15 Books Featuring a Princess in Disguise

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson

When Evangeline, cousin and ward of Richard II, is betrothed to a man twice her age, she flees the castle and disguises herself as a servant.  To protect her identity further, she pretends to be mute.  But then she falls in love.  Can she find a way to make anyone trust her again after all her lies?

The Imposter Queen by Sarah Fine

Sixteen-year-old Elli was raised to be heir to the queen who wields magic to protect the kingdom.  But then the queen dies and Elli receives no magic.  Now on the run, Elli has to decide where her true loyalties lie.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Princess Anidori-Kiladra of Kildenree had every reason to expect she would one day rule as queen of her country. Instead, her mother offers her as a bride to the prince of Bayern.  During the trip to Bayern, however, half of Ani’s guards rebel, setting up her maid Selia as princess of Kildenree. Ani flees for her life, ultimately finding work as a goose girl for the palace of her betrothed. To unmask Selia and claim her rightful identity, however, Ani will have to learn to trust her co-workers, as well as her own abilities.

The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Princess Magnolia’s kingdom contains an entrance to Monster Land, but that’s nothing she can’t handle as the secret superhero the Princess in Black. When Duchess Wigtower comes to call and the monster alarm goes off, however, Magnolia has a dilemma. Can she transform into the Princess in Black, defeat the monster, and return for the last of the scones all before the nosy duchess discovers her secret?

The Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell

Thirteen-year-old Princess Matilda is not beloved by her people.  Her deformity makes them curse her and then, even worse, her lands are stolen by a usurper.  Soon Tilda is on the run with a couple of dragon slayers.  And she finds hidden depths she did not know she had.

The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye

Princess Amy was gifted with Ordinariness at birth.  Still, her parents plan to marry her off, so she runs away and gets a job as a kitchen maid at another palace.  There she unexpectedly meets a prince who might just find her not so ordinary after all.

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Ten years ago, Wilhemina Korte, princess of Aecor, watched her parents die at the hands of the Indigo Kingdom.  She and the other noble children were taken to the capital of their conquerors.  But they escaped and now they live as spies, determined to do whatever it takes to return home.  Even if they do, however, the wraith, a toxic mist born of magic, is slowly wiping entire lands off the map.  Wil wants to become queen.  But can she protect her people from the Indigo Kingdom and the wraith?

The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal

Upon the birth of the new princess, the Oracle prophesied that the girl might die before her sixteenth birthday. To prevent that fate, her parents smuggled the child out of the palace and replaced her with another. Sinda never knew that she was not really the heir to the throne until the day when the danger of the prophecy’s fulfillment passed—and she was thrown out of court. When danger threatens the kingdom, however, Sinda may prove that she is still a force to be reckoned with.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

On the morning of her wedding, Princess Lia runs away and hides.  But two men are on her trail.  One is the man she was meant to marry.  Another means to kill her.

Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

Enraged that his daughter Imogene has married without his consent, the king sends her husband into exile.  Meanwhile, a wicked man convinces Imogene’s husband that the princess has been unfaithful and must be killed.  Now on the run disguised as a page, Imogene has a chance to save her kingdom from war–but she might lose her husband in the process.

Pericles by William Shakespeare

Left in the care of a foster family, Marina, daughter to Pericles, Prince of Tyre, is sold off to work in a brothel.  But her virtue protects her–and ends up converting many of the clients!  The brothel owners are none too happy, but Marina continues to have good fortune–and even a chance at finding her family again.

The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare

King Leontes believes his faithful wife Hermione has cheated on him.  As punishment, he puts his wife on trial and banishes their newborn daughter to be eaten by wild beasts.  But sixteen years later, a miracle might just give Leontes a second chance.

The Spy Princess by Sherwood Smith

When the Lady Lilah sneaks out from behind her family’s walls, she is surprised to find the common people unhappy–and planning a revolution!  She wants to help, but what can she do?  She’s just a kid!

Midnight Pearl by Debbie Viguié

In this retelling of “The Little Mermaid,” a baby girl washes ashore and is raised by a fisherman and his wife.  Seventeen years later, she believes she is falling in love with Prince James.  But then a long-lost secret rises to tear them apart.

The Diamond Secret by Suzanne Weyn

Suzanne Weyn puts a spin on the fairy tale retelling by choosing to retell the story of the lost duchess Anastasia.  This book is reminiscent of the animated film so may not strike readers as original, but may appeal to them with nostalgia.