The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey -- a review

In the five hundred Kingdoms, there is a magical force called the Tradition. When the Tradition finds a person in the right circumstances, it covers them with magic and pushes them down the path of a fairytale. Elena Klovis is in the middle of the typical Cinderella tale, except the only prince in her kingdom is a child. When her step-mother and step-sisters leave town, Elena sees a chance for escape and puts herself out for hire at the “Mop Fair.” Just as the fair is coming to an end, Madame Bella hires her. Elena finds that this is not to be the job she expected; Bella is a Fairy Godmother and Elena is to be her apprentice.

Elena proves to be a wonderful Godmother. As part of the job, she chooses one of three brothers fit to finish a quest and win a princess’ hand. Of the two failed questers, one brother she sets to magically wander the forest until he mends his ways. The other she turns into a donkey and brings home to teach him humility and manners. As Prince Alexander's ways begin to change, so do Elena’s feelings for him.

This is the first book in the Harlequin’s new fantasy romance line, Luna and is a wonderfully light read. The plot is interesting, showing how Fairy Godmothers can bend and shape the Tradition to prevent or change the less desirable stories, but also showing how Godmothers themselves can be trapped by it. While Lackey takes the archetypal fairytale characters and breathes some life into them, Alexander’s reformation is a bit didactic and moralizing. The romance aspect is at times, a bit racy, but well written and fits perfectly with the plot.

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey is pleasantly light reading that blends the fantasy and romance genres wonderfully. For those who like a little romance in their fantasy (or fantasy in their romance) this book is a good bet.