“Ella Enchanted” meets “Pride and Prejudice” in this 2019 International Literary Classics award-winning debut novel
A coven of witches plots to overthrow a kingdom. One brave woman stands in their way.
At her mother’s death-bed, Elisabeth learns her mother’s illness is no accident and that her own life is in danger. Evil witches are plotting to take over the kingdom of Vendale. All alone, naive, and untrained, Elisabeth’s determination is all she has to confront her mother’s murderers as she discovers love at the same time.
While Richard’s behaviour sends distracting mixed messages, Elisabeth finds herself stuck in limbo: she is treated like a child but is forced to make adult decisions. Meanwhile, the witches’ plot spins a fateful web around her. Can Elisabeth succeed in the face of insurmountable odds?
★★★★★
Amazon review
I am not familiar with this particular Grimm story, but I love many of their other tales. I feel as though fans of both Ella Enchanted and Jane Austen would enjoy this tale. The book opens with a brief look into the future, but then returns to Queen Elisabeth’s retelling of her own story as a young woman who returns from school to face the tragedy of her mother being terminally ill.
★★★★★
Amazon review
I loved this fairytale retelling of Brother and Sister, an old European fairytale that I personally remember as a Russian folk-tale of Alenushka and Ivanushka. Even when you know how it ends, when you can’t put the book down because you have to find out HOW it ends, i.e. how the author gets there – to me that is a hallmark of a good retelling.
A well written and utterly charming coming-of-age tale. With excellent world-building in a realm where magic, elves, and unicorns exist, we are introduced to perfectly flawed and highly relatable characters.
Literary Classics award review
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