Princess of the Silver Woods summary

The Adventure Begins

In Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George, Princess Petunia is the youngest of twelve sisters who share a secret: every night, they slip out of their palace to dance in an enchanted forest. The girls are under a curse, and their nightly escapades have left the kingdom puzzled. When the King offers a reward for anyone who can solve the mystery, the palace fills with ambitious suitors and adventurers.

Petunia's sisters are determined to find a way to break the curse and end their nightly dancing, but Petunia is content to remain in the background. However, when the girls' secret is discovered by a visiting lord, the sisters realize they need to take action to protect their secret and their lives. They hatch a plan to escape their palace and seek refuge in the neighboring kingdom of Westfalin.

Into the Woods

On their journey, the girls make a stop at the Silverwood, a forest rumored to be infested with bandit-wolves. Much to their surprise, the bandit-wolves turn out to be handsome, charming young men who, instead of attacking them, offer to help them. The sisters are initially wary but soon form an alliance with the bandit-wolves, who promise to protect them from their pursuers.

While in the Silverwood, Petunia meets the eldest bandit-wolf, Oliver, and forms a close bond with him. She learns that the bandit-wolves are victims of a curse, much like her and her sisters. The curse forces them to steal from travelers passing through the forest, and it can only be broken if the King Under Stone, the ruler of the underworld, is defeated.

The Grandmother's Scheme

Arriving in Westfalin, the girls are welcomed by an elderly woman who claims to be their grandmother. However, Petunia is suspicious of her intentions, especially when she learns that the woman is in cahoots with the King Under Stone. It turns out that their supposed grandmother is the one who cursed Petunia and her sisters in the first place, and she has plans to use the girls to further her own sinister goals.

With the help of the bandit-wolves, Petunia and her sisters devise a plan to thwart their grandmother's scheme. They manage to outwit her and the King Under Stone, breaking the curse that had plagued them for so long. In the process, they also free the bandit-wolves from their curse, allowing them to live normal lives once more.

A Happy Ending

With the curse broken, the princesses are free to return to their kingdom. Petunia, now a strong and determined young woman, has also managed to win Oliver's heart. The two share a deep bond, and Oliver promises to visit her often in her kingdom. The sisters are finally able to live their lives without the fear of their nightly dancing being exposed, and the bandit-wolves can start a new, honest life free from their cursed existence.

In conclusion, Princess of the Silver Woods is a captivating retelling of the classic fairy tales, blending elements of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood into a unique, enchanting narrative. The story is filled with adventure, romance, and the strength of sisterhood, making it a delightful read for fans of fantasy and fairy tales.