Thanks to Janeen Ippolito and H.L. Burke of Indie Book Magic, who discussed and recommended this book a number of episodes ago. Not sure which. I bought the book (Thanks, A Libris!) and it's been sitting and waiting for months to be read.
Thursey is a Cinderella, with the requisite mean, ugly stepmother and nasty stepsisters and being forced to do all the work while her sisters go man-hunting. BUT there are differences. They run an inn, her father is missing after a devastating war rocked their kingdom, and Thursey is a bookworm. Well, she loves to read, and she loves stories, and when she hears a wonderful story told by a traveler who comes to their inn, she writes it down and illustrates it. And she keeps her books hidden from the Uglies, because lowerclass people who can read could be accused of evil magic.
Yes, there's a handsome prince, and she is given a gorgeous gown and provided transportation to the ball, but .... well, her "faerie godmother" is actually a fat traveling monk, and the dress comes from her dear friend, the goatherd, and just like in the Disney version, the Uglies find the dress on the eve of the ball and shred it. But magic does prevail.
This is a fast read, a delightful way to pass a cold winter night. You might just see yourself in Thursey, and your heart will be touched by her friends and how she gets her father back, even as his death is finally confirmed. Lovely. Thanks, J and H, for the recommendation.
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