Set in medevail times this funny and enchanting story is an original blend of "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". Thirteen year old Reveka, an herbalist's apprentice, is trying to break the puzzling curse that the twelve princesses are suffering from. Every morning their shoes are in tatters and the princesses are exhausted, although they claim to have spelt all night and remember nothing. Anyone that tries to hide in their room to see what is happening either disappears or falls asleep and never wakes up, but Reveka is determinded to break the curse, not because she has much use for snobby princesses, but for the reward money, which could buy her a position as a master herbalist. As she struggles to under the the curse, she is drawn into deeper mysteries and learns about life and death, love and loyalty, courage and despair. This is a delightful and exciting story with a touch of raomance for ages ten years and up and can be found in the juvenile fiction section of the library under J HAS
