ISBN-13: 978-1-59990-322-4. Hardback, $16.99.Book Awards:
Best Books for Young Adults nominee, (YALSA), 2009.
Annotation:
In this update of the classic fairy tale, Queen Maude has made a deal with Lord Under Stone. In exchange for children, and an end to the war which is ravaging her country, she is to go down to the kingdom under stone every third night and dance at the ball held by Lord Understone. When Queen Maude dies part way through her contracted dance time, her children are forced to complete her contracted dance time with Lord Under Stone. Knitting patterns for items made by Galen in the book are included.
Book Talk:
Galen is back from the war. His father was killed in the war, and his mother died soon after. Galen goes to live with his aunt and uncle, who live near the palace. His uncle is the head gardener for the king.
While serving as the gardener, Galen hears of the mystery surrounding the princesses. Every night, they are locked into their rooms. Every morning, when the doors are unlocked, the princess's dancing shoes have been worn clean through and must be replaced. The mystery has the entire kingdom whispering about the habits of the young princesses.
When we join the story, Galen finds himself intrigued with the mystery surrounding the dancing shoes. Princess Rose has been very ill, and is unable to get out of bed for several days in a row. Galen is working in the garden when the wind begins to blow and whine. The old gardener, Walter attempts to lock all of the gardeners into the tool shed, but Galen escapes the shed to find out what is going on outside.
"Galen!" the older man came stumping around the corner. "Stay inside!"
"No, tell me what is happening!"
It was dark, and Galen could barely make out Galen's head shake. "No time! Take this!" And he pressed a switch into Galen's hands. "Rowan, best I can do in a pinch."
"For what, the storm?"
The wind was tearing through the gardens, and Galen thought with despair of how many leaves he would have to dredge out of the swan fountain in the morning. Strangely, it didn't smell of rain or snow, both of which were possible at this time of year, but of mold and stone.
"There is no storm" Walter said evenly. "Do you know where the windows of the princesses' sitting room are?"
"The South side? Overlooking the hedge maze?" That he knew this so readily made Galen blush. He hadn't been trying to peep at the princesses, but he'd seen them at those windows more often than at any of the others.
"That's right! Come quickly!"
Walter moved off at a greater speed than Galen would have thought that a man with a false leg could go. Galen was soon trotting to keep up as the wind buffeted them. They skirted wide around the maze and came upon the smooth lawn on the south side of the palace.
The windows were all ablaze, and Galen could see anxious faces peering out: servants curious about the sudden wind. The princesses' sitting room was on the third floor, and Galen thought he saw movement there.
But then his attention was caught by a sound that sliced through the wind. A hollow howling sound that was no dog that Galen had ever heard. Strange, creeping shapes were coming out of the hedge maze, from behind a fountain shaped like a mermaid, and around the corner of the palace. They were like tall men, stooped over.
"Hay, hallo there" Galen called, his words carried off by the wind. "Hey!"
"Galen!" Walter shouted.
ONe of the figures lunged at Galen. He brought up his switch just in time and lashed his attacker across the face with it. A surprisingly human cry followed, and the hunched figure fell back. Now more creatures were coming at them, and Galen and Walter whipped at them as best they could.
"Stop there!" with a surge of panic, Galen saw that one of the figures had gone around them and was attempting to climb the ivy on the palace wall. It grew all the way to the princess's windows, and though it would not hold a grown man's weight, these...beings...were slender and seemed almost insubstantial. "I said stop!" Galen rushed after the figure, switching it across the back.
Above them, a window flew open. (pages 61-62)
What do these creatures have to do with the princesses' midnight ball?
Author Website: www.jessicadaygeorge.com
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