Princess of the Silver Woods Book Review
Book Three of The Princesses of Westfalin Trilogy by Jessica Day George. What do you mean this is the last book? I was sure there were 12 dancing princesses.
Princess of the Silver Woods hits that perfect dark and bitter note I’ve been craving. It’s the best of the trilogy. It’s like drinking coffee that just got an extra shot of espresso—so satisfying. In this final book, Jessica Day George strikes the right balance between ‘happily ever after’ and dark, gripping moments.
Set almost 10 years after Princess of the Midnight Ball, we follow Princess Petunia, the youngest of the 12 dancing princesses, now all grown up. Described as the smallest not just because she’s young but because of her petite frame, Petunia is invited to visit an elderly friend she sees as a grandmother. The change of scenery is welcome until memories from her cursed childhood start creeping back. Soon, Petunia finds herself once again ensnared by the King Under Stone.
The story has elements of both Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood. Just like in Princess of Glass, George takes familiar details from the original tales and spins them into something fresh. The woodsman and the wolf are still adversaries, but you immediately question who is in the right, as there are always two sides to every story.
Jessica Day George wraps up the trilogy perfectly, tying up loose ends in a neat bow. Details from the first book, perhaps forgotten by the reader, become crucial again, rekindling interest and excitement.
What I loved most about this book is how the darker elements are fully embraced. In the first two books, the darkness was just below the surface, toned down for younger readers. Not in this one. Princess of the Silver Woods forces you to fear for the cursed princesses before delivering a hard-earned happy ending. I personally enjoy darker, more intense stories, much like I prefer strong, bitter coffee, especially when there’s a happy ending. Without the dark moments, the happy ending wouldn’t be as meaningful. This book makes the reader earn that joy.
In this final installment, you also get to revisit the characters you loved from the first book in a more involved way than in Princess of Glass. Rose, Galen, all the princesses, even Walter and the old crone, return to form a rich tapestry of characters. During Princess of Glass, I missed seeing the fates of these beloved characters, and this book finally delivers on that longing.
I couldn’t have imagined a better ending for this lovely trilogy. Princess of the Silver Woods is the darkest of the three stories but also the most fulfilling. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting, easy read.
