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cakt1991 's review for:
How to Summon a Fairy Godmother
by Laura J. Mayo
I discovered How to Summon a Fairy Godmother while searching my library’s catalog for Cinderella retellings, and the premise of this drew me in. And in that regard, it absolutely fulfilled my expectations.
The tone leans toward being fairly light, almost cozy, in places, although there are also some elements that are unexpectedly gruesome. But that mirrors the essence of fairy tales, including being fairly light on the world building. The vibes feel somewhat reminiscent of a Regency or Victorian romance, with a similar aristocratic system and references to things like penny dreadfuls, which put me at ease a bit, given my affinity for the genre.
Theo is an absolute delight to follow, and Laura J. Mayo strikes the perfect balance between making her endearing and sympathetic, while not waving away the fatal flaws, such as her selfishness and spitefulness, that make her one of the evil stepsisters. But that only makes her growth in self-awareness and evolution of character more rewarding.
I also absolutely adored Cecily, for all her quirkiness, although I admit I didn’t see the twist with her coming (even with it being rather obvious in hindsight). Phineas and Kaz were also delightful, and great twists on the “animal sidekick” roles. And I didn’t quite know what direction the book would take Beatrice in as this book’s Cinderella, but I like the nuance to her portrayal, where she is a deeply good person, but also has some secrets. As for the relationship between Theo and Beatrice, I loved the evolution at the end, exploring how each of them were impacted by their toxic family dynamics and working to heal that rift.
In terms of plotting and pacing, it’s a little on the slow side, and your investment at the beginning will depend on how much you can appreciate Theo with all her flaws, plus the potential of her promised arc. However, once you take the plunge and invest that time, it’s worth it, and while the middle lags a bit due to the nature of the sequence of events, the payoff is ultimately worth it.
This is such fun, and I’m excited for what comes next! I recommend this to readers interested in a fun spin on the Cinderella story!