The third and final look at retold fairy tales again turns its attention to geese, with Goose Girl. In this particular version, Anidori-Kiladra, Crown Princess of the small kingdom of Kildenree, is born with a peculiar, magical gift, to understand the language of birds. Encouraged by her aunt, but discouraged by her mother, Ani is forced to keep her gift a secret from almost everyone as she grows up, so she won’t be thought a witch. She must, insists her mother, learn to be a princess and a ruler. However, when Ani learns that she’s being groomed to marry the prince of the much larger kingdom of Bayern, that she’s just a pawn in her mother’s hands, her world is changed forever. For her faithful servant Selia has designs on the Princess’ life, and very identity, and during the long months of the journey to Bayern, Selia and her conspirators have time to attempt to kill and replace Ani once and for all.

But Ani is a survivor, and ultimately, she ends up as a goose girl, tending the animals in the capital city of Bayern. Can she hide her true identity, escape the men seeking her death, convince the King and his son of the true story, and stop the war that could destroy Kildenree? Time will tell. This story has all the familiar elements of the fairy tale it expands on: a princess replaced by a servant, a faithful horse named Falada, magic, betrayal, and the question of loyalty versus identity. Faithful to the source material, it’s actually more logical, more intriguing, and more exciting than the original tale, a worthy updating that I found hard to put down. Ani is cast in the welcome mold of “spunky princess”, the sort who endures great trial and earns her noble station through action, words, and faith, a good role model by almost any standard.