A unique Cinderella reimagining with elements of Sleeping Beauty and even some inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials, Wish of the Wicked is told from the fairy godmother’s point of view and begins when she is young. Farrow’s life takes on a whole new trajectory when all of the other members of the Entente are seemingly killed, and vengeance becomes Farrow’s sole goal.

I’ve read and watched a bunch of fairy tale retellings, but I haven’t read many from a fairy godmother’s perspective. I have to say, this story was not what I expected, but not in a bad way! It feels so unique and fresh while still maintaining some of the core pieces of Cinderella. Paige seamlessly weaves so many different elements from Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty with new and original characters and plot elements, and it makes for an entertaining read.

The story has a unique and intriguing premise, and I enjoyed learning more about the Entente’s, their relationships with each other and the Fates, and how they’ve evolved and survived. And the plot has so many twists that I didn’t see coming! I love that. It is not a predictable story in many ways, and it was exciting to see the story take so many unexpected (and a few really shocking) turns.

The characters are fantastic, too, and I especially enjoyed Farrow’s character arc. She is a compelling protagonist who has gone through a lot, and to see her seek vengeance, learn more about her loved ones, work with old and new allies, and reexamine her relationships and goals shows how complex and layered she is. The secondary characters are intriguing as well, as are the themes of sisterhood, family, and standing up for what is right even if it goes against those you love. I think this is especially noticeable when Farrow reunites with some of those she thought she lost. Years have passed, and many of her family don’t have the same beliefs and moral compass Farrow has. It’s interesting to see how she deals with so many complicated and tenuous situations, not only with her enemies but also with those she loves.

The only part of the story I didn’t love was the romance. I know, shocking, right? I’m not a fan of love triangles, and this one did not work for me. I like both of Farrow’s love interests, and I’m hoping that the love triangle resolves itself before it becomes a major part of the story.

I would definitely recommend the book to readers who like twisted fairy tales or fairy tale reimaginings. It’s a fast-paced and immersive story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Special thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Short and Sweet Review
For centuries the Entente have been advisors to the queens, and with the Ententes advice and wisdom the 13 queendoms have been in harmony. There are three fates: the Past, the Present, and the Future. When Hecate the fate of the Future informs Queen Magrit of a future she doesn’t want to believe, Queen Magrit orders all of the Entente to be executed and for magic to be outlawed. Farrow is the only survivor and she vows to get revenge, and the chance comes when she becomes the shadow to a couterie which is someone the Prince wants. When Farrow becomes the couterie she now has access to the palace to kill the queen and she won’t stop until she does just that.
Wish of the Wicked is an interesting Cinderella retelling in that it’s centered around the Fairy Godmother who is Farrow, and that it’s based on revenge. Farrow has magic but for some reason she can only use it when people wish for things. The story starts off when Farrow is young and she see’s Hecate burned at the pyre and most of her Entente family killed by the Queens men. We then see Farrow go on to be adopted and as a shadow learn how to be a couterie, and also plot her revenge on the queen. This part was okay but then it gets weird and I think it may have been the pacing but this is during the middle of the book but we’re suddenly taken from Farrow being a couterie to her finding out that some of the Entente are still alive and she goes with them to some place that’s out of sight for people looking for them. This jump just felt so disjointed and I didn’t like it, it felt like that prior part of the story wasn’t completely fleshed out and we just wanted to jump to the part of the story where Farrow meets Cinderella. Towards the last half of the book we learn that the fate of the Present is still alive and so are some of Farrows Entente sisters, unfortunately they’re the wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. Farrow begins to learn more about Cinderella and getting to know her she realizes that the Entente are in the wrong and not the same people she knew as a child. When the ball is announced, Farrow thinks its the perfect chance to final destroy the queen and she enlists the help of Cinderella.
This book had an entertaining premise, I just think the pacing was off. There were some scenes that were slow and others that were fast, and some that just didn’t have a lot of content in them. I don’t think there was a lot of character development for Farrow and she really didn’t have time to grow she was a bit one dimensional. Also the romance angle didn’t work for me, she and the prince hardly knew each other but I guess that basically a Disney thing unless you’re in the movie frozen and have an older sister who has some sense. Anyway, the ending was okay but I’m interested to see how the next installment will be and what will happen with the characters, also for some reason I’m more invested in Cinderella’s character than Farrows.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for my arc!

A Cinderella retelling?? This was the story I never knew I needed. I adored Farrow and her journey to find her family and her friendship with Cinderella. This was a perfect fairytale read.

For centuries the magical Entente, under the guidance of the Fates, were advisors to all the queens across the thirteen Queendoms. Until Queen Magrit is crowned. She outlaws all magic and executes the Fate of the future, Hecate. Hecate's young protégé, Farrow, watches in dismay as the Entente and the Queens guard engage in deadly battle. Unable to call on her magic Farrow is forced to grow up among humans thinking she is the last Entente. Ten years pass and Farrow finds her way into the palace to try to avenge her sisters. But a young prince stands in her way and she finds herself torn between her heart and her vengeance.

A Cinderella retelling, this story is told through the eyes of Farrow, or as we know her the Fairy Godmother. I was really drawn to the premise of this book. And while I did enjoy the book I felt like the romance aspect of it seemed forced. With the prince it was like she was conditioned to love him because she was taught to and with South it just seemed like an attempt on both sides to cling to childhood memories. I feel like maybe the story would have been better without it. The vengeance, the corruption of the Entente, an evil queen, and poor Cinderella was more than enough to make it compelling. That being said there was a lot left unanswered with that ending and I cannot wait for the next book. Also there was a little hint with one of the sisters becoming Maleficent and I wonder if that will be addressed in the next book or a separate one.

Rating 3.5 stars
*I received a review copy from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review

This was fun! I thought that this was very atmospheric and had a really cool mystery plot line. Even though it was based in and around fairy tales, this still felt like it really held its own and wasn't overly bogged down by references and tropes. Paige is a really skilled writer and reveals the mystery and clues in such a compelling way--I was hooked and just needed to know how everything was going to unveil and tie together. I think the only part of the story that I had reservations about was the very beginning. It started a bit slow, but it really kicked into high gear after the first little bit. Overall, I really liked this and I can't wait for more from this author/in this world!

I wanted to love this book. I loved the cover and the premise so much. Unfortunately, the premise wasn’t executed well enough for me. There were so many pacing issues. Some chapters were slow and others fast. And those didn’t match the content in the chapters.

Some of the fast chapters felt like they were supposed to be full of important information when the slower chapters were a slog. The up-down pacing was grating to be honest. And it left me getting bored.

There’s also the issue of time passage in the story. I couldn’t tell how much time was supposed to have passed because things happened so very fast. From age 8 to to her teens, the mc ages up and it only took like, a couple of pages.

It was ridiculous. There was so much happening and then nothing and time seemed to not matter too much. It did bother me.

I also just couldn’t get into the love interest. I love romance arcs but it was giving me the feeling of an insta-love and I just couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

Maybe the book wasn’t for me but the pacing was a huge issue. The book is 480 pages and in my opinion it really doesn’t need to be. I could be trimmed and the pacing smoothed for a better experience.

I’m giving this a 3 out of 5.

I received an eARC for this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

The cover caught my eye but the story kept me reading!

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Farrow. Her story starts off when she is much younger and gives the reader a look into the catalyst for what is to happen to the members of the Entente. Farrow deals with a lot of grief and revenge. She wants to make things right for what happened to the people she cared about and that makes her very dangerous, or at least that is what she thinks. I wasn’t sure if she would turn morally grey and I am happy with growth. She learns a lot along her journey and I think her heart changes throughout.

The minor characters are just as well done. They may not always play a big part but I still felt for them and their plight. I am hoping we get more from a lot of them because I still have so many questions!

It’s hard to talk about the plot because so much happens and a lot of that being plot twists i didn’t see coming at all! There really isn’t a dull moment and that’s what kept me reading. I had to know what would happen next especially since I could never guess. One thing I can say is that there are fairytale presents and the author does a great job of making them her own. There are little twists to them that still fit the story and blend in seamlessly.

My only complaint that I had was the romance. It feels like there will inevitable be a love triangle and it’s kind of started off like the one in Hunger Games. If it continues it will definitely annoy me. I hope I am wrong about it! I do think that what we did get was a bit on the insta-love side. That didn’t bug me too much though since I like both of the guys.

Overall, this was a really fun and exciting read! I’m sorry my review is a bit vague but it’s so much fun to go in without knowing much for this one.

Wish of the Wicked is a retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the fairy godmother, and with a deadly twist. Farrow is one of the Entente, a magical person who acts as advisors to the Queens within the Queendoms. But when Farrow is 7 years old, she watches as all of her sisters are killed at the demand of one Queen, while she stands helpless. Fast forward 10 years or so, and Farrow is in a very advantages position to kill the Queen, when her world completely changes AGAIN.

I wanted so badly to love this book. I loved the premise, I loved the story, I loved some of the characters (shoutout to Tork and Cinderella). Unfortunately it fell flat in a few ways.
The pace was very very fast. It jumped 10 years within a few chapters but then managed only a few days for the rest of the book, yet everything was still moving quickly with little detail or descriptions given. The characters had very little depth, and no time to gain any. The MC had super insta-love energy which is off putting when she’s supposed to be 18 and not 14. She also contradicts her own feelings pretty often, which got to be annoying.

Overall I’d give the book a 5 for originality and a great twist on the classic Cinderella story, but only a 3 in execution.

Wish of the Wicked is a captivating story brimming with wonder, delight, and the enchantment of fairy godmothers. With her exceptional storytelling prowess, Paige skillfully unravels one of the most intriguing mysteries in fairy tales while simultaneously crafting a timeless new tale for generations to cherish.

This was an okay book. I will start by saying retellings are not my thing but I picked this up cause I love Danielle Paige. I thought the book started off pretty slow which is weird to say as there was action but I didn’t feel anything from it. It does get better and I enjoyed the new lord but this book wasn’t my thing.

This YA is a Fairy Godmother from Cinderella retelling. I loved every word of it! It was so good. I didn't want to stop reading it. I was completely absorbed in the story.
I just reviewed Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige. #WishoftheWicked #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This was such a cool witchy book, I really enjoyed the MC's narration and the overall magic system. Also, I did not know that this was a Cinderella retelling? This book was very unique in that, we see the events before, during and after Cinderella's original story, and I'm very very curious to see how this will all be tied up in book 2.

Did I already mention I loved the MC? I love her so much <3 her perseverance and her willingness to help and right the wrongs in the world were so lovely to read. And the romance okay :') I need their hea.

TWs - death, violence, burning and persecution of witches and girls

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Ack, this was sooo good!
When Danielle Paige announced years ago that she had a new series (with a fairytale retelling even) in the works I immediately started stalking NetGalley to see when I could get my hands on it.
I pre-ordered the second my local indie had an ISBN for it.
I may have cried a bit when I got approved for this and threw out all my adult responsibilities to get lost in this story.
Started off a little slow setting up this new world, but when she gets going, boy howdy does she get going! I hate that the next book is so far away, but I would still 100% recommend you snag this in November!
It's a Cinderella retelling from the perspective of the fairy godmother.
The twist? It starts when said fairy godmother is just a child and we get to see her grow and find herself. This was such an amazing take on a well known tale. Danielle lived up to all my expectations!
Much love to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, Bloomsbury YA, and lady Paige herself for not making me wait till November to enjoy this.

Cinderella retellings are always an interesting one for me--and this hits the mark. New, fresh, and exciting, for the most part, I thought this was an excellent book, and from her debut, I can see how much Danielle Paige has grown as an author, and I'm looking forward to seeing where her career will go from here. I do think the work took a little too long to "get going," but once it did, I was hooked, and devoured the rest. Conversely, I do wish there were scenes where the author had lingered a bit longer so we could feel the full emotional impact, but all in all, this was very good--perfect for teens. If you've read a lot of retellings like this before, it likely won't be groundbreaking, but I still felt it was an interesting take on the fairytale in a market flooded with them.

For me, this was a winner.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Danielle Paige's latest work, an intriguing origin story of Cinderella's fairy godmother. As a fan of Paige's previous works, I was eager to delve into this new venture, and I found the concept of the narrative to be quite promising.

The book's plot is undeniably engaging, offering a fresh perspective on a well-known fairy tale character. The idea of exploring the motivations and backstory of Cinderella's fairy godmother is innovative and has the potential to captivate readers. The world-building, rooted in our beloved fairy tales, is lush and dangerous, providing an excellent backdrop for the story.

However, the pacing of the narrative could use some refinement. There were instances where chapters of seemingly high importance felt rushed and lacked the depth they deserved, while other less critical sections were detailed extensively. This imbalance in pacing and detail distribution could potentially disrupt the reader's engagement with the story.

Moreover, there were areas in the book that felt incomplete, leaving the reader yearning for more information and development. With a more thorough exploration of these areas, the narrative could be significantly enhanced.

Despite these areas for improvement, the story itself is compelling and holds great potential. With the assistance of a skilled editor to refine the pacing and flesh out the underdeveloped areas, this book could truly shine. The unique premise and the intriguing characters are its strengths, and with a bit more polishing, the narrative could be as enchanting as the fairy tales it draws inspiration from.

In its current state, I would rate the book three stars. It's a captivating story with a unique premise, but the execution could benefit from further refinement.

I appreciate the creativity and effort Danielle Paige has put into crafting this unique fairy tale retelling, and I am excited to see how her storytelling continues to evolve in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Bit of a slow start for me (in part due to ARC formatting) but I enjoyed it once it picked up and the retelling elements met with the new story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for letting me review this book!
4/5
“For us. So that I could avenge us. I thought everyone was gone. Getting back at the Queen is all I’ve lived for since that day.”
For centuries, Farrow's family-the Entente-have been magical advisors to the Queen. Their wisdom and foresight kept the Thirteen Queendoms in harmony. Until a new queen, Magrit, takes power, outlaws magic, and executes the Entente. Only Farrow survives, with her magic warped beyond repair.
While reading this book it was interesting to see how Farrow was shown to not be perfect in her ability to control her magic. Even though she stated that she was “Made from Magic” She had some imperfections to it which made her seem more human. In the beginning I was worried because it seemed really slow and uneventful but once the plot was revealed more to the reader it got better. At first I didn’t know how to feel about the relationship between Farrow and South but that changed as I got deeper into the story. There were definitely some parts of the book that surprised me.
I would recommend this to people who love fairy tale origin stories

I was given an ARC by Netgalley & Bloomsbury YA in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Danielle’s writing since her “ Dorothy must die” series and when I heard she was doing a fairy godmother origin story with a spin I was excited. First off the book started very slow I wasn’t fully interested until about 50% through. There were a couple of confusing plot holes and characters. But overall the end redeemed it self.