The final short–a Grim Reveal,click here for the PDF file, is now unlocked! I apologize it’s a little late. I’m actually on vacation (expect to see photos!) and I’m actually sick right now as well. (I know. It seems like whenever I launch a book I get sick. Might be a co-relation?) A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed–thanks for the feedback and the help.
About the final extra. As I noted on the original announcement, it’s actually a general Timeless Fairy Tale story, and is told from the point-of-view of Odette of Swan Lake. The story will eventually be expanded upon and will show up in Angelique’s trilogy, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy the plot twist it delivers! Now, on to the post!
Normally I like to devote a whole post to the morals of the original fairy tale, but I’ll be honest…it’s pretty thin in Twelve Dancing Princesses. In fact, when I was researching the story I came across only a few resources that cited morals, and the best of them involved the German version with the soldier, not the French version with the gardener’s boy.
One proposed moral is that parents need to let their children grow up, and they cannot grasp them too tightly. This is displayed in the way the king/duke locks the princesses into their room and they still get away at night to do whatever they want.
Another proposed moral is something along the lines of listening to elders. Though many princes and nobles try, it is the wounded, middle-aged soldier who succeeds, and even that’s only because he listened to an old wise woman.
Some say that the French version encourages suffering and patience for the sake of love. (Why else would a shallow-boy have put up with the bratty youngest sisters’ antics?) But as I read over all of these…none of them really appealed to me.
So before I even crafted Quinn, before I even introduced the elves in Swan Lake, I looked at my series (including all my planned books) and contemplated what I wanted a main theme to be for 12 Dancing Princesses. Often in my stories you’ll see lots of themes of friendship, loyalty, and sticking together. These things are great and important. (No matter who you are, you NEED support!) But there is a problem with that…sometimes we get so caught up in our friendships we make poor choices because of those important relationships. We allow others to influence us to do things we wouldn’t normally do or say because they’re our friends. So I decided 12 Dancing Princesses would be the story where I flaunt friendship…and then shatter it by making Quinn choose to do the right thing rather than choose to follow her companions.
One of the hardest things to do is to step away from your friends and family and do the right thing. It takes a lot of courage, because even if what you stand for is correct it doesn’t guarantee that your friends will understand and accept your decision. Personally, I’ve had several relationships crumble because friends have asked me to do things that I know are wrong. It’s hard, and it happens more often than you would think, which is why I felt it was important to address with this particular tale.
Which launches us into my retelling! As I mentioned in a prior post, for my retelling I decided to stitch the two versions together. Quinn represents the German tale, and Roy the French version.
There’s a few obvious hints. Quinn is a soldier, she takes the silver tree branch as evidence, she receives the cloak from Angelique whom she initially thinks to be an old woman (And yes, for you Stil fans out there, the cloak originally belonged to Rumpelstiltskin. It’s the one Pricker Patch ripped that he gives to Angelique after Gemma gives him a new cape.) and she approaches the venture more from a “we’re going to fix this” perspective than a lovesick motivation.
Roy on the other hand is the gardener’s boy (or at least he pretends to be), he hides the twigs from the beautiful trees in the bouquet for the eldest princess (eldest not youngest, because the youngest twins aren’t even teenagers yet, ewwwww!) and he appears to be stupidly in love/motivated by the chance to marry a princess.
You can see a nod to the tales in the way the princesses drug their victims (German) and that those who succeed in following them are cursed as well (French.) The silver, gold, and diamond trees are featured in my story and both the German and French version as well, but I chose to have the princesses cross a river rather than a lake (featured in both original versions) to get to the elves because I thought a river would be a better divider between the elf and human lands.
Additionally, my story includes the grand parties featured by both stories, and the philtre that serves as a plot point in the French version. (The curse being caused by the food and drink was also a subtle nod to the French version’s philtre.)
Even my choices of making the elves the hosts of the celebration was taken from one of the many other variations of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, in which the parties were hosted by fairies. (Pretty sure Emerys would slug me, though, if he knew he was the substitute for a fairy king.)
And that is the tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I hope you enjoyed it, and that the story made you laugh and cheer. There’s only one fairy tale left in this current arc of the series before I launch Angelique’s trilogy in 2019, and that is Snow White. I will continue to write fairy tales after Angelique’s trilogy (you can look forward to books about The Queen of Hearts, The Girl in the Glass Coffin, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and more!) but most of the fairy tales will be like the Snow Queen books. They will influence the events of the world, but they will be stand-alone and less connected.
Thank you for reading, Champions, and thank you for all your reviews–I really appreciate the time you took in making them. Enjoy the last short, and have a lovely day!
Say, I’m re-reading Swan Lake, and I’m trying to figure out how, if the Swan Smugglers are in Kozlovka, and the Elves couldn’t leave their forest in Farset, did they manage to make the Etonse Philtre arrangement? Unless, is Misha an Elf-friend? Odette mentioned that he was a wanderer (but not the Elvish kind, presumably) who got caught by Rothbart. Did he seek help from the Elves, and discover instead that THEY needed help?
Just curious.
I apologise if someone had already said this, but…
Snow White and a mirror?! Surely the Verglas mirror will be included, as a magic mirror is a fundamental part of the Snow White story?
Just a thought, sorry if Im saying the obvious!
Yeah…and I just finished re-reading Snow Queen: Sacrifice, and Rakel asks herself if there will ever be anyone powerful enough and good enough to destroy the mirror…and I can’t help but thinking of what Emerys said about Angelique’s magic “…metal, glass, anything with a sharp edge…”
Just something to think about 😉
I have just loved this series so much that after finishing The Twelve Dancing Princesses, I went back and read the Snow Queen books. I went looking for the extras for the Snow Queen but could not find them. Where they taken down? Did I miss them? Are they hidden somewhere? Just wondering because I have enjoyed everyone of the extras for the other books. I anxiously await the next book and then Angelique’s story. I also will be interested in reading about the wondering elves.
Thanks so much for reinventing these lovely fairy tales into something new and interesting.
The shorts actually all got taken down and put into an e-book a while ago, when Kitty added a few more, making the count around 6 or 7. On Amazon, it is the 3rd book of the Snow Queen Series.
Also, can I just say: I have this filter on my Email and every single time I see a message marked “K.M. Shea,” I get a little thrill down my spine and I smile. Just because of these books and all the other Champions that make me so happy.
I have been intending to go through ALL of the stuff Kitty has EVER written on the Timeless Fairy Tales and make notes and connections and stuff, but my Kindle is . . . uhh how shall I say this . . . Out Of Commission, which is the ONLY reason I haven’t read 12 DP yet! (If I had another way to access these books, I would smash the dang thing out of frustration!)
oops, sorry I had a glitch
OK this is kinda random but I want to know if any else has caught on to this. I’m going through all of the characters in the Show Queen and comparing them to characters in the current fairy tales. So far I’ve got Angelique being Rakel, Severin being General Halvor, the chosen is still the chosen, and Ellie, Gabi, Odette, or Quinn being Phile. But what’s really bothering me is the fact that I haven’t found a character for Farrin. He’s a MAJOR character for multiple reasons. Have I just missed this character or is he going to show up latter?
I think Enchanter Evariste is Angelique’s Farrin.
Hobbitlady miiiiigghhhtttt be right. 😉 You’ll be able to see for certain when Evariste finally pops back up–he’s been indisposed for so long, the poor guy.
Will will get to see him in Snow White? I can’t wait!
Maaayyyyybeeee??? 🙂 😉
Severin makes sense as Halvor. I can’t remember which book it was, maybe Cinderella & the Colonel, it was mentioned that they couldn’t find any evidence of Halvor. They knew he was real, as there were mentions of him, but no official records. Plays directly into Severin’s playing in the background to Lucien. People know he’s there, they know he’s powerful, but he prefers to be in the shadows.
My question, is what place are the Legendary Knights of Sole going to play, especially the two new female Knights, Brianna, and I can’t remember the other at this time.
And about Furstin Elise?? Isn’t Angelique going to need a spell purifier, like Liv. I think Elise has a similar power.
Again, all speculations.
I am going to have to read the books again, and take notes….
You are a sly one Kitty Shea.
I’m fairly certain that Elise has magic cancellation powers, not purification magic….but I could be wrong.
That’s true, but it could potentially be just as useful…they could be used in a similar way
I have been intending to go through ALL of the stuff Kitty has EVER written on the Timeless Fairy Tales and make notes and connections and stuff, but my Kindle is . . . uhh how shall I say this . . . Out Of Commission, which is the ONLY reason I haven’t read 12 DP yet! (If I had another way to access these books, I would smash the dang thing out of frustration!)
Ever thought your getting ill after completing a book may be some kind severe stress release? I’m sorry you’re not okay, wish you get better <3
Yes, I’ve been starting to suspect that–though my family has been after me about it for over a year now. I’ll have to work on it–it’s pretty annoying to be feeling under the weather when frankly I’d rather be talking to you all about the book!! 😉
Actually, we learned in my anatomy & physiology class that stress hormones like cortisol suppress the immune system when they’re “on” for an extended period of time, which makes people more vulnerable to infection. It’s why everyone gets sick after Finals, too.
I absolutely love what you’ve done with the story! The moral is really relevant and adds an extra dimension to the story. The short story was so worrying, but will the mirror make its first Timeless Fairy Tales appearance in Snow White?
I can’t wait for Angeliques adventures. Are we finally going to meet Enchanter Evariste officially?
I also wonder if the Chosen are actually hiding in the Veneno Conclave itself! So many thing to look forward to.
You’ve done a wonderful job as usual Kitty!
Get well soon!
I thought the same Lynn that the Chosen are hidden in the Veneno Conclave. I think they were reason it was moved from Verglas away from the barrier (so exile mages could enter the school and get some training) and why most of the magical archives were lost in fire when it moved.
I’m so glad that someone agrees with my headcanon! I actually thought of it when someone compared it to Captain America’s Hydra!
I’m also really curious about the ‘special author project’ that Kitty has. Maybe it’ll be the mini adventure with Elle, Gabi, Odette, Quinn and Angelique! I feel like they could all be her Phile!
Snow White will bring a bunch of long hanging threads to the front again. (It will be kind of a strange book because the main character in Snow White will be so disconnected from everything else we’ve seen, but you’ll actually get to see Angelique more than ever in that book!) Annndd that’s about all I’ll comment on for now. 😀
Is the ‘Snow White’ actually Evariste? I mean as far as I know there are no other princesses (I think it was mentioned) beside those we’ve already met and Angelique is supposed to play a special role. Additionally, Snow Whites coma like state would be something that could account for Evariste’s long captivity without being able to get free. Besides, Angelique is supposed to be undercover and already in Mullberg so the natural progression seems to be finding Evariste.
Dang.
amen
You know, Tina, if I am not mistaken, you are one of THE original fans. I looked at some of the /earliest/ polls Kitty did and they had around 14 people. I think it is /Ahmazing/ how much the fan base for KM Shea has increased over the years!
Kitty,
Hope you feel better soon.
Can’t wait to read the newest short.
Thanks! 😀 I am actually doing a bit better today, woohoo! (Usually when I get sick I’m down and out for over a week. This was just a few days!)
Woohoo! What exciting things to look forward to in the coming years 🙂
I love how you think about the morals and themes of the book- it adds so much more than just another retelling.
SOOOOO EXCITEDDDD I absolutely LOVED the 12 Dancing Princesses it was fantastic and I’m SO hyped to read the next ones honestly wish they were coming out sooner haha but take your time. I own all the series and can’t wait for the rest
😀 I’m so happy you enjoyed the story that much! Snow White will hopefully be fun…different, but still fun! (At the bare minimum it has more sarcastic Angelique in there, so that is something!)