usually I wait at least a year to reread a book😛
Also I read the entire book twice through within a couple months, while usually I wait at least a year to reread a book😛
February 13, 2020
Okay, this was outrageously fun and I loved it. I'm definitely going to have to go back and read book 1 now!
(I read this one under its updated cover and title Princess of Secrets, which is apparently not on Goodreads)
(I read this one under its updated cover and title Princess of Secrets, which is apparently not on Goodreads)
May 8, 2023
Stefan was hilarious. This book had more humor and the writing style flowed smoother than the first book. I throughly enjoyed it and it’s unexpected turns! One adventure after the next and loved Carina’s spunk, genius, and bravery. Highly recommend
November 15, 2017
4.5 Stars!
November 8, 2017
Content:
CLEAN! Language and romance are totally clean..
I loved this one even more than the last. And I liked the first one. A lot.
(So, I am glad to say this author has been officially dubbed into my library next to K.M.Shea, Brittany Fichter, Shari L. Tapscott and Melanie Cellier. )
Now, about this book:
I loved Carina- and my heart bled for her. (What a terrible family, eh?)
And I loved Stefan- he's hilarious but gallant, strong and manly. And so proper- who would've thought, with that sense of humour?
You immediately like them in the first book, and I was thrilled that this pair had their story.
And guess what?
I absolutely enjoyed King what's-his-face. You'll understand if you read it... not her father, the third companion to their little band. UGH. Me and names.
--
I can really appreciate A.G.Marshall's retelling- she brought together different versions of the frog prince, melded them, and crafted her own story throughout it all.
CLEAN! Language and romance are totally clean..
I loved this one even more than the last. And I liked the first one. A lot.
(So, I am glad to say this author has been officially dubbed into my library next to K.M.Shea, Brittany Fichter, Shari L. Tapscott and Melanie Cellier. )
Now, about this book:
I loved Carina- and my heart bled for her. (What a terrible family, eh?)
And I loved Stefan- he's hilarious but gallant, strong and manly. And so proper- who would've thought, with that sense of humour?
You immediately like them in the first book, and I was thrilled that this pair had their story.
And guess what?
I absolutely enjoyed King what's-his-face. You'll understand if you read it... not her father, the third companion to their little band. UGH. Me and names.
--
I can really appreciate A.G.Marshall's retelling- she brought together different versions of the frog prince, melded them, and crafted her own story throughout it all.
December 19, 2022
2.75⭐
⚓🐸Oh shit it's an interconnected series *sigh*
⚓🐸Uh.. no matter how spoiled they are you can't treat your princess like that, right?
⚓🐸This is so unnecessary problem creating. Stefan could have traveled like Heinrich.
⚓🐸Man this family is toxic. Don't even try redeeming it.
⚓🐸Ok this is getting boring.
⚓🐸I was expecting some badass action from Carina. Otherwise her worth was still hidden to all. I mean obviously that's the only reason they let her live.
⚓🐸Thank goodness someone said it. Yes this family is problematic.
⚓🐸I know the series will continue with all those situations and this families demise will come thn. And it was unsatisfying cause I don't think I'll read the whole series. Carina's father deserves more than a kick on the nose. I can only hope serafina will redo all this bullshit.
⚓🐸And the romance felt it was build under duress. Carina didn't really fall in love with Stefan and Stefan has no choice but to woo Carina. I know he could have gone to Lina if he didn't want to be with Carina but still. I didn't feel the connection.
⚓🐸Oh shit it's an interconnected series *sigh*
⚓🐸Uh.. no matter how spoiled they are you can't treat your princess like that, right?
⚓🐸This is so unnecessary problem creating. Stefan could have traveled like Heinrich.
⚓🐸Man this family is toxic. Don't even try redeeming it.
⚓🐸Ok this is getting boring.
⚓🐸I was expecting some badass action from Carina. Otherwise her worth was still hidden to all. I mean obviously that's the only reason they let her live.
⚓🐸Thank goodness someone said it. Yes this family is problematic.
⚓🐸I know the series will continue with all those situations and this families demise will come thn. And it was unsatisfying cause I don't think I'll read the whole series. Carina's father deserves more than a kick on the nose. I can only hope serafina will redo all this bullshit.
⚓🐸And the romance felt it was build under duress. Carina didn't really fall in love with Stefan and Stefan has no choice but to woo Carina. I know he could have gone to Lina if he didn't want to be with Carina but still. I didn't feel the connection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2019
2 stars = it was okay
Like in Princess and the Pea, everyone in authority is freaking difficult. The king never believes Carina, even though she’s his own daughter and spymaster. He uses her and discards her and gets away with it! Grrr. In fact, everyone despises and disrespects Carina. I get that a lot of it has to do with their militaristic culture, but it’s very frustrating to see a character I care about get kicked around with no comeuppance.
Which brings me to the redeeming portion of this book: Carina and Stefan. OMG! They are so cute! And fun! They were MADE for each other! She’ll keep Stefan preoccupied hunting after troublemakers to keep him from causing the trouble himself. And Stefan can be super thoughtful and kind, which is something Carina needs after dealing with national and familial hatred on a daily basis for so long. Seriously, her country, and especially her father, doesn’t deserve her.
Like in Princess and the Pea, everyone in authority is freaking difficult. The king never believes Carina, even though she’s his own daughter and spymaster. He uses her and discards her and gets away with it! Grrr. In fact, everyone despises and disrespects Carina. I get that a lot of it has to do with their militaristic culture, but it’s very frustrating to see a character I care about get kicked around with no comeuppance.
Which brings me to the redeeming portion of this book: Carina and Stefan. OMG! They are so cute! And fun! They were MADE for each other! She’ll keep Stefan preoccupied hunting after troublemakers to keep him from causing the trouble himself. And Stefan can be super thoughtful and kind, which is something Carina needs after dealing with national and familial hatred on a daily basis for so long. Seriously, her country, and especially her father, doesn’t deserve her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2019
Such a fun read!
This was really enjoyable. After the first book, I was eager to learn more about Carina and Stefan. I like that A. G. Marshall kept Stefan's character very consistent with the first book, although he's not the type of hero I personally prefer. It was really frustrating to see Carina struggle - actually, I still don't get why she didn't just TELL her sister or her mother what her role is - so much so that I almost docked a star. But i really liked the ending - i appreciate authors who can leave space for further books WHILE still finishing the story off really well - so i didn't.
This was really enjoyable. After the first book, I was eager to learn more about Carina and Stefan. I like that A. G. Marshall kept Stefan's character very consistent with the first book, although he's not the type of hero I personally prefer. It was really frustrating to see Carina struggle - actually, I still don't get why she didn't just TELL her sister or her mother what her role is - so much so that I almost docked a star. But i really liked the ending - i appreciate authors who can leave space for further books WHILE still finishing the story off really well - so i didn't.
April 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I'm generally a sucker for fairy tale retellings so this is right up my ally. I loved the story, although I felt like the beginning was dragging a little. I complained in my review for Princess of Shadows that we should have been given more information upfront. I think that this book had the opposite problem. The narration alternated between Carina and Stefan's perspective. I think it could have been interesting to only get one of their perspectives so that there's more of a mystery. That way instead of spending the book waiting for them to figure each other out we could have been trying to understand ourselves. This is especially important because the main conflict of the book is around the mystery, where in the first book it was more about the romance and the magic. The only other issue I had with this book was the way it fits into the series. I don't mind a series that is loosely interconnected (a great example of this is My Fair Godmother) but I expect the basic rules of the world to be the same. I didn't fully understand the magic system in the last book but one thing that was made clear was the importance of shadows and light to the way the magic worked. In this book, however, this was completely ignored. There wasn't even a passing reference to it and I'm just wondering, why? It doesn't really affect the quality of the story but still, something to be aware of. I'm not judging it too harshly because it is fundamentally just a light, cute romance.
October 9, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the second book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series by A.G. Marshall.
This is a continuation from the previous book. So, please go back and read book one so it will all make much more sense to you.
Definitely loving this series. It is a romance, yes, but just barely. It is more of a retelling than a romance. It is an adventure story in truth. This is the tale of the Princess and the Frog. I was not familiar with this tale from my youth and found it to be quite enchanting.
Stefan was not my favorite character from the previous book but he grew on me as the book went along. I have to say that both of the tailors were great comic relief. And I enjoyed them greatly. The mermaids were dealt with in a different way that I normal see in books or on tv. They sort of reminded me more of what I think of as a Siren than a Mermaid.
I like how the author developed Carina to show us who she really was compared to the previous book where she acted like a ditz during the Princess Test. I really felt sorry for her in relation to her family and how she was treated during her entire life. How can a father treat his child that way and then do what he did at the end of the book knowing he was the main cause of all her supposed treason-ish actions.
I have already started reading book three since I am completely hooked on this series.
This is definitely a series I want to continue with.
This is the second book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series by A.G. Marshall.
This is a continuation from the previous book. So, please go back and read book one so it will all make much more sense to you.
Definitely loving this series. It is a romance, yes, but just barely. It is more of a retelling than a romance. It is an adventure story in truth. This is the tale of the Princess and the Frog. I was not familiar with this tale from my youth and found it to be quite enchanting.
Stefan was not my favorite character from the previous book but he grew on me as the book went along. I have to say that both of the tailors were great comic relief. And I enjoyed them greatly. The mermaids were dealt with in a different way that I normal see in books or on tv. They sort of reminded me more of what I think of as a Siren than a Mermaid.
I like how the author developed Carina to show us who she really was compared to the previous book where she acted like a ditz during the Princess Test. I really felt sorry for her in relation to her family and how she was treated during her entire life. How can a father treat his child that way and then do what he did at the end of the book knowing he was the main cause of all her supposed treason-ish actions.
I have already started reading book three since I am completely hooked on this series.
This is definitely a series I want to continue with.
September 26, 2021
To be honest, I wasn't sure what to think about "Princess of Secrets" at first. Beacuse the first book was almost good, but it didn't win my heart and it didn't make me feel love the characters or the whole story about Lina and other magic in this world.
However, I must admit that I really like this retelling of "The frog prince", although it is not perfect. I liked the main characters - Carina and Stefan are charismatic and funny, and you can really like them and get attached to them. I liked reading the chapters from the perspective of each of them, and I didn't feel bored.
The storyline itself was a bit more interesting as well, and it really got caught up in the whole story.
The only thing that bothered me was the behavior of Carina's family and the fact how she was treated in the end. I missed something in this behavior and some reflection ... Well, you can't always have everything.
If you like retellings, you can definitely read this one.
However, I must admit that I really like this retelling of "The frog prince", although it is not perfect. I liked the main characters - Carina and Stefan are charismatic and funny, and you can really like them and get attached to them. I liked reading the chapters from the perspective of each of them, and I didn't feel bored.
The storyline itself was a bit more interesting as well, and it really got caught up in the whole story.
The only thing that bothered me was the behavior of Carina's family and the fact how she was treated in the end. I missed something in this behavior and some reflection ... Well, you can't always have everything.
If you like retellings, you can definitely read this one.
March 29, 2019
I was so impressed with A.G. Marshall's adaptation of The Princess and the Pea that I simply could not wait to dive into the next book in the Fairy Tale Adventures series. The Frog Prince takes place immediately after the events of The Princess and the Pea, so it's best to read these two in order. The book starts out with Prince Alaric's brother, Prince Stefan, sneaking away to find Princess Carina so that she can be Lina's maid of honor in her wedding. Carina is the only friend Lina made after being asleep for a hundred years and waking up to find that everyone she knew was gone. Once Stefan sets off on his quest, the book becomes a whirlwind adventure of magic, romance, and fun that is every bit as engaging as its predecessor. I was amazed by how well A.G. Marshall was able to combine the elements of the original "Frog Prince" with mermaids, sea monsters, and more.
If you recall from my review of The Princess and the Pea, Princess Carina is from a fierce warrior kingdom and is much smarter than she lets on She goes around in frilly dresses acting like a vapid blonde with no common sense when in truth, she is a spy working for her father, who forces her to keep her true identity a secret, even from the rest of her family. This duel identity that she is forced to live makes her miserable because she can never be her true self in front of anyone. Because of this, it is very difficult to make friends or feel comfortable around anyone. When she met Lina in The Princess and the Pea, she revealed a bit of her true self and earned Lina's trust as a friend. She would have been more than happy to attend Lina's wedding if her father hadn't already sent her regrets behind her back.
Prince Stefan, the prince who gets turned into a frog, is Alaric's scheming prankster of a brother with a heart of gold. In the first book, Stefan produced a play that Alaric wrote behind his back, humiliating him, but he did so with the best of intentions. In The Frog Prince, Stefan disguises himself as a sailor to travel to Carina's kingdom to bring her to Alaric and Lina's wedding so that Lina can be a happy bride. Despite his good intentions, he leaves without telling anyone, has an accidental encounter with some mermaids, and ends up getting turned into a frog. A.G. Marshall is very good at blending humor into her stories, so a wise-cracking goofball like Stefan is the perfect candidate for a hilariously entertaining talking frog. His confidence and bluntness is exactly what Carina needs to break through her guarded exterior.
Another thing I love about this book is how many obscure elements A.G. Marshall incorporates from the Grimm fairy tale, originally known as "The Frog King" or "Iron Heinrich." Unlike the Disney version, which changed a lot of the story, Marshall's book includes the princess's prized golden ball that the frog recovers for her from the pond, but this time with a twist. Carina's golden ball is far from just a toy. It's an enchanted device that she uses to spy for her father. When she drops it, she could have gotten in a lot of trouble if Stefan hadn't recovered it for her. The story even incorporated the prince's servant, Heinrich, who is excluded from most adaptations of the tale. At the end of the Grimm story, it is revealed that Heinrich had three iron bands around his heart that grew from his sympathy toward the prince's curse. In this version, Heinrich is Stefan's tailor who is cursed with three iron bands around his heart by the mermaids in order to prevent Stefan from telling anyone how to break the spell.
The romance in this book was handled so flawlessly that I practically felt myself falling for Stefan through Carina's eyes. In the beginning, Stefan doesn't care for Carina at all because of her vapid facade and only wants to bring her to his brother's wedding to make Lina happy. The more he gets to know her by hiding in her pocket and listening to her private conversations with her father, the more he realizes how much she has to hide from the world and longs to take her away from such a miserable existence. Likewise, Carina has little interest in getting to know a talking frog, but she is intrigued by the potential of using Stefan to prove to her father that magic exists in order to maintain her role as a spy. However, after spending more time with Stefan, she learns what it feels like to be able to talk to someone with no pretenses and starts to develop feelings for him as more than an animal companion. It doesn't hurt that she also loves solving mysteries and is intrigued by his true identity and how he was cursed.
I have to say that A.G. Marshall has quickly worked her way into my heart as one of my favorite fairy tale authors. I love how she stays so loyal to the original stories while breathing new life into them with deeply complex characters and worlds. Both of the books I read by her incorporate a certain level of humor and fun into every chapter to never allow the story get too depressing and always bring a smile to my face. She incorporates magic into her stories in a way that is both believable an captivating. I've never imagined how "The Frog Prince" would work if it had mermaids and sea monsters in it, but after reading this version, I can't imagine it without them! If you love fairy tales and princesses, both The Princess and the Pea and The Frog Prince by A.G. Marshall are must-reads.
If you recall from my review of The Princess and the Pea, Princess Carina is from a fierce warrior kingdom and is much smarter than she lets on She goes around in frilly dresses acting like a vapid blonde with no common sense when in truth, she is a spy working for her father, who forces her to keep her true identity a secret, even from the rest of her family. This duel identity that she is forced to live makes her miserable because she can never be her true self in front of anyone. Because of this, it is very difficult to make friends or feel comfortable around anyone. When she met Lina in The Princess and the Pea, she revealed a bit of her true self and earned Lina's trust as a friend. She would have been more than happy to attend Lina's wedding if her father hadn't already sent her regrets behind her back.
Prince Stefan, the prince who gets turned into a frog, is Alaric's scheming prankster of a brother with a heart of gold. In the first book, Stefan produced a play that Alaric wrote behind his back, humiliating him, but he did so with the best of intentions. In The Frog Prince, Stefan disguises himself as a sailor to travel to Carina's kingdom to bring her to Alaric and Lina's wedding so that Lina can be a happy bride. Despite his good intentions, he leaves without telling anyone, has an accidental encounter with some mermaids, and ends up getting turned into a frog. A.G. Marshall is very good at blending humor into her stories, so a wise-cracking goofball like Stefan is the perfect candidate for a hilariously entertaining talking frog. His confidence and bluntness is exactly what Carina needs to break through her guarded exterior.
Another thing I love about this book is how many obscure elements A.G. Marshall incorporates from the Grimm fairy tale, originally known as "The Frog King" or "Iron Heinrich." Unlike the Disney version, which changed a lot of the story, Marshall's book includes the princess's prized golden ball that the frog recovers for her from the pond, but this time with a twist. Carina's golden ball is far from just a toy. It's an enchanted device that she uses to spy for her father. When she drops it, she could have gotten in a lot of trouble if Stefan hadn't recovered it for her. The story even incorporated the prince's servant, Heinrich, who is excluded from most adaptations of the tale. At the end of the Grimm story, it is revealed that Heinrich had three iron bands around his heart that grew from his sympathy toward the prince's curse. In this version, Heinrich is Stefan's tailor who is cursed with three iron bands around his heart by the mermaids in order to prevent Stefan from telling anyone how to break the spell.
The romance in this book was handled so flawlessly that I practically felt myself falling for Stefan through Carina's eyes. In the beginning, Stefan doesn't care for Carina at all because of her vapid facade and only wants to bring her to his brother's wedding to make Lina happy. The more he gets to know her by hiding in her pocket and listening to her private conversations with her father, the more he realizes how much she has to hide from the world and longs to take her away from such a miserable existence. Likewise, Carina has little interest in getting to know a talking frog, but she is intrigued by the potential of using Stefan to prove to her father that magic exists in order to maintain her role as a spy. However, after spending more time with Stefan, she learns what it feels like to be able to talk to someone with no pretenses and starts to develop feelings for him as more than an animal companion. It doesn't hurt that she also loves solving mysteries and is intrigued by his true identity and how he was cursed.
I have to say that A.G. Marshall has quickly worked her way into my heart as one of my favorite fairy tale authors. I love how she stays so loyal to the original stories while breathing new life into them with deeply complex characters and worlds. Both of the books I read by her incorporate a certain level of humor and fun into every chapter to never allow the story get too depressing and always bring a smile to my face. She incorporates magic into her stories in a way that is both believable an captivating. I've never imagined how "The Frog Prince" would work if it had mermaids and sea monsters in it, but after reading this version, I can't imagine it without them! If you love fairy tales and princesses, both The Princess and the Pea and The Frog Prince by A.G. Marshall are must-reads.
Read
June 23, 2024****DNFed at 10%****
Another one that isn’t badly written it just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t connect with the main characters (both of whom I found a bit annoying) and I was only mildly interested in the plot.
Again not bad and could work for a lot of people! It just didn’t click with me.
‼️Content (up to 10%)‼️
Violence: arrows are shot at people; a man is hit in the leg with an arrow (not detailed)
Other: magic; magical object; a character is grabbed and almost tied up
Another one that isn’t badly written it just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t connect with the main characters (both of whom I found a bit annoying) and I was only mildly interested in the plot.
Again not bad and could work for a lot of people! It just didn’t click with me.
‼️Content (up to 10%)‼️
Violence: arrows are shot at people; a man is hit in the leg with an arrow (not detailed)
Other: magic; magical object; a character is grabbed and almost tied up
January 12, 2023
Not as fun as the first book.
The protagonist, while in the first book she was witty and fun as a side character, now she’s just acting stupid and taking rather unthought actions. What’s more - I hated how her own family treated her. How her father used her as a tool (that has one purpose and shouldn’t voice “it’s” opinions). How the whole court saw her - why would you do that as an author, when she was such a different person in the first book?
I also don’t understand the whole “teenager spy” trope as it is always implausible and most of the time ridiculous.
Just couldn’t force myself to finish.
The protagonist, while in the first book she was witty and fun as a side character, now she’s just acting stupid and taking rather unthought actions. What’s more - I hated how her own family treated her. How her father used her as a tool (that has one purpose and shouldn’t voice “it’s” opinions). How the whole court saw her - why would you do that as an author, when she was such a different person in the first book?
I also don’t understand the whole “teenager spy” trope as it is always implausible and most of the time ridiculous.
Just couldn’t force myself to finish.
April 22, 2025
This series is so lovely!!! I have loved reading this book! The second edition to the Fairy Tale Adventures series is a fabulous spin of the princess and the frog! Complete with charming frogs, espionage, adventure, adorable and clean romance with magical glowing blue rocks!
July 22, 2020
This made me laugh so much! Great story!
March 20, 2020
I love a good mystery! This ball of fun drew together some really cool things, I thought.
The Frog Prince is a fun story on it's own, a bit strange, but generally a heartwarming tale. Here Marshall has taken the classic elements of The Frog Prince and sewn them seamlessly into her world. I was actually really, really excited to see how she addressed classic points in the original tale--such as the spoiled princess, the gold ball, the well, the frog's barter, etc.--and thought they were very cleverly handled. It was one of the best parts of the book for me. I loved seeing why the golden trinket was so important to the princess, what prompted the frog to seek companionship the way he did, and especially a good reason for why the princess up and ran away as soon as the frog retrieved her treasure. Each element had such a natural explanation, but even more so than that, it held a meaning to the story that ran deeper than simply a nod to the classic. Marshall created a story and she wove the elements into it as if it had been hers all along.
Furthermore, I really enjoyed the story Marshall spun. I liked Carina before, but getting to know her like this was a treat. Same for Stefan, honestly. I'd liked him in book one--I'd really liked the relationship between him and Alaric, which appropriately drove Stefan to this adventure--but getting to know him as the lead was a lot of fun. I loved how they depended on each other, how they each needed something from the other, but they wouldn't or couldn't trust one another, especially right off the bat. Seeing Carina's home and family gave me a much deeper appreciation for her. I do hope we get to see more of Seraphina, and maybe even of their mother, at some point. I keenly felt the loss that weighted Carina down and the expectation that pressed into her. Her family dynamic really brought life to the characters here. Similarly, it was really cool to see Stefan's true colors shine when Heinrich tagged along. I think the story would have been quite a bit different without the dutiful tailor. Oh, and sidenote, Stefan's gift there at the end was priceless!! Absolutely excellent. Loved that!!
We kind of got to see the world Marshall had built in book one open up and expand in this book. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sucker for mermaids. So, in part, I started this series just to get to book three and see The Little Mermaid. But truthfully? I don't know how it's going to beat this one or book one. First of all, I did not expect to see mermaids in the Frog Prince story, but they were an essential element and that alone makes this one of the best retellings ever! But more than that, the world is clearly one world, a world where every part works alongside the rest. The story's aren't so easily separated and pulled apart, which is really neat! First we had a goblin fighting shadow warrior, which is epic, and then we moved to a underestimated spy vying for her position and love and just trying to save her family and country. These two heroines are not your typical gals. They aren't afraid of climbing walls and diving head first into danger. They stand between those they love and the threat of dark forces. These girls are the perfect balance of real, raw fears and courageous, adventurous spirits. I loved seeing the world crafted in such a way to make these characters and plots come to life and propel one another forward.
This book had it all: adventure, mystery and intrigue, a dash of danger, a slow-boiled romance, and the suspense that drives your curiosity and wins your heart. Clean story with no language, clean romance, and mild violence at the hands of a crafty monster. I'd highly recommend it (after book one of course) and happily so to preteens and up.
The Frog Prince is a fun story on it's own, a bit strange, but generally a heartwarming tale. Here Marshall has taken the classic elements of The Frog Prince and sewn them seamlessly into her world. I was actually really, really excited to see how she addressed classic points in the original tale--such as the spoiled princess, the gold ball, the well, the frog's barter, etc.--and thought they were very cleverly handled. It was one of the best parts of the book for me. I loved seeing why the golden trinket was so important to the princess, what prompted the frog to seek companionship the way he did, and especially a good reason for why the princess up and ran away as soon as the frog retrieved her treasure. Each element had such a natural explanation, but even more so than that, it held a meaning to the story that ran deeper than simply a nod to the classic. Marshall created a story and she wove the elements into it as if it had been hers all along.
Furthermore, I really enjoyed the story Marshall spun. I liked Carina before, but getting to know her like this was a treat. Same for Stefan, honestly. I'd liked him in book one--I'd really liked the relationship between him and Alaric, which appropriately drove Stefan to this adventure--but getting to know him as the lead was a lot of fun. I loved how they depended on each other, how they each needed something from the other, but they wouldn't or couldn't trust one another, especially right off the bat. Seeing Carina's home and family gave me a much deeper appreciation for her. I do hope we get to see more of Seraphina, and maybe even of their mother, at some point. I keenly felt the loss that weighted Carina down and the expectation that pressed into her. Her family dynamic really brought life to the characters here. Similarly, it was really cool to see Stefan's true colors shine when Heinrich tagged along. I think the story would have been quite a bit different without the dutiful tailor. Oh, and sidenote, Stefan's gift there at the end was priceless!! Absolutely excellent. Loved that!!
We kind of got to see the world Marshall had built in book one open up and expand in this book. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sucker for mermaids. So, in part, I started this series just to get to book three and see The Little Mermaid. But truthfully? I don't know how it's going to beat this one or book one. First of all, I did not expect to see mermaids in the Frog Prince story, but they were an essential element and that alone makes this one of the best retellings ever! But more than that, the world is clearly one world, a world where every part works alongside the rest. The story's aren't so easily separated and pulled apart, which is really neat! First we had a goblin fighting shadow warrior, which is epic, and then we moved to a underestimated spy vying for her position and love and just trying to save her family and country. These two heroines are not your typical gals. They aren't afraid of climbing walls and diving head first into danger. They stand between those they love and the threat of dark forces. These girls are the perfect balance of real, raw fears and courageous, adventurous spirits. I loved seeing the world crafted in such a way to make these characters and plots come to life and propel one another forward.
This book had it all: adventure, mystery and intrigue, a dash of danger, a slow-boiled romance, and the suspense that drives your curiosity and wins your heart. Clean story with no language, clean romance, and mild violence at the hands of a crafty monster. I'd highly recommend it (after book one of course) and happily so to preteens and up.
May 31, 2021
4.5
Reader thoughts: I love secrets and the tension that comes from characters being unable to explain what's really going on or who they really are.
Carina's secrets were more annoying because she wasn't magically compelled to stay quiet. There were a lot more stakes behind Stefan's silence than Carina's, and he added a lot more tension to the tale for me. If he failed, he would stay a frog and his friend would die. If she failed, her father would be disappointed. (I didn't think he would banish her, not after her years of service.)
That was another thing. Stefan was motivated by love for his family (his brother and tailor). Carina was motivated by fear of her family (and wanting to please them). Carina couldn't even tell her mother or the crown princess what she was really up to. Instead, she let them all think she was brainless. She should have explained.
Also, she and her father should have come up with a better system. If she has to interrupt his council meetings, she should have some code words to explain what is going on so that he doesn't have to dismiss his councilors so suspiciously. (This happened in her first or second chapter, and so it isn't a spoiler.) If she is to be a better spy, she needs a better way to give him information. Like, "Tell the king that I found a new polish for my ball that makes it shinier." This could mean, "I found evidence that there is corruption where you sent me to look." Or she could send a message that sounds innocuous but could be totally cryptic. Why didn't they have a code worked out like that?
I loved that Stefan was so full of himself that he thought he could get the princess to kiss him because he was so charming, even as a frog. Eventually, he gives up on this idea to protect his friend and That showed selflessness on his part, to change his plans that way.
How big was Stefan? I pictured him frog-sized since he could sit on shoulders, but the book also describes him pulling Carina around by her skirt, fetching a fist-sized jewel from the water, and jumping at guards.
I liked Gustave's involvement and looked forward to his story (the 3rd book). He was very honest with Carina, which was nice.
Carina had a jewel that would stop the krakens, but she didn't know how. She kept trying different words to activate the jewel, over and over and over, without giving up. THAT is how characters should act when they are given a problem. I dislike reading about characters who need to solve something that is life or death, and they try for a few minutes and then stop. Later, chance gives them the solution. No. Keep trying! People could be dying!
Or, like in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry kept not trying to solve the riddles. He said he was working on it but was really just avoiding figuring out how to breathe underwater. Yeah, he was not a hero I enjoyed. In that book, he was downright lazy and gave up easily. Carina was better.
Writer thoughts: If you build tension in your novel by leaving something unsaid or incomplete, you should leave it until the end to resolve. In this book, Carina eventually figured out that her frog was human, but she didn't know she had to kiss Stefan to break the curse until the climax of the book. This maintains tension throughout the novel rather than letting the secrecy/curse tension fall off before the kraken issue was resolved. Instead, it is all combined in a more epic climax.
Reader thoughts: I love secrets and the tension that comes from characters being unable to explain what's really going on or who they really are.
Carina's secrets were more annoying because she wasn't magically compelled to stay quiet. There were a lot more stakes behind Stefan's silence than Carina's, and he added a lot more tension to the tale for me. If he failed, he would stay a frog and his friend would die. If she failed, her father would be disappointed. (I didn't think he would banish her, not after her years of service.)
That was another thing. Stefan was motivated by love for his family (his brother and tailor). Carina was motivated by fear of her family (and wanting to please them). Carina couldn't even tell her mother or the crown princess what she was really up to. Instead, she let them all think she was brainless. She should have explained.
Also, she and her father should have come up with a better system. If she has to interrupt his council meetings, she should have some code words to explain what is going on so that he doesn't have to dismiss his councilors so suspiciously. (This happened in her first or second chapter, and so it isn't a spoiler.) If she is to be a better spy, she needs a better way to give him information. Like, "Tell the king that I found a new polish for my ball that makes it shinier." This could mean, "I found evidence that there is corruption where you sent me to look." Or she could send a message that sounds innocuous but could be totally cryptic. Why didn't they have a code worked out like that?
I loved that Stefan was so full of himself that he thought he could get the princess to kiss him because he was so charming, even as a frog. Eventually, he gives up on this idea to protect his friend and That showed selflessness on his part, to change his plans that way.
How big was Stefan? I pictured him frog-sized since he could sit on shoulders, but the book also describes him pulling Carina around by her skirt, fetching a fist-sized jewel from the water, and jumping at guards.
I liked Gustave's involvement and looked forward to his story (the 3rd book). He was very honest with Carina, which was nice.
Carina had a jewel that would stop the krakens, but she didn't know how. She kept trying different words to activate the jewel, over and over and over, without giving up. THAT is how characters should act when they are given a problem. I dislike reading about characters who need to solve something that is life or death, and they try for a few minutes and then stop. Later, chance gives them the solution. No. Keep trying! People could be dying!
Or, like in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry kept not trying to solve the riddles. He said he was working on it but was really just avoiding figuring out how to breathe underwater. Yeah, he was not a hero I enjoyed. In that book, he was downright lazy and gave up easily. Carina was better.
Writer thoughts: If you build tension in your novel by leaving something unsaid or incomplete, you should leave it until the end to resolve. In this book, Carina eventually figured out that her frog was human, but she didn't know she had to kiss Stefan to break the curse until the climax of the book. This maintains tension throughout the novel rather than letting the secrecy/curse tension fall off before the kraken issue was resolved. Instead, it is all combined in a more epic climax.
March 7, 2020
This is my new favorite series of fairy tale retellings. This series doesn't feel like it's just trying to reimagine fairy tales, but has a full fledged world with interlocked plots, fleshed out characters, and interesting political intrigue. Really refreshing to see in this genre, can't wait to read the fourth book in the series.
While I didn't like Stefan in Princess of Shadows, he's great in Princess of Secrets. His character arc is fantastic and really well realized, and he becomes very likeable in the end. Respectively, Carina's arc is fantastic as well, and both of them compliment each other so well that the romance really didn't feel forced at all. On the contrary: they both are super cute together, and their relationship grows organically and is really fun to see revealed as the story progresses.
There are two points of view in this book, Stefan's and Carinas. I really enjoyed both, as we got to see scenes from different perspectives, but the information given about the exact same scene didn't feel redundant at all. Everything was well paced, everything was interesting to read, and this was a really fund ride, start to finish.
I loved the themes of family values, finding your place, and realizing where you want to belong, may not necessarily be where you're meant to be. Finding the right people to support you, and finding lost family relations is important, and it's so refreshing to read these values in these books. I feel like I said about the same thing for my review of Princess of Mermaids, but once again it's really well done in this book, so definitely worth mentioning again. My favorite parts had to be Carina and Serafina's relationship, and their Mother doing what she could given her circumstances to try and help. I can't really express more about these themes without spoilers, but trust me, totally amazing to read.
Princess of Secrets is a lot of fun, with a lot of touching moments. Well realized characters, world, and plot overall make all of the Fairy Tale Adventures books worth reading, and I highly suggest anyone who is a fan of Princess stories read these. Just so much fun, so glad I found this series. Will be anxiously awaiting the next book!
While I didn't like Stefan in Princess of Shadows, he's great in Princess of Secrets. His character arc is fantastic and really well realized, and he becomes very likeable in the end. Respectively, Carina's arc is fantastic as well, and both of them compliment each other so well that the romance really didn't feel forced at all. On the contrary: they both are super cute together, and their relationship grows organically and is really fun to see revealed as the story progresses.
There are two points of view in this book, Stefan's and Carinas. I really enjoyed both, as we got to see scenes from different perspectives, but the information given about the exact same scene didn't feel redundant at all. Everything was well paced, everything was interesting to read, and this was a really fund ride, start to finish.
I loved the themes of family values, finding your place, and realizing where you want to belong, may not necessarily be where you're meant to be. Finding the right people to support you, and finding lost family relations is important, and it's so refreshing to read these values in these books. I feel like I said about the same thing for my review of Princess of Mermaids, but once again it's really well done in this book, so definitely worth mentioning again. My favorite parts had to be Carina and Serafina's relationship, and their Mother doing what she could given her circumstances to try and help. I can't really express more about these themes without spoilers, but trust me, totally amazing to read.
Princess of Secrets is a lot of fun, with a lot of touching moments. Well realized characters, world, and plot overall make all of the Fairy Tale Adventures books worth reading, and I highly suggest anyone who is a fan of Princess stories read these. Just so much fun, so glad I found this series. Will be anxiously awaiting the next book!
March 19, 2018
I didn't like this one as much as I liked the first one, but I think that was because I didn't like Stefan that much - he was a rather obnoxious character in the first story and that rolled over into this one as well. He did improve as the story went along, which I did expect to happen, so I didn't give up on the story.
Carina was herself, and most of the time I felt sorry for her, stuck with her family as she was. She was this strong competent woman and though her father knew this he treated her with disdain. The rest of her family had no idea who she was other than the facade that she presented to them, so they treated her like she expected them to, but it still hurt because she hoped that they could see beneath her portrayal, especially her older sister, who knew her before she became ditzy. I didn't understand those beneath her treating her with disdain - that didn't make sense to me. She was still a princess, and guards laughing at her and talking down to her shouldn't have been allowed no matter how her family treated her. Despite knowing who she truly was inside, she began to believe their portrayal of her and started to lose confidence in herself - but Stefan and Gustave, the Prince that her parents wanted her to marry were on her side and they believed in her.
Magic - lots of magic in this story with mermaids gone amok, and kraken waking up, and gems that could fix it all - and Carina and Stefan stuck in the middle.
This was a fun laugh out loud story that I did eventually thoroughly enjoy and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
Carina was herself, and most of the time I felt sorry for her, stuck with her family as she was. She was this strong competent woman and though her father knew this he treated her with disdain. The rest of her family had no idea who she was other than the facade that she presented to them, so they treated her like she expected them to, but it still hurt because she hoped that they could see beneath her portrayal, especially her older sister, who knew her before she became ditzy. I didn't understand those beneath her treating her with disdain - that didn't make sense to me. She was still a princess, and guards laughing at her and talking down to her shouldn't have been allowed no matter how her family treated her. Despite knowing who she truly was inside, she began to believe their portrayal of her and started to lose confidence in herself - but Stefan and Gustave, the Prince that her parents wanted her to marry were on her side and they believed in her.
Magic - lots of magic in this story with mermaids gone amok, and kraken waking up, and gems that could fix it all - and Carina and Stefan stuck in the middle.
This was a fun laugh out loud story that I did eventually thoroughly enjoy and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
August 2, 2022
When I started this book I was struggling. The writing was well done and I could tell that the author wrote these characters the way she did with a purpose. But I'm gonna be honest: I hated every character.
Stefen was so immature. And I don't mean that he acted like a teenager. I mean that I struggled to believe he made it to the age he was, as the son of a King, and could still have so little understanding of how the world worked. He was so reckless that reading his POV gave me second hand embarassment as a classic type A / First child.
Carina was fun and while it was nice to see more inside her mind, my body hurt for her. Her family was straight up abusive and her response was to continue to try to convince them and be overly trusting. This would continue to backfire on her throughout the entire novel. More than once I screamed at my kindle "DONT TELL THEM ANYTHING!! RUNAWAY!"
And yes, Carina's family wasn't just strict or harsh. They were emotionally and sometimes verbally abusive. And tbh I don't feel like this was addressed well enough. Yes Carina is able to extract herself from the situation by the end of the novel. But I wanted her family to get what was coming for them.
So why 5 stars? Because I loved seeing how the mystery played out. I loved seeing the growth that both main characters underwent. I loved seeing their romance blossom.
This is a fun retelling of Princess & the Frog. I look forward to continuing the series.
Stefen was so immature. And I don't mean that he acted like a teenager. I mean that I struggled to believe he made it to the age he was, as the son of a King, and could still have so little understanding of how the world worked. He was so reckless that reading his POV gave me second hand embarassment as a classic type A / First child.
Carina was fun and while it was nice to see more inside her mind, my body hurt for her. Her family was straight up abusive and her response was to continue to try to convince them and be overly trusting. This would continue to backfire on her throughout the entire novel. More than once I screamed at my kindle "DONT TELL THEM ANYTHING!! RUNAWAY!"
And yes, Carina's family wasn't just strict or harsh. They were emotionally and sometimes verbally abusive. And tbh I don't feel like this was addressed well enough. Yes Carina is able to extract herself from the situation by the end of the novel. But I wanted her family to get what was coming for them.
So why 5 stars? Because I loved seeing how the mystery played out. I loved seeing the growth that both main characters underwent. I loved seeing their romance blossom.
This is a fun retelling of Princess & the Frog. I look forward to continuing the series.
May 3, 2023
Princess of Secrets is full of mystery, adventure, love, and loyalties. Stefan is fun. loyal, and creative. Carina is clever, self-sacrificial, and caring. Both of them know how to wield their personalities and hide their intelligence in a way that can lead them to be overlooked, Carina especially. They both are more powerful and more needed by their kingdoms than even they fully realize as a new danger threatens the kingdoms. There are some amazing side characters in this story and plenty of humor as one would expect given the main characters. The quest for the perfect wedding gift is epic, and has a particularly clever and hilarious fulfillment. This was a playful and creative sequel to Princess of Shadows. It reminded me just a little bit of Melanie Cellier's The Princess Game so those who enjoyed that book would also probably have fun with Princess of Secrets. This would be a good read for those who like underestimated characters, creative magic, clean romance, non gory fight scenes, frog prince retellings, strong side characters, lots of humor, mysteries and adventures.
March 19, 2018
The second book is Marshall's series is much the same, meaning a quick, fun read that continues to build a world full of fun characters. This adventure takes us across the water to a new location and a new dilemma. Carina must make up for the disastrous Princess Test from the first book (So yes, there will be spoilers if you read these books out of order), and I feel like her family is bound and determined to disapprove anything she does. Enter a few more characters from the previous book, a curse, and the introduction of a few new characters and you've got a book full of adventure. I appreciate how the author incorporated the original elements but also made this completely her own. The original Frog Prince never had me cheering for either character, but Marshall's fresh take made them much more likable. This book also clearly sets up a third in the series as there are so many things I still want to know!
January 28, 2020
This book was just as fun as the first!
Stefan decides he will get his brother and his bride-to-be the perfect gift: the appearance of Carina at their wedding. However, he is unsure at why they wish to have her there. Hi-jinks and mischief occur on his trip to convince Carina to go to the wedding and well he ends up as a frog. Also, I really enjoyed seeing his character development. Additionally, Carina's spy status being questioned and the fact that she has to hide it from her loved ones was interesting. My favorite part of this was Carina's family trying to set her up with King Gustave while frog Stefan, Gustave, and Carina oppose this potential relationship.
All in all, a really fun tale that combines elements of different fairytales to create an original tale. Also, we now have an appropriately villainous Leander for the Odette who disappeared in book one, so I predict a swan princess retelling soon....
Stefan decides he will get his brother and his bride-to-be the perfect gift: the appearance of Carina at their wedding. However, he is unsure at why they wish to have her there. Hi-jinks and mischief occur on his trip to convince Carina to go to the wedding and well he ends up as a frog. Also, I really enjoyed seeing his character development. Additionally, Carina's spy status being questioned and the fact that she has to hide it from her loved ones was interesting. My favorite part of this was Carina's family trying to set her up with King Gustave while frog Stefan, Gustave, and Carina oppose this potential relationship.
All in all, a really fun tale that combines elements of different fairytales to create an original tale. Also, we now have an appropriately villainous Leander for the Odette who disappeared in book one, so I predict a swan princess retelling soon....
January 19, 2022
Pretty fun read!
Much like the first book in the series, this one had a strong FMC and a fun twist on an old tale. The love interest, Stefan, was much more interesting than in the first novel.
There was one frustration I never quite got relieved- the entire book, Princess Carina is disrespected by not only her subordinates (servants, guards, etc..) but also her family. It was so sad, we never saw anyone show true kindness and love to her. It made sense though, with her position as a spy, she was not supposed to be respected, she was supposed to be basically invisible.
She never got her moment to make them regret her treatment. Frankly, her “moment” with her sister at the end was disappointing.
SPOILER
She saves the day and gets banished. I mean, what a terrible ending. I wish she had been able to leave of her own choice. She deserved being able to make her own decisions and give everyone the middle finger.
Much like the first book in the series, this one had a strong FMC and a fun twist on an old tale. The love interest, Stefan, was much more interesting than in the first novel.
There was one frustration I never quite got relieved- the entire book, Princess Carina is disrespected by not only her subordinates (servants, guards, etc..) but also her family. It was so sad, we never saw anyone show true kindness and love to her. It made sense though, with her position as a spy, she was not supposed to be respected, she was supposed to be basically invisible.
She never got her moment to make them regret her treatment. Frankly, her “moment” with her sister at the end was disappointing.
SPOILER
She saves the day and gets banished. I mean, what a terrible ending. I wish she had been able to leave of her own choice. She deserved being able to make her own decisions and give everyone the middle finger.
March 26, 2020
I liked Carina's story almost as much as I enjoyed Lina's!
Stefan happened to my favorite prince and I'm so excited he had his own story. What a cutie!!
So, yeah, this one was completely clean, a little bit of slow-burn from time to time but each time Carina remembered Stefan was a frog, she pulled back, understandably so! I mean, who in reality would actually kiss a frog?! Well, okay, maybe. If there were some guarantee he'd actually be a prince, I digress.
So, spy princess meets the cursed prince and the fun begins there! Thank goodness for Heinrick; you just have to read it for yourself! (wink)
This was a fun read, long but super worth it! Can't believe I made it through in one day. Unreal for me. Such a cute, exciting read and the banter kept me laughing out loud!! You won't want to miss this one!!
Stefan happened to my favorite prince and I'm so excited he had his own story. What a cutie!!
So, yeah, this one was completely clean, a little bit of slow-burn from time to time but each time Carina remembered Stefan was a frog, she pulled back, understandably so! I mean, who in reality would actually kiss a frog?! Well, okay, maybe. If there were some guarantee he'd actually be a prince, I digress.
So, spy princess meets the cursed prince and the fun begins there! Thank goodness for Heinrick; you just have to read it for yourself! (wink)
This was a fun read, long but super worth it! Can't believe I made it through in one day. Unreal for me. Such a cute, exciting read and the banter kept me laughing out loud!! You won't want to miss this one!!
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