Princess of the Silver Woods

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George, 2012 Bloomsbury

   The youngest princess of Westfalin, Petunia, has been kidnapped... sort of... on accident. Oliver and his band of Wolves of the Westfalin Wood decide to raid Petunia's carriage on her trip to visit a distance Grand Duchess and come up with more than just the gold and jewels they hope for. The young man didn't mean to kidnap a princess and he plans to confess to his accidental crime and escort Petunia to her destination.
     Petunia is not a wilting lady--when she was a small child she and her eleven sisters were taken to a kingdom under the earth to dance with the sons of the King Under Stone. After several princes and adventurers tried to rescue them, the girls were able to escape the curse and resume normal princess lives. Several princes were killed in the quest for an answer and the king decides his daughters should travel as emissaries to assuage the wounds.
     The youngest daughter spends significant time in a Russia-esque country to the north. Petunia's hostess visits Westfalin and requests a visit from her long-time ward. It is on the trip to visit the Grand Duchess that Petunia meets the Wolves and Oliver, their leader. Oliver is true to his word and transports Petunia to the new residence of the duchess - his familial home.
     With the Grand Duchess, Petunia is plagued by long-gone nightmares of a kingdom underground. She writes to her sisters hoping for a solution, but no news comes from the princesses or their husbands. Petunia enjoys her days with the Grand Duchess and her charming nephew, but the nights begin to wear and answers are still elusive.
     Petunia remembers Oliver and his promise to help. When her suspicions begin to get the best of her, the princess asks for help from the handsome young man. Oliver's assistance finally produces answers, but they aren't the answers Petunia hopes for. She is given the chance to finally end the family's curse permanently when a new King Under Stone takes control and accepts Oliver's help in saving herself.
     The third and final story of the Westfalin Twelve Dancing Princesses blends with Little Red Riding Hood for a story to end the princesses' nightmare. Princess of the Silver Woods concludes the tales of the Westfalin princesses for middle school readers.