The Goose Girl

Once upon a time, 2 decades ago in the 2000s to be precise, there was a book series called The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale, and the first book in the series was The Goose Girl. For superfans of classic fairytales and literature, you would know it’s a retelling of the Grimm Brothers version of The Goose Girl. In this version of The Goose Girl, Crown Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee of Kildenree was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue that she could not taste.  Ani spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt tell tales of people who have distinct gifts. Some have the gift of human speak some have the gift of animal speaking & others have the gift of nature speaking. Ani learns she has the gift of animal speak, especially the swans and when she became older and watched a colt being born, she learned the first name on the colt’s tongue was Falada. When it comes time for Ani to be married to the Prince of Bayern, while she is being escorted, her treacherous maidservant Selia, the brutish guard Ungolad and half of Ani’s company betray her and Ani is on the run. She becomes the Goose Girl and makes close friends  & fall in love. Can Ani set things right with her new friends before Selia, Ungolad and the others wreak havoc on Bayern & Kildenree?

Comparisons, Writing & Characters

I remember either reading the book when I was in my teens in the mid to late 2000s & not remembering much about it. Or I started it and put it aside. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood for it, and it must shock everyone who knows me since I’m a lover of fairytales, myths, legends and their retellings. I feel old just talking about it lol. Shannon Hale keeps close to the original fairytale of The Goose Girl, but she does add enough to expand on the story and make it her own at the same time so it becomes a beautiful mosaic of sorts. I love the fact that Princess Ani grows from being an insecure & shy girl to being a brave and assertive woman and learning that she has gifts than she realized. I also like the characters of Enna & Geric. I forgot how brutish & creepy Ungolad was and how cunning Selia was. They do make a great evil couple.

Overall

If you enjoy fairytale retellings you will enjoy The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. If you also read this book in the 2000s like I did and want a trip down memory lane pick it up again. I hope I get to do a Q&A with Shannon one of these years.