Scan barcode
heididt19's review against another edition
4.0
The Fairy Godmother is a book about Elena Klovis. The "Tradition", a magical force that wants to fit people with the right circumstances into a fairy tale category, has decided Elena will be the Cinderella of the kingdom. Indeed she lives a similar life until she is eighteen. At that time a fairy godmother named Bella, comes and teaches Elena about the tradition. While the tradition had tried to categorize everything, sometimes it just didn't work. With the Prince of her kingdom being a child, she started training as the Godmother's apprentice instead. She learns to work with the household elves, how to use her magic, and how to help questers. Soon she takes over for Bella and immediatly starts helping a group of princes on a quest. Their job is to rescue a princess locked in her tower. Elena diguises herself as an old woman and tests them. The first, Eldest, prince arrives and fails, but she lets him pass knowing he will fail her other tests. The next prince comes and is extremely rude, even charging his horse at the old lady Elena has disguised herself as. She turns him into a donkey when she loses her temper, but recovers in time to let the youngest and kindest son pass. She takes the prince turned donkey home to teach him a lesson. For a time, she forces him to work as a donkey, hoping he will learn kindness and compassion. Eventually Elena turns him back into a human and they fall in love. They help the prince's youngest brother, who had gotten past the trials and developed his kingdom, to save his kingdom from an invading band of ogres.
I think this was an okay book, but the introduction could have been shorter. I think girls would like this tale more than boys, because it is mostly a romance and a life lesson teacher. I did not like that it was long but had a pretty short story idea.
I think this was an okay book, but the introduction could have been shorter. I think girls would like this tale more than boys, because it is mostly a romance and a life lesson teacher. I did not like that it was long but had a pretty short story idea.
stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
I have heard of Mercedes Lackey, of course—what fantasy reader hasn’t?—but, until this book, had not read anything by her. I picked up THE FAIRY GODMOTHER on a whim in the bookstore, when I was still on a post-Crown Duel high and desiring a similarly pleasurable fantasy read. THE FAIRY GODMOTHER definitely fulfilled that desire of mine. It’s a wonderfully unique concept, crafted by the hands of a master.
The most amazing part about this book is the thoroughness with which Mercedes Lackey explores an original fantasy concept. There are some pretty standard tropes in fairy tales: long-suffering good girl gets the prince, magic helps the overlooked but goodhearted and deserving third son, and so on. Lackey takes those common expectations and transforms it into the Tradition, a powerful and often dangerously insistent magical force that tries to carry out its tropes without any regard to people’s different wishes, and that must be appeased through subtle manipulations. It’s enchantingly clever, a new take on the fractured fairy tale, and would give someone like me oodles of delight as we consider how Lackey lays out the plot and rules in this world.
The characters, in contrast, do not shine as strongly. Elena is a fine, strong female protagonist, but she doesn’t particularly stand out beyond being a typical fine, strong female protagonist. The main plot here is the magical one, and so the romantic subplot is exactly that—a subplot, feeling a little forced and out of place at times.
Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed THE FAIRY GODMOTHER on account of its wonderfully executed original concept. Upon finishing this book, I eagerly went out and found the other books in this series, and will look forward to delving into them when I get the chance!
The most amazing part about this book is the thoroughness with which Mercedes Lackey explores an original fantasy concept. There are some pretty standard tropes in fairy tales: long-suffering good girl gets the prince, magic helps the overlooked but goodhearted and deserving third son, and so on. Lackey takes those common expectations and transforms it into the Tradition, a powerful and often dangerously insistent magical force that tries to carry out its tropes without any regard to people’s different wishes, and that must be appeased through subtle manipulations. It’s enchantingly clever, a new take on the fractured fairy tale, and would give someone like me oodles of delight as we consider how Lackey lays out the plot and rules in this world.
The characters, in contrast, do not shine as strongly. Elena is a fine, strong female protagonist, but she doesn’t particularly stand out beyond being a typical fine, strong female protagonist. The main plot here is the magical one, and so the romantic subplot is exactly that—a subplot, feeling a little forced and out of place at times.
Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed THE FAIRY GODMOTHER on account of its wonderfully executed original concept. Upon finishing this book, I eagerly went out and found the other books in this series, and will look forward to delving into them when I get the chance!
raspberrykisses's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
inkfire's review against another edition
4.0
This is, in short, a guilty pleasure book. I know Lackey can write intricate, enthralling tales. This one is good in worldbuilding, but the characters are predictable as a consequence of the fairy tale frame, and there is little or no actual conflict.
The main character is sometimes in suspense or in doubt, but there is never a situation where I felt she might actually fail. Doubts are overcome with a minimum of fuss and obstacles are eliminated within a chapter at most.
All in all, it's a mature fantasy for the distracted reader who wants pleasant daydreams and a light, uncomplicated plot.
The main character is sometimes in suspense or in doubt, but there is never a situation where I felt she might actually fail. Doubts are overcome with a minimum of fuss and obstacles are eliminated within a chapter at most.
All in all, it's a mature fantasy for the distracted reader who wants pleasant daydreams and a light, uncomplicated plot.
alexa_not_a_robot's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
kivt's review against another edition
2.0
i remember liking this when i first read it. i couldn’t have been out of college yet. apparently i was an idiot. the gender politics are incredibly bad, and inverting gender politics is kind of “the point” of the book. it’s also repetitive and sloppy.
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Elena Klovis is badly mistreated by her stepmother. She is forced to clean the house, cook the food, and dress her stepmother and her two stepsisters, while she herself dresses in rags and goes hungry. Sound familiar? That's because Elena is supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella. But her "Prince Charming" is completely wrong for her. So magic just keeps building and building around her. Finally, Elena's Fairy Godmother steps in with a most unusual offer. Elena's life is changed in a way that she could never have foretold. But will there eventually be a happily-ever-after for her?
I loved the whole concept of this story. I love fairy tales and I love to see twists on fairy tales. This one was a lot of fun and it really wasn't very predictable. It was a fun, light read, and I would recommend it to other fans of fairy tales.
Two things though: First, I was sort of thinking that my little cousin, a fan of all things princess and fairy, might enjoy having this book read aloud to her. Then I got to the sex scenes. There were probably only two, and they were pretty lightweight, but they were still there, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of the little princess in your life. Second, I've read several of Mercedes Lackey's books, and I would love to be her copyeditor. She absolutely kills me. She generally tells interesting, original stories, but the copyeditor whose red ink swirls through my veins cringes through her books. I would disable her italics key right off the bat. I don't mind the convention she uses of having a character's thoughts in italics. That actually makes things a little clearer. But I'm glancing through the book right now and it's almost impossible to find a page where italics aren't used for emphasis numerous times. How irritating! Typos abounded and I would swear that this sentence made an appearance, although, of course, I can't find it now: "Her heart was literally in her throat." Really? Literally? There are so many ways to make fun of that sentence that I don't know where to start. Did it use grappling hooks to climb up there? Don't bite down! How do you talk around that?
Enough of that. Overall, it's a fun, funny, sweet, original story.
I loved the whole concept of this story. I love fairy tales and I love to see twists on fairy tales. This one was a lot of fun and it really wasn't very predictable. It was a fun, light read, and I would recommend it to other fans of fairy tales.
Two things though: First, I was sort of thinking that my little cousin, a fan of all things princess and fairy, might enjoy having this book read aloud to her. Then I got to the sex scenes. There were probably only two, and they were pretty lightweight, but they were still there, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of the little princess in your life. Second, I've read several of Mercedes Lackey's books, and I would love to be her copyeditor. She absolutely kills me. She generally tells interesting, original stories, but the copyeditor whose red ink swirls through my veins cringes through her books. I would disable her italics key right off the bat. I don't mind the convention she uses of having a character's thoughts in italics. That actually makes things a little clearer. But I'm glancing through the book right now and it's almost impossible to find a page where italics aren't used for emphasis numerous times. How irritating! Typos abounded and I would swear that this sentence made an appearance, although, of course, I can't find it now: "Her heart was literally in her throat." Really? Literally? There are so many ways to make fun of that sentence that I don't know where to start. Did it use grappling hooks to climb up there? Don't bite down! How do you talk around that?
Enough of that. Overall, it's a fun, funny, sweet, original story.
flerpi's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
This book felt like it should be the first in a series because it was both too long and too short. It was too long because it spent a lot of time introducing and building the main character, her world, and its mechanics. It was too short because when you finally get to the big action, it was brief and unsatisfying compared to the rest of the novel. I would have rated this book higher if the pacing had been better.
The book had romance, but given that it's a story about fairy godmothers and set around fairy tales, that was expected. There was an attempt at sexy time which I could've done without though, and wish its pages had been given to the action sequence at the end.
The author loves and abuses commas. I might have gotten used to it as I read on, but it seemed especially bad at the start of the book.
I must say that despite those complaints, the book was enjoyable. It was a light, quick, entertaining read. It had a lot of world-building/set-up, but I like that in the right circumstances. I like that the story was about the fairy godmother too; you don't often see stories from their perspective.
This book felt like it should be the first in a series because it was both too long and too short. It was too long because it spent a lot of time introducing and building the main character, her world, and its mechanics. It was too short because when you finally get to the big action, it was brief and unsatisfying compared to the rest of the novel. I would have rated this book higher if the pacing had been better.
The book had romance, but given that it's a story about fairy godmothers and set around fairy tales, that was expected. There was an attempt at sexy time which I could've done without though, and wish its pages had been given to the action sequence at the end.
The author loves and abuses commas. I might have gotten used to it as I read on, but it seemed especially bad at the start of the book.
I must say that despite those complaints, the book was enjoyable. It was a light, quick, entertaining read. It had a lot of world-building/set-up, but I like that in the right circumstances. I like that the story was about the fairy godmother too; you don't often see stories from their perspective.
dramagrl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5