A review by sparksofember
Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine

3.0

This was a cute, classic-type story that I enjoyed reading with my daughter. Levine really expands on Never-Land and makes it a fascinating place. But with that being said, I was surprised at how dark it got - the entire plot hinges on Mother Dove being badly injured and close to death, a fairy cuts off her wings (irreparable damage, that), an evil dragon has evil intentions, and Vidia has no qualms in inflicting pain on others so long as she benefits. Disney's recent movies may have used these books as a starting point but they didn't hesitate to distance themselves from the darker, more mature elements. The other reviews that mention these books having an identity crisis nailed it. The subject matter and writing style are for older children, but the many pictures and lack of depth would appeal more to younger children.