I have not featured Camryn for a couple of Tuesdays here as New York threw my scheduling for a loop. Now, Camryn’s Tuesday YA reviews are back, Camryn is a little older since she was last featured here 😉 … and she is sharing with us about the book, Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. Seriously… cover love alone would have caused me to pick this book up!
~Sheila
Fairest
Fairest is a novel written by Gail Carson Levine. Aza is very insecure; she feels she was born ugly, and the guests at her adoptive parent’s inn don’t help the matter by staring, or not looking at her at all. But Aza has a skill that makes up for her lack of beauty; she is an amazing singer. She has even learned how to throw her voice and imitate sounds. This is a skill she calls illuse-ing. One day, one of the guests at the inn is without a traveling partner to go to the palace to see the royal wedding of the King and his bride, Ivi, Aza is chosen to accompany her. At the palace, Aza becomes Ivi’s lady-in-waiting. She meets a handsome prince, Ijori, and likes him quite a bit, and he doesn’t seem to mind her looks. But everything turns sour when Queen Ivi demands a dangerous task from Aza, threatening her parents livelihood should she refuse. Aza is forced to do the Queen’s bidding, but the real question is, at what cost?
I loved this book. I’ve read Ella Enchanted by this author as well. It’s really good fantasy, but probably for a younger audience. So a few interesting details I picked up out of the story is that they live in Ayortha, where everyone’s name ends with the same vowel it starts with. And it made me interested in htun, but I doubt it actually exists. I think this would be a great gift for someone less than fifteen years old. I would recommend it to any fantasy fan or anyone looking for a good suspenseful book.
Camryn is
1213 years old, and enjoys reading YA books of the fantasy and romance genre. A few of her favorite books are “Hourglass” by Myra McEntire, “The Other Countess” by Eve Edwards, “Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick, “The Immortals” series, the “Marked” series and the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” series. When she’s not reading she enjoys watching Gilmore Girls or going to book sales for more books to add to her ever-growing collection.
Book Journey 
Since there is so much singing in this one, this is a great one to get the audio book!
Oh now that sounds like fun!
Great review Camryn. I read and loved Ella Enchanted but haven’t read this one yet.
@LibrarianMarian Have you listened to the audio? And if so, can the narrator sing well? I’ve read a few books where a narrator sings the lyrics and it’s just an uncomfortable disaster 🙂
Greta questions Laurie – I am curious about that too!
I have not listened to the audio, but I should now that you mention it. It would be quite the experience.
Happy birthday, Camryn! Great review, as always! Thank you!
Ahhh… had to pop in and say Alison, that is so sweet of you! 😀
Thanks for this review Camryn. We have this one on our bookshelf and my daughter and I want to read it.
I want to read it too Laura!
Sheila, I think I’m making your stack of books to read higher with each review…..:P
I love this book! I want to try the audiobook some time soon, because, I mean–it’s singing! And I can’t hear it that way very well in my head, so it would be amazing to hear it out loud. A friend recommended it to me, or it would never have occurred to me.
Fantastic to know Cheryl! I want to find the audio too!
If you get the audio, I would love to borrow it
As usual nice review by Camryn.. Will surely add this book in my collection in coming months 🙂
http://ujvalslounge.com
Thanks for stopping and reading!
I enjoyed this as an audio! It’s done by a full cast and they all sing very well! One or two songs get waaaaay long, but overall it was a lot of fun! Great review!
I think if I get a chance I need to try this on audio 🙂
I loved the Ella Enchanted book, and I have another of Gail Carson Levine’s book in my TBR, The Two Princesses of Bamarre. This one sounds interesting as well.
Happy Belated Birthday Camryn, and as always, great review!