Bibliography: Berry, Julie. (2009). The Amaranth Enchantment. New York: Bloomsbury Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-1599903347
Plot Summary: 15 year old orphan Lucinda leads a pretty dreary life, working as a servant in her uncle’s jewelry shop. When the unusual stone belonging to a witch is stolen from Lucinda, she must get it back. In the process, she makes a friend, learns to be a thief, finds a pet goat, learns about her past, falls in love, and fights for her life.
Critical Analysis: The characters make this novel sparkle. Spunky and orphan Lucinda, a charming thief Peter who is a true friend in the end and a prince who manages to forgive and follow his heart are at the center of this imaginative and original story. Throw in an evil aunt in place of a stepmother, a good witch who is young and pretty, and a villain who works for the king and has been committing horrible acts for generations, and this brief fairy tale becomes an adventure full of excitement, danger and life and death.
I really enjoyed the fairy tale conventions–among them a mysterious young girl dances with a prince then dashes off without telling her true identity, a witch helps a young girl prepare for a fancy ball, a prince lost for years and thought dead returns to his family, a goat that acts like a pet dog, more than just loyal, protecting his mistress and seeming to have at least nine lives. I think young readers who have read fairy tale collections and older readers who enjoy retold fairy tales will enjoy this story very much.
Readalikes: I felt the strongest resonance in this story to the Cinderella story. There are several retellings out there, I would recommend Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George as a good match. George has created the same kind of made up world that seems familiar and a cast of characters that feel like friends, including a spunky heroine who is determined to save her friends even if it means putting herself in danger.
Review Excerpts: ”Intriguing characters, fine plotting, and a richly worked narrative carry the reader into Lucinda’s vaguely medieval world….Tamora Pierce fans will particularly appreciate Berry’s smoothly rendered first novel, where magic and historically accurate courtly rites are balanced with Lucinda’s maturing sense of independence, fate, and self.”–Booklist
“Berry’s enticing debut novel teems with romance, danger and suspense….Fantasy buffs will delight in the author’s playful use of fairy tale conventions….But the book’s main appeal comes from the revelations of many secrets and unexpected twists….leaving readers with enough unanswered questions to set imaginations spinning.”–Publisher’s Weekly
“Berry crafts a beautiful fairy tale in her debut novel. Readers will find themselves swept away by the action and captivated by the suspense, while the many twists advance the plot superbly and keep the reader’s imagination spinning….Like a blooming flower, her story is delightfully surprising novel.”–VOYA
“Berry plays with elements of traditional folklore-the poor orphan deprived of her birthright, the desirable woman who flees the prince after a few bewitching dances, royals disguised as indigents, and greed run amok. Romantics and fantasy lovers will happily devour this debut novel.”–School Library Journal
“A lively, quick, stylish, engaging first novel with some lovely, familiar fairy-tale elements.”–Kirkus Reviews
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