The early 21st century is a time of unprecedented opportunity for those coming of age. It is a time when many young adults set out to achieve their dreams, be it starting their own business, starting a political movement, or propelling themselves to superstardom. Angelle's dream is to become Cultural Royalty of Pacificland, thus achieving what her mother couldn't. Her vision is based on freedom, dreams, love and fairness for all. However, she soon finds that whilst change appears to be in the air, the resistance is often even greater. And when the forces against change mobilise, those wanting a slice of success often bow to their agenda, while those fighting for change simply give up. With her own dreams on the line, will Angelle stay true to her values? And if she does, will it be enough to make a positive difference? Life isn't meant to be easy, but are there rewards for the brave at the end?

BACKGROUND: The Princess's Spirit is an eternal ideal, based on values of optimism, bravery, vision, love and compassion. In different eras it manifests in different contexts. The first decade of the 21st century (2000-2009), often called the noughties, was both a time of hope and despair, for different reasons. It was a time when technology began to enable new ways of communication, with profound impact on culture and politics. In this way, it was a time of unprecedented opportunity. It was also a time when brave new ideas, like marriage equality for same-sex couples (which is explored in this book), began to be seriously considered. But this and other movements would face great difficulties before their eventual successes. Set against this context are many lives who fought for a better world, including the author herself. Whilst this is a fictional work, it has captured the spirit of the times as the author experienced it, and many of the little stories contained within were inspired partially by real life events experienced by the author and her friends.