It’s all very organized and delineated, which made me smile. There were clever asides to several fairy tales, as well as the categorization of characters. The Tradition is a powerful thing, and if one doesn’t think about what one wishes, or even says, dire consequences abound. The best part of the book, I think, was working with Elena as she learned about the magic and how to manipulate the stories. And it’s the Godmother’s role to direct, push, pull, prod and help people into, along in, or out of these stories. See, in the 500 Kingdoms, there’s this thing called The Tradition: magic that is pushing, pulling, forcing people into tales. She is picked up as an Apprentice to the Fairy Godmother. Elena figures that she can’t do any worse in life, so tries to get hired out.Īnd that’s when her life gets interesting. She turns 21, and her stepmother and stepsisters decide that this part of the Kingdom isn’t doing them any favors (not to mention that their debts are mounting), so they take off and leave Elena the house. You know, the one where she sleeps by the fireplace, spending her days doing all sorts of grunge work for her stepmother and stepsisters? And then she gets to go to the ball and marry a prince? (Jan.)įorecast: Romantic fantasy has been one of the fastest-growing subgenres, and Luna will keep up the momentum with new novels by Catherine Asaro and Sarah Zettel in February and March, respectively.Elena was supposed to be stuck in a tale.

Lackey has created an intelligent, self-possessed heroine with whom many readers will identify. It's up to Elena, who has vowed to reform a wayward prince, to tease out the threads of a new Tradition.

The only problem is that fairy godmothers are not themselves allowed to fall in love.

Elena becomes Madame Bella's apprentice, doing her best, among other challenges, to ensure that evil does not subvert Tradition. To escape their clutches, Elena tries to get work as a maidservant, but her fairy godmother, Madame Bella, has other plans for her. Feisty 19-year-old Elena Klovis seems destined to be an Ella of the Cinders (Cinderella), at the mercy of her wicked stepmother and greedy stepsisters. But the Tradition also leads some in its thrall to pain, suffering and gruesome death. In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, the Tradition, that ineffable magic, holds the promise of happily-ever-after for all deserving young maidens and courteous princes charming. The prolific Lackey (the Valdemar series) draws on the darker, Brothers Grimm side of fairy lore for her enchanting tale, the first title under a new Harlequin imprint to spotlight romantic fantasy.

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey