"Fantasy Romance for the Persistent Reader"
Elena Klovis lives in the Five Hundred Kingdoms, a world
where fairy tales are as real as the magical Tradition
that, unseen and unheard, directs the lives of all those
who dwell within the kingdoms. Well, all those except the
magic-users who serve it - and even they are, in the end,
products of the Tradition too. Slaving for two lazy stepsisters and the stepmother who
owned everything except the clothes on her back, Elena's
path was that of the classic Cinderella story. Except...
something went wrong. As she aged and slowly realized that
her happy-ever-after wasn't coming and that no handsome
prince was going to beat down her door, Elena decided to
make the best of her situation. With a pot in her hand she
headed off to the fair, offering herself as a servant to
any who would pay her. Instead, she was found by Madame Bella, a Fairy Godmother
who had been searching for an apprentice for many years. A
woman who showed her a future she had never dared dream
could be hers. Fairy Godmothering wasn't all fun and games, though, and
more often than not it demanded that she work against the
heavy Tradition that weighed down on every inhabitant of
the Five Hundred Kingdoms. Her life was lonely... until she
met a trio of princes on a Quest and ended up with a Prince-
in-Donkey-Form living in her stable. The Tradition was
against her but happiness beckoned and even Elena couldn't
refuse. All they had to do was... well, beat the bad guy
and then convince the amorphous heaviness that was the
source of all magics that she and Alexander belonged
together after all. With THE FAIRY GODMOTHER Lackey crafts a lively, light
fantasy set in a newly created world of fairy tales and
Tradition. From familiar tales of Cinderella and Rapunzel
and beyond, the Five Hundred Kingdoms come alive for the
reader through Elena's magical - and romantic - journey.
The romance, however, is strictly subplot and sex is
limited and relatively non-explicit. This doesn't make the
story any less enjoyable or emotionally fulfilling. The
magic of the story is inventive and distinct. Once again
Lackey pits her beleaguered yet spunky heroine against the
heavy weight of her society's tradition and mores - and
pulls her out triumphant in the end, of course. Sadly, the
book is marred by a plodding, whiny beginning (though
Elena, we are told, is A Survivor) that may well defeat the
unwary reader. After slogging through 150 pages, however,
that reader may find things picking up. Incidentally,
that's about the time that the hero is introduced. Lackey's
tendency to explain EVERYTHING in her world leaves the
reader well-informed if a little over- saturated, but at
the same time prepares the reader for the ringing
conclusion that, strangely enough, seems to sneak up and
grab you by the throat. Though flawed, THE FAIRY GODMOTHER
is a good read. If you're not up for paying hardcover
prices, it's at least worth a check-out from your local
library. Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted February 21, 2004
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted November 18, 2006
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