Rating: 
Summary: Not Really Cinderella
Review: The Fairy Godmother is a modern fairy tale. In the five hundred kingdoms, the Tradition governs almost everything, generating magic to manipulate the lives of individuals onto well-trod paths. Some of the paths of Tradition are bright and promising, but others are dark and deadly. Fairy Godmothers and Wizards try to shape the Tradition into more benevolent paths. They are assisted by white Witches and Hedge Wizards who dispense beneficial potions and minor magics. When black magicians cause chaos and corruption, the Godmothers and Wizards can call upon white Sorcerers and Sorceresses to fight the evil ones. In this novel, Elena Cinders is treated worse than the servants by her step-mother and step-sisters. She does all the mean and nasty chores while Madame, Daphne, and Delphinium mingle with the upper crust of Otraria. She only has two blouses and two skirts to wear and she herself had to carve her shoes out of wood. She used to sleep on the kitchen floor before the hearth, but was allowed to move to a garret room when the former occupant, one of the maidservants, refused to remain in that dark space. Obviously this story is a retelling of Cinderella. But Elena is nineteen and the local prince is only eleven years old! Moreover, Madame and the horrid sisters pack everything readily portable and move out of town, leaving Elena behind! What is going on here? Elena learns that she is one of those people whose destiny has been frustrated by inauspicious circumstances. The Tradition has generated more and more magic to force her on the proper path, but the appropriate elements are just not there. Now she has an enormous store of magic with nothing to do and nowhere to go. Madame Bella is the local Fairy Godmother and has been keeping an eye on Elena for some time. Now she offers to train Elena as a Fairy Godmother or, if she chooses otherwise, to at least drain off the surplus magic. Elena decides to become an apprentice to the Fairy Godmother and off they go to Madame Bella's magic cottage in the woods. This story draws upon all the fairy tales that we have learned as children to create the Tradition, a powerful if nonpersonal force in the lives of these characters. While the Fairy Godmothers were initially all Fair Folks, the demand was so great that now most are really humans. Even so, every Godmother is responsible for several kingdoms and is backup for others. Moreover, good apprentices are hard to find, so Elena finds herself welcomed warmly into the fellowship. Since evil magicians target the Fairy Godmothers first whenever they try to take over a kingdom, the Godmothers usually pose as common witches, dispensing potions, minor magic and good advice among the common folk. Since Elena already knows how to distill essences and prepare ointments, Madame Bella concentrates upon teaching her the use of magic. Madame Bella and Elena are served -- voluntarily -- by four house elves who take care of the house and grounds. The extra help is necessary since the cottage is much bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside. There are also gardens and orchards to weed and harvest on the property as well as an elderly donkey to tend. This story is mostly about the hopes and fears of Elena as well as her uncommon sense and growing maturity. However, there are also moments of action and terror and of romance and fulfillment. Overall, this tale is a satisfying, if unconventional, read. Highly recommended for Lackey fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of brave and practical young ladies facing an uncertain future. -Arthur W. Jordin
Rating: 
Summary: Delightful and Entertaining
Review: This book was so delightful to read. I love the Valdemar series and eagerly anticipate each new installment, but I am also coming to love the "Fairy Tale" books she has been putting out. The story was sweet and funny, leading us through fairy tales we have grown up with and made them different and entertaining for adults again. I hope that the Five Hundred Kingdoms will soon become another beloved series, like Valdemar is.
Rating:
Summary: Appealing and Involving
Review: This was a book that certainly kept my interest. The whole concept of The Tradition and its affect on the inhabitants of the Five Hundred Kingdoms was both unique and involving. The romance, however, I felt budded a bit too quickly to make it believable, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book non-the-less.
Rating:
Summary: A delightfully different book by Lackey
Review: I've read many of Mercedes Lackey's books, and this had a delightfully different style and feel. Rather that have the story bog down with tedious battle scenes, the plot tripped along, with the feel of a classic fairy tale. I almost didn't read this book because the Valdemar series has become rather stale. I'm glad I picked it up. A clever approach to beloved old fairy tales.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable romp of a fantasy!
Review: While I will agree with those who say that this novel is not on the same level as some Mercedes Lackey's other work, I truly enjoyed reading it. I don't think that this novel was intended to be an Epic Tale or a Deep Story. What it turns out to be is a fun and engaging story that puts a delightfully wry spin on the classic fairy tales that most of us grew up with. Dry humor is present in abundance, and I spent much of the time that I was reading the book in a state of simple delight. What brings together the admittedly improbable elements of a fairy tale? Where do Fairy Godmothers/Good Fairies come from? MUST they always be single? What happens when fairy tales ALMOST happen? What would happen if two lines of "fairy tale" mythology (West European and Russian, for example) bumped into eachother? Lackey comes up with creative answers to all of those questions, and manages to keep a sense of fun flowing through this story of frustrated archetypes, unexpeced romance, fairy tale micro-management, and magical trouble-shooting.
Rating:
Summary: The Compleat Guide to Becoming a Fairy Godmother
Review: Mercedes Lackey fills us in the hows and whyfores of the sociology and economy of magical existance. Just how do you become empowered, and why it is necessary to have fairy tale kingdoms? As someone who was raised reading the Andrew Lang collections, this was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romp.
Rating:
Summary: A good Saturday afternoon read
Review: This is a very interesting fantasy story in a world where the tradition (fairy tales) is what keeps the world moving. In reading it, I did not realize it was a romance. Although there is a romance in the novel, Lackey almost always includes romances in her stories, and usually they are a lot more interesting. Elena herself (the protagonist) has the same characteristics as many of Lackey's previous female heroines, although she is more two dimensional than usual for Lackey.
What is interesting about this story is her concept of fairy tales powering the magic of a world and the powers of the people inside it. The secondary characters also held my interest well; I particularly liked the brownies that inhabit Elena's house. This novel is better than I have come to expect from Lackey recently (e.g. Take a Thief, Joust), but not as good as her earlier work (e.g. By the Sword, Jinx High). In short, a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday, but nothing I will need to re-read.
Rating: 
Summary: FUN ROMP THROUGH FAIRY TALE LAND
Review: Picture a world where fairy tails are historical fact and magic, through the force of Tradition, guides a person's pathway throughout life. Now take one failed Cinderella, they can't all get a prince you know, with no desire to live out her life slaving away to evil stepsisters and make her a Godmother, kind of a magical troubleshooter. Then take a real prince, an arrogant selfish SOB admittedly, but still a real prince. Put the two together and ...
What you end up with is a lighthearted, funny romp through a delightfully new and interesting universe. It may be no award winner, it is very predictable, starts slow and a little short on action, but it's still fun and interesting. The romance between the characters is very well done and interesting to follow. The storyline is obvious but fun; sometimes mystery isn't all it's cracked up to be. I rate is as average but I admit I enjoyed it and certainly RECOMMEND it to those who like a little lighthearted fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Check it out...
Review: I thought the book was great! It was my first Mercedes Lackey novel and it led me to read other works by her (such as The Black Swan, another book I enjoyed). Given the mixed reviews, and individual tastes for romance vs. fantasy, I would recommend you check it out at the library before buying.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Lackey Fan
Review: I am not a Lackey fan. Her work is sound but, I have never been a fan of the multiple volume series that Lackey is famous for producing with regularity. I did find that "The Fairy Godmother" is a refreshing twist on the Cinderella fairy tale. I original purchased the book, with no intention of reading it, because it is the kick-off of the new Luna imprint. This book is a relatively easy read with a sound plot and conflict structure to capture the reader's attention. If you are looking for Fantasy prose I suggest anything by Patricia A. McKillip. Lackey's work is solid and worth the seventeen and change.
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