This book was plain fun. A spunky heroine who is betrayed and abandoned fights back to reclaim her identity. ( )

Ani is a misunderstood Crown Princess. From her birth she knows she is different, a knowledge reinforced by the earlier influence of her aunt who teaches her how to hear the voices of birds and speak back. She also tells Ani stories, tales of speaking with the wind and the earth and all elements of the world.

But as Ani grows, her differences are surpressed and when Ani turns sixteen, she is forced to abandon her childhood home and travel to a neighbouring country, in order to marry a prince and prevent war. However, things don't go as expected and she finds herself alone, in danger and needing to fight for what is hers.

This was a typical coming of age fairytale plot, with very few surprises. You won't find any unique twists or new ideas within. But this isn't a book to read for plot. Instead, it is the language that sets this alight and makes it glitter.

Every image is exquisite and well realised and the characters and settings easy to see in the mind's eye. Atmosphere, mood and emotion are all beautifully described, without it ever feeling pretentious or conceited.

Put to one side the knowledge that you have heard this story in many different forms, and allow yourself to drown and dream in the pictures created. It also contained my favourite line from a book in a long time when Ani says, while telling a story:

"I'd like it to have a beginning as grand as a ball and an ending in a whisper like a mother tucking in a child for sleep."

This was a pleasure and a delight to read. ( )

Imagine that you are a princess–you live in a luxurious palace that is filled with hundreds of servants, you can go on exciting rides on your very own horse, who is also your closest friend, any time you want. But think again: what if, even with all the riches surrounding you, you were lonely and constantly self-conscious of your actions? And, just what would you do if your own mother commanded you to marry a prince from a faraway land, a prince you’ve never even met? Or perhaps worse: what would happen if an acquaintance you trusted turned her back on you and forced you to face the troubles of lower class, the threat of death, and the possible outbreak of war?Summary: Yikes. Talk about harsh. Well, that’s exactly what Ani, short for Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, goes through: unable to live up to her mother’s expectations of a proper Crown Princess, Ani is sent away from her home country of Kildenree to the country of Bayern, where she is to be wedded to the prince. However, her own lady-in-waiting, Selia, leads a mutiny, forcing Ani to run away from her escorts and try to stay in Bayern–but as a humble goose girl. Although her new path is tough, Ani learns valuable lessons and gains many things; for example, she learns the gift of friendship, story-telling, and communication with animals and the wind. However, when Ani discovers that Selia plots to start war with Kildenree and Bayern in order to hide her deceit, Ani knows it is about time that she takes back her rightful title and throne. But with even all her new talents, gifts, and loyal friends, will Ani succeed in bringing justice and fairness to all?Thoughts: I really, really, really liked this book. I can’t say I absolutely loved it (that’s what I would say about my #1 favorite book), but it is definitely one of my favorites. Shannon Hale’s writing style shines more in this book than in any of her other works, and the simple Brothers Grimm tale was beautifully retold. Would I recommend it to someone seeking a good read? Absolutely. It is like no YA novel I have read before.Pros: As I said before, the writing is stunning, and the lyrical style perfectly fit in with the nature-speaking concept; the character development is extremely realistic one oft forgets that this is fantasy and not historical fiction; in addition, I thoroughly enjoyed the humor inserted here and there (a few times I would recall a hiliarious scene while at school or somewhere else, and would have to really fight to stifle my giggles. In that case, I can’t even imagine how funny and comical Austenland is. ).Cons: Even though I love the writing, sometimes I wished there was a tad bit more dialogue in some partsRecommended for: Girls fourteen and olderGrading:Plot: 10/10Characters: 10/10Writing: 10/10Overall: 10/10 (like I said before, a favorite, but not my number one favorite)Also Recommended:-[b:Book of a Thousand Days|248484|Book of a Thousand Days|Shannon Hale|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511jir4GNTL._SL75_.jpg|2081992] by [a:Shannon Hale|49177|Shannon Hale|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1197182669p2/49177.jpg]-[b:Princess Academy|85990|Princess Academy|Shannon Hale|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171063291s/85990.jpg|3299770] by [a:Shannon Hale|49177|Shannon Hale|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1197182669p2/49177.jpg]-[b:Harry Potter|3|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)|J.K. Rowling|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VC8RPZA2L._SL75_.jpg|4640799] by [a:J.K. Rowling|1077326|J.K. Rowling|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1199340861p2/1077326.jpg]For more reviews like this one, please visit my review blog, Butterfly Forest. ( )

wonderful retelling, can’t wait for the sequels!!

Amara's favorite book