Book Review
Mar. 28th, 2010 12:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bare_bearBook Title: Fairest
Author: Gail Carson Levine
I couldn't put this book down! The author also wrote Ella Enchanted, and this story has the same whimsical and fun feel of that fairy tale. I found it on sale outside a local used book store, and was immediately enchanted by the blurb on the back:
"Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty...
Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parent's inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light - especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom."
It's such a lovely story, taking on the Snow White tale and adding a lovely realism to it while keeping in touch with it's fantasy roots. Of course there's ogres, centaurs, gnomes, and magical mirrors! And yet the main character is so lovingly humble and down to earth, and although maybe a little grown up for her 16 years of age, she still stresses about many of the issues a teenage girl deals with. Especially since she is large and not as beautiful as those around her.
It's neat to see her progress through the book, changing from a shy girl who is absolutely mortified to draw any attention to herself, to a person who recognizes that physical beauty isn't everything, and that there are qualities just as, and even more so, important about a person.
I won't spoil the story by saying much more. I'll just say that it was a beautiful tale that was so much fun to read, and it even surprised a few laughs out of me! I definitely recommend this story to anyone looking for a light but delightful read.
Author: Gail Carson Levine
I couldn't put this book down! The author also wrote Ella Enchanted, and this story has the same whimsical and fun feel of that fairy tale. I found it on sale outside a local used book store, and was immediately enchanted by the blurb on the back:
"Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty...
Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parent's inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light - especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom."
It's such a lovely story, taking on the Snow White tale and adding a lovely realism to it while keeping in touch with it's fantasy roots. Of course there's ogres, centaurs, gnomes, and magical mirrors! And yet the main character is so lovingly humble and down to earth, and although maybe a little grown up for her 16 years of age, she still stresses about many of the issues a teenage girl deals with. Especially since she is large and not as beautiful as those around her.
It's neat to see her progress through the book, changing from a shy girl who is absolutely mortified to draw any attention to herself, to a person who recognizes that physical beauty isn't everything, and that there are qualities just as, and even more so, important about a person.
I won't spoil the story by saying much more. I'll just say that it was a beautiful tale that was so much fun to read, and it even surprised a few laughs out of me! I definitely recommend this story to anyone looking for a light but delightful read.
