The Princess In The Opal Mask (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
I came across this book by happenstance and decided to give it a try. The story follows two girls, one is a foster child that is treated like a servant, the other is a princess that is forced to wear a opal mask at all times so that no one may see her face. She has been forced to wear this mask all her life. The two discover after the death of the king, that they are town sisters. The servant sister is forced to serve as a decoy to ensure the safety of her princess sister or die. The princess has been promised the wed the prince of a neighboring kingdom, a kingdom that is despised by all in her kingdom. The servant sister promises herself to escape at the earliest possibility. Only problem is the masked princess escapes first and the roles are switched. They soon discover what it is like living on the other side. Only problem is that the servant sister knows nothing of being a princess, and the princess sister doesn't know how to survive in the real world. You see each struggle, and eventually come together when there is a threat to their lives and secret. Each sister is very different. The servant sister has as been forced to learn how to please people to safeguard herself from pain. It has left her bitter, angry, and distrustful of others. The princess sister is timid and accommodating. Some would say too accommodating. The servant sister is my favorite. Normally, I am not a fan of first person/present tense narrative, but The Princess in the Opal Mask is a decently written, fast-paced novel that sucks you in from the beginning. It is a story of two girls—Elara, an orphaned peasant searching for answers about her past; and Wilha, the Masked Princess who is forbidden to show her face—who meet and switch places. Though they are reluctant at first, both Elara and Wilha find that each other’s lives are exactly what they have been craving for the past sixteen years. However, both are painfully aware that their futures hang in the balance, and that the discovery their true identities could trigger a disaster that engulfs both Galandria and Kyrenica. First, I will say that The Princess in the Opal Mask sports a multitude of clichés. It is, after all, a fantasy novel dealing with royalty/kingdom/politics and a Prince and the Pauper scenario. But, as we all know, it is the execution, not premise, that really matters. Jenny Lundquist is an excellent writer with a firm grasp of storytelling. The pacing is flawless, and the frequent plot twists and cliffhangers save the story from being too predictable. The resulting tension and suspense she creates kept me from putting the book down (just one more chapter…one more chapter). Elara and Wilha are vastly different (Elara scrappy and assertive and Wilha timid and unsure of herself), yet both are trying to sort through their frustrating circumstances and understand who they truly are. Elara has no idea where she came from, and no one who does is willing to tell her. Wilha, who has been given everything—including an entire life mapped out in front of her—doubts herself as an Andewyn and wonders if she ever can be as courageous as her ancestors. Both characters are likable and equally dynamic, although I was partial to Elara in the first half, and to Wilha in the second. At the halfway point, my sympathy flip-flopped from Elara to Wilha, since Elara finds more strength with her new position, whereas Wilha finds out how cowardly and weak she really is (but she’s not a dud, don’t worry). All throughout the story, I found myself feeling what they felt and wanting them to be able to keep each other’s lives. But above all else, the conflict over who is the true Princess in the Opal Mask was the most intriguing. In fact, you don’t know until the end whether the title is speaking of Elara or Wilha (or both). Even so, I believe—or at least hope—that Lundquist will delve further into the mystery in her next book, which is hopefully coming out this fall.
What do You think about The Princess In The Opal Mask (2013)?
Great fairy-tale story, interesting enought characters, and a tidy ending. Fun weekend read.
—Quark
Despite a slow start, I ended up really liking this one. Four stars.
—lach5
This book sounds amazing!I am so excited to read it!
—justine
What a nice read! I can't wait for the conclusion.
—Fifteen
