While part of me wants to admonish Marie for how easily she was manipulated, many people are pressured in similar ways regularly. I thought that Rafe was an excellent character and quite enjoyed the ending, though I had suspected long before the reveal. Marie’s journey was mostly of self discovery, though she learned quite a few useful skills along the way. I had hoped reading the first book in The Four Kingdoms series that one would tell more about Marie, so I was quite pleased for this one to focus on her. Marie was so easy to care about, given that she had worries and fears about her differences that many people feel throughout their lives. In this twist on the classic fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin, a hidden identity is just one of the things Marie will have to unravel. With time running out and death and destruction looming, Marie will have to unravel the bargains that surround her and choose where her true allegiance lies. Increasingly drawn to Rafe’s strength and good humour, Marie is torn by her double purpose. Except he doesn’t know she has a mission of her own–to discover the truth about her identity. Throwing off convention, she joins Rafe, a handsome, charming newcomer, on a quest to save her kingdom. Then a growing darkness threatens the kingdom and uncovers the lie at the centre of her whole life–a single pact that changes everything. Marie, the dutiful princess of Northhelm, chafes under the rigid protocol that governs her life. However, for greatest enjoyment, they should be read in order.Spinning straw into gold was only the beginning of the story…

If you enjoy clean romance, adventure and intrigue, then try the books in The Four Kingdoms series now! Each of these young adult fairy tale retellings can be read as a standalone story. Increasingly drawn to Rafe's strength and good humour, Marie is torn by her double purpose.

Except he doesn't know she has a mission of her own-to discover the truth about her identity. Then a growing darkness threatens the kingdom and uncovers the lie at the centre of her whole life-a single pact that changes everything.

Spinning straw into gold was only the beginning of the story…

The Princess Pact by Melanie Cellier