The Wolf Princess

On a school trip to Russia, orphan Sophie is stranded at a decaying palace, where Princess Volkonskaya enlists her help searching for family diamonds. Sophie's past holds the key, though the glamorous princess may not be all she appears. Some readers may anticipate the twist, but a well-integrated folk legend and a deep love for Russian culture give this mystery appeal. Glos.

What begins as a school story about three friends quickly morphs into a fairy-tale-like adventure, with traditional themes including treasure, long-lost family members, loyal servants, royalty, and wolves. The secluded surroundings also add to the sense of fantasy. The drastic change in setting—from a realistic depiction of a British boarding school to a dilapidated castle in the Russian wilderness—combined with an escalating mystery causes the narrative to move quickly. Sophie’s shadowy past and her ambiguous ties to Russia are intriguing and will make readers want to know more. Cathryn Constables’s writing is filled with rich, evocative descriptions: “They stood in an atrium flanked by tall gilt mirrors . . . . Candles, almost burned down to the wicks, flickered from drunkenly arranged sconces on the walls. A grand staircase twisted up and up, into the shadows, winding around a chandelier as large as a boat.” Sophie and her best friends, who are also her roommates, have believable relationships. They’re supportive of one another and joke around, but their very different personalities also cause some jealousy and spats. Anna Feodorovna, who hosts the girls at her palace, is a classic villain: she is beautiful and charming, but also determined and deadly.