An entertaining fairy tale story of a magical princess with a twist. In a world where royals and nobles are given magical gifts at birth, Jane’s were given to the family cat by mistake. Jane grows up having to hide her giftedness, preparing for a summer camp attended by the other royal and noble children on the continent. Can she successfully pass as gifted? Her time at camp will open Jane’s eyes and change the kingdom forever. I liked this entertaining twist on a classical fairy tale style opening, where three fairies appear to deliver gifts and bestow them on the wrong person, or in this case species. The introduction of the Royal Retreat creates a school / summer camp atmosphere for the different children to mix and creates an environment for peer conflict, new friendships and crushes to form. I also found it an interesting addition that the gifts bestowed could also be detrimental to the receiver, a unique twist on the perception you have at the outset that they create beautiful and perfect little nobles. The bond between Jane and Caterina is sweet, and any reader who loves cats will enjoy reading her perspective too. Like Mirabel in Encanto, this is a story that emphasises that it’s not a magical gift that makes you special and you can overcome obstacles without them. There are still mysteries to uncover and this is the start of an entertaining fairy tale series for readers who love strong princesses, and cats.
When fairies give Princess Jane’s magical birth gifts to the family cat by mistake, the royal family is horrified. Now Lady Caterina can sing a perfect middle C, and has read every book in the royal library, but Jane remains an ordinary little girl. There’s no turning back this magical mistake, and if news of the mix-up gets out, Jane and her family will lose their kingdom forever. Everyone in the palace works around the problem as Jane grows up — until trouble brews. Jane must go away to the Royal Retreat, a sleepaway camp for royal and noble kids, where no one can find out she is Giftless. Caterina secretly stows away to get inside camp, where feisty Jane and the practical cat must put aside their differences and learn to work together. As danger rises and secrets are revealed, Jane and Caterina tag team like never before to save the camp from ogres, fight the schemes of an enemy princess, and hold onto Jane’s kingdom. They are in for the fight of their young lives, as it finally comes down to whether Jane has the courage to step forward and tell the truth. Her answer will change the kingdom forever.
