Week 46 Review: How to Summon a Fairy Godmother

From Goodreads:

If a fairy godmother can get one sister into a marriage, getting another out of one should be easy… 

Lady Theodosia Balfour has certainly gotten the short end of the stick—her stepsister, the newly crowned Princess Beatrice, is telling everyone in polite society that Theo, her sister, and their mother are evil, wicked, and horrid people who treated her like a slave. Though Theo knows this isn't exactly true, it seems her life is thoroughly ruined by the rumor. With the Balfour family estate on the verge of bankruptcy, Theo's only path forward is a forced betrothal to the Duke of Snowbell, a foul-tempered geezer who wishes only to use her as a brood mare for spare heirs. 

Desperate for help, Theo clings to the only thing that might save the rumor of a fairy godmother, one that supposedly helped her stepsister secure a prince. After discovering a way to summon a fairy in Beatrice's old room, Theo thinks her prayers have been answered. But the fairy she meets isn't at all what she imagined. Drop-dead gorgeous, incredibly cunning, and slightly devious, Cecily of the Ash Fairies is much more interested in gathering powerful favors and smoking her pipe than providing charitable magic for humans in a bind.

Before she receives magical assistance, Cecily sets Theo to three tasks, seemingly to prove that Theo is a selfless and kind person. Helping her along the way are Cecily's familiars, the flirty human-turned-mockingbird Phineas and the aloof Kasra, a fox shapeshifter who should not be as handsome as he is for someone with such cutting remarks. As Theo works on her tasks, she shockingly finds kinship with the magical creatures she's helping, and starts to wonder if a continued life among her human peers is what she really wants after all.

From debut author Laura J. Mayo comes a hilarious new spin on the Cinderella tale!

My Review:
This was such a fantastic read! I loved the idea of a Cinderella retelling, but from the perspective of one of her stepsisters! And oh, it was such a terrific read! I really enjoyed watching Theo having to do these tasks for her fairy godmother, so she can get out of a marriage.

Theo is not the most likeable, between her personality, and the way that she was raised, which was to give little thought to others. Now that her stepsister had her tale, things haven't been well for her family-leading to an engagement to a Duke who has a grandchild her age. Who expects children, even though she doesn't like kids. So I fully understand why she wanted out of that situation.

That these tasks require her to help other people, to think of them, was great character growth. It came in fits and starts, but slowly she became more aware, of others and her own actions, which was great to read! I really enjoyed her journey! 

Watching as she did these tasks was great, it gave us a chance to get to know this world, of fairy godmothers, of fae, and that was fascinating to read! Given how things resolved, with where we left Theo and bargains, has me really excited to see where things go from here! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel! 

Author: Laura J. Mayo
Series: Fairies and Familiars #1
Read: November 11th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a 2024 Retelling Reading Challenge Book, DAC Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Orbit 
Published: October 8th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars