My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Summary
Savannah is a modern day high school sophomore with serious boy trouble, most recently losing her boyfriend to her older sister. Chrysanthemum (Chrissy) Everstar, a fairy godmother in training, is dispatched to assist. Chrissy sends Savannah to medieval times to live first as Cinderella and then as Snow White, dragging a few of Savannah's peers along for the ride as well. Savannah and the others have their work cut out for them, surviving Chrissy's extreme solution for finding Savannah a prom date. No wonder Chrissy is considered only a "fair" godmother. This is first of Janette Rallison's books featuring the involvement (or interference) of Chrysanthemum Everstar.

Comments
I found this book while looking for fairy tale retellings. It's fun getting to check out two fairy tales in this book, with Cinderella and Snow White as contemporaries. This becomes problem for Savannah, since people native to the fairy tale now believe that both fairy tale characters look like Savannah. For the fairy tale elements, the story is more about "why you don't really want to live in medieval times" than about deeper explorations into the fairy tales themselves. Overall, the story is an enjoyable romantic comedy about modern characters dealing with an unfamiliar time and culture on top of their relationship woes.

Disclosure
I bought a digital copy of this book.

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Other Books in this Series
My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison
My Fairly Dangerous Godmother by Janette Rallison

Corpse on the Cob by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Summary
Odelia Grey has a knack for finding dead bodies, but she has bigger problems now, going on a trip to reconnect with her estranged mother. It turns out that Odelia may have more in common with her mother than she expected, for when she finds her mother, her mother just happens to be with a dead body. In the midst of this book's mystery, Odelia is joined by old friends and new family, working together to solve the dastardly crime that's marred an otherwise enjoyable New England fall.

Comments
Corpse on the Cob is the fifth book in the Odelia Grey mystery series, but it is the second book that I read by Sue Ann Jaffarian. I tried a book from another of her series digitally and then found this book on the shelf in the library in late August 2013. I was intrigued by the mystery, but what I really fell in love with were the characters and the descriptions of their world. The story takes place in New England, and the descriptions of the area harmonized perfectly with my own experiences in the area. Odelia Grey, middle-aged and plus-sized, is a refreshingly "real person" protagonist, especially to an avid reader of YA novels. Although the book is a fair way into its series, the author neatly explains anything you might need to know from previous novels. The story stands on its own just fine. I give it a content rating of TV-14.

Disclosure
I checked out this book from a library.

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Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

Summary
The King's new Queen looks forward to a fresh start, leaving behind the legacy of her mirror-making father for a life of caring for her new husband, his daughter, and their kingdom. The Queen and her stepdaughter, Snow White, are off to a great start, until the arrival of the King's creepy cousins, The Odd Sisters. Although you probably already know how the story turns out, this retelling is an intriguing explanation for how the characters got there.

Comments
This book is the first in its series, and it also marked the beginning of my reading adventures in 2019. Fairest of All caught my attention when the Kindle version went on sale in April 2017. I was reminded of it in late 2018 when I found out that another mom in my circle was fond of the series. This book introduces the Odd Sisters, relatives of Snow White's father, and a driving force for events in multiple books in the series. The Evil Queen shown in the Disney animated film appears toward the end of the book, but not before the reader has a chance to see a very different Queen. I was pleasantly surprised by the story.

Disclosure
I purchased a digital copy of this book.

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Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Fairest by Marissa Meyer

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

Summary
An orphan, a prince, a ball . . . you may think you've heard this story before. But did you hear about the stolen treasure? Or the mysterious otherworldly lady who is somehow connected to it all?

Comments
There is a Cinderella story underlying The Amaranth Enchantment, but this is by no means an ordinary retelling. Don't get me wrong, I love fairy tale retellings, and it doesn't bother me to have retellings follow the general form of the originals. This story absolutely amazed me. It still felt like the retelling worlds that I love to visit, but there were plenty of surprises. The most spoiler-free comment I can give is that it explores "the rest of the story," not just the main Cinderella-like heroine's tale. No story-less stepmothers here!

Disclosure
I checked out this book from the library. Then I bought a physical copy. And then a digital copy. And then another physical copy, because the author herself was present to sign it! So, yes, I really like this book. :)

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Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram
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Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Summary
A beloved daughter is accidentally, but nevertheless irrevocably, marked for sacrifice. The god of wind loves her and wants to save her. But mortals cannot live in the home of the gods, and gods do not dwell among the dead . . .

Comments
Spoiler alert! This is a retelling of Cupid and Psyche. Those familiar with Greek mythology will have a fair idea of how that story goes. When I first read the book, I recognized the Greek aspect, despite its translation into a fictional world, but I missed the beauty of Cupid and Psyche. Thanks to C. S. Lewis's 'Til We Have Faces, I now have a greater appreciation for the story, or rather for the story within the story. It's Beauty and the Beast at heart, with impossible alliances realized through love. When I read looking for another chapter of Ella Enchanted, I was dissappointed. Now I think I should probably read it again. :)

Disclosure
I checked out this book from the library, and I will probably do so again.

Copied by S. M. Anderson

Summary
Xan's world is turned upside down when his community blames him for the fire that nearly killed him. Nobody believes his story about not remembering how he ended up in the fire in the first place. There were too many witnesses who saw him start the blaze. Only Lacey, the school genius, thinks Xan might be telling the truth. When Xan and Lacey catch Xan's mysterious evil twin, Beta23, they discover their troubles are far from over. Xan and his twin are clones, genetically modified copies of another person, created by a secretive corporation. The fire was only the beginning: Xan is under recall.

Comments
S. M. Anderson's debut novel is full of action, suspense, and even a hint of romance. I liked the characters well enough to want to find out what happens next (hint, hint about writing a sequel?), especially since the story ends with plenty of room for further adventures. I found the scientific aspects of the clones believable, and I also enjoyed the philosophical portions examining the nature of individuality. A solid YA read, fairly clean, but perhaps warranting a PG/PG-13 rating for thematic material and possibly a bit of language (from the perspective of someone who sometimes finds language issues in G-rated films).

Disclosure
I purchased this book in ebook form.

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