The Goose Girl

Shannon Hale

Book 1 in the series:The Books of Bayern

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betrayal and identity

self discovery journey

magical animal communication

medieval fantasy world

enchanting and evocative writing

lyrical and poetic style

character growth and friendship

naive princess vs. manipulative lady

young adult fantasy genre

slow to engaging pacing

fairy tale retelling

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is a retelling of the traditional fairy tale about Princess Ani who is betrayed by her lady in waiting and ends up living as a goose girl in another kingdom. The story follows Ani's journey of self-discovery, as she learns to communicate with animals and navigate the challenges of her new life while trying to reclaim her true identity. The writing style is described as enchanting, evocative, and almost poetic, with a focus on character growth, friendship, and the themes of truth and magic.

Characters:

The characters range from a naive princess to a manipulative lady in waiting, showcasing diverse motivations and growth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is lyrical and poetic, enhancing the fairy tale atmosphere.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a princess who is betrayed and must navigate life as a commoner to reclaim her rightful place.

Setting:

The setting includes a medieval fantasy world that adds depth to the narrative.

Pacing:

The pacing begins slowly but becomes more engaging as the plot thickens.

The next day was stormy rain. Ani lay awake in her bed to the euphony of heavy water on her thin roof. The pane was a stream of moving darkness, and she watched it lighten to silver. It was the first ...

Notes:

The Goose Girl is a retelling of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

The main character, Anidori Kiladra Talianna Isilee (Ani), has the unique ability to understand animals.

Ani is betrayed by her lady in waiting Selia during her journey to marry a prince.

The story explores themes of identity, friendship, and personal growth.

Ana takes on the identity of a goose girl to survive after being cast out.

The original fairy tale is much shorter than Hale's retelling, which expands on character development and plot.

The book has been praised for its beautiful writing and vivid descriptions.

The Goose Girl is the first book in the Books of Bayern series, which continues with Enna Burning and River Secrets.

Hale's writing style is described as lyrical and poetic, enhancing the fairy tale feel.

The book includes elements of magic, nature communication, and a sweet romance.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings include corporal punishment, death of a parent, gaslighting, arranged marriage, sexual harassment, attempted regicide, animal cruelty, and potential violence.

From The Publisher:

'Hale's writing is beautiful, with a vivid eye for detail' Daily Telegraph

Anidora-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kilindree, spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt's incredible stories, and learning the language of the birds. Little knowing how valuable her aunt's strange knowledge would prove to be when she grew older.

From the Grimm's fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become a queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must understand her own incredible talents before she can overcome those who wish her harm.

Shannon Hale has drawn on her incredible gift for storytelling to create a powerful and magical grown-up fairytale.

Ratings (34)

Incredible (10)
Loved It (13)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (4)
Did Not Like (3)

Reader Stats (65):

Read It (35)
Want To Read (22)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (7)

1 comment(s)

lulareviewla

Loved It

8 months

I've never read a book with a plot like The Goose Girl, so it was fresh to my eyes, and I could enjoy it because it was new to me, and it moved along nicely.

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