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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know the MC will grow but it’s taking sooooo long
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How to Summon a Fairy Godmother was a fantastic spin on a fairytale retelling. This book was both surprising and refreshing. My suggestion to anyone reading this book is to let go of any predictions or preconceived notions you have about what fairytale retellings do. I love Theo, she is exactly what you want with a morally gray character. This had an interesting found family-ish set up! I can’t wait to see what happens in the second book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
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
Sassy and charming, this books is a great pallet cleanser for those who love to read fantasy books. I enjoyed getting to know Theo in this twist on Cinderella. She and the other characters made me genuinely laugh out loud more times than I can count. Yes, I got funny looks from quite a few people!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.8/5 Rounded up
This was a fun Cinderella retelling. At first you don't know if to hate the main character or root for her. I guess that is the whole point, get the perspective of the awful stepsister, in this case Theodosia, and see how she gets to redeem herself. After being betrothed to an ancient duke she desperately seeks the help of a fairy godmother. In order to break the engagement she must complete three tasks for Cecily, the same fairy godmother that helped her stepsister Beatrice become princess. Together with Cecily's two familiars Kaz and Phineas she embarks in an adventure into the faerie realm. The story had humor, a bit of romance and some whimsy fantasy.
Theodosia is very self deprecating, since she's been told her whole life she was not pretty or not good enough and that in turn made her develop an ugly personality. But we come to realize that all comes from all the adults in her life failing her. And not just her, her sisters too. The story doesn't try to excuse the sisters or even the mother's behavior but show the results of a cycle of abuse. Her mother was truly awful though. I think Theodosia had a nice redeeming moment at the end, although the last task felt a bit rushed to me. It left a bit of an open ending so I am interested in reading the next book and see what happens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
This was a fun Cinderella retelling. At first you don't know if to hate the main character or root for her. I guess that is the whole point, get the perspective of the awful stepsister, in this case Theodosia, and see how she gets to redeem herself. After being betrothed to an ancient duke she desperately seeks the help of a fairy godmother. In order to break the engagement she must complete three tasks for Cecily, the same fairy godmother that helped her stepsister Beatrice become princess. Together with Cecily's two familiars Kaz and Phineas she embarks in an adventure into the faerie realm. The story had humor, a bit of romance and some whimsy fantasy.
Theodosia is very self deprecating, since she's been told her whole life she was not pretty or not good enough and that in turn made her develop an ugly personality. But we come to realize that all comes from all the adults in her life failing her. And not just her, her sisters too. The story doesn't try to excuse the sisters or even the mother's behavior but show the results of a cycle of abuse. Her mother was truly awful though. I think Theodosia had a nice redeeming moment at the end, although the last task felt a bit rushed to me. It left a bit of an open ending so I am interested in reading the next book and see what happens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Today I find myself walking around in a tired stupor because I just had to finish this. As a teacher and parent, my sleep is extremely precious, so it is the sign of an excellent book if it makes me sacrifice sleep.
This story is sort of a Cinderella retelling, but it is from the perspective of one of the stepsisters, and focuses on what happens after the ball and Cinderella’s happy ever after. I loved the characters in this, especially the protagonist, Theo. She wasn’t close to perfect, but she was incredibly complex character. For a fun, lighthearted story, the author was able to tackle some really difficult issues in a way that felt appropriate and natural.
The fairy godmother is feisty and just fabulous. Not at all what comes to mind when I think of a fairy godmother. There was a dash of romance, that added to the book without detracting from the story. I am incredibly excited for the next book in the series and recommend this to anyone.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.
This story is sort of a Cinderella retelling, but it is from the perspective of one of the stepsisters, and focuses on what happens after the ball and Cinderella’s happy ever after. I loved the characters in this, especially the protagonist, Theo. She wasn’t close to perfect, but she was incredibly complex character. For a fun, lighthearted story, the author was able to tackle some really difficult issues in a way that felt appropriate and natural.
The fairy godmother is feisty and just fabulous. Not at all what comes to mind when I think of a fairy godmother. There was a dash of romance, that added to the book without detracting from the story. I am incredibly excited for the next book in the series and recommend this to anyone.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.
Thank you Orbit Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Fairytale retellings are some of my favorite stories to read, so any opportunity to get my hands on one I will take!
I love when an author can make me have a strong feeling other than indifference to a character that was otherwise classified as a "necessary supporting character". Either to love them or hate them and Laura Mayo did just that!
The beginning of the book was a little weak for me. It was essentially a quick crash course on the end of Cinderella and I felt so much more could have been done given how the author unfolded everything perfectly after. But once the fairy godmother showed up it was like a whole new story!
The characters were interesting, the places were exactly what you'd imagine in a land of magical creatures and it kept me not wanting to put the book down.
Who knew there would be a twist!? I didn't expect any twist at all let alone several! I thought it would be a fun straight forward story, but boy was I wrong and wasn't mad about it!
Most of the time I won't buy a book after reading it as an ARC unless it's a 5 star for me but this one will be an exception and I hope they give us a STUNNING sprayed edges edition! I hope I get the chance to read the ARC of the next book in the series because I already can't wait to see what's going to happen next!
Fairytale retellings are some of my favorite stories to read, so any opportunity to get my hands on one I will take!
I love when an author can make me have a strong feeling other than indifference to a character that was otherwise classified as a "necessary supporting character". Either to love them or hate them and Laura Mayo did just that!
The beginning of the book was a little weak for me. It was essentially a quick crash course on the end of Cinderella and I felt so much more could have been done given how the author unfolded everything perfectly after. But once the fairy godmother showed up it was like a whole new story!
The characters were interesting, the places were exactly what you'd imagine in a land of magical creatures and it kept me not wanting to put the book down.
Who knew there would be a twist!? I didn't expect any twist at all let alone several! I thought it would be a fun straight forward story, but boy was I wrong and wasn't mad about it!
Most of the time I won't buy a book after reading it as an ARC unless it's a 5 star for me but this one will be an exception and I hope they give us a STUNNING sprayed edges edition! I hope I get the chance to read the ARC of the next book in the series because I already can't wait to see what's going to happen next!
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WOW! I am so impressed! I've spent most of my life reading fairy tale retellings (starting with my mom reading to me every night before bed, always finding the most feminist of retellings), and this is the first story in a long time that surprised me and had me thirsty for the next chapter.
All the characters had such depth and made so much sense in the context of the plot. I love that the author showed us a version of the evil stepsister mythos that didn't end with the lesson of "you can be ugly and still be loved." The lessons in this novel surrounded generational trauma and self worth. A great read!
(Extra perks for how the romance wrapped up!!)
All the characters had such depth and made so much sense in the context of the plot. I love that the author showed us a version of the evil stepsister mythos that didn't end with the lesson of "you can be ugly and still be loved." The lessons in this novel surrounded generational trauma and self worth. A great read!
(Extra perks for how the romance wrapped up!!)
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book, especially after the shit show I encountered trying to listen to a different audio book that made me cringe in my seat at how over the top characters were.
This was really a fun story, and the author did a great job at making me invested in the characters. Theo was especially an interesting character, she is the first character I hated so much and yet rooted for in the end. This upturned story is nothing but a whole lot of fun.
I wish I could give it a perfect rating but there were a few things that bothered me. First I wish that the other characters were fleshed out a bit more, I felt sometimes Theo was the only character developing and the rest were side pieces that would conveniently appear whenever there was a need to move the story along. I think one thing that was the hardest was Theos reflective arc, her reasoning for being cruel. I understood the message, her perspective, but what I would have really loved was some sort of flashback, a way to look into her past and tell her story. There was some of that telling instead of showing, though not a whole lot and I still understood the message but wish there was more. It felt unrealistic for a bunch of people to hate Theo so much, and Bea, sure was a child, but its the adults around Bea and Theo who should have been more and felt very two dimensional for treating Theo so rudely without a good reason. I liked knowing the moms perspective, and the sacrifice she made for her daughters, I wish there was some of that for the Earl and servants as well. Why marry someone and treat her daughters like trash, and servants were okay with that (he was a great man until it came to the family he married!?).
The other issue I had was Caz and Lockwood. First of all, Lockwood can take a hike. For how much I dreamt of falling for a fairy, Caz was a much better suited match for Theo. I was really sad to find out that Caz left to be free and human while Theo sacrificed herself and took the debt Bea own Cecily. Their romance was a little rushed, but I really liked their interactions with each other. I felt like both are pretty snarky people and they found a kinship in that with one another. I didn't realize that this was a series, I really hope that in the following book he will come back and that they both get that happy ever after ending they deserve.
This was really a fun story, and the author did a great job at making me invested in the characters. Theo was especially an interesting character, she is the first character I hated so much and yet rooted for in the end. This upturned story is nothing but a whole lot of fun.
I wish I could give it a perfect rating but there were a few things that bothered me. First I wish that the other characters were fleshed out a bit more, I felt sometimes Theo was the only character developing and the rest were side pieces that would conveniently appear whenever there was a need to move the story along. I think one thing that was the hardest was Theos reflective arc, her reasoning for being cruel. I understood the message, her perspective, but what I would have really loved was some sort of flashback, a way to look into her past and tell her story. There was some of that telling instead of showing, though not a whole lot and I still understood the message but wish there was more. It felt unrealistic for a bunch of people to hate Theo so much, and Bea, sure was a child, but its the adults around Bea and Theo who should have been more and felt very two dimensional for treating Theo so rudely without a good reason. I liked knowing the moms perspective, and the sacrifice she made for her daughters, I wish there was some of that for the Earl and servants as well. Why marry someone and treat her daughters like trash, and servants were okay with that (he was a great man until it came to the family he married!?).
The other issue I had was Caz and Lockwood. First of all, Lockwood can take a hike. For how much I dreamt of falling for a fairy, Caz was a much better suited match for Theo. I was really sad to find out that Caz left to be free and human while Theo sacrificed herself and took the debt Bea own Cecily. Their romance was a little rushed, but I really liked their interactions with each other. I felt like both are pretty snarky people and they found a kinship in that with one another. I didn't realize that this was a series, I really hope that in the following book he will come back and that they both get that happy ever after ending they deserve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood