Fairest

Name: Fairest
Brand: Recorded Books
Availability: InStock
Author: Gail Carson Levine
ISBN: 9781490683980

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Narrator: Soneela Nankani

Unabridged: 8 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 12/18/2015

Categories: Children's Fiction, Fairy Tales, Children's Humor

Synopsis

Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty . . . Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light--especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom. "A song-filled, fast-paced fairy tale."--Kirkus Reviews Inventive and original --KLIATT Readers will instantly fall in love with the heroine, whose heart proves to be as warm as her voice. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) [Readers will] sink into the fairy-tale romance, the remarkable characters, and the wild, magical adventures. --ALA Booklist

About Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine's first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Ever, a New York Times bestseller; Fairest, a Best Book of the Year for Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and a New York Times bestseller; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; A Tale of Two Castles; Stolen Magic; The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre; Ogre Enchanted; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction books Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink, as well as the picture books Betsy Who Cried Wolf and Betsy Red Hoodie. Gail Carson Levine and her husband, David, live in a two-centuries-old farmhouse in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rachel on January 20, 2011

I pulled this book off of the Young Adult shelves expecting some light fiction, but I really enjoyed some of the deeper meanings behind this story! Yes, it is a retelling of Snow White, but with insights that really apply to most women today. First of all, the two most prominent female characters are......more

Goodreads review by Riannon on July 22, 2008

When I read a book, especially when I read fantasy, I find myself mentally putting myself in the place of the protagonist. Which is why my very favorite books of all time are the books that have strongly developed protagonists that I can identify with well in some way or another. I had a hard time e......more

Goodreads review by Angela on March 05, 2009

This was a really pathetic book - a sad departure Levine's other fantastic novels. The idea was interesting (a take on the story of "Snow White" where her desirable trait isn't beauty, but instead is her singing voice), but the execution was horrible. The book staggered under one major inconsistency:......more

Goodreads review by Aj the Ravenous Reader on April 12, 2016

The title of this book suggests that the story would be a fantastic tale about a beautiful young girl in distress who is the fairest of all waiting to be scooped away by a fine handsome prince. But that is not the story of this book at all which makes it really unique especially that the title total......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on May 02, 2012

Snow White but so much more. When I picked up this volume I was unaware of the ties to Ella Enchanted so I giggled maniacally when I came to mentions of Sir Peter of Frell and Areida. I love Ella but I feel like with Aza there is so much more like Levine simply stepped everthing up a notch. I think......more