A Dance of Silver and Shadow: A Twelve Dancing Princesses Retelling by Melanie Celllier Review

     When I finished Melanie Cellier's Four Kingdoms series, I knew I had to read its follow up set a few years later. Truth be told I had originally considered reading the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series first since the books appealed to me more. However, I am glad that I started from the beginning since the books are more enjoyable when read in order. That said every book can be read individually and it's really up to you how you want to go about it. 

Beyond the Four Kingdoms is the follow up series to The Four Kingdoms by author Melanie Cellier and is an improvement from its predecessor. The books are set on a new continent previously unknown and unreachable with all its kingdoms threatened by dark forces. However, with the arrival of three foreign princesses (who all made previous appearances in other books) hope may not be lost after all for the people of who once turned their backs on the High King and the Godmothers.

   

    A Dance of Silver and Shadow is probably the most unique retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses I have ever read. It opens with twin sisters Princesses Lily and Sophie of Arcadia and their close friend Princess Celine of Lanover traveling with a delegation to the Dutchy of Marin hoping to make new alliances through trade and possibly marriage. Upon arriving however, the three princesses are sent straight to the Marinese palace and forced to enter a marriage competition called The Princess Tourney. Shocked at first, they soon learn this turn of events was beyond anyone's control. Centuries prior the tournament was created by the fairy godmothers to help a prince find his right match through a series of tests. However, as time went on the tourney became old-fashioned and hadn't been held in decades. That was until the cursed Prince Dominic from the kingdom of Palinar suddenly called for one forcing all the unattached princesses of the realm to participate or their kingdom will be cursed.

    Princess Lily is less than enthused to be forced into such a competition but knows there is nothing she or anyone can do about it. Every three nights she, her twin sister, and ten other princesses dance with the princes and nobles of the different kingdoms at the Marinese court before descending into a trap door and entering a different world. They pass through trees with silver, gold, and diamond leaves before arriving at a palace where they must complete a task with their life sometimes put in danger. Whoever earns the most points by the tourneys end will be sent to Palinar as the cursed beastly Prince Dominics bride. None of the princesses want to win but they cannot afford to purposely lose either or risk having the tourney's magic harm a member of their family. To make matters even worse their lips are magically sealed preventing them from revealing the truth of what they forced to do causing their loved ones to worry. Despite all the hardships and dangers, the competition brings Lily is determined to win in order to prevent any of the other princesses (especially the younger ones) from being forced into such a fate. She and Sophie were given a magical gift at birth, and she will use it to her advantage to get around the rules in order to save the day no matter what. However, try as she might, she can't push aside her feelings for the kind Marinese Prince John who cares just as deeply for her. But how can their romance work when the competition and an upcoming coup blocking their path. Will Lily be able to sacrifice her romantic feelings and save the other princesses from an unhappy fate. Or will she be prevented from having to making such a sacrifice? And at what cost?

    A Dance of Silver and Shadow does a decent job of introducing each new kingdom and its monarchs to the reader. With all the kingdoms gathered together for the Princess Tournament you get to learn about their monarchs and learn hints as to what fairy tale retellings will follow them. For example, one of visiting princes mentions that he was saved from drowning by a mysterious ocean girl with a beautiful singing voice when travelling to Marin foreshadowing the events of a later book. However, while this was nice and all I won't deny that Melanie Cellier added a ton of new characters to keep track of which got me often confused on who was who and from what kingdom. While I eventually sorted it all out, I still felt it was a detriment since you have to keep track of all twelve princesses their older brothers and younger siblings, the kingdoms there from, a few additional side characters AND the villains is quite a lot to process.

    

    A Dance of Silver and Shadow is probably one of the most unique twelve dancing princesses' retellings I have ever read. And also, one of the most heart pounding. The first few tournaments were extremely intense and even a little scary as I was on the edge of my seat waiting and worrying to see what will happen. I won't divulge the details of what they do, but I can assure you they are not dancing in this underground kingdom to escape their troubles like in the original. While balls and dancing do occur in this story it is not done in the traditional fashion. Part one of three is quite stressful to read but once you get past it the story becomes a lot more enjoyable focusing more on protecting the dutchy of Marin from an upcoming threat.

    Lily is a great protagonist who while I don't find as interesting as some of her predecessors, she was still a solid well written character. She cares deeply for her twin sister Sophie so much that she is prepared to give up a chance at a happy ending to protect her. Her love interest John is one of my favorite love interests Melanie Cellier has written so far. He is charming and witty but is generally concerned about the state of Dutchy of Marin and all the kingdoms. He feels guilty for unintentionally getting Lily, Sophie, and Celine involved in the tourney and worries for the safety of all the princesses. He and Lily are such a cute couple who support each other despite knowing their chances at being together are very slim. He even refuses an offer that could have potentially saved his life so he wouldn't have to give Lily up. I absolutely adore their relationship and unlike some of the previous couples Melanie Cellier has wrote about was genuinely rooting for them from the beginning. 

Overall while this book has some flaws it doesn't deter it much from being a fantastic story. By the time I had started writing this review I have completed the Beyond the Four Kingdoms series and can admit it is one of my favorite books I have read by Melanie Cellier. I give it a 4.8 out of five stars. Until next time.