Katherine Harbour's Blog - Posts Tagged "dark-fairy-tale"

Grim Lovelies
I love ensemble casts and this dark fairy tale inspired by Cinderella's animal helpers is one of the best. In contemporary Paris, Anouk is a delicate and ornate girl, maid to a witch who is like a wicked stepmother. All of the witch's servants were formerly animals and dread returning to that state. They are: Beau the chauffeur, (missing) Luke the butler/gardener, Hunter Black the assassin, and Cricket the cat burglar.
Anouk's world falls apart when the witch is murdered. It means the spell that keeps them human will end. They set out on a quest to find another witch who might help. Along the way, they encounter dangerous witches' boys, London-punk, Mad Hatter-like Goblins, a darkling prince, and the conniving, immortal Royals who think they rule the world. It's a gorgeous story that surprised me, with a protagonist whose innocence doesn't keep her from fiercely trying to secure a happy ending for her small family.