Publishers Weekly
08/18/2014
Sixteen-year-old Princess Aislynn’s magical outbursts make her unfit for marriage and “ever after,” so she’s cast out to be trained as a chaste fairy godmother. But Aislynn finds it difficult to follow the precepts of “the Path” and the strict rules of Elderwood Academy, where her heart is literally locked away, and her inability to harness her magic threatens to derail her life a second time or mark her as a shunned “stray.” The plot—which draws such references as the thorny brambles and pricking spindles of Briar Rose, and the forgotten slippers and severed toes of Cinderella—is promising, aiming to flip the princess-centric focus of classic fairy tales on its head. Unfortunately, newcomer Sussman’s storytelling is lacking in necessary exposition, asking more questions about this strange, stringent world than it answers and peppering the text with dangling subplots that fail to coalesce or conclude. Perhaps most disturbing is her treatment of Aislynn’s self-harming behavior (she discharges magic into herself, leaving large welts on her limbs), which is mentioned sparingly and too easily dismissed. Ages 13–up. Agent: Samantha Shea, Georges Borchardt Inc. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Sussman delightfully mixes dystopian tension with retold fairy tales, and the result is something wholly original.” — Booklist
“The creative use of the role of fairy godmother is fascinating.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The ending is exhilarating and nicely sets up for a sequel.” — San Francisco Book Review
“This fun tale will appeal to reluctant female readers.” — School Library Journal
“A particularly intriguing portrait…of a girl entrenched in a culture that shames women and their magical abilities.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Booklist
Sussman delightfully mixes dystopian tension with retold fairy tales, and the result is something wholly original.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
A particularly intriguing portrait…of a girl entrenched in a culture that shames women and their magical abilities.
San Francisco Book Review
The ending is exhilarating and nicely sets up for a sequel.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
A particularly intriguing portrait…of a girl entrenched in a culture that shames women and their magical abilities.
Booklist
Sussman delightfully mixes dystopian tension with retold fairy tales, and the result is something wholly original.
Kirkus Reviews
2014-07-29
Fairy-tale tropes are turned on their heads in this exploration of class and ideology. Aislynn is a princess who has always intended to follow the Path. However, her wicked heart is often at odds with her desperation to obey the rules that state she must resist the curse of her innate magic. Despite her practice of self-mutilation to release excess magic, in a moment of heightened emotion, Aislynn uses magic and is Redirected. Now, instead of marrying, Aislynn is assigned to be fairy godmother to another princess. Purged of feeling, Aislynn's relief in her freedom from her overpowering emotions is sympathetic, as is her horror when those emotions eventually resurface. In her new life, she makes new friends who challenge her assumptions about the very foundations her life is built upon, forcing Aislynn to choose between what she's been taught and the truth. While Aislynn's blind obedience to the Path is understandable, her often willful ignorance of the obvious may bewilder readers. The creative use of the role of fairy godmother is fascinating, as is the fantasy world, but the disjointed and abrupt ending may perplex those who expected resolution.Readers who remain intrigued by Aislynn's world will have to wait for the next book. (Fantasy. 12-18)
