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Elena Klovis has all the makings of a real-life Cinderella. She's made
to work as a servant for her evil stepmother and "the Horrids" – her two
horrid stepsisters. She sleeps in a small room in the attic, wears
nothing but rags, and most days she isn't even allowed to leave the
premises. But Elena knows the story of Cinderella, and she knows she's
destined for romance. Her dreams of a Prince who will one day come to
rescue her have kept her hope alive for years, but she's starting to
realize that the Prince will never come, and she'll be doomed to serve
her stepmother and stepsisters forever.
Since the three evil women have quickly squandered their fortune and ran
up debts they couldn't repay, they decide to leave town for a while,
leaving Elena behind. Elena sees this as the only opportunity she has to
escape, and decides to sell her services at the local fair. When she
realizes that no one in town wants her as a servant because they're too
afraid of her stepmother, she's disheartened. Suddenly, a strange woman
shows up in a wild carriage, and offers her work. The woman looks kind,
and Elena accepts, not knowing what's in store for her.
When the carriage lifts off the ground, and Elena finds herself flying
through the air, her new mistress explains the situation. She's a Fairy
Godmother in need of an Apprentice, and Elena fits the bill. As odd as
it seems, Elena begins her training, and before long, she's a true Fairy
Godmother herself. Though she still wishes for romance in her life, she
realizes that the duties of a Godmother won't allow for that kind of a
distraction. She immerses herself in her new tasks and responsibilities,
but she often finds herself deeply craving the fairy-tale love that was
denied her.
Mercedes Lackey has taken many of the classic fairy tales and skillfully
woven them into a wonderful story. Filled with fairies, brownies,
wizards, sorceresses, unicorns and even giants, THE FAIRY GODMOTHER is
one of the most magical books I've come across. It's delightful to see a
secondary character from most fairy tales get her own story. After
all, when a Fairy Godmother is mentioned in classical lore, she's
usually only there in a supporting role. Through Mercedes Lackey's
creative style, we're able to see what Godmothers are truly like when
they're not assisting Princes, countering curses and turning pumpkins
into carriages.
Elena's trials before she becomes a Fairy Godmother are endearing, and
her strong, independent personality is admirable considering her servile
lifestyle. As she continues to hope for a love of her own, Elena
understands that it's an impossible dream because of the life she's
chosen; yet the reader continues to hope for a happy ending along with
her. Although the romantic thread doesn't begin until late in the story,
THE FAIRY GODMOTHER is a fantasy romance, complete with the
happily-ever-after ending we've all come to expect from romances and
fairy tales alike.
THE FAIRY GODMOTHER is the first offering in Harlequin's new LUNA line.
"Bridging the gap between fantasy and romance", the new line promises to
be a hit. If the initial launch title is any indication, lovers of both
romance and fantasy have a new source of excellent reading material to
look forward to.
Reviewed by Liz Cooper
for The Road to Romance
December 24, 2003 |
