Rufina and the Lion

"Restless Girls" (روفينا والأسد) by Jessie Burton is a dazzling, empowering modern retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Set in the kingdom of Utrecht, Princess Frida and her eleven sisters grow up loved and free under their wild, adventurous mother. However, when tragedy strikes and the Queen dies, their father, King Alberto, is consumed by grief and paranoia. Determined to keep his daughters safe, he locks them away in the castle, stripping them of their books, freedom, and future. Refusing to let their spirits be broken, Frida and her sisters discover a secret passage behind their bedroom wall that leads to a magical, radiant realm where they can run, dance, and dream. Burton crafts an inspiring, gorgeously illustrated story celebrating sisterhood, intellect, courage, and the unbreakable human desire for liberty.

Because it transforms a traditional fairy tale into a powerful, feminist story about sisterhood, resilience, and taking control of one's own narrative.

For fans of fairy-tale retellings, young adult fiction lovers, and readers seeking empowering narratives centered on strong female leads and sisterhood.