The Fairy Godmother (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book...

In the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale.…Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella—until fate took that future away from her, and she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with "The Tradition" that guides the kingdoms comes with a cost—one that could leave her powerless and destitute. Until, that is, her fairy godmother intervenes and offers her a most unexpected job… to become her apprentice, and learn the ways of magic.Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney, Elena must guide others along their own fated paths. And, of course, deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place. But when she finds herself falling for someone completely unexpected, she begins to question where her own path will lead her—and whether she’s willing to take fate into her own hands. Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done… Read the Tale of Five Hundred Kingdoms Series by Mercedes Lackey:Book 1: The Fairy GodmotherBook 2: One Good KnightBook 3: Fortune’s FoolBook 4: The Snow QueenBook 5: The Sleeping BeautyBook 6: Beauty and the Werewolf

From Publishers Weekly

The prolific Lackey (the Valdemar series) draws on the darker, Brothers Grimm side of fairy lore for her enchanting tale, the first title under a new Harlequin imprint to spotlight romantic fantasy. In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, the Tradition, that ineffable magic, holds the promise of happily-ever-after for all deserving young maidens and courteous princes charming. But the Tradition also leads some in its thrall to pain, suffering and gruesome death. Feisty 19-year-old Elena Klovis seems destined to be an Ella of the Cinders (Cinderella), at the mercy of her wicked stepmother and greedy stepsisters. To escape their clutches, Elena tries to get work as a maidservant, but her fairy godmother, Madame Bella, has other plans for her. Elena becomes Madame Bella's apprentice, doing her best, among other challenges, to ensure that evil does not subvert Tradition. The only problem is that fairy godmothers are not themselves allowed to fall in love. It's up to Elena, who has vowed to reform a wayward prince, to tease out the threads of a new Tradition. Lackey has created an intelligent, self-possessed heroine with whom many readers will identify. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The prolific Lackey will enchant readers with this delightful twist on traditional fairy tales. In the land of Five Hundred Kingdoms, "Tradition" rules, and everyone is expected to fit into established fairy tales. Enslaved by her wickedly avaricious stepmother and stepsisters, Elena should have had a Cinderella-like life, but when things didn't work out, she flees and seeks work. Her fairy godmother, in fact, the fairy godmother of several kingdoms, makes her apprentice fairy godmother, and it's her duty to prevent the bad things that come with Tradition. Her life takes yet another curious turn when, disguised as a crone to test three questing princes, she loses her temper with Prince Alexander. He acts like an ass, so she turns him into one. Unwilling to let a defenseless donkey wander the woods alone, she takes him home and puts him to work transforming his life. Lackey's satisfying fairy tale will captivate fantasy readers with its well-imagined world and romance fans, who will relish the growing relationship and sexy scenes. Diana Tixier HeraldCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Gabra Zackman knows romance. Her clever and “thrilling romantic caper” (Library Journal) Bod Squad series was inspired by the more than one hundred romance and women’s fiction titles she has narrated for audio. She divides her time between her native New York City and Denver, Colorado.Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels and works of short fiction, including the bestselling Heralds of Valdemar series. She is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilitator. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots.

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