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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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:
N/A
“The silence that surrounded them was the auditory equivalent of pudding-thick, heavy, and uncomfortable to sit in.”
I discovered How To Summon A Fairy Godmother through its audio version. I loved how Josie’s Charles’ narration enhanced the writing’s rhythm and sounds, and also made it look like a fairy tale even more. Because a fairy tale it was.
What happens after the end of Cinderella? That’s what explores the book. Theo, one of the “evil stepsisters”, is the main character here, and tries to summon the same fairy godmother who helped her sister to marry the prince. More than a redemption arc –even though it can be considered like that– this story is more a way to look the whole story through her eyes and –maybe– learn to have empathy for her –yes, it’s a tour de force that manages the author here. I loved that, because nothing in life is black and white, but a marvellous shade of greys instead, and discovering all the points of view in a situation is always very enlightening.
This tale was sometimes (very) funny, sometimes enraging, sometimes thrilling, sometimes sad. I loved to discover the fairytale world, to see that not everything is beautiful there too, discovering the whole gallery of side characters, all very funny –and mostly all morality grey, no matter the species.
When I finished listening to the story, I had bittersweet feelings about the whole, and especially the end. But after a few days, I came to the conclusion that it was the best decision possible, as it was –in the end– the best arc possible for that character. I hope, however, that we will see her –and that she’ll have more developments– in the next book of the series.
Thank you Laura J. Mayo, Orbit, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. My opinions are my own.
I discovered How To Summon A Fairy Godmother through its audio version. I loved how Josie’s Charles’ narration enhanced the writing’s rhythm and sounds, and also made it look like a fairy tale even more. Because a fairy tale it was.
What happens after the end of Cinderella? That’s what explores the book. Theo, one of the “evil stepsisters”, is the main character here, and tries to summon the same fairy godmother who helped her sister to marry the prince. More than a redemption arc –even though it can be considered like that– this story is more a way to look the whole story through her eyes and –maybe– learn to have empathy for her –yes, it’s a tour de force that manages the author here. I loved that, because nothing in life is black and white, but a marvellous shade of greys instead, and discovering all the points of view in a situation is always very enlightening.
This tale was sometimes (very) funny, sometimes enraging, sometimes thrilling, sometimes sad. I loved to discover the fairytale world, to see that not everything is beautiful there too, discovering the whole gallery of side characters, all very funny –and mostly all morality grey, no matter the species.
When I finished listening to the story, I had bittersweet feelings about the whole, and especially the end. But after a few days, I came to the conclusion that it was the best decision possible, as it was –in the end– the best arc possible for that character. I hope, however, that we will see her –and that she’ll have more developments– in the next book of the series.
Thank you Laura J. Mayo, Orbit, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. My opinions are my own.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.3 Stars
One Liner: So good! Excited for the sequel!
Lady Theodosia Balfour aka Theo is out of options. Her stepsister, Beatrice, the newly crowned princess who married Prince Duncan is telling everyone that Theo, her sister, and her mother are evil. Though Theo knows this isn’t the entire truth, she can do nothing as her life becomes a mess. Her mother forces her betrothal with an aging and pompous Duke to save them from bankruptcy.
A desperate Theo does the only thing she can – summon a fairy godmother to help her. If a fairy can help her stepsister, she sure can help Theo, right? However, the fairy (Cecily) is less of a godmother and more of a stunning vision in yellow with a cunning attitude. The fairy is willing to help Theo, but only after seeing the proof of Theo’s goodness. With assistance from the fairy’s assistants – Phineas, a flirty human-turned-mockingbird, and grumpy Kasra, a fox shapeshifter, Theo has to complete three tasks and prove she is worthy of the fairy’s help.
Well, it should be easy enough, right?
The story comes in Theo’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I knew I had to read this the moment I saw the cover. The premise made me even more curious to find out how the author spun Cinderella’s plot and enhanced it.
For me, a retelling/ spin-off loses merit when it simply flips the good as bad and vice versa or when the so-called evil characters are made squeaky clean, and whitewashed beyond recognition. A good re-creation should add depth to the characters and freshness to the plot while retaining the essence of the original. Though this book sometimes straddles the line, it settles comfortably on the right side, thanks to the FMC.
I guessed the book would have a slower pacing and adjusted my expectations. The first quarter is indeed slow as we meet the characters and explore the settings. However, it picks up pace once the fairy enters.
The highlight of the book is how it sustains sassy humor (even if it feels a bit excessive at times but necessary for the character arc). Theo is a lot of things and though she is supposed to be the wicked stepsister, I could see her vulnerability almost from the beginning. She is a flawed character learning to become a better person as she has new experiences.
The book deals with themes like toxic family relationships (mother & sister, between sisters), bullying, societal expectations, presumptions, greed, jealousy, main character syndrome, etc.
This works well as a cozy fantasy, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more detail about the fairy world. The tone borders on YA (probably coz Theo is a teenager). There isn’t much romance as such, though we do see some ‘moments’.
Cecily is a terrific fairy. Need more of her in the next book! The supporting characters are pretty much one-dimensional but do the job. Maybe some of them will get more depth in the next book.
A few dialogues are longish, though we can see these are necessary and have to be said. The last 20% packs a punch with more reveals, twists, and developments. It also shows how the plot had been planned and structured to reach the desired endpoint (I won’t be surprised if the author worked it in reverse). A couple of triggers too.
While I didn’t expect the story to continue in the next book (I hoped it would be standalone spinoffs), I can’t complain. The book ends just the way it should – a good conclusion to the first part but leaving out enough to wonder where it would go from here.
To summarize, How to Summon a Fairy Godmother is a solid debut and an entertaining read with many introspective moments. Can’t wait to read the sequel (please don’t keep me in suspense for long). Just hope there won’t be any triangles (or if present, they are handled well).
Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #HowToSummonAFairyGodmother
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death of parent
What I enjoyed:
1. The Cinderella retelling from the perspective of a stepsister
2. A morally grey and dimensional look into a previously "wicked" character.
3. The twist at the end. I wasn't expecting it and it flipped the classic tale upside down. (Similar to what Wicked did for The Wizard of Oz).
This is more of a 3.5-star read that I'm rounding up to 4 based on the ending. Some points pulled me in, but too often plot dragged along. There was a point where I debated putting it down. I'm glad I didn't, the ending redeemed it. If you enjoy retellings for their different perspectives, this is a good one to pick up,
I listened to this on audio and the production value and narration were well done and enhanced the reading experience.
1. The Cinderella retelling from the perspective of a stepsister
2. A morally grey and dimensional look into a previously "wicked" character.
3. The twist at the end. I wasn't expecting it and it flipped the classic tale upside down. (Similar to what Wicked did for The Wizard of Oz).
This is more of a 3.5-star read that I'm rounding up to 4 based on the ending. Some points pulled me in, but too often plot dragged along. There was a point where I debated putting it down. I'm glad I didn't, the ending redeemed it. If you enjoy retellings for their different perspectives, this is a good one to pick up,
I listened to this on audio and the production value and narration were well done and enhanced the reading experience.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
This was amazing! I skipped the blurb and start reading (or rather listening) blind. The only thing I kind of vaguely knew about the plot was that it‘s a retelling of the Cinderella story. So, you can imagine my surprise when the book was like „yeah, forget about Cinderella, let‘s hang out with one of the step-sisters.“ Perfect. That‘s exactly my type of story. Take a well known fairytale and retell it with an interesting twist and you have my attention. And boy did Laura J. Mayo manage to keep my attention for the duration of the entire story.
I did love following Theo‘s story who I found to be a lot more interesting than Cinderella/Beatrice to be honest. I liked seeing her discover and come to terms with who she really is and how that affected her interactions with the other characters as the story went on. Also, there is that one scene where Theo tells a story from her childhood that will hunt me for a long time. If you read the book you probably know which scene I‘m talking about.
How to Summon a Fairy Godmother was simply put an incredible book with a very unique take on a beloved tale that will keep you under its magic till the last page and beyond.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Thank you to Orbit for the digital arc!
Lady Theodosia's "perfect" stepsister may have married her prince and ridden off into the sunset, but Theo is still trapped living with her horrid mother and sister. Desperate to get out of marrying a disgusting elderly duke she summons a Fairy Godmother for assistance. Little does she know her fairy bargain will take her on a journey of self-discovery.
If you've ever thought the story of Cinderella didn't quite add up, and you love the musical Wicked, then this villain redemption arc is for you.
The book has all of the whimsy of a fairytale with a fine layer of sarcasm and snark over the top. Theo isn't a likable heroine at first which frankly I appreciate. (I'm not sure I'm a likeable heroine either.) As more of Theo's character is revealed we get to see why she has become wicked, and the agency she takes to change her life.
If you're looking for a lighthearted fantasy that isn't brimming with dark themes or violence (hey, sometimes we need a break from hot morally gray murderers) then this is a great choice!
Lady Theodosia's "perfect" stepsister may have married her prince and ridden off into the sunset, but Theo is still trapped living with her horrid mother and sister. Desperate to get out of marrying a disgusting elderly duke she summons a Fairy Godmother for assistance. Little does she know her fairy bargain will take her on a journey of self-discovery.
If you've ever thought the story of Cinderella didn't quite add up, and you love the musical Wicked, then this villain redemption arc is for you.
The book has all of the whimsy of a fairytale with a fine layer of sarcasm and snark over the top. Theo isn't a likable heroine at first which frankly I appreciate. (I'm not sure I'm a likeable heroine either.) As more of Theo's character is revealed we get to see why she has become wicked, and the agency she takes to change her life.
If you're looking for a lighthearted fantasy that isn't brimming with dark themes or violence (hey, sometimes we need a break from hot morally gray murderers) then this is a great choice!
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Orbit for this Audio ARC Copy!
I had such a fun time with this book. I loved every minute of it and the Narrator did a perfect job with the story. I love a good retelling, especially when they focus on well known characters that aren't usually the main character, and in this story we follow 'Cinderella's' step sister. It was really interesting getting the different POV and seeing things out of the fairytale lens.
I really enjoyed the fae in this book as well, definitely more the traditional sneaky fae and not the sexy kind.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
I had such a fun time with this book. I loved every minute of it and the Narrator did a perfect job with the story. I love a good retelling, especially when they focus on well known characters that aren't usually the main character, and in this story we follow 'Cinderella's' step sister. It was really interesting getting the different POV and seeing things out of the fairytale lens.
I really enjoyed the fae in this book as well, definitely more the traditional sneaky fae and not the sexy kind.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoy a good fairytale retelling a different angle on things. What happens after the dusts settles in Cinderella, but to one of the wicked stepsisters? "How to Summon a Fairy Godmother" by Laura J. Mayo takes a crack at it. Thanks for the copies Orbit and Hachette Audio.
Lady Theodosia Balfour has a bit of a problem. Being the evil, wicked, stepsister to the new princess is not a great way to survive. Options of marriage (based on the lack of dowry and other societal factors) are slim. Except for a Duke...who is awful, extremely old, and just wants more heirs. Up a creek with 0 paddles in sight Theo tries magic, if it worked for her stepsister, who really isn't that great, then why not her? To her surprise the fairy the ritual summons really is more of a quid pro quo kind of lady, Cecily of the Ash Fairies will get he rout of the marriage in exchange for three favors that prove Theo is worth it. Because any deal with the fae is easy right?
Narrated by Josie Charles, rather enjoy Cecily and her familiar's interactions.
Reasons to read:
-Different take on a fairytale most folks know
-Yea I'd have that opinion of someone after that
-Delightful side characters
-Perfectly reasonable titles that should always be used
-I'm a fan of stories where siblings aren't reconciling with each other
-Always get the details before agreeing to a deal!
Cons:
-Kind of wanted a couple of folks to catch a slap or two
Lady Theodosia Balfour has a bit of a problem. Being the evil, wicked, stepsister to the new princess is not a great way to survive. Options of marriage (based on the lack of dowry and other societal factors) are slim. Except for a Duke...who is awful, extremely old, and just wants more heirs. Up a creek with 0 paddles in sight Theo tries magic, if it worked for her stepsister, who really isn't that great, then why not her? To her surprise the fairy the ritual summons really is more of a quid pro quo kind of lady, Cecily of the Ash Fairies will get he rout of the marriage in exchange for three favors that prove Theo is worth it. Because any deal with the fae is easy right?
Narrated by Josie Charles, rather enjoy Cecily and her familiar's interactions.
Reasons to read:
-Different take on a fairytale most folks know
-Yea I'd have that opinion of someone after that
-Delightful side characters
-Perfectly reasonable titles that should always be used
-I'm a fan of stories where siblings aren't reconciling with each other
-Always get the details before agreeing to a deal!
Cons:
-Kind of wanted a couple of folks to catch a slap or two