This story has many similarities to the tale of Snow White.Gail Carson Levine wrote this heartwarming tale of a maiden named Aza. Aza was abandoned as a baby and left at The Featherbed Inn where she is taken in by the family who owns and runs the Inn. They adopt her, love her, and raise her as their own daughter.
Aza has the loveliest and most enchanting singing voice, which in the musical kingdom of Ayortha is very admired. The kingdom holds regular "Sings" where villagers compose songs, gather, and spend the time singing their songs in turn. They also spend a great deal of their time singing as they go about their day to day activities.
Aza has one obstacle which is constantly on her mind. She is not beautiful, she is not even pretty. In fact, many people stare at her because of her odd looking appearance. Her greatest dream is to be beautiful.
Aza visits the castle where she meets the bewitchingly beautiful queen, and is made her lady in waiting, she encounters a prince who likes her for who she is, and finds a magic mirror where she beholds an image of her beautified self.
Does Aza get her wish? Is it really what she wants?
Aza is imprisoned, escapes, goes on a journey, and discovers there is a lot more to true happiness then outward appearances.
This is an enjoyable tale of love, jealousy, confidence, mercy, and doing the right thing. To me it was well worth the read.
Very interesting. The girls and I just finished Ella Enchanted, and they were, well...enchanted. It was such a good story from start to finish that we could hardly put it down and I had to quell more than one squabble over whose turn it was to read the book.
ReplyDeleteNow we can enjoy Fairest as well!
The last night I read Ella Enchanted I was up past midnight finishing it. This one I can't say that because I listened to the audio book. But I enjoyed listening to it very much.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny that you had squabbles over the book. Love it! :)