The first half or so was awesome, but the second bit after Harper and Cecilia left the village was disappointing. The ending was honestly kind of ridiculous and I didn't love the book over all ( )

This was an interesting story with a twist that I honestly did not see coming at all. She also left me guessing many times about what exactly the story was, and more than a little surprised. I was pleased with the unconventional ending as much as I was with the unconventional story. ( )

Written for pre-teens and MAYBE early teens. Far too young for my to enjoy but might be something I'd recommend to my 10yo daughter. Audiobook reader was awful. She read too slowly and the voice she used for the MC was grating and obnoxious. Unfinished, though I may give the print version a try again someday. ( )

FAN, princess

What happens when you are raised believing one story only to have it ripped away by reality? That is Cecilia's story. She was raised in small village by a nanny being tutored by a knight and believing she was the true princess of Suala - a country constantly at war with it's neighbors.

Cecilia's only real friend was Harper, a village boy who will grow up to play a harp to keep him from the wars that killed his father. Together Cecilia and Harper are relatively happy. Until the night that Cecilia's house is attacked and she decides to head for the capital city to tell the fake princess Desmia that she is the real princess.

Sounds like the naive ramblings of a preteen doesn't it. Who hasn't wanted to believe they are really royalty or an heiress or at least adopted. Cecilia is living that fantasy. Until she reaches the capital, is imprisoned for her claims and realizes things are really REALLY not what they seem.

One of the characters of this book is Ella from Just Ella . I loved this spunky Cinderella turned realist character! - if the reader knows Just Ella, if not they are missing much of the undertones that work to highlight the personality of Cecilia.

I really liked this story. I think it will appeal to many YA girls...the end is rather contrived. I was a little disappointed. But - I haven't read the next book...maybe it would make more sense! ( )