Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty . . . Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light—especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom. “[Readers will] sink into the fairy-tale romance, the remarkable characters, and the wild, magical adventures.” - ALA Booklist “A song-filled, fast-paced fairy tale.” - Kirkus Reviews “Inventive and original” - KLIATT “Readers will instantly fall in love with the heroine, whose heart proves to be as warm as her voice.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Readers will enjoy the fairy-tale setting while identifying with the real-life problems of living in an appearance obsessed society. A distinguished addition to any collection.” - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for Ella Enchanted: “A thoroughly enchanting novel that deepens and enriches the original tale” - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for Ella Enchanted: “As finely designed as a tapestry, with a heroine so spirited that she wins readers’ hearts.” - Booklist (starred review) Praise for Ella Enchanted: “This refreshing take on one of the world’s most popular fairy tales preserves the spirit of the original but adds plenty of humorous twists and a spunky, intelligent female lead.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for Ever: “The power of love and courage to overcome seemingly impossible odds and to bridge ostensibly untraversable differences are at the heart of this compelling, intensely satisfying fantasy.” - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for Ever: “Levine’s (Ella Enchanted) original mythological tale works as romance, adventure and exploration of faith. [She] conducts a riveting journey, offering passion and profound pondering along the way. ” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty . . . Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light—especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom. Gail Carson Levine 's first book for children, Ella Enchanted , was a Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Ever , a New York Times bestseller; Fairest , a Best Book of the Year for Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and a New York Times bestseller; Dave at Night , an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish ; The Two Princesses of Bamarre ; A Tale of Two Castles ; Stolen Magic ; The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre ; Ogre Enchanted ; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction books Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and Writer to Writer: From Think to Ink , as well as the picture books Betsy Who Cried Wolf and Betsy Red Hoodie . Gail Carson Levine and her husband, David, live in a two-centuries-old farmhouse in the Hudson Valley of New York State. Fairest By Gail Levine HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2008 Gail Levine All right reserved. ISBN: 9780060734107 Chapter One I was born singing. Most babies cry. I sang an aria. Or so I believe. I have no one to tell me the truth of it. I was abandoned when I was a month old, left at the Featherbed Inn in the Ayorthaian village of Amonta. It was January 12th of the year of Thunder Songs. The wench who brought me to the inn paid for our chamber in advance and smuggled me in unseen. The next morning she smuggled herself out, leaving me behind. I know what happened next. Father and Mother—the innkeeper and his wife—have retold the tale on the anniversary of my arrival since I grew old enough to understand the words. "You were left in the Lark chamber," Mother would say. "It was the right room for you, my songbird." "It was a chill morning," Father would chime in. "Soon you were howling." His shoulders would shake with laughter. "I thought you were Imilli." We would all smile—my younger sister Areida, my two older brothers, Mother, and I. Imilli was our cat—kitten then. Mother would burst in. "