Ella Enchanted

 
Ella Enchanted
Gail Carson Levine

 Think you know Cinderella? Think again.

"That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift. 'My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying child.' "

When Ella was born, she cried through the first hour of her life. Lucinda was a fairy and she put the 'gift' on Ella. Any command Ella is given, she must obey. A wish cannot effect her like 'I wish you'd put on a jumper' but 'Put on a jumper' would cause her to put on a jumper. As she grows up, she learns to delay obeying for minutes, but this causes dizziness, nausea and other effects.

When her mother dies and her father endeavours to find her a wealthy husband, Ella is sent off to finishing school with two sisters whom she despises, by their mother who she also doesn't like. Ella goes on a quest to find Lucinda and to break the curse.

Faced with ogres, giants, an errant fairy and her father, she much go against the rules of magic to find her freedom and save the one she loves.

Until next time,

Atra du evarinya ono varda,
(May the stars watch over you)

Samantha.