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Return to the Four Kingdoms #4
The Golden Princess
Exiled from her old life as the daughter of a vizier, Zaria still grieves the lost friends of her childhood. She’s grown accustomed to her new role as a servant, though—up until the day she stumbles on the fabled lost cave of treasures.
The wealth inside is enough to transform anyone’s life, but Zaria isn’t the first to find it. A gang of cutthroat thieves got there first, and their behavior makes Zaria question everything she sees. With an unknown enchantment at work, and forty criminals desperate to protect their hoard, she doesn’t want anything to do with the gold.
But when her royal friends reappear, Zaria discovers the cave is the key to defeating a threat to the entire kingdom. She can’t turn her back on her people, even if that means facing thieves and traitors with Crown Prince Tarek at her side. Zaria thought she’d found peace with her past, but now she isn’t sure if she’s more in danger of losing her life or her heart.
In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, a servant girl must outwit a cunning adversary before she can claim the treasure her heart truly desires.
The wealth inside is enough to transform anyone’s life, but Zaria isn’t the first to find it. A gang of cutthroat thieves got there first, and their behavior makes Zaria question everything she sees. With an unknown enchantment at work, and forty criminals desperate to protect their hoard, she doesn’t want anything to do with the gold.
But when her royal friends reappear, Zaria discovers the cave is the key to defeating a threat to the entire kingdom. She can’t turn her back on her people, even if that means facing thieves and traitors with Crown Prince Tarek at her side. Zaria thought she’d found peace with her past, but now she isn’t sure if she’s more in danger of losing her life or her heart.
In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, a servant girl must outwit a cunning adversary before she can claim the treasure her heart truly desires.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2022
159 people are currently reading
1063 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Cellier
126 books2,747 followersMelanie Cellier grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although she got older, she never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels.
She always wanted to write one herself, but it took three careers and three different continents before she actually managed it.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
She writes young adult fantasy including her Spoken Mage series, and her Four Kingdoms and Beyond the Four Kingdoms series which are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
She writes young adult fantasy including her Spoken Mage series, and her Four Kingdoms and Beyond the Four Kingdoms series which are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
March 21, 2025
Around 4 stars ⭐️
Two notes: 1- The cover is so pretty! 😍 and 2- “Close sesame” made me laugh 🤣
Not familiar with this fairytale at all. I skimmed a summary before starting this book, but went in with very little knowledge which I think was just fine.
Zaria been used left and right even by people she cares about to make sure she doesn’t spill their secrets. She even knows this and I felt really bad for her because of this. :( She had a very level-head which was refreshing, though, at times she did go head first into danger which wasn’t the best idea but it worked out because she’s a smart cookie.
The romance felt really light for the majority of the book. You know who she’ll end up with but it was really crumbs there for the longest time. 😅
I didn’t see the ending coming as Zaria kept me (the reader) in the dark a bit longer than I preferred, but it was a good ending nonetheless. I think I liked the prior book a bit more for this series, but again, it was cute and had some adventure! Not sure what to think about a Puss in Boots retelling that the next book is, but I’ll definitely be reading it. 😉
Main Content-
There’s a few mentions of the “wise women” (godmothers) and how countries who follow their suggestion of finding true love prosper; The cave of treasures has a magic phrase—“Open sesame”—that is used to open it.
A blade/knife dance (including it getting threatening and dangerous); Threatening someone at knife-point, being hit, & pain (up to a few sentences); Fighting & seeing fighting/attacks, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to a few sentences); Seeing and hearing a murder & seeing the body (up to a few sentences, but not gory); *Spoiler* ; A cover-story is made about the murder (they say that man was suddenly sick) which is all lies but done for safety from the murderer.
Others around Zaria steal some treasure from the thieves, but she is unsure about taking any of it because of the possible enchantments (one justifies it because ”stealing from thieves isn’t really stealing at all”); Zaria is very concerned about the thieves coming after her or those around her (especially about possibly being killed by them and imagines finding others murdered); The others come up with a cover story about how they got the riches (which is all lies; Zaria says it isn’t a bad one); Zaria’s employer is verbally abusive/very unkind to her & enjoys punishing her (Zaria takes it & tries to avoid her at times); Zaria has moments of grief with missing her father (who passed years prior) and their former life with her friends; Zaria was hurt when the royal family and her friends didn’t reach out to her when her status changed after her father’s death (*Spoiler* ; Zaria’s mother died birthing her; A wife fusses about her husband not paying attention to their finances; The crown prince comments on his father focusing on ruling the kingdom rather than his own children;
All about many, many mentions of & seeing thieves, a gang of thieves, stealing, robberies, greed, stolen treasures, & the enchantments on the items; Mentions of the thieves killing/murdering others who get in their way or learn their secrets; Mentions of murders, murderers, & poisons; Mentions of arrests & prisoners; Mentions of lies, lying, & deception; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of grief; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks.
No major language, only a few of mentions of curses being said (but not written out); Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Dreaming about a kiss & embrace; An almost kiss (up to a couple sentences);
1 kiss with a single adjective,
5 kisses lasting a couple sentences,
2 kisses lasting a few sentences,
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Nearness, & Smelling (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Noticing (up to a few sentences);
Accidentally seeing a couple in an “intimate embrace” (Zaria is shocked and tries to hastily getaway); A brother-like friend romantically corners Zaria as an act for others to not notice them;
Some side characters believe there is more to Zaria and a good friend’s relationship (including his parents, but they are really like siblings more than anything); A side character was a dancer from a poor family who caught the eye of an older man and they got married (another character notes that she was quickly widowed and is “unencumbered” by having a husband.
Mentions of touches, embraces, & hand holding; Mentions of crushes & handsome guys; A few mentions of a young Zaria liking the idea of romance; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of a woman wearing a suggestive outfit to a party.
See my content reviews of the rest of the series & spin-off series here:
The Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #2.2, Book #2.5, Book #3, Book #3.5, Book #4, and Book #5.
Beyond the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
Return to the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
The Four Kingdoms Duology:
Book #1 and Book #2.
Two notes: 1- The cover is so pretty! 😍 and 2- “Close sesame” made me laugh 🤣
Not familiar with this fairytale at all. I skimmed a summary before starting this book, but went in with very little knowledge which I think was just fine.
Zaria been used left and right even by people she cares about to make sure she doesn’t spill their secrets. She even knows this and I felt really bad for her because of this. :( She had a very level-head which was refreshing, though, at times she did go head first into danger which wasn’t the best idea but it worked out because she’s a smart cookie.
The romance felt really light for the majority of the book. You know who she’ll end up with but it was really crumbs there for the longest time. 😅
I didn’t see the ending coming as Zaria kept me (the reader) in the dark a bit longer than I preferred, but it was a good ending nonetheless. I think I liked the prior book a bit more for this series, but again, it was cute and had some adventure! Not sure what to think about a Puss in Boots retelling that the next book is, but I’ll definitely be reading it. 😉
Main Content-
There’s a few mentions of the “wise women” (godmothers) and how countries who follow their suggestion of finding true love prosper; The cave of treasures has a magic phrase—“Open sesame”—that is used to open it.
A blade/knife dance (including it getting threatening and dangerous); Threatening someone at knife-point, being hit, & pain (up to a few sentences); Fighting & seeing fighting/attacks, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to a few sentences); Seeing and hearing a murder & seeing the body (up to a few sentences, but not gory); *Spoiler* ; A cover-story is made about the murder (they say that man was suddenly sick) which is all lies but done for safety from the murderer.
Others around Zaria steal some treasure from the thieves, but she is unsure about taking any of it because of the possible enchantments (one justifies it because ”stealing from thieves isn’t really stealing at all”); Zaria is very concerned about the thieves coming after her or those around her (especially about possibly being killed by them and imagines finding others murdered); The others come up with a cover story about how they got the riches (which is all lies; Zaria says it isn’t a bad one); Zaria’s employer is verbally abusive/very unkind to her & enjoys punishing her (Zaria takes it & tries to avoid her at times); Zaria has moments of grief with missing her father (who passed years prior) and their former life with her friends; Zaria was hurt when the royal family and her friends didn’t reach out to her when her status changed after her father’s death (*Spoiler* ; Zaria’s mother died birthing her; A wife fusses about her husband not paying attention to their finances; The crown prince comments on his father focusing on ruling the kingdom rather than his own children;
All about many, many mentions of & seeing thieves, a gang of thieves, stealing, robberies, greed, stolen treasures, & the enchantments on the items; Mentions of the thieves killing/murdering others who get in their way or learn their secrets; Mentions of murders, murderers, & poisons; Mentions of arrests & prisoners; Mentions of lies, lying, & deception; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of grief; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks.
No major language, only a few of mentions of curses being said (but not written out); Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Dreaming about a kiss & embrace; An almost kiss (up to a couple sentences);
1 kiss with a single adjective,
5 kisses lasting a couple sentences,
2 kisses lasting a few sentences,
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Nearness, & Smelling (up to a few sentences); Blushes; Noticing (up to a few sentences);
Accidentally seeing a couple in an “intimate embrace” (Zaria is shocked and tries to hastily getaway); A brother-like friend romantically corners Zaria as an act for others to not notice them;
Some side characters believe there is more to Zaria and a good friend’s relationship (including his parents, but they are really like siblings more than anything); A side character was a dancer from a poor family who caught the eye of an older man and they got married (another character notes that she was quickly widowed and is “unencumbered” by having a husband.
Mentions of touches, embraces, & hand holding; Mentions of crushes & handsome guys; A few mentions of a young Zaria liking the idea of romance; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of a woman wearing a suggestive outfit to a party.
See my content reviews of the rest of the series & spin-off series here:
The Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #2.2, Book #2.5, Book #3, Book #3.5, Book #4, and Book #5.
Beyond the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
Return to the Four Kingdoms series:
Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, and Book #6.
The Four Kingdoms Duology:
Book #1 and Book #2.
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March 3, 2025
⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️
I’m super excited to see Zaria and I love how this one connects to the Aladdin one! It’s perfect! This is my first retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves so I’m excited! First off, STUNNING cover! 🤩 Zaria was great! She was brave and determined! I liked her instantly! Rek was kinda mean and grouchy at first and I wasn’t really a fan of him. But he did grow on me even though it did take me longer to like him than most of Melanie Cellier’s MMC. I did not like Nyla at all! It was nice to see Kali…I’m excited to read her story next! She seems like a great character already! I can’t wait to see Xavier and Xander again…they are delightful! I loved the double love story with Adara and Navid! This was heart pounding and exciting, full of mystery and intrigue! I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going on! I actually didn’t guess the plot twist! I didn’t love it as much as the last one perhaps cause I didn’t love Rek...it was another wonderful book by Melanie Cellier! I throughly LOVED it! I can’t wait to read the next one! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quotes that I liked:
⚱️ "In that moment, I knew I loved you.
I'd always loved you, of course. I'd loved you for years with the fierce loyalty of children. But after I saw you that night, I knew it was a love to last a lifetime. I knew I wanted more from you than friendship."
⚱️ “I choose love. I choose you, Zaria."
His face dipped, his lips coming to rest a hair's breadth from mine. "But what of you?" he whispered. "What do you choose?" “You. I choose you." The words were like an exhale, a relieved sigh as I gave up the fight.
⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️
I’m super excited to see Zaria and I love how this one connects to the Aladdin one! It’s perfect! This is my first retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves so I’m excited! First off, STUNNING cover! 🤩 Zaria was great! She was brave and determined! I liked her instantly! Rek was kinda mean and grouchy at first and I wasn’t really a fan of him. But he did grow on me even though it did take me longer to like him than most of Melanie Cellier’s MMC. I did not like Nyla at all! It was nice to see Kali…I’m excited to read her story next! She seems like a great character already! I can’t wait to see Xavier and Xander again…they are delightful! I loved the double love story with Adara and Navid! This was heart pounding and exciting, full of mystery and intrigue! I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going on! I actually didn’t guess the plot twist! I didn’t love it as much as the last one perhaps cause I didn’t love Rek...it was another wonderful book by Melanie Cellier! I throughly LOVED it! I can’t wait to read the next one! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quotes that I liked:
⚱️ "In that moment, I knew I loved you.
I'd always loved you, of course. I'd loved you for years with the fierce loyalty of children. But after I saw you that night, I knew it was a love to last a lifetime. I knew I wanted more from you than friendship."
⚱️ “I choose love. I choose you, Zaria."
His face dipped, his lips coming to rest a hair's breadth from mine. "But what of you?" he whispered. "What do you choose?" “You. I choose you." The words were like an exhale, a relieved sigh as I gave up the fight.
⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️⚱️
February 21, 2024
As much as this shocks me, it’s one of my favorite of Melanie’s books. I was not anticipating to like this one as much as the books in her first two series but I was pleasantly surprised!
It had that same feel that her older books had, not to the same extent, but close enough.
The characters felt real and relatable, and there was enough action to keep you on edge but enough of everything else to balance it out.
The romance was excellent, and I loved how sometimes it felt like friends to lovers but then also like enemies to lovers. Wonderfully done.
Also Zaria reminds me of Evie from The Princess Search, my favorite of Melanie’s books.
It had that same feel that her older books had, not to the same extent, but close enough.
The characters felt real and relatable, and there was enough action to keep you on edge but enough of everything else to balance it out.
The romance was excellent, and I loved how sometimes it felt like friends to lovers but then also like enemies to lovers. Wonderfully done.
Also Zaria reminds me of Evie from The Princess Search, my favorite of Melanie’s books.
December 27, 2022
We get to travel to yet another new kingdom in this latest book by Melanie Cellier, this time to another of the kingdoms across the Great Desert. I loved this unique twist on Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and I especially loved the friends-to-lovers romance between the leads. Each of the books in this series as such lovely comfort reads, filled with clean romance and a fun dash of adventure.
May 17, 2025
Zaria was really great, and I loved how smart she was! This one was really close to the original fairytale.
February 11, 2025
I liked this book better than I thought I would. Prince Tarek is the most intense, dark and broody hero of the other princes. I felt the romance came second to the plot of finding the thieves and traitor, but when there was romance, it was swooney, but clean, of course.
Zaria was one of the most clever of heroines, only second to Celeste in that area. But so relatable with her demoted position from family friend of the royals to a mere servant forgotten by all. Poignant.
Zaria was one of the most clever of heroines, only second to Celeste in that area. But so relatable with her demoted position from family friend of the royals to a mere servant forgotten by all. Poignant.
November 6, 2023
This is the 4th book in this author's retellings series. I've read 4 of them and this one is my favorite so far. The MC, Zaria, had a Nancy Drew vibe which worked well with this story. The mystery underfoot kept my attention.
The characters here were like the characters in her other books...all too perfect. No flaws. Just extremely altruistic. I liked this one. The mystery felt like the extra something that made this more enjoyable than her other books. So 4 stars.
The characters here were like the characters in her other books...all too perfect. No flaws. Just extremely altruistic. I liked this one. The mystery felt like the extra something that made this more enjoyable than her other books. So 4 stars.
August 19, 2024
Content Rating:5/5
Theme Rating: 5/5
Age Rating: 11+ As with all the other books, there's some romance, but it's sweet and clean and perfectly appropriate!
Note: this was my second time reading this book. I'm adding content ratings and such, but leaving my original review with a few of my thoughts this time around.
2023
Wow. Wow. This comes in a very, very close second as my favorite of the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series, because it is AWESOME! It kept me close to the page, buried in the story, desperate to find out what happened. Zaria's story was intriguing and her situation made you feel for and root for her. I loved the background with the royals, and all the reunions and little jokes- often my favorite character groups are ones that have history that make their interactions low on context and high on hilarity. Rek was great- I loved that he was responsible, but still able to be fun and almost goof around. And Adara... she was awesome. The storyline with the thieves was amazing and suspenseful, leaving me wondering until the very end. And the theme... Wow. That hit me hard, and was really meaningful.
Overall, this is a great novel. It's a suspenseful story with a brave, compassionate heroine, light, sweet, meaningful romance and great(and funny) character dynamics that keeps you glued to the page until the very end. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys sweet romance, great stories, and meaningful themes!(11+)
2024
Gosh, this is definitely one of my favorites in the whole of the Four Kingdoms! I loved Zaria, and the theme was beautiful, and the plot was amazing! It kept me intrigued the whole book, pulling me in on the first page and not letting me fully out of the story until I closed it! I loved the history between the characters, and also... Xander and Xavier. XD They are the Fred and George Weasley of the Four Kingdoms universe... they're great. And, knowing how the rest of the series goes on, I can confidently say that Zaria will be the only girl in the family with any sense by the time all is said in done. XD Overall, possibly my favorite of this series!
Theme Rating: 5/5
Age Rating: 11+ As with all the other books, there's some romance, but it's sweet and clean and perfectly appropriate!
Note: this was my second time reading this book. I'm adding content ratings and such, but leaving my original review with a few of my thoughts this time around.
2023
Wow. Wow. This comes in a very, very close second as my favorite of the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series, because it is AWESOME! It kept me close to the page, buried in the story, desperate to find out what happened. Zaria's story was intriguing and her situation made you feel for and root for her. I loved the background with the royals, and all the reunions and little jokes- often my favorite character groups are ones that have history that make their interactions low on context and high on hilarity. Rek was great- I loved that he was responsible, but still able to be fun and almost goof around. And Adara... she was awesome. The storyline with the thieves was amazing and suspenseful, leaving me wondering until the very end. And the theme... Wow. That hit me hard, and was really meaningful.
Overall, this is a great novel. It's a suspenseful story with a brave, compassionate heroine, light, sweet, meaningful romance and great(and funny) character dynamics that keeps you glued to the page until the very end. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys sweet romance, great stories, and meaningful themes!(11+)
2024
Gosh, this is definitely one of my favorites in the whole of the Four Kingdoms! I loved Zaria, and the theme was beautiful, and the plot was amazing! It kept me intrigued the whole book, pulling me in on the first page and not letting me fully out of the story until I closed it! I loved the history between the characters, and also... Xander and Xavier. XD They are the Fred and George Weasley of the Four Kingdoms universe... they're great. And, knowing how the rest of the series goes on, I can confidently say that Zaria will be the only girl in the family with any sense by the time all is said in done. XD Overall, possibly my favorite of this series!
November 13, 2022
Melanie Cellier's Four Kingdoms series was my first introduction to the world of indie fairy tale retellings. The Princess Companion got me started on a mission to read as many fairy tale adaptations written by independent authors as I could and even to try writing some of my own. Since then, Melanie's Four Kingdoms series has expanded from one series of fairy tales into three and includes over a dozen books that each cover a different princess and take place in the world of the Four Kingdoms. Normally, I find Melanie Cellier's books easy to follow, but there was something off about this new one that I couldn't quite pinpoint. The Golden Princess is a retelling of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" that ties into the new kingdom discovered in The Desert Princess, the previous book in the Return to the Four Kingdoms series.
Whether it's books, television, or film, when a series goes on for too long, it reaches a point where it loses its charm. The Golden Princess is that point for me in the Return to the Four Kingdoms series. While too much exposition can be trite, this book didn't have enough. It starts out with the main character, Zaria, working as a servant and provides very little explanation as to why, expecting readers to recall the events of The Desert Princess, which came out over a year prior. Zaria was once the daughter of a vizier, but he turned evil or got murdered by someone evil who impersonated him, and she was sent away because of that even though I'm not sure why that would be her fault in any way. For some reason that wasn't fully explained, she wasn't able to contact her friends from her previous life and tell them what happened. There were so many things in this book that were only half explained that I couldn't relate to Zaria's struggles or understand what her goals were at all.
The Golden Princess has some interesting ideas, such as an enchanted treasure cave reminiscent of the Cave of Wonders, but it never takes the time to fully flesh them out. Instead of a suspenseful action sequence like the one where Aladdin must escape the lava filling the cave, Zaria talks about how she's suspicious of the treasure but allows her companions to take it anyway, and it takes a long time for anything to come of it as a result. Much of this is due to the story of "Ali Baba" being more convoluted than "Aladdin" with an overabundance of characters. I was not particularly familiar with that fairy tale before reading this book, and now I can see why it isn't that popular. There are no clear stakes, no clear villain, and no clear direction that the story is going.
Being a princess book, there is a prince and a love story, but even that feels shoehorned in since it was not part of the story of "Ali Baba." Melanie Cellier did something similar by adding a prince in her Spoken Mage series that didn't quite fit into the main plot. Like Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, Zaria was childhood friends with Prince Tarek, and their unexpected reunion forces them to eventually admit their feelings for each other. All of Melanie Cellier's books contain romance, and this is one of the weakest, possibly due to being one of the only love stories that wasn't part of the original fairy tale that was adapted. Tarek's character further convoluted the story by adding another name to remember. The obligatory royal ball and fancy dress scenes seemed like they were included only to satisfy expectations about the princess genre.
Though hardcore fans of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" or 1,001 Arabian Knights might find this adaptation interesting, I don't know anyone who resides in that particular camp. As is, this book feels like a first draft with too many characters, plot threads, and missing pieces of exposition to be fully enjoyable. I cannot blame all of that on the author since I think a good deal of my issues may be attributed to the source material itself. If you are looking for a good fairy tale adaptation, I recommend skipping this one and turning to one of Melanie Cellier's other books. The Secret Princess is a particular favorite of mine.
Whether it's books, television, or film, when a series goes on for too long, it reaches a point where it loses its charm. The Golden Princess is that point for me in the Return to the Four Kingdoms series. While too much exposition can be trite, this book didn't have enough. It starts out with the main character, Zaria, working as a servant and provides very little explanation as to why, expecting readers to recall the events of The Desert Princess, which came out over a year prior. Zaria was once the daughter of a vizier, but he turned evil or got murdered by someone evil who impersonated him, and she was sent away because of that even though I'm not sure why that would be her fault in any way. For some reason that wasn't fully explained, she wasn't able to contact her friends from her previous life and tell them what happened. There were so many things in this book that were only half explained that I couldn't relate to Zaria's struggles or understand what her goals were at all.
The Golden Princess has some interesting ideas, such as an enchanted treasure cave reminiscent of the Cave of Wonders, but it never takes the time to fully flesh them out. Instead of a suspenseful action sequence like the one where Aladdin must escape the lava filling the cave, Zaria talks about how she's suspicious of the treasure but allows her companions to take it anyway, and it takes a long time for anything to come of it as a result. Much of this is due to the story of "Ali Baba" being more convoluted than "Aladdin" with an overabundance of characters. I was not particularly familiar with that fairy tale before reading this book, and now I can see why it isn't that popular. There are no clear stakes, no clear villain, and no clear direction that the story is going.
Being a princess book, there is a prince and a love story, but even that feels shoehorned in since it was not part of the story of "Ali Baba." Melanie Cellier did something similar by adding a prince in her Spoken Mage series that didn't quite fit into the main plot. Like Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, Zaria was childhood friends with Prince Tarek, and their unexpected reunion forces them to eventually admit their feelings for each other. All of Melanie Cellier's books contain romance, and this is one of the weakest, possibly due to being one of the only love stories that wasn't part of the original fairy tale that was adapted. Tarek's character further convoluted the story by adding another name to remember. The obligatory royal ball and fancy dress scenes seemed like they were included only to satisfy expectations about the princess genre.
Though hardcore fans of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" or 1,001 Arabian Knights might find this adaptation interesting, I don't know anyone who resides in that particular camp. As is, this book feels like a first draft with too many characters, plot threads, and missing pieces of exposition to be fully enjoyable. I cannot blame all of that on the author since I think a good deal of my issues may be attributed to the source material itself. If you are looking for a good fairy tale adaptation, I recommend skipping this one and turning to one of Melanie Cellier's other books. The Secret Princess is a particular favorite of mine.
November 26, 2022
I first had to even remember the story of the 40 thieves because it kept reading like Aladin. Once I got into the story, it was hard to put it down even with homework deadlines in the horizon. I enjoyed it. I loved the intertwining stories and love stories within the storyline. It was exciting and kept me on my toes. I loved the girl power part of it too and still have him take her in his arms. It's the best of both worlds.
July 27, 2024
Another great book from Melanie Cellier!
This book started slowly, and it had its more boring areas, but it was still fantastic. I found Zaria to be an interesting character with a powerful dynamic. Rek was more in the grumpy side in the beginning, but he was definitely a classic Melanie Cellier character. I enjoyed the plot fairly well.
Content: few lightly detailed kisses, minor violence, a dance (similar to harvest dance from Aladdin 2019)
This book started slowly, and it had its more boring areas, but it was still fantastic. I found Zaria to be an interesting character with a powerful dynamic. Rek was more in the grumpy side in the beginning, but he was definitely a classic Melanie Cellier character. I enjoyed the plot fairly well.
Content: few lightly detailed kisses, minor violence, a dance (similar to harvest dance from Aladdin 2019)
January 20, 2023
I don't know why I keep reading these. Nostalgia I suppose.
May 27, 2024
An absolutely brilliant retelling! Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves is one of the oddest fairytale I've ever read. But somehow Melanie was able to take all the important aspects of the fairytale and weave them together into an even more complex plot than the original fairytale. Zaria is such a fun character and I loved watching her outsmart the villains time and time again. It perfectly captured the essence of the fairytale and added a compelling fresh perspective and storyline. Definitely one of my favorites. It is also more reminiscent of her earlier books that I love so much
November 29, 2022
A sweet story with some great scenes. But somehow it felt lacking in overall dramatic tension - many of the issues (including the romance) were solved a bit too easily. And it was a little too soppy for my taste in places.
June 15, 2023
An impressive, and surprisingly accurate, retelling of the fairy tale, I loved every minute of this story.
August 29, 2023
I love it when characters are intelligent and don't miss the obvious warning signs 😌
September 7, 2023
What happened to the godmothers?? I miss them so much
March 28, 2025
“Rek” (yes, it’s pronounced wreck) is such an unattractive nickname for a Prince imo. Also didn’t quite understand the cave/treasure/dust thing but overall decent. Just not my favorite.
November 1, 2023
Love these books!
December 21, 2022
Not my favorite of Cellier’s novels.
This book was not as good as most of Cellier’s novels. She jumped into the middle of the story and then had to go back and explain a ton of backstory. At one point, I literally had to check the list of all her novels to see if I had accidentally skipped one. Nope. Just confusing.
This book was not as good as most of Cellier’s novels. She jumped into the middle of the story and then had to go back and explain a ton of backstory. At one point, I literally had to check the list of all her novels to see if I had accidentally skipped one. Nope. Just confusing.
August 19, 2023
At LEAST five stars. I went into this one with high hopes tinged with trepidation since the last entry in the series was kind of...not my favorite. I am thrilled to report that it exceeded my expectations. The main character happened to be one of the brighter spots from the previous book, and a bit of an unexpected choice, so that was lovely. A solid plot (though I don't know the original fairy tale well at all), likeable and deliciously unlikeable characters, and a perfect resolution.
RMCWR:
My memory of Ali Baba and the forty thieves is...hazy. Or possibly nonexistent.
I love the name Adara. Though once again I am guessing on the spelling of all these names.
It's pretty funny how ridiculous everyone finds the phrase "open sesame".
Oh so she's the servant girl who exchanged clothes with the main character in the last book! (It makes me very happy when they reunite at the end and become friends.)
This one is already SO much better than the most recent book in the series.
"Open barley?...Open wheat?....it was some sort of grain...." Good grief, the man is an idiot. Open sesame, you fool! Goldstruck my foot.
"The Four Kingdoms have been following the ways of the wise women." I like that better than fairy godmothers. Let's stick with that.
Again, absolutely NO idea how to spell some of these character names. Esai?
Um, yeah, (Ta)Rek? Get it together and get over yourself. Not my favorite crown prince so far.
....all right, I take it back. Rek has redeemed himself in a BIG way, by telling his parents in no uncertain terms that he WILL be marrying Zaria if he has to give up the throne and flee across the desert to do it.
"He didn't seem surprised at the revelation about Rek and me. Apparently I was the only one who hadn't seen it coming." Yes, Zaria. Yes you were. (Well, except for Naveed's father when he decides to announce your betrothal to him later as a thank you but that was just awkward, so...) And it's nice that your cluelessness was sweet rather than annoying.
The twin princes are entertaining if a bit flighty. Might be fun to follow their adventures.
I LOVE that Rek's response to Zaria's 'this isn't what it looks like' protest as she rushes to explain her getting cozy with Naveed as a cover was basically, 'Well obviously not, I know you wouldn't do that to me,´ rather than some silly dragged-out jealousy drama. You might not be my favorite crown prince but you certainly are growing on me.
Dancing with knives will definitely change the tone of a party.
....did NOT see the betrayal from the captain of the guards coming...
Nyla sitting on Yasmine to hold her for arrest made me laugh out loud.
RMCWR:
My memory of Ali Baba and the forty thieves is...hazy. Or possibly nonexistent.
I love the name Adara. Though once again I am guessing on the spelling of all these names.
It's pretty funny how ridiculous everyone finds the phrase "open sesame".
Oh so she's the servant girl who exchanged clothes with the main character in the last book! (It makes me very happy when they reunite at the end and become friends.)
This one is already SO much better than the most recent book in the series.
"Open barley?...Open wheat?....it was some sort of grain...." Good grief, the man is an idiot. Open sesame, you fool! Goldstruck my foot.
"The Four Kingdoms have been following the ways of the wise women." I like that better than fairy godmothers. Let's stick with that.
Again, absolutely NO idea how to spell some of these character names. Esai?
Um, yeah, (Ta)Rek? Get it together and get over yourself. Not my favorite crown prince so far.
....all right, I take it back. Rek has redeemed himself in a BIG way, by telling his parents in no uncertain terms that he WILL be marrying Zaria if he has to give up the throne and flee across the desert to do it.
"He didn't seem surprised at the revelation about Rek and me. Apparently I was the only one who hadn't seen it coming." Yes, Zaria. Yes you were. (Well, except for Naveed's father when he decides to announce your betrothal to him later as a thank you but that was just awkward, so...) And it's nice that your cluelessness was sweet rather than annoying.
The twin princes are entertaining if a bit flighty. Might be fun to follow their adventures.
I LOVE that Rek's response to Zaria's 'this isn't what it looks like' protest as she rushes to explain her getting cozy with Naveed as a cover was basically, 'Well obviously not, I know you wouldn't do that to me,´ rather than some silly dragged-out jealousy drama. You might not be my favorite crown prince but you certainly are growing on me.
Dancing with knives will definitely change the tone of a party.
....did NOT see the betrayal from the captain of the guards coming...
Nyla sitting on Yasmine to hold her for arrest made me laugh out loud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
The Golden Princess is a wonderful retelling and addition to this series! I absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to revisit it!
I will start with Zaria! She was an incredible main character, but I especially enjoyed how sensible she was. Cellier has given us all sorts of characters, and for that I will be forever grateful. While Zaria is very sensible and responsible, she also likes to have fun and go on adventures. Zaria was also a very kind character. That is another thing I love about Cellier’s characters- they are all kind. Zaria didn’t really have any interest in wealth either, which I appreciated. What she was doing was out of the goodness of her heart, which is admirable.
This book had a really well thought out backstory and I love how it came together and played out. I loved the history between Zaria and the younger royals, and how that impacted her current situation. You could tell that the history Zaria had with them greatly impacted her and affected how the story played out.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rek! I love a responsible character, so Rek totally spoke to me! I will say that while Rek was responsible, that wasn’t all he was. He was a fully developed character, but his responsibility shown through the most. He also liked adventure and was protective as well. I also really enjoyed how he just wanted to get his dad’s approval- this is always a powerful storyline, and I enjoyed seeing his growth.
I loved the childhood friends to lovers’ part of the story. I thought it was well done and incredibly sweet! It was adorable, and I loved the confession scene!
In every one of her series’, Cellier has managed to slip in a secondary romance plot among side characters. This book we get a romance for Navid (one of Zaria’s best friends) and Adara (Rek’s sister). It was sweet but felt a little sudden for me. I wish it was developed a little more for the reader, but also, I wish the characters had a little bit more time on their own, so they felt like more full-fledged characters.
The magic in this world was very interesting! I was slightly confused about how it all works, but I loved it. It was very unique and new. It also connected back to Cassie’s story in the previous book, and I liked that connection and backstory. I don’t know the story of Ali Baba and Forty Thieves, and this is my first retelling, but I thought it was super cool how it was done- especially how the forty thieves were incorporated.
The culture in this book was also well written and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I love a good desert read, and I loved how Cellier set up this world really nicely in The Desert Princess, but this kingdom had a feel of its own as well. I loved how this city was set up, and the different culture we see here. It was very intriguing and different from all the other kingdoms we have read about so far!
This book had some fun dynamics. There were interesting sibling dynamics, as well as parent-child dynamics, servant-employer dynamics. The more I think about it, it felt like a drama (a little bit). It wasn’t cheesy or anything- I promise- but there was a level of drama that I thoroughly enjoyed.
One of my absolute favorite parts about the book was the knife dance! It was well done and engaging! I just had to share that.
I didn’t mind a lot of the side characters, but there were a few of them that I am a little confused about. I enjoyed Ali and Mariam, but they kept being set up as being a little manipulative. Nothing ever really came from this, and I wish a tiny bit more development was given to this part of the story. The other character I struggle with is Nyla- she was awful to everyone, but especially Zaria- and there weren’t really any consequences for her. I wished there was a conversation at the very least.
The Golden Princess was an adventurous, childhood friends to lovers retelling, with a sensible main character, responsible love interest, a unique magic system, adventure, and drama, making this a lovely read!
I will start with Zaria! She was an incredible main character, but I especially enjoyed how sensible she was. Cellier has given us all sorts of characters, and for that I will be forever grateful. While Zaria is very sensible and responsible, she also likes to have fun and go on adventures. Zaria was also a very kind character. That is another thing I love about Cellier’s characters- they are all kind. Zaria didn’t really have any interest in wealth either, which I appreciated. What she was doing was out of the goodness of her heart, which is admirable.
This book had a really well thought out backstory and I love how it came together and played out. I loved the history between Zaria and the younger royals, and how that impacted her current situation. You could tell that the history Zaria had with them greatly impacted her and affected how the story played out.
I thoroughly enjoyed Rek! I love a responsible character, so Rek totally spoke to me! I will say that while Rek was responsible, that wasn’t all he was. He was a fully developed character, but his responsibility shown through the most. He also liked adventure and was protective as well. I also really enjoyed how he just wanted to get his dad’s approval- this is always a powerful storyline, and I enjoyed seeing his growth.
I loved the childhood friends to lovers’ part of the story. I thought it was well done and incredibly sweet! It was adorable, and I loved the confession scene!
In every one of her series’, Cellier has managed to slip in a secondary romance plot among side characters. This book we get a romance for Navid (one of Zaria’s best friends) and Adara (Rek’s sister). It was sweet but felt a little sudden for me. I wish it was developed a little more for the reader, but also, I wish the characters had a little bit more time on their own, so they felt like more full-fledged characters.
The magic in this world was very interesting! I was slightly confused about how it all works, but I loved it. It was very unique and new. It also connected back to Cassie’s story in the previous book, and I liked that connection and backstory. I don’t know the story of Ali Baba and Forty Thieves, and this is my first retelling, but I thought it was super cool how it was done- especially how the forty thieves were incorporated.
The culture in this book was also well written and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I love a good desert read, and I loved how Cellier set up this world really nicely in The Desert Princess, but this kingdom had a feel of its own as well. I loved how this city was set up, and the different culture we see here. It was very intriguing and different from all the other kingdoms we have read about so far!
This book had some fun dynamics. There were interesting sibling dynamics, as well as parent-child dynamics, servant-employer dynamics. The more I think about it, it felt like a drama (a little bit). It wasn’t cheesy or anything- I promise- but there was a level of drama that I thoroughly enjoyed.
One of my absolute favorite parts about the book was the knife dance! It was well done and engaging! I just had to share that.
I didn’t mind a lot of the side characters, but there were a few of them that I am a little confused about. I enjoyed Ali and Mariam, but they kept being set up as being a little manipulative. Nothing ever really came from this, and I wish a tiny bit more development was given to this part of the story. The other character I struggle with is Nyla- she was awful to everyone, but especially Zaria- and there weren’t really any consequences for her. I wished there was a conversation at the very least.
The Golden Princess was an adventurous, childhood friends to lovers retelling, with a sensible main character, responsible love interest, a unique magic system, adventure, and drama, making this a lovely read!
July 3, 2025
The Golden Princess reads like a mashup of Cinderella and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The plot is based on Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, but Ali Baba is no longer the main character. Instead our lead is Zaria, a character based on the slave girl character from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Instead of being a random but clever slave, Zaria is a servant who used to be a well-to-do young lady. She grew up in the royal palace where her father served as a junior vizier, but after his death, she wound up penniless, working in the home of a woman who barely tolerates her. So Cinderella without the stepsisters. It's a fun little story that I enjoyed listening to and recommend to other fairy tale fans so long as you don't mind stories that are written for general audiences instead of being aimed at teens or adults.
While this was a solid book, I docked a star was because some of Zaria's clever realizations were incredibly far fetched and two of them were based on visual elements that the reader would never have been able to guess because the visual wasn't explained which is a personal pet peeve. None of those things ruined the story, though. It was one of Cellier's better ones, especially when it comes to the romance. I've noticed that I tend to prefer her works where the love interests have a pre-story relationship fueling their romance which was the case here.
Since the original included slaves, I'll note that this version doesn't. It does include some violence and a single "on screen" death, but none of it is graphic. It's on par with a Disney movie.
While this was a solid book, I docked a star was because some of Zaria's clever realizations were incredibly far fetched and two of them were based on visual elements that the reader would never have been able to guess because the visual wasn't explained which is a personal pet peeve. None of those things ruined the story, though. It was one of Cellier's better ones, especially when it comes to the romance. I've noticed that I tend to prefer her works where the love interests have a pre-story relationship fueling their romance which was the case here.
Since the original included slaves, I'll note that this version doesn't. It does include some violence and a single "on screen" death, but none of it is graphic. It's on par with a Disney movie.
April 24, 2023
These re-tellings can sometimes be hit-or-miss with me. This one was pleasant enough for me to enjoy it all the way through. Plus it took on a story that isn't re-told nearly as much these days. I actually looked up the original tale because I wasn't familiar with it, and was pleasantly surprised to find this version followed the original beats pretty well.
The main criticism I have for this book is the romance. Whenever it popped up, it felt like it was interrupting the story. There also wasn't a lot of build-up or scenes of the two of them together. The ones that were had Zaria being frustratingly dense. It was hard to tell whether she was in denial or genuinely didn't know that the prince was trying to woo her. Not that I blame her, his behavior was so erratic. Still, her constant confusion got annoying after a while. The romance between her friend and the princess was a little nicer since it was in the background. I'm on the fence with how Zaria's romance should've been handled: either it needed to not exist or it needed more development.
Overall, though, it was a good re-telling. It hit all the important parts of the story while still making it its own thing. Like I said, the only weakness was that the romance seemed to interrupt the story and make the threat a little less perilous. Zaria and her friends go off to some ball right after thieves mark their house with the intention of hurting them. A lot of conflict was resolved pretty quickly and easily. I think that was the fairy tale part coming in. Still, it was a pleasant story with enjoyable characters.
The main criticism I have for this book is the romance. Whenever it popped up, it felt like it was interrupting the story. There also wasn't a lot of build-up or scenes of the two of them together. The ones that were had Zaria being frustratingly dense. It was hard to tell whether she was in denial or genuinely didn't know that the prince was trying to woo her. Not that I blame her, his behavior was so erratic. Still, her constant confusion got annoying after a while. The romance between her friend and the princess was a little nicer since it was in the background. I'm on the fence with how Zaria's romance should've been handled: either it needed to not exist or it needed more development.
Overall, though, it was a good re-telling. It hit all the important parts of the story while still making it its own thing. Like I said, the only weakness was that the romance seemed to interrupt the story and make the threat a little less perilous. Zaria and her friends go off to some ball right after thieves mark their house with the intention of hurting them. A lot of conflict was resolved pretty quickly and easily. I think that was the fairy tale part coming in. Still, it was a pleasant story with enjoyable characters.
November 14, 2022
I love Melanie Cellier! I haven't loved all the books in this series as much as I've loved some of her other stories, but this one was very good and I wanted to come back to it each evening when I read.
Zaria was the daughter of a Vizier, enjoying all of the pleasures and perks of palace life, even a deep friendship with the crown prince (Tarek, or Rek for short) and his sister; as well as their twin brothers. When her father dies she is snatched away from that life and made a servant in a family member's house. Her friends at the palace have no idea where she is, having been told that she moved out of the country. She simply thinks they've forgotten her - until she accidentally comes face to face with Tarek again.
As all of that is happening, Ali, her master's brother, takes her into the woods to help him cut firewood and they have to hide from the thieves that have been plaguing their area for years - and discover the hidden treasure cave, the cursed hidden treasure cave. Ali isn't daunted by that and steals several bags of gold. Oh boy, anything beyond that would be giving major spoilers.
There is some sadness in the story, but mostly adventure, laughter, and a HEA!
This is a clean read, some kissing.
Zaria was the daughter of a Vizier, enjoying all of the pleasures and perks of palace life, even a deep friendship with the crown prince (Tarek, or Rek for short) and his sister; as well as their twin brothers. When her father dies she is snatched away from that life and made a servant in a family member's house. Her friends at the palace have no idea where she is, having been told that she moved out of the country. She simply thinks they've forgotten her - until she accidentally comes face to face with Tarek again.
As all of that is happening, Ali, her master's brother, takes her into the woods to help him cut firewood and they have to hide from the thieves that have been plaguing their area for years - and discover the hidden treasure cave, the cursed hidden treasure cave. Ali isn't daunted by that and steals several bags of gold. Oh boy, anything beyond that would be giving major spoilers.
There is some sadness in the story, but mostly adventure, laughter, and a HEA!
This is a clean read, some kissing.
November 6, 2022
Enjoyable
I have enjoyed Melanie Cellier's Four Kingdoms books and their spin-offs, watching the twins, the adventures, making new friends, joining the spy master, falling in love over and over again.
It has been a journey, reading her books, seeing her grow as an author. This new editor really seems to improve the overall experience with even fewer grammatical errors and even better flow.
Melanie Cellier has brought new life to favorite childhood stories. And when my own children are older, I hope to introduce these retellings so we have that to share as well.
As with all series, it happens that the characters begin to feel flat, that they've reached their limit, or that the author has hit a wall in character development. There were moments of confusion, or a lack of clarity, where there is supposition or conjecture (specifically the love interest and *his* feelings or needs and the fmc being called to have feelings in return), which is why I've only rated this a 4-star read.
I love the cover of the book, I enjoyed the retelling, and I eagerly await the next in the series. Hoping only for the best for Ms. Cellier.
I have enjoyed Melanie Cellier's Four Kingdoms books and their spin-offs, watching the twins, the adventures, making new friends, joining the spy master, falling in love over and over again.
It has been a journey, reading her books, seeing her grow as an author. This new editor really seems to improve the overall experience with even fewer grammatical errors and even better flow.
Melanie Cellier has brought new life to favorite childhood stories. And when my own children are older, I hope to introduce these retellings so we have that to share as well.
As with all series, it happens that the characters begin to feel flat, that they've reached their limit, or that the author has hit a wall in character development. There were moments of confusion, or a lack of clarity, where there is supposition or conjecture (specifically the love interest and *his* feelings or needs and the fmc being called to have feelings in return), which is why I've only rated this a 4-star read.
I love the cover of the book, I enjoyed the retelling, and I eagerly await the next in the series. Hoping only for the best for Ms. Cellier.
December 30, 2022
Past is Prologue
The Golden Princess does a wonderful job of exploring how our pasts, families, and friends shape us. It has rich detail next to narrow escapes, great adventure, and lots of suspenseful mystery. Zaria is clever, practical, and determined. She has many talents that show up in helpful and entertaining ways. Her practicality in absurd situations leads to a lot of humor and some helpful comic release. The relationships between the royal siblings are also very humorous and realistic. There are a lot of supporting characters that really help to build the world and add depth to the story. The crown prince is conscientious, adventurous, focused, and both passionate yet controlled. It is fun watching him and Zaria alternate between who is the practical one and who is the daring one in any given moment. This book was fast paced and full of adventure from the get go. It was very fun to read. This would be a good book for those who like adventure, mysteries, treasure, enchantments, clean royal romances, strong supporting characters, great world building, riches to rags to riches, sibling relationships, and humor.
The Golden Princess does a wonderful job of exploring how our pasts, families, and friends shape us. It has rich detail next to narrow escapes, great adventure, and lots of suspenseful mystery. Zaria is clever, practical, and determined. She has many talents that show up in helpful and entertaining ways. Her practicality in absurd situations leads to a lot of humor and some helpful comic release. The relationships between the royal siblings are also very humorous and realistic. There are a lot of supporting characters that really help to build the world and add depth to the story. The crown prince is conscientious, adventurous, focused, and both passionate yet controlled. It is fun watching him and Zaria alternate between who is the practical one and who is the daring one in any given moment. This book was fast paced and full of adventure from the get go. It was very fun to read. This would be a good book for those who like adventure, mysteries, treasure, enchantments, clean royal romances, strong supporting characters, great world building, riches to rags to riches, sibling relationships, and humor.
February 23, 2023
I really liked this book, but there could have been more scenes with Rek and Zaria.
I really liked the plot and how smart Zaria was when it came to the thieves and figuring out the mystery.
I liked the characters and how it was kind of a found family. Although, there could have been a few more scenes at the end to show how the characters would interact after the thieves were captured as throughout the book you only really get small glimpses of each character. I really liked Rowen and Yara, and while Zaria’s past with Adara, Xander and Xavier made them sound interesting, they weren’t shown enough to really see their characters. Mariam and Navid were a bit annoying at times.
I really liked Zaria as she actually thought about what was happening and what she could do to survive. I did think that there should have been more scenes with Rek and Zaria getting to know each other again as despite their history, a lot changed since then.
I liked this book and I want to try other books by this author.
I really liked the plot and how smart Zaria was when it came to the thieves and figuring out the mystery.
I liked the characters and how it was kind of a found family. Although, there could have been a few more scenes at the end to show how the characters would interact after the thieves were captured as throughout the book you only really get small glimpses of each character. I really liked Rowen and Yara, and while Zaria’s past with Adara, Xander and Xavier made them sound interesting, they weren’t shown enough to really see their characters. Mariam and Navid were a bit annoying at times.
I really liked Zaria as she actually thought about what was happening and what she could do to survive. I did think that there should have been more scenes with Rek and Zaria getting to know each other again as despite their history, a lot changed since then.
I liked this book and I want to try other books by this author.
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