Review: The Princess Swap - Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper)

Just when I thought I'd seen every creative way to retell a fairy tale, a new series called The Princess Swap series showed up at my library. At first glance, Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) by Kim Bussing appears to be a simple case of mistaken identity as two princesses wind up in the wrong story. However, it is actually much more than that. In fact, these two misplaced heroines wind up exactly where they need to be to learn important lessons and grow into the iconic princesses they were meant to be. The book ages down its protagonists to 12 to match its ideal reader's age and forgoes the romance from these classic stories in favor of more relevant themes including friendship, forgiveness, and perseverance. It even has a touch of disability inclusion with Ella's glass leg.

One minute, Ella is at home, minding her own business, and the next, she finds herself in an unfamiliar land surrounded by strangers. She learns that she has magically replaced the daughter of the merchant who sold her father the glass leg she uses to walk. In gratitude for her mobility device, she accompanies the merchant to the castle of a fearsome beast to help find his missing daughter. Meanwhile, Belle is recruited as a new servant for a cruel woman and her two daughters to replace the stepdaughter who went missing. To ensure that she will not stray from her tasks, Saffira gives Belle an obedience bracelet, placing her under the curse from Ella Enchanted. Her only hope to get out of it is a kiss from a prince. Fortunately, she already has one in mind.

Although the rules about the world's magic system are not explained as well as they could be, this book does a phenomenal job of creating a believable and enchanting fairy tale world. Magic is commonplace and abundant here, so no one questions it when they pop into another kingdom on a whim or get stuck with unusual curses like being turned into a beast. The descriptions of the surrounding environment paint a lovely picture of a whimsical world that would be a dream to live in even while having to deal with the occasional curse. Even Ella's disability is a more fantastical depiction than real-life deformities and promotes inclusion among its audience. The author is clearly a huge fan of fairy tales because she uses names of famous fairy tale authors throughout the story. Belle's last name, Villeneuve, refers to the original author of "Beauty and the Beast," and certain landmarks are named after other fairy tale icons like Grimm and Perrault.

My favorite thing about this book is how everything comes together in the end. The surprising connection between Ella and the beast reveals a lesson that she would not have been able to learn without experiencing the swap. Meanwhile, Belle, who thinks she has everything under control, is taught an important lesson about trusting others. Aging down the characters makes them more relatable to younger readers than in the original fairy tales. I also like that the author organically weaves new backstories for these characters instead of trying to force them into a world that makes no sense with the events of their lives like in The School for Good and Evil. It was a fresh and original story with just enough familiarity for a comfortable read.

Cinderella and the Beast is a delightfully imaginative retelling that breathes new life into two beloved fairy tales. By swapping Cinderella and Belle into each other's stories, Kim Bussing crafts a fresh, engaging narrative that explores themes of friendship, forgiveness, and perseverance. With its richly detailed world-building, positive disability representation, and satisfying plot twists, this book is a must-read for middle-grade fans of fairy tales and adventure. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Princess Swap series to see how Bussing continues to reimagine and reinterpret these timeless stories.