The Sleep of Stone, by Louise Cooper

(pb; 1991)

From the back cover:

"Ghysla was one of the Old Folks -- shapeshifters and wielders of magic -- the last of her kind. She lived in the forest far from the dangers of humankind, content with her solitary existence, until she glimpsed Prince Anyr. Anyr's bravery and kindness touched her heart, and she vowed to win her love. But Ghysla dared not reveal her true form to Anyr for fear of frightening him, so she visited her beloved in the forms of the wild and beautiful creatures of the wood. Anyr was enchanted, and as Ghysla accompanied her Prince through field and forest, she became convinced that he returned her love though she had never revealed her true nature to him.

"When Sivorne, Anyr's betrothed, arrived for their wedding day, Ghysla was filled with despair. In desperation, she cast the ancient spell known as the sleep of stone over Sivorne, determined to assume Sivorne's likeness and take her place at the altar. But what would she do when Anyr, who loved Sivorne deeply, found out that he hadn't married the woman he'd waited a lifetime for? Indeed, that he had not married a human woman at all?"

Review:

Predictable, YA-in-spirit-and-tone fairy tale. Cooper's writing is solid, but the storyline is by-the-numbers; decent read for a tween reader, otherwise this is a so-so offering from the writer who created the excellent eight-book Indigo series.