2020 EDIT: How could I have forgotten how clever and charming and ingenious this little revamped fairy tale is? And from 1997 at that! How simple yet effortlessly, massively creative Gail Carson Levine has sown the seams of the subversive 'Ella Enchanted'.
I've grown to love the Cinderella tale, retold countless times, by the number of the tiny stitches of a ballgown, more and more over the years. The heroine Ella is genuinely smart, cunning, funny, witty, active and assertive - she really does her best to subvert and rebel how little she can while under an obedience curse from birth. She goes on an adventurous quest to try to lift the curse, entirely on her own! She has agency! What are most other heroines' excuses?
Ella's romance with the prince Char is slowly built up and developed gradually over the coarse of the book. They're so sweet, playful, and hilarious in their banter. They're on equal ground from the start, despite the huge class difference; or they wish to be equals, in knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses, and loving one another all the same. Ella has female friends and confidantes as well, so this fairy tale is not sorely about the romance with a prince.
'Ella Enchanted' contains an assortment of magical creatures, with their own language, customs and characteristics (which Ella learns quickly and beautifully). The book sprinkles in racism issues as well as class commentary. People with dark skin exist in this magical land too, including Ella's dear friend from finishing school, Areida. There is a definite race and class divide there, and of course Ella takes no notice - she loves from the heart, for the heart, not for money or background, like her father and her stepfamily.
My only, tiny little grievance - what keeps 'Ella Enchanted' from becoming a fast fave for me - is the ending. In the final few pages, things are rushed, and the bad people don't receive punishments at all for their appalling behaviour. They get rewarded, in fact. No one learns anything, I don't think. Servants still exist at palaces, at the least. Monarchy holds the power and wealth.
But oh well, I adore this gem. Magic, magical objects, sweetness, kingdoms, gifts, curses, fairies, fairy tales, and feminism. The works! It's a classic. Consider me bespelled - enchanted!
Original Review:
Such a charming, lovely, creative and funny twist on Cinderella. I never really liked that fairy tale and rarely do any of the different takes and adaptations of it impress me.
'Ella Enchanted' is one of the few that did.
The book's world is that of a classic fairy tale - with ogres, giants, fairy godmothers, and magical books and jewellery - but the characters have real human dimensions to them. Ella is a no-nonsense heroine who wants to live a free life for herself and not let an obedience curse take over her whole character. She's intelligent, brave and independent - she does things for herself when she can. But she is not selfish, as she wants to do things for other people as well - but only if she cares to, not because she is ordered to. She makes the best of things, while at the same time she isn't afraid to stand up for herself.
Other characters such as Prince Char, Mandy, Lucinda and the step family add a colourful and heartfelt mixture to Ella's story.
'Ella Enchanted' is a pretty little book with tension, action and adventure. It doesn't need to be any longer than the 239 pages of my copy. There is substance within this fairy tale which doesn't just include a likeable young heroine. It is enchanting in its own uncomplicated but imaginative way; it reminds me of why I love fairy tales to begin with, and why I should give other modern interpretations - or more specifically, deconstructions and parodies - a chance.
Magic can be fun, but there are consequences!
Final Score: 4.5/5
Other review:
'If you loved Harry Potter, try Ella Enchanted.' - Publishers Weekly
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