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The Restless Girls

By: Jessie Burton
Narrated by: Thandiwe Newton
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Summary

A dazzling feminist reinterpretation of a classic fairy tale, from the best-selling author of The Miniaturist and The Muse.

For her 12 daughters, Queen Laurelia's death in a motor car accident is a disaster beyond losing a mother. Their father, King Alberto, cannot bear the idea of the princesses ever being in danger and decides his daughters must be kept safe at all costs. Those costs include their lessons, their possessions and, most importantly, their freedom. But the eldest, Princess Frida, will not bend to his will without a fight, and she still has one possession her father can't take: the power of her imagination. And so, with little but wits and ingenuity to rely on, Frida and her sisters begin their fight to be allowed to live.

©2018 Jessie Burton (P)2018 Audible, Ltd
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A charming winner

The Restless Girls is a re-write of the Brothers Grimm's folk tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, the favourite childhood fairy tale of Jessie Burton. I'm sure it's going to be a massive seller - available as a beautiful illustrated edition in a slip case as well as hardback and this audio version. I can see it as a stunning animated version too...

On the death of the mother the Queen, the 12 princess sisters are denied all their worthwhile hobbies from piano to science by the King their father who is determined to keep them confined close and safe. But the girls discover a whole new world of dancing animals in a land at the bottom of 100s of steps behind their mother's portrait, where they dance and dance and are happy each night. But they're found out because they wear out so many pairs of shoes, and the suspicious and controlling King offers his daughters in marriage to whoever can solve the mystery of the worn out shoes...

It's a strong feminist take on Grimm with a gloriously happy ending but doesn't hammer home its message. It's a delightful, subtle tale full of adventure and suspense to uplift children and grown-ups alike. The narration is just right

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Pure excellence!

What a fabulous story and exquisitely read by Thandie Newton. I can't wait to read it to my Grandaughter. Thank you!

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Utterly enchanting

A stunning, pitch-perfect performance of this wonderful modern fairy tale. I tend to want a longer book, but chose this based on reviews. Thandie Newton's performance is perfect-- nuanced, sophisticated, never overdone. A gem of a book.

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Fantastic

This is a fantastic story brilliantly for performed. My kids absolutely loved it as did I.

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