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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fantastic debut novel!! It’s a Cinderella retelling from the POV of the evil stepsister. We get a tragic back story, a bit of a redemption arc, a little bit of a love triangle, a ton of comedy, and some amazing zingers from Theodosia in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an ARC of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an ARC of this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Loved it! I was hooked from chapter one and could not put it down.
It's very well written and doesn't feel at all like a debut novel, the story is compelling, and the resolution absolutely perfect.
I loved the characters, especially Theo, the MC. She is complex, funny, smart and so relatable. The other characters might not be as developed, but each of them bring something great to the table and they worked perfectly together, or against each other.
I had a great time and now I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you Orbit books.
It's very well written and doesn't feel at all like a debut novel, the story is compelling, and the resolution absolutely perfect.
I loved the characters, especially Theo, the MC. She is complex, funny, smart and so relatable. The other characters might not be as developed, but each of them bring something great to the table and they worked perfectly together, or against each other.
I had a great time and now I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you Orbit books.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As someone who absolutely adores Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse, it was hard not to fall in love with a completely likable "unlikeable" character. Lady Theodosia Balfour is not a nice girl, and she has the tongue to prove it. Relegated to the role of the wicked step-sister to our "Cinderella", Beatrice, we go through a series of tasks that really develop the essence of "Theo". Sure, Beatrice summoned a Fairy Godmother first, but Theo is the one who brings the magical world and human world together, and it humanizes the wickedness -- but not in a way that excuses it. Take a step into the other side of the story; not everything is as it seems, especially when dealing with fairies.
I adored this book, right from the beginning. Laura J. Mayo builds an effortless world and fills it with characters who are truly individuals. Each character stands on their own without acting as a dull foil for another character. I was absolutely immersed from page to page.
It's a fun, delightful read that will transport you into another world. I found myself laughing out loud, ready to turn the page. I look forward to following the world of Theo and her fairy and familiar friends.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the advanced copy.
I adored this book, right from the beginning. Laura J. Mayo builds an effortless world and fills it with characters who are truly individuals. Each character stands on their own without acting as a dull foil for another character. I was absolutely immersed from page to page.
It's a fun, delightful read that will transport you into another world. I found myself laughing out loud, ready to turn the page. I look forward to following the world of Theo and her fairy and familiar friends.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the advanced copy.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to give my honest review!
Have you ever wanted to see Cinderella's stepsisters have a redemption arc? Well this is the perfect book for you! How to Summon a Fairy Godmother follows Theodosia Balfour, the stepsister to Beatrice who has gained her dream of marrying the prince. After Beatrice marries the prince, Theodosia is required by her mother to marry someone of importance to keep the family financially stable. Her mother then finds her a suitor, a duke, but turns out the duke is a wrinkly and old man. Theo is disgusted and wants nothing to do with the duke. Out of anger and disappointment, Theo rummages through Beatrice's old belonging and stumbles across a page explaining how to summon a fairy. If Beatrice could summon a fairy to make her life better, surely Theo could do the same. Theo then decides to summon a fairy to escape her marriage but it's not as easy as it seems. The fairy, Cecily, will only help Theo if she completes three tasks. To break her engagement, Theo accepts the tasks and swears to do whatever it takes!
I thought this was a fantastic debut novel! I had such an incredible time reading this. The first couple of chapters hooked me instantly because I love the idea of following a flawed character and seeing them grow into a better person. When we first meet Theo, she is incredibly bitter and holds a tremendous amount of hate towards Beatrice. She brings this anger to any situation/conversation which gives you a nasty feeling. You find yourself uncomfortable with the way Theo is treating others, but that is intentional. You need to see Theo at her worst to grow attached to her development. It makes it more rewarding seeing Theo learn how to love others as well as herself. Theo is a complicated character that has justifiable reasons for being the way she is. When she finally put others before herself, I felt satisfied as well as emotional because I grew to love Theo so much.
There are also other incredible characters such as Phineas, Kasara, and of course Cecily. Kaz was by far my favorite character because I am a sucker for stoic but sassy men (foxes are my favorite animal so that might also contribute to my liking towards Kaz). He was very charming and I loved his playful banter with Theo. Their relationship was endearing and I found myself rooting for them constantly. Phineas was another fun character, though I wish we got to know him better. Kaz was more in the spotlight than Phineas so it felt like I didn't know Phineas as much. What we did get of him, I thought he was a sweetheart and I loved his side comments. Theo, Kaz, and Phineas were a fantastic trio and I kept wanting more. Then finally Cecily! Cecily was so fun as well. Every character in general was fun which benefited from the whimsy and humorous writing. For Cecily, I loved her elegance and personality. She wasn't in the book as much as I thought, but when she appeared, I always had a great time.
Another thing I would like to point out is the descriptions of characters and the environment. Throughout the whole book, I could clearly tell what was happening and visualize everything. The writing is detailed but still easy to read. Even though I had such a great time, I did feel like the start up of the book was a little too long. I enjoyed everything I read, but I found myself wondering when things would speed up. Also, around the latter half, I got slightly bored but quickly found myself enjoying the book again after the low point. Overall, I adored this book and I would highly suggest it. It is perfect for people who love Disney as well as fairy tales. It's a more mature take on those stories and it was done really well. I look forward to reading the next book and will for sure pick up a physical copy of this when it comes out!
Have you ever wanted to see Cinderella's stepsisters have a redemption arc? Well this is the perfect book for you! How to Summon a Fairy Godmother follows Theodosia Balfour, the stepsister to Beatrice who has gained her dream of marrying the prince. After Beatrice marries the prince, Theodosia is required by her mother to marry someone of importance to keep the family financially stable. Her mother then finds her a suitor, a duke, but turns out the duke is a wrinkly and old man. Theo is disgusted and wants nothing to do with the duke. Out of anger and disappointment, Theo rummages through Beatrice's old belonging and stumbles across a page explaining how to summon a fairy. If Beatrice could summon a fairy to make her life better, surely Theo could do the same. Theo then decides to summon a fairy to escape her marriage but it's not as easy as it seems. The fairy, Cecily, will only help Theo if she completes three tasks. To break her engagement, Theo accepts the tasks and swears to do whatever it takes!
I thought this was a fantastic debut novel! I had such an incredible time reading this. The first couple of chapters hooked me instantly because I love the idea of following a flawed character and seeing them grow into a better person. When we first meet Theo, she is incredibly bitter and holds a tremendous amount of hate towards Beatrice. She brings this anger to any situation/conversation which gives you a nasty feeling. You find yourself uncomfortable with the way Theo is treating others, but that is intentional. You need to see Theo at her worst to grow attached to her development. It makes it more rewarding seeing Theo learn how to love others as well as herself. Theo is a complicated character that has justifiable reasons for being the way she is. When she finally put others before herself, I felt satisfied as well as emotional because I grew to love Theo so much.
There are also other incredible characters such as Phineas, Kasara, and of course Cecily. Kaz was by far my favorite character because I am a sucker for stoic but sassy men (foxes are my favorite animal so that might also contribute to my liking towards Kaz). He was very charming and I loved his playful banter with Theo. Their relationship was endearing and I found myself rooting for them constantly. Phineas was another fun character, though I wish we got to know him better. Kaz was more in the spotlight than Phineas so it felt like I didn't know Phineas as much. What we did get of him, I thought he was a sweetheart and I loved his side comments. Theo, Kaz, and Phineas were a fantastic trio and I kept wanting more. Then finally Cecily! Cecily was so fun as well. Every character in general was fun which benefited from the whimsy and humorous writing. For Cecily, I loved her elegance and personality. She wasn't in the book as much as I thought, but when she appeared, I always had a great time.
Another thing I would like to point out is the descriptions of characters and the environment. Throughout the whole book, I could clearly tell what was happening and visualize everything. The writing is detailed but still easy to read. Even though I had such a great time, I did feel like the start up of the book was a little too long. I enjoyed everything I read, but I found myself wondering when things would speed up. Also, around the latter half, I got slightly bored but quickly found myself enjoying the book again after the low point. Overall, I adored this book and I would highly suggest it. It is perfect for people who love Disney as well as fairy tales. It's a more mature take on those stories and it was done really well. I look forward to reading the next book and will for sure pick up a physical copy of this when it comes out!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Such a fun book! I ate this up in less than 24 hours. This was such a refreshing take on Cinderella from the point of view of one of the stepsisters. Unlike the Cinderella story we are all familiar with, there isn’t a clear villain in this story. And it works wonderfully. The message I took from the book was that everyone is a villain in someone’s story. This is so well written and plays with familiar fairytale tropes. It’s funny and such a good time. This was truly a joy to read. The author did such an amazing job at writing Theo. She is a complex and flawed main character that grows so much throughout the story. I loved so much about this book. I loved being in the fae realm. I loved all the characters! Cecily, Kaz, Phineas and even Lock. I am eagerly waiting for the continuation of Theo’s story in the next book. I can’t wait to see more of this wonderful world that the author has created!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Funny, cute what happens after fairytale inspired story. This is a what happens to the "Cinderella's" step family after she's married to the prince. The world is so easy to follow and different from other fairy godmother stories I've read. The mash up of characters are charming and clever. Theo is snarky, witty, and so much fun to read. She isn't very likeable but her sass just makes up for it. It does for a deep dive on her character analysis and overcoming childhood trauma. Although she doesn't become bubbly she is relatable and the way it is portrayed is very well done. The side characters bring a full range of characters from funny to down right annoying. It does have a like smidge of romance plot for those who want to know but overall it's just following Theo on her wild ride deal with a fairy. Absolutely loved it and read in 1 day.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this e-ARC
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this e-ARC
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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