Fairest

by Gail Carson Levine

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Fairest was a cross between Singin' in the Rain and Snow White.

Aza, our Snow White is not beautiful as she is described in fairy tales but is actually described as a dog with a beautiful personality and singing voice. Unfortunately, it is difficult for people to get past her ugly face and see the wonderful person she is.

That is until she accompanies a duchess (as her ladies maid) to a royal wedding catching the eye of the new queen and promoted to Lady in Waiting. There is an ulterior motive. Queen Ivi can't sing worth shit (a very important asset to the community) and asks Aza to sing for her ventriloquist style, after threatening her family Aza is forced to do her bidding.

This is where I felt the Singin' in the Rain vibe. Debbie Reynolds must lip-sync for a silent picture star and with the transition to talkies her annoying voice would ruin her career. Of course Jean Hagen is exposed as a fraud and Debbie is hailed. The only difference is that Aza snags a prince.

After her husband becomes gravely ill, Evil Ivi is pronounced ruler. She disposes everything which annoys her, short of music. When her "talent" finally uncovered Aza is sent (supposedly) to her death. The premise after her escape is well known. She lives with gnomes instead of dwarfs and is one day addressed by an ugly hag. This hag not only offers her an apple but string laces and a comb, both are the other two attempts in the Grimm fairy tale, and I really liked that Gail Carson Levine added that touch. In the end Aza chokes up the apple and she and her true love Prince Ijori live happily ever after.

I personally, thought the middle was a little slow but overall I like this retelling. Fairest was sweet and unique and had a great moral; that inner beauty is more important the outer.