How to Read the Princess Power Series
If you are looking to dive into the magical adventures of the Princess Power series, the best way to read the books is by their chronological narrative order. Because the books follow a continuous character arc where the main characters meet, form a team, and go on progressive journeys, reading them in sequence ensures you won't miss any character development or callbacks to previous adventures.
While most readers will want to follow the publication order, there is a common cataloging discrepancy in online databases regarding the first two books. We recommend starting with The Perfectly Proper Prince, which introduces the princess team, before moving on to the rest of the series.
Princess Power Books in Recommended Reading Order
Here is the complete list of Princess Power books by Suzanne Williams in the recommended reading and narrative order:
- The Perfectly Proper Prince (2006) – The series kicks off here. Princess Lysandra is bored with traditional palace life and decides to host a talent show. Through this event, she meets Fatima, Elena, and Tansy. Together, they embark on their first quest: helping a frog prince find true love with Lysandra’s sister, Gabriella.
- The Charmingly Clever Cousin (2006) – Fatima invites her three new friends to visit her sister and brother-in-law. The trip turns into a mystery when Ahmed vanishes and his father falls ill, forcing the princesses to use their quick thinking to save the day in an Arabian-inspired setting.
- The Awfully Angry Ogre (2007) – Princess Tansy discovers that a local ogre is being blamed for everything that goes wrong in the kingdom, but anyone who confronts him is turned to stone. When her brothers rashly set off to fight him, the princesses must intervene to save them.
- The Mysterious, Mournful Maiden (2007) – Princess Elena finds a beautiful comb on the beach that softens her frizzy hair, but she begins having vivid dreams of a green-haired maiden crying for its return. The girls set off on a rescue mission to find the maiden before time runs out.
- The Stubbornly Secretive Servant (2007) – The group visits Lysandra's sister Gabriella and her husband Jerome, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Prince Jonathon. When the prince goes missing, they start a search party, but his stubborn servant, Thomas, refuses to reveal helpful information.
- The Gigantic, Genuine Genie (2007) – In the final book, Princess Fatima buys a bottle at a bazaar that is supposed to contain a real genie. The genie, Jasper, turns out to be powerless and the size of a caterpillar. The princesses must help him regain his magic and size while learning self-reliance.
Understanding the Database Order Discrepancies
When searching for the books online or in library catalogs, you may notice that some platforms list The Charmingly Clever Cousin as Book 1 and The Perfectly Proper Prince as Book 2. However, based on the narrative flow and the author's official site, The Perfectly Proper Prince is the true starting point. In that book, the princesses meet for the first time and establish their alliance. Reading The Charmingly Clever Cousin first would mean starting after they are already established friends, spoiling the fun of their initial meeting.
Who are the Princesses of Princess Power?
The series stands out for celebrating four distinct, non-traditional royal heroines who prioritize teamwork and intelligence over standard fairy-tale tropes:
- Princess Lysandra: The initiator of the group, who prefers active adventures over sewing and royal etiquette.
- Princess Fatima: A princess from an Arabian-inspired setting who travels by flying a magic carpet.
- Princess Elena: A skilled healer who possesses a mystical healing lotion.
- Princess Tansy: A clever heroine who plays a mystical flute capable of revealing people's thoughts.
Are There Spin-offs or Companion Series?
The Princess Power series is a self-contained six-book collection. Unlike many of Suzanne Williams' later projects, it does not have direct spin-offs or sequels. However, fans of her writing style and empowering fairy-tale/mythology twists will find similar themes in her other highly popular collaborative works, such as the Goddess Girls, Grimmtastic Girls, and Little Goddess Girls series, which she co-authored with Joan Holub.