*EDIT: After thinking about this book for days after I finished it, I've come to the realization that I absolutely loved it. This story is sticking to me like honey. I think the reason I didn't like it as much before was because of the slow pace and the personality of the princess. However, in retrospect, both of those things are what makes this story realistic. 
 Say for instance, that a sheltered, timid girl who had grown up without a backbone had been able to stand up to her usurper and her traitorous entourage in the forest? And won against them? Or if the princess had just stormed into the castle, got an audience with the king, and demanded her crown back, and it was magically handed over? Or if it only took a week for the problem to resolve? Or if the princess had no fear at all towards those who had attempted to kill her (numerous times)? I would have scorned this story as unrealistic with bad writing. 
 Shannon has beautiful writing. I love her style. She created a very realistic individual in the princess. I have the fault of not liking books at first if I cannot identify with the main character. Just because a main character is different from myself however, does not make for a poor book! And would I have done any differently than Anni? (Sorry if I spelled her name wrong, I listened to this book on audio.) No! I would have run for my life and hidden if a large, scary man in love with my enemy was running after me, knife in his hands and murder written on his heart. I would have kept a low profile. I would have been just as terrified as Anni is of running into anyone from Kildenri. I think she reacted realistically. In all of the books I've read, it's sometimes easy to forget that I am not Alanna, a sword wielding, stubborn heroine. I'm a normal girl, and so is Anni! 
 I definitely find myself wishing to read the sequels now. I just can't help wanting to know... what happens in Bayern? Does Anni help turn things around? What happens to the characters? I truly want to know! 
 I'm glad I gave this book some more thought (it actually wasn't a decision, I wouldn't be able to get the story off my mind if I tried) because I feel like my knee-jerk initial review was an injustice to this novel. 
 Original Review: 
 3.5 stars... Shannon Hale is one of my favorite writers, and this was a wonderful book. I enjoyed listening at the end of the audiobook to Shannon explaining how she came up with the idea for this book. The main character was loveable and I rooted for her the whole time. The only problem was that the pace was way too slow. I felt myself nearly crying in exasperation waiting for the resolution of the story. I probably won't listen to this one again, but since I love all of her other books that I've read I look forward with anticipation to the rest of her books.