The Sleeping Beauty (novel)
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 First edition | |
| Author | Mercedes Lackey |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | LUNA Books (Harlequin Enterprises) |
Publication date | 2010 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Snow Queen |
| Followed by | Beauty and the Werewolf |
The Sleeping Beauty is a novel by Mercedes Lackey, published in 2010 as the fifth book of the Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series. As in the previous book, The Snow Queen, characters from earlier books are either mentioned or appear as secondary characters
The Sleeping Beauty was written by Mercedes Lackey as the fifth installment in her Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series.[1][2]
Plot summary
Lily is the godmother to the Kingdom of Eltaria, which is quite wealthy due to its vast number of mines. After its queen dies, Lily takes on the appearance of an evil sorceress, with the name "Sable", and marries its king in name only, so that he won't be trapped into marrying a real evil sorceress and Princess Rosamund won't have a wicked stepmother. However, this doesn't stop the Tradition from focusing on Eltaria, particularly on Rosa, who ends up with two Traditional paths tangled up and directed at her: the Beauty Asleep and Snowskin. While her outer appearance is that of a Sleeping Beauty, Rosa ends up following the story of Snow White. Prince Siegfried of Drachenthal and Leopold of Falkenreid get into a fight over who will kiss Rosa awake. Rosa recovers from her ordeal before either one wins and begins training as a Godmother.
King Thurmand dies, leaving "Queen Sable" as Regent until Rosa turns twenty-one. This means that their enemies will descend on Eltaria, intent on taking over, unless measures can be taken to prevent it. Godmother Lily comes up with a plan for one hundred princes to come and take part in trials to see which one of them will win the hand of the princess. Siegfried and Leopold decide to stay and take part in the trials, and they strike a bargain to help each other through the trials until the last task. Another prince named Desmond enters the trials and catches Rosa's attention for a short while.
The first trial consists of a race on horseback, in full armor, with a break in the middle to herd three sheep into a pen and line up a dozen eggs without breaking them. The second test involves getting rid of a cursed item. The third trial involves the remaining princes answering a series of riddles. Other trials, perhaps dozens, are mentioned by type, but not detailed. By the time of the last trial, Rosa and Siegfried have fallen in love. The final trial is announced, in which the remaining ten princes have to come up with a way to protect Eltaria for the present and future, and marriage is not a solution. The prince with the best answer will be declared the winner and receive Rosa's hand in marriage.
The Huntsman and Desmond kidnap Rosa, invoking the Sleeping Beauty Tradition by locking her in a tower with thorns surrounding it. After a fight, Desmond is killed and Rosa is rescued. Siegfried wins her hand in marriage by proposing they have good dragons guard the borders. Queen Sable steps down and proclaims Rosa and Siegfried to be Queen and King of Eltaria.