Fairest - Gail Carson Levine Book Review

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Review Summaries

"Abandoned as an infant, Aza lives with her adoptive family at the inn they run in the kingdom of Ayortha. Considered ugly, with her pale complexion, blood red lips, black hair, and large frame, the taunting and gawking of the inn patrons causes Aza to shy away from others and feel self-concious. Her only reprieve comes from singing - in a land where song is an integral part of society, Aza's voice is an undeniable gift. When tending to a guest room one day, Aza accidently stumbles upon a new way to use her talent - she discovers the ability to project her voice - or 'illusing,' as she calls it - to sound from anywhere in the room, a talent that proves to be very rare and coveted. At age fifteen, when the duchess of Olixo, a frequent guest at the inn, unexpectedly invites Aza to accompany her to the Ayorthaian king's wedding, she finds herself amid oppourtunities she never imagined. King Oscaro's bride, Ivi, befriends Aza, presenting to her the position of the queen's lady-in-waiting, with the promise of land, riches, and the chance to hold the title of Lady; thinking she would be able to help her family with the money, she accepts the offer. But when misfortune strikes the king, Queen Ivi's true nature is revealed when she blackmails Aza into illusing for her at the king's 'Healing Sing,' and at any point thereafter when singing was required. As if that wasn't enough, unrest and backlash against Ivi and Aza rises throughout the kingdom, after the queen's unfair rule outlaws singing, exiles birds from the palace, and refuses aid to people in need. Despairing and still yearning for the acceptance of those around her, Aza finds solace in her blossoming friendship with the king's nephew, Prince Ijori, until disaster strikes when a confrontation between Ivi and several of her attendants leads to the revelation of the illusing deal between the queen and her lady-in-waiting - Ivi twists the blame onto Aza, and after cruel accusations are made about her possible half-non-human ancestry and some unwitting magic takes place, Aza is thrown into the dungeon. "
Jessica Sayers, Resident Gail Carson Levine Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 80%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - servant
Age: - a teen
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - a teen
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed - deluded
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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