The Wide-Awake Princess

The fiction tale The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker is a story of Princess Gwendolyn, the destined Sleeping Beauty’s sister, Princess Annie, searching far and low for princes to awaken her. The two main characters are Princess Annie, she is very adventurous and daring, knows how to take care of herself,and loves her family. Annie was born unlike her sister, Gwennie, who got the gifts of beauty, grace, melody, etc. all the gifts princesses have. Annie’s parents didn’t want her to get the 100-year curse as well, so they asked a fairy to help them. The fairy gave Annie her first and last gift she would get, the spell that no magic, no matter good or bad, could touch her. This means that anything that has magic that is close to her will begin to lose it temporarily, and any magic that is cast upon her will rebound as well. Annie has grown up without any magic to help her, to be a strong princess no one has ever seen. Next, is Annie’s lover Liam, he is extremely caring of Annie, he is very kind and daring as well. Liam has made many impressions on the royal family, he first appeared as a guard for them, but later revealed that he was a prince of a nearby kingdom. Liam is like Annie, in the shadow of his older brother, who got all the gifts. But he is well happy with being close to Annie, because he would give up everything he had just for her. The main problem is that Annie has to find the perfect prince to kiss Gwennie to wake her up, all along an enemy kingdom is advancing on them secretly. My opinion is that this novel has the right amount of romance and humour to it, when Annie and Liam stand up for each other with loving words. Then the funny comments that Liam makes, or the hilarious thoughts that Annie has. I love how the characters are part original, and part new. As in princess Gwendolyn, is Sleeping Beauty, but princess Annie is a whole new twist that adds some amaze to the story! This really shows the girl power that is coming back! -Serena

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