SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When Zita discovers the twelve princesses that she serves are actually her sisters, she attempts to get to know them. But when they start acting strange, eventually falling ill, its up to her to find out what's behind it. Is it magic?
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Zita is a serving girl who discovers she is a princess. She is shocked but happy to find that she has sisters, but worried to find out who her father is. She is rather naive and sheltered.
Bracken is the new stable boy. He becomes Zita's only other friend, besides her sisters. He likes to tease Zita and has a good sense of humor.
Aurelia is Zita's oldest sister. She plays a bigger part, compared to the other sisters.
Melik is Brecken's older brother and a knight.
Babette is a an old witch who lives in the woods. She becomes friends with Brecken and Zita.
Father is hard to get to know. He loses his temper easily and is strict with his daughters. One rare occasions though, he can be kind and gentle.
PACING
The pacing is slower, but it's not just to introduce the main characters, it's to reveal the truth about the world that Zita lives in. We slowly learn about the King and how he has affected the kingdom. As well as the fate of the Queen.
MEETING THE SISTERS
When Zita meets her sisters, they seem to become friends instantly. There isn't any development between Zita and them. Perhaps the author thought since there were so many, she couldn't take the time to develop them.
Also, when Zita learns that they are sisters, there are not any hints before then (she is told the truth pretty fast). Or any presented in hindsight, like the girls being extra nice to her, or trying to speak to her. It just feels like the relationship between Zita and her sisters is rather neglected. She could have at least picked one or two sisters that Zita bonded with.
Aurelia is in the story the most, but there aren't many exchanges between her and her little sister where they grow close. It's just assumed they already love each other and get on great.
A MENTOR
Babette plays an important role. She not only reveals something magical is going on at the castle, but she gives Zita a tool to help her as well as one for Melik. She also encourages them and teaches them a magical ability. Not to mention she saves them near the climax.
THE SPELL STARTS
Whenever Aurelia and the others get in the presence of a suitor they don't say a word. Ever. Their father is furious at them and they never even offer an explanation. Later they say it's not shyness. They just can't talk for some reason.
I thought this was kind of silly, as if anyone else had discovered they were unable to speak, it would alert them that something was horribly wrong. Maybe they had a disease. Or had a stroke. Or something. But the girls don't even discuss it in detail.
I thought that maybe they should have had physical reactions. Like every time a prince came they all fell ill, vomiting, nausea, headaches, something more extreme.
AURELIA & MELIK
Melik first sees Aurelia from afar and later decides to help Zita. He seems to have developed a crush on the oldest daughter, so it's kind of hard to believe his motivation. He essentially risks his life for a woman he has had no actual conversations with.
I really wish there had been a scene with them actually conversing. All we get is Melik proclaiming his love for Aurelia because he thought she was pretty.
ZITA & HER FATHER
The relationship had potential. I enjoyed the moment where her father showed her kindness by giving her a book of poetry that he read to her mother. As well as the realization that a father loving his daughter was foreign to Zita. But in the end I found it unfulfilling.
Also, there is some unconsistancy with his portrayal. Zita seems to think he is awful, but then she says he would never offer his daughters up as a reward to whoever can find out why they are ill.
But he doesn't seem like someone who values them. After all, he wanted just one son and never got one. If anything, he might treat them worse off because of it.
BABETTE'S GIFT
Babette reveals that she gave Aurelia the gift of love. Whoever loved her could help break through the spell. It is supposed to explain how Melik's declaration of love manages to waken Aurelia from her sleep, if only for a moment.
The problem is, Melik doesn't know her, he is merely infatuated. But perhaps this was supposed to apply to Zita too?
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
In the beginning of the story, we learn that Zita is named after the patron saint of servants. But Babette says it also means “seeker” and “little rose”. Near the end of the book Zita brings it back up, but I felt that was being too obvious. She is trying to tell the reader she has changed. I felt it was unnecessary.
ROLES-SPOILERS
Most of the characters have specific roles, which I liked. Zita got help for her sisters and figured out a trick near the climax. Melik says he senses magic before they go to Babette to ask her more. Babette provides knowledge and tools they need as well as providing assistance in the climax.
MATURE CONTENT
There are vague reference to girls getting pregnant by men and having to leave the castle. Nothing is described in detail, but it's obvious what Zita is saying, even if she doesn't understand herself.
One of Zita's sisters says that smart girls know to stop at kissing, implying that you shouldn't fornicate.
Cook says that Father had many dalliances before he met his future wife. But doesn't explain what that means when Zita asks.
A footman jokes about sharing a bed with Zita.
CLIMAX
Zita, Breckin and Melik rescue the girls, awaking them from their enchantment. Babette helps save them. The villain is revealed and their father ends up facing off with them. Afterwards, there is eventually a wedding.
THE TRUE VILLAIN-SPOILERS
There is a short reference to a smudge on an embroidered blanket. Turns out that was the villain, she was just too small to see or something. This was far too vague to be considered a hint. Although there was also a scene where she thought she saw a serving girl named Chiara, but I guess this was Taika when she took off her disguise.
Nurse, a character that didn't even have a real name, turns out to be the villain. Her name is Taika and a long time ago she was in love with the king. He loved her too, when he was a child. Her explanation as to how she manipulated the king into banning magic so she could keep the girls from ever leaving him was convoluted.
The only part that made sense was that she caused his wife to only have daughters so they would have a barrier between them. And she could comfort them. But he didn't even know that she was Taika. I think the disguise was unnecessary. She could still have been a mystery to the girls. They didn't know their father's past.
FATHER, THE HERO?-SPOILERS
At the end, Zita's father gives his life to defeat Taika. It felt surprising, and even after he died, I was thinking, is that it? Zita gets a hug from him before he dies, so she knows he loves her, or something.
It's obvious he loved his daughters if he sacrificed himself for them. But I would have prefererred to him admitting he was wrong, all those times when he yelled at the girls about their suitors. Or he apologized for causing his wife to lose heart and die. I just didn't feel like there were any real resolutions for Zita.
CONCLUSION
Zita and Breckin are likable heroes and the story unfolds well, making use of suspense while Babette plays a good mentor character. There is also some humor that I enjoyed.
But the villain came completely out of the blue, with no hints to help us figure it out. And the relationship between Melik and Aurelia was shallow. Also there wasn't any real time to develop their characters. I give “The Thirteenth Princess” two and a half stars.
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