Tale of the Vanished Princess

Audiobook Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers’ Favorite (4 Stars)

A thrilling adventure wrought with passion and determination takes place in Tale of the Vanished Princess by Timothy Swiss. Zake, the eldest son of Sir Marticus, sets off in search of his betrothed Princess Alania along with his brothers. However, many challenges await them. The pair had been torn apart when Alania was kidnapped and both were misled about the fate of their betrothed. With each believing the other to be dead, they find themselves on new paths. When the two are finally reunited, neither is the same as they were before. Can they overcome the hardships and challenges in Subterrania or will evil prevail?

Tale of the Vanished Princess by Timothy Swiss is a wonderful sequel and holds up well after the first book. Focusing on the remaining children of Sir Marticus, particularly Zake, we are taken on an adventure into Subterrania. The scenes described by Swiss are as vivid as ever and the lore within this world is extensive. I thoroughly enjoyed the expansion of the world Swiss has created as well as the accompanying characters. I particularly loved the change within Princess Alania; you see so much growth in her character with each hardship she faces. Swiss has the uncanny ability to portray his characters in such a relatable way even though the story is set in a different era. The struggles they face and the emotions they feel are so clearly conveyed and allow you as the reader to become immersed in the story. This book is definitely worth reading and I highly recommend it.

End of review by Miche Arendse

Tale of the Vanished Princess is the second novel in the Princess Tales Trilogy, following Princess Vayle and preceding Plea to the Warrior Princess. Zake, the firstborn son of Sir Marticus, pursues his kidnapped bride into the mysterious realm of Subterrania. They meet years later, after Zake is captured by evil warriors from the Vandolian Empire. But the woman Zake encounters within the subterranean world is much changed from the humble girl he knew upon the earth’s surface.

The exiled princess of Shareen lives a covert life, teaching school in a quaint village. She is grieved to learn that the man she hoped to marry was killed. But then her fiancé returns alive and well, and plans are carefully arranged for a clandestine and secret wedding. The day of the wedding, however, sets the stage for an unforeseen abduction. What happens thereafter yields a breathtaking epic.

The audiobook was produced by an experienced narrator who uses her podcasting and technical experience to bring literary manuscripts to life with warm and easy to understand verbalization.