The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern #1)

So the theme of my books this week seems to be unloving mothers. I went from Flowers in the Attic to this and in comparison Ani’s mother is a saint, but still. Ani was always different, her aunt taught her at a young age how to speak to the swans and that she has a speech on her tongue that she will learn in time. She learns she’s being shipped off from her home in Kildenree to Bayern to be married to a prince she’s never met. Her escort party splits off in to two groups, one that aims to protect Ani and one that aims to kill her and give her lady in waiting the crown. She gets away, barely and tries to reclaim her title and her crown, but can she do that as just a Goose Girl?

It was an entertaining read, not too long. I found the 3 types of speech interesting and actually plan to read the second one and learn more about Enna and her fire speech. I don’t have much to say about this one other than I genuinely enjoyed Shannon Hale’s writing and I will read more of it.

I actually like how this story wasnt a typical princess story, I feel like Shannnon Hale did a good job with writing a book that has a versatile audience. It could appeal to the younger teens because it doesnt have too much mature ideas but its not childish and would therefore appeal to the older audiences.
I wasnt able to connect with the characters but with this novel I dont think that you are supposed to too much. I also really liked the plot for these books.

This is a very good book, and don't worry, it's not at all like your average fairy tale. Okay, fine, I'll tell the truth. If someone had said to me "Hey Louisa, there's this really awesome book called the Goose Girl and it's about a princess who goes to marry a prince and she can talk to birds!" I would have thought "And how is that any different from Snow White or any other fairy tale every written?"

Let's start with the fact that this IS about a princess who is sent off to marry a foreign prince and she can talk to birds and horses and stuff, BUT, it is not a wishy-washy fairytale.

Ani is the Crown Princess in her kingdom, but then her mother replaces her with her brother, because she is worried that the kingdom will not trust a queen who "supposedly" talks to wild animals. She is sent off to a neighbouring kingdom to marry the prince there. As if this wouldn't cause enough problems for poor Ani, during the trip there is a mutiny and her title is taken away by her lady-in-waiting and half of the guards. Suddenly Ani is titeless, and is forced to work as a Goose Girl for the king (hence the title of the book.). Ani is dead set on getting her title back before her lady-in-waiting starts a war between their two kingdoms. On the way, she makes real friends, finds love, and discovers a secret strength that she had no idea she possessed (because, let's face it, she was VERY naive and shallow before).

This story is about independence and bravery, and not doing what you are told just because you are told.

This book keeps you on your toes for the whole time, and just when you think that Ani/Isi is safe... BAM! the bad guys come in and try to murder her in the night.

When I had finished the book, I figured out that it was actually based on one of the lesser known Grimms fairy tales. So I went and read that fairy tale, but I still think this book is better.

When you finish the book, I guarantee you'll be searching for more.

Reader reviewed by Rachelle

Shannon Hale is a master story teller.  The Goose Girl is a beautiful retelling of an old fairy tale with wonderful imagery that allows your to escape into the story.  The heroine is a likeable girl, off for the adventure of a life time.  She meets new people and makes great friends.  I would recommend this and any other book by Shannon Hale.  Her new graphic novel, Rapunzel, illustrated by her husband is another great retelling of a fun fairy tale.  Her novels for adults have won many awards.

Reader reviewed by mearley

Shannon Hale took one of the Grimms' lesser-known fairy tales and turned it into a delightful novel! She turned the heroine into a more three-dimensional character, with strengths as well as flaws. Details that were glossed over in the original tale (why exactly would a princess let her lady-in-waiting take her place?) are believably fleshed out. I love Shannon Hale's writing, and I recommend her books to anyone!

Reader reviewed by Jenna

Ani is a Crown Princess who has just been told her younger brother is taking her claim at the throne and she is being forced to go to a neighboring country as a part of a peace treat and marry their prince. If this isn't bad enough, a rebellion on the journey to the country leaves her titleless and without her best friend and royal guards to protect her. She travels to the city, where she takes care of the king's geese as a cover until she can figure out what to do.

This is a great story about independence and not doing what you're told just because they told you to. Bravery and friendship color this magical retelling.

Reader reviewed by Jenna

Princess Ani of Kildenree has always been a letdown to her mother the queen ever since childhood. And when her father, the king, dies in a horse accident, the crowned thrown is given to Ani's brother, and she is sent to be the bride of the foreign prince of Bayern. On the long road to the nieghboring Bayern, Ani and a few loyal escorts are mutinied by her servent, and friend, Selia.

Now with nothing to her name, and in a strange land, Ani must find a way to get back her title while having the job of the goose girl for the Bayern King. But along the way she makes a few worker friends and discovers a secret strenght she didn't know she had.

I would recommend The Goose Girl to everyone looking for a less grim take on the Grimm Brothers fairy tale The Goose Girl. Miss Hale does an excellent job, and you really root for Ani to reach out of her shell and overcome all her challenges and prove that she is much more than her mother ever saw her to be.

Reader reviewed by Mary

This is stunning retelling of the Goose Girl, which is a little known fairy tale.

Shannon Hale weaves the beautiful tale of a young girl named Anidori Isilee. Anidori Isilee has been the crown princess for her whole life.

But she's never felt like it. She's not a people person and would rather spend time talking to animals (her special gift) than with humans.

But soon she finds herself no longer the crown princess but just a princess. A princess who is about to set off on a journey to marry someone in another land....


The thing I particularly liked about this book is Anidori Isilee's character. She's not an outgoing or overly independent character as a lot of heroines are. But I think this makes her a character that is easier to relate too. In fact, I found myself rooting for her for the entire book.

To add to this, Shannon Hale writes with beautiful description. If you like fantasy you should read this book!

Reader reviewed by Brenda

Based on the old Grimm fairy tale of the princess who becomes a goose girl for a time, due to the betrayal of her servant, this story by Shannon Hale breathes new life into an old tale. Her story of Ani adds new elements, such as Ani's ability to speak to and understand bird and her new found ability to command the wind while keeping the basic structure of the old tale with it's elements of betrayal and political intrigue between kingdoms. Hale's kingdoms of Bayern and Kidenzee ring true as does Ani's relationships with her mother, the Queen and Selia, the Lady in Waiting with powers of her own that she uses to assume Ani's place as Queen in the Kingdom of her husband-to-be. Ani's ambivalent feelings about her own role as Princess of Kidenzee, future Queen of Bayern and then as a goose girl in hiding add dept and texture to this novel.

Although it didn't totally charm me as Book of a Thousand Days did, this was an excellent read and a great addition to the re-imagined fairy tale genre.

Reader reviewed by Van

The Goose Girl was a great book. It starts out with a princess named Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, or Ani for short. Ani, being the firstborn child, is meant to become queen one day, but her mom, who is ashamed and partially scared of her ability to speak to animals, decides to send her off to a larger kingdom to get married to the prince. On the way to Bayern, the larger kingdom, her best friend since they were little, Selia, betrays her and convinces the volunteer guards to kill Ani and replace Selia as the princess. Ani luckily escapes and lives as a goose girl in Bayern, waiting for a chance to save her kingdom from Selia's evil plans. She unexpectedly meets many new friends, and of her friends' true identity is fascinatingly revealed at the end. Since I don't want to spoil the book, I won't divulge the ending.

This is truly one of the best books I've read. The plot is amazing with many mysterys, questions, and twists. Instead of a beginning, exciting middle, and end, this book has many ups and downs caused by thrilling events. The Goose Girl just keeps you guessing until the very end.