March 11, 2015

The Forgotten Sisters - Shannon Hale

[This is the third novel in this series. If you'd rather, go and check out Princess Academy or my review of Palace of Stone instead.]

The Forgotten Sisters Shannon Hale book cover
The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale
Series: Princess Academy #3
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Source/Format: Publisher (Thanks!) || ARC
[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the opinions expressed in my review.]

After a year at the king's palace, Miri has learned all about being a proper princess. But the tables turn when the student must become the teacher! Instead of returning to her beloved Mount Eskel, Miri is ordered to journey to a distant swamp and start a princess academy for three sisters, cousins of the royal family. Unfortunately, Astrid, Felissa, and Sus are more interested in hunting and fishing than becoming princesses.

As Miri spends more time with the sisters, she realizes the king and queen's interest in them hides a long-buried secret. She must rely on her own strength and intelligence to unravel the mystery, protect the girls, complete her assignment, and finally make her way home.

My first introduction to the Princess Academy series was through Palace of Stone, the second novel which I read some time ago. I was impressed by Hale’s ability to write a story that was both engaging and educational, and was quick to say that Palace of Stone was a favorite for that year. With The Forgotten Sisters, Hale has penned another charming addition to the series. In this tale of a rambunctious trio of sisters living in the swamps, Miri must once again prove her mettle and figure out what to do in time to make things right – for herself, for her village, for these sisters, for the kingdom.

Miri is still the same wonderful character that I fell in love with. Even though she would most assuredly rather be with her family and Peder in her home village, she steps up to the plate to perform the necessary duties to protect her village and her kingdom. She does get into quite a few scrapes, some fun and some serious. But her steel will, her clever mind and her kindness definitely shine again in The Forgotten Sisters. Alongside friends and enemies old and new, Miri certainly shows readers how to stay strong in the face of everything that life throws her way.

While Palace of Stone is still my favorite installment, The Forgotten Sisters was a delightful reading experience – and that’s in spite of a slightly shaky start. It was fun to revisit old friends and discover new ones; it was even more entertaining to witness the twists. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, The Forgotten Sisters is definitely worth a read.

4 Comments:

  1. I remember reading the first two books and got excited when I heard there is a third book. I can't wait to read it. I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

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  2. This looks adorable. Maybe it's the cover, but it's the kind of book I want to hug. The cover is also SUPER different from the first one, so I didn't even realize it was the same series at first. I think I'll give this series a try. I'm also super curious how a swamp figures in.

    CJ

    Sarcasm & Lemons

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  3. I feel like this is another one of those authors everyone has read except me. She's not overly hyped or anything like that, but she just keeps sneaking up everywhere! If I do read one of her books, it'll probably be The Goose Girl because I already have a gifted copy and I'm not really a fan of MG. Still, glad you enjoyed it! :)

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  4. I'm a fan of this series myself and was so excited to see another installment! I haven't read it yet, but am sure I'll agree that Miri is still her awesome self. I do miss the mountain, though! I was hoping to see some more of it; maybe there will be book 4!

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