First published 1998
Ella's childhood curse forces her to obey any order, no matter how absurd. Trapped by this enchantment, she struggles to be her own person. When her mother dies, Ella is sent to live with her cruel stepmother, who exploits the curse for sadistic games. Ella's only solace is her fairy godmother, who teaches her the magic to break free. But as Ella falls for the charming prince, the curse threatens to destroy her one chance at love and independence. Can Ella muster the strength to shatter this cruel enchantment and become the master of her own destiny?
Genres: coming-of-age, fantasy, young-adult, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
232 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Inc.
Content warnings: abuse, emotional-abuse