As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

March 12, 2011

MY FAIR GODMOTHER by Janette Rallison, 2009

My Fair GodmotherAfter her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy. (Amazon)


Reviewed by Jen Seegmiller

If you've ever read a fairy tale and wished for your very own Fairy Godmother to magically appear and make everything wrong in your life, right, you're not alone. But watch what you wish for, Chrissy Everstar just might show up and make everything worse.


Savannah's life is pretty good, until her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister right before prom. Then at the party where she intended to find a new prom date, a guy who happens to be her ex's best friend, embarrasses her in front of everyone. With so many jerks out there, where's a prince when you need one?


Savannah doesn't think her life can get any worse. Then Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar shows up to grant her three wishes. Sounds great, right? Well, it would've been if Chrissy knew how to grant good wishes. But when Savannah wishes for her own Cinderella story, Chrissy zaps her back to the Middle Ages and Savannah finds out that life is pretty rough for Cinderella. The prince is an incredible snob, too. After enough chores and bad food to last a lifetime, Savannah begs Chrissy for a prince that's kind, but still handsome. And...presto....she's Snow White.


Snow White isn't too bright, according to the dwarves, who treat Savannah like she's a serious mental case. But Snow White has a load of chores too, and Prince Hubert is a clueless wonder. As a emancipated modern teenager, Savannah's had enough. She demands that Chrissy restore her to the 21st century and find her a princely prom date who's smart, handsome, and kind.


Zap!


Savannah arrives home safe and sound and ever so happy to see the refrigerator and shower. But Tristan, the boy who accidentally embarrassed her at the party, suddenly disappears and Savannah guesses how. She already knew that Chrissy wasn't a very good fairy godmother - only fair - but now Tristan is gone and Savannah is the only one who knows where. And since no one would believe her if she told anyone, it's up to her to get him back. After learning of a clause in Chrissy's contract that allows Savannah to supervise her wishes, Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to help Tristan defeat an ogre, vanquish a dragon, and become a 'prince' so he can return home.


Things get a little more complicated when she meets the handsome princes of the kingdom and Tristan is on the verge of marrying the princess. Then there's the mysterious Black Knight that Savannah can't get out of her head. What follows is a fun romp of deceit, intrigue, and romance with a few delicious twists thrown in. How does a girl survive a ball as Cinderella, Snow White, and a girl trying to get back home - all at the same time? She might have pulled it off if it weren't for one step mother trying to poison her and the other scheming to send her back home to sweep cinders from the fireplace. Good thing her knight in shining armour (pun intended) shows up, but you'll have to read the book to find out who he is.


Market: YA
Language: Mild
Sensuality: Mild
Violence: Mild
Mature Themes: None


Book format:
Paperback
e-book


To learn more about the author, visit: Janette Rallison

6 comments:

Natalie Gorna said...

Ah...another fairy tale retelling. Great choice! I'm OBSESSED (well, more or less) with fairy tale novels, and this one sounds like one I would definitely read sometime soon. In fact, I'm going to check if it's in the library now. By the way, another fairy tale novel where "Prince Charming" is a complete loser is Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, which is a non-magical version of Cinderella. Anyway, congrats, Jen! You wrote a very good review here. :)

Anonymous said...

Great review, Jen! I loved this book. Like Natalie, I love fairy tales in general. This one had everything a fairy tale-loving gal could ever want!!! And the premise is so clever and well-executed.

La said...

Fairy Tale retellings are FUN! I love Ella Enchanted, and another good one is the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier!

Laura howard said...

Ooops, it's me, Laura that left that review...I got a little ahead of myself sorry!

pie said...

I giggle my way through Janette Rallison's books. I don't know how her heroines don't unite in protest against the crazy situations she puts them in, but they always manage to comport themselves with admirable aplomb.

Laura, I really like Juliet Marillier's books too. She's a world-building master.

Donna @ Snowbound said...

Infarrantly Creative sent me, and I’m following you on google. This looks like a fun book to read, I'll have to give it a try.