The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable: A Review
Synopsis
Sophie feels alone in the world and dreams of being someone special, but her life changes in ways she never imagined. During a school trip to Russia, Sophie and her two friends accidentally board the wrong train. They are rescued by the enchanting Princess Anna Volkonskaya, who takes them to her winter palace. There, she captivates them with tales of lost diamonds and a tragic past. As darkness descends and wolves roam around, Sophie realizes that the palace is filled with secrets beyond her wildest dreams.
Review – The Wolf Princess
Winter tales featuring wolves are always intriguing. Think of fantastic stories like “The Wolves of Willoughby Chase” or “The Box of Delights” with its unforgettable line: “The wolves are running.” “The Wolf Princess” goes a step further, offering not just snow and wolves—white wolves, in fact—but diamonds too.
This book pulls you into a magical, mysterious world from the get-go. Even the chapter titles, adorned with Spirograph-like artwork, add to its enchantment. The narrative is filled with mysteries. Why does Sophie keep dreaming about her father, a strange girl, and a wolf in the snow? Who is the enigmatic visitor? Why are Sophie and her friends taken to Russia and the Volkonsky Winter Palace? What befell the Volkonsky family and their precious diamonds? The only minor drawback is that some of these mysteries are somewhat easy to figure out. But this doesn’t detract from the rich, atmospheric world in which the story is set.
I picked up this book as an early Christmas gift for myself and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I was a young girl, I wrote a story about a princess with a pet white wolf, so I was thrilled to see that Cathryn Constable had a similar idea. The scenes where Sophie and her friends are whisked away by train and sleigh to the Winter Palace reminded me of a story I used to read at my grandma’s house called “The Secret Ballet of the Steppes.” If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Russia, like Sophie, this book is the next best thing. It’s an ideal read for a cozy winter night by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate.
Adaptation Recommendation
I recently learned that “The Wolf Princess” is being adapted into a 2D/CGI Walt Disney film, set for release in 2017. I had a hunch it would make a great movie when I read it, so keep an eye out for the film—and make sure to read the book first!
Overall Rating
It’s a captivating read from the very first page.
