The Reluctant Heiress

As is with all of Eva Ibbotson's books, this one is just as well written. The characters were well developed and engaging. If you like Ibbotson's books, you will like this one.

This was the first Eva Ibbotson book I read and it made me a fan for life. It's a completely captivating love story filled with colorful details about opera, art, and royalty. It's also VERY funny, and I found myself repeatedly laughing at the comic antics of the opera company. I was perplexed when I read the one negative review--if the buyer wanted a "realistic" story, why did she buy a book of romantic fantasy? Yes, the heroine Tessa is a very good girl indeed, but I didn't find her unbelievable because of that. Cinderella was a good girl too, but we cheered when she got her Prince Charming. Magic Flutes is a Cinderella story for grown ups, as sweet as a piece of cake and just as much fun to devour. (written by Sandra Kelley)

All right - Ibbotson's books are formulaic, but who cares? THE RELUCTANT HEIRESS is a delightful page turner that made me laugh out loud and not want to stop reading. Loved it.

In 1922, Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein may be an heiress, but she will not inherit much more than a rundown castle. Most aristocrats would be appalled, but Tessa is euphoric, because her financial state allows her to do what she wants. Thus she works for the Viennese opera company as a wardrobe mistress hiding her royal connection from her peers. First generation nouvelle riche English orphan millionaire Guy Farne comes to the opera house seeking a means to entertain his high society guests and his snobby fiancée. When he and Tessa meet they are attracted to one another and quickly fall in love. However, she is unsuited for him as he wants an aristocrat not a working girl as a wife. Meanwhile impoverished Prince Max loves Tessa and wants to marry her. Though a young teen historical romance, THE RELUCTANT HEIRESS provides much more. The underlying premise throughout the complex story line is how much WWI shook up the world order; similar in tone to the excellent PBS series The people's Century especially how The Great War reshaped the rest of the twentieth century. Readers will need a bit of time to fully understand how the prime four characters feel about the new world order because Eva Ibottson has cleverly left clues about what would have been expected of each if WWI had not occurred. This is a great young adult early 1920s tale at a time when the enthusiasm of a new hope for world peace was waning into a great depression. Harriet Klausner

I discovered Ibbotson two years ago when I read her latest book, A Song For Summer. Magic Flutes is not her best book, but it definitely holds it's own. She mixes great characters, settings and opera to create a story that can be read over and over. The heroine, an impoverished princess, is enchanting. But I think my favorite characters are the opera crew. Who can help but love Boris and his yogurt culture he named the Mother. Ibbotson's books are hard to find, but well worth the search.