Fourteen-year-old Miri lives on a mountain where her ancestors have quarried stone and lived in poverty for generations. Then just before winter's first snowfall, a delegation from the lowlands arrive with exciting news. The king's priests have divined that her small village is the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince will come himself and chose his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, where every girl of age will be sent to learn the skills of a princess. But there is no way Miri can prepare herself for what lies in store.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. From the title I thought it would be something much more regency/romance, something much more familiar in the genre of girls training and hoping to be princesses. Instead this was a rougher world and much more interesting. At first I didn't like that Miri was only 14 because it makes the character harder to relate to. But then it was such a perfect choice to watch Miri grow up through the story and her innocence was an important part of the plot. I liked that there was nothing cliche about the story - not the villagers and not the academy. They were all unique and interesting and really good.
