The Fairy Godmother

Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 1

By: Mercedes Lackey

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

From the best-selling author of the Heralds of Valdemar series comes an enchanting new novel.

In the land of Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale....

Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella - until an accident of fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! Determined not to remain with her stepfamily, Elena set out to get a new job - and ended up becoming the Fairy Godmother for the land.

But "Breaking with Tradition" was no easy matter. True, she didn't have to sleep in the chimney, but she had to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who kept trying to rise above their place in the tale. In fact, one of them was so ornery that Elena could do nothing but change him into a donkey.

Still, her practical nature couldn't let him roam the country, so she brought the donkey - er, the prince! - home to her cottage to teach him some lessons. All the while keeping in mind that breaking with tradition can land everyone into a kettle of fish - sometimes literally!

And so begins a whole new tale....

©2004 Mercedes Lackey (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

well done

I was feeling a bit dissappointed when I thought it was turning into a Cinderella story. A unique spin on on this old tale, delightful, cute & entertaining.

a nice variation

Good story. Fun read. Good narrator. Worth the Audible credit.

This is a Cinderella story where Cinderella rejects the traditional ending in favor of something new, or at least new-ish.

Fun Story

Would you try another book from Mercedes Lackey and/or Gabra Zackman?

I will definitely try another Mercedes Lackey book. This was a light, very enjoyable read.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the way the author brought a twist to the old Cinderella tale and interwove other fairy tale characters into the story. It was quite fun to suddenly see a connection to another story I've known all my life. Very creative and Gabra Zachman did a great job on the voices.

Great for a long car ride!

The narrator's voice brought the story to a colorful life. The story is a great imagination of how fairy tales work.

Fairytales for the lighted hearted

What would happen if Cinderella's prince charming was six years old, what is a fairy godmother to do. This is a most delightful tale.

Working with, and bucking the, "Tradition"

Great concept and very well-rendered in this fun and absorbing series. The opener is one of the best. I read this twice, long years past. Just listened to it a third time, and it is a wonderful twist on the Tradition, and a great opener to the series.

Enjoyable twist on a Fairy Tale

the story was fun and keeps your attention characters interesting, loose ends are tied up and a Happily Ever After guaranteed to make you smile. Performance was also very enjoyable,. I recommend this to anyone who reads fantasy. 👍😊

Enjoyable listen with adventure, love and fun!

Would you listen to The Fairy Godmother again? Why?

Yes, its an old favourite story and the performance is good.
Its a good introduction into Mercedes Lackey's series: The Five Hundred Kingdoms.
An enjoyable story with a worthy orphan girl, an evil stepmother, a Fairy Godmother, silly prince and redemption.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Fairy Godmother?

I did like the cat skidding down the armour and into the giants hand!

One of my favorite fantasy series !

I've always been drawn to fantasy but the 500 Kingdoms series is different in that I continue to re-read/listen to the 5 available on Audible more than any other series I own (and that is A LOT)
These stories are some of best fairy tales for adults I've found. Just the thing to listen to after a stressful day to get my head back in the clouds where it belongs!

Very cute

This was a very cute twist on a Cinderella fairy tale. I really enjoyed this.