Basic statistics: Historical fiction; completed; 34 chapters.

Are you sick, sick to death of the hot list in Historical Fiction today? The constant refrain of rebellious girls shrieking dissent against their arranged marriages, falling in love with the strange profusion of shirtless Highlanders and assassins that seem to populate the world?

The Flower Crown Princess, by Megan Petersdatter (accidental_roses), is like a breath of fresh air.

Set in a Dark Ages style world(she moved it from Fantasy to Historical after too many people asked where the magic was), Megan Petersdatter transports the reader effectively into the head of her young female protagonist, and the uncertainties and difficulties that surround her.

The plot, at first glance, seems fairly ordinary. A rebellion to overthrow the kingdom, and a princess caught in the thick of it all? Nothing special, right?

But we are instantly thrown into a world of dizzying intrigue like the real world itself: for every side is shown to have a reason and an argument, and it is not as simple as "this one is bad; that one, good". There is no easy choice of right and wrong in Megan's world. She portrays this marvelously with her first-person account, from Princess Nivh's point of view: her questions are ours, her dilemmas and decisions our own.

The subplot introduced, the betrothal, is a pretty piece of satire on the Historical Fiction clichés of today. While Nivh's intended appears far less than ideal, in growing to know him we find he is not all bad. Astonishing, that one or two flaws in a character does not make him a monster!

In her characters, Megan shines. Nivh, princess of Amrach, is the glaring opposite to all that the Historical/Fantasy community have overused: quiet, thoughtful, and docile, she strives to fulfill the expectations of two rival factions and her own conscience, while also endeavouring to protect those she loves.

Nivh's father, her brother, her brother's wife, her uncle, her betrothed -- and more... all these are three-dimensional, well-rounded characters, resting firmly in their own personalities. One feels as though he could easily meet them on the street.

As for world-building, yet again Megan does a fantastic job! Cultures, customs, dress, and all serve to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind, reinforced by the gorgeous header media(Thank you, Pinterest! :D).

The Flower Crown Princess is a thought-provoking and beautiful read. I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.