By Gail Carson Levine
publisher’s synopsis
The fairy Lucinda has once again given a dreadful gift. This time, it’s a mysterious magical mirror. The gift is disastrous when it falls into the hands of Aza, who never looks into a mirror if she can help it. In the Kingdom of Ayortha, Aza is most definitely not the fairest of them all. Many spurn her. Many scoff at her. She keeps out of sight.
But in a land of singers, Aza has her own gift, one she’s come by without fairy intervention: a voice that can do almost anything, a voice that captivates all who hear it. In Ontio Castle, merry Prince Ijori is drawn to it, and vain Queen Ivi wants to use it for her own ends. Queen Ivi would do anything to remain the fairest in the land.
Gail Carson Levine does a great job of re-telling fairy tales. She takes the story we know, and changes it enough to make it a new story, but still recognizable as the original fairy tale. In this case, Fairest re-tells Snow White.
While Fairest is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted, you don’t have to read one novel before you read the other. However, you will notice that there is a slight crossover between the two books.
If you are looking for another fairy tale to try, consider Fairest.
Cautions: light romance
Hailey Huntington 