Ella Enchanted (Enchanted #1)

Reader reviewed by Alexandra

In this twist on Cinderella, Ella was put under a curse a birth that makes her always obedient. No matter what the command is, she must obey it. Now her mother has just died, and her father is marrying the odious Dame Olga, and sending Ella away to finishing school, despite prostests from both her and Prince Charmont, whom she befriended at the funeral, that she doesn't need to be "finished." The other girls at school makes life horrible for her there, so she runs away. At home, Dame Olga and her new stepsisters, Hattie and Olive, never tire of ordering Ella about, since her father is away on business, and Ella must live as a servant in her own house. But unless the curse is broken, there is nothing she can do about it. I have enjoyed this book for over seven years. It is completely wonderful and timeless.

Reader reviewed by Katrina

I've read this book when I was in sixth grade and I've re-read it over and over again. Thank god that there was a movie made based on this film because it is such a wonderful book. Cinderella type books are always my favorite and this one is the best. This book can be read by anybody and should be read by everybody. A wonderful delight for all.

Reader reviewed by Mary

Ella Enchanted is a wonderful book about a girl who lost her mother and was out in the world with a father who didn't love her as much. She mad friends with Prince Charmont and, Ella's father was getting married! Oh, no! Now Ella has to go to school with her stepsisters. But, before she leaves, her mothers old house fairy gave her a book. Not just a regular book, a magical book. Ella runs away to find her Fairy God Mother and a lot of things come into her way, but nothing could stop her. She did have a happy endind, I'll tell you that, but you're going to have to find out the rest of the story on your own, by reading the book!!

Reader reviewed by Tammy

At the moment of Eleanor (Ella) of Frell's birth, she was unfortunately bestowed a "gift" by a fairy named Lucinda. Despite the objections from her mother and fairy godmother/family's cook (Mandy), Lucinda cursed Ella with the "gift" of obedience. From that day forward, Ella was to obey any direct order given to her by anybody, no matter what it was (orders ranging from hopping on one foot all day to chopping off her own head). Ella, however, remains lighthearted by making a game out of her curse and finding loopholes around orders. For example, if Mandy orders her to hold a bowl of cake batter, Ella runs around the kitchen, having Mandy chase after her until she gives her another order or request.

At her mother's funeral, Ella meets Prince Charmont a.k.a. Char, in the graveyard next to a large willow tree. The two have a long conversation full of laughs and wit until Ella's father takes her home. At home, Ella meets Dame Olga and her daughters, Hattie and Olive, whom she discovers have bad attitudes and are being sent to finishing school. After the three leave, Ella's father forces her to go to finishing school because he doesn't want his daughter to grow up being a clumsy cook's helper. The night before she is sent away, Mandy gives her a magical fairy book that can show her children's stories, journal entries, maps and, most precious to Ella, letters from friends and family. Mandy also gives Ella her mother's necklace.

The day she is sent to finishing school, she first goes on a small trip with Prince Char, who shows her all of her favorite places and promises to bring her a centaur. Ella gets in a carriage with Hattie and Olive, who automatically begin to take advantage of the curse, making her give up the necklace as well as her money. When they arrive at finishing school, Ella befriends an Ayorthian girl named Areida and the two are very close until Hattie forces Ella to end her friendship with an order. From her magic book, Ella learns of a Giant's wedding which both her father and Lucinda will attend. Eager to be free from the curse, she flees from finishing school in the night and makes her way to the Giant's wedding.

On the way, she meets a group of elves who give her a gift (a beautiful Agulen sculpture of a howling wolf) and a horse. After she leaves the elves, she's kidnapped by ogres who eat her horse and try to eat her. However, after observing the Ogrese language overnight, she hypnotizes them and is soon saved by Char and his knights. They bind the ogres and take them in, and Char lets one of his knights take her to the wedding. Ella meets Lucinda and begs her to remove the curse, while at the same time hoping Lucinda isn't offended and won't turn her into a squirrel. Lucinda refuses and orders her to be happy with her obedience.

This has serious after-effects. She meets her father and they return home. He is now a ruined man for selling an item that did not belong to him. In order to keep his family from being thrown into the streets, he plans to marry Ella off. At first Ella is happy, as Lucinda ordered her to be, and even meets one of her suitors at dinner. However, an order from Mandy telling her to feel however she feels about her curse allows her to change her mind. Her father refuses to marry Ella off, and instead decides to marry Dame Olga. Ella's worst fears unfold as Hattie and Olive are now her sisters.

At the wedding, she meets with Prince Char again, and they share a romantic evening together. They find glass slippers in a garden and Ella wears them as they dance together. It is the last time they see each other for some time, for he has to leave for Ayortha for a year, but they promise to keep in touch through letters. Lucinda arrives at the wedding and bestows a curse on the married couple, granting them eternal love. Any chance of Ella's father leaving Dame Olga has now been ruined. Instantly, Ella is turned into a slave in her own house, working with the servants and abiding by Hattie and Olive's ridiculous orders, while at the same time having fun slipping sleeping herbs into Dame Olga's supper.

After six months of correspondence, Ella receives a letter from Char, where he pours out his heart to her and proposes to her. At first she is happy, but soon realizes that marrying Char would make things much worse. Her stepsisters would take advantage of her completely, especially since she would be queen, and if she was ever captured by an enemy of Frell, she could be forced to kill Char or reveal state secrets. Ella sends a fraud letter to him saying that she has run away with another man and will be "smiling at her jewels and laughing at the world." Her fairy book shows a picture of Char burning her letters as well as a page from his journal stating how he despises her. It breaks Ella's heart, but she is happy that he is safe.

Mandy, fed up with Ella's torment, challenges Lucinda to a small game. She tells her to spend three months as a squirrel and three months cursed to be obedient, just to get a taste of what her "gifted ones" go through for their entire lives. At the end of this time, Lucinda has learned her lesson, and in return decides to help Ella. Char, returned from Ayortha, holds a royal ball that lasts for three nights. Lucinda uses her magic to turn mice and pumpkins into horses and a coach and dresses Ella in a beautiful dress, jewelry and a mask. Ella, now under the alias Lela, can go to the ball and see Char again.

On the third night of the ball, when she's dancing with Char, Hattie snatches off her mask. Ella flees Char, who is in complete and utter shock, and runs to the manor. Ella and Mandy plan to run away and make their living as cooks, but Char and his soldiers come to their house before they can leave. Ella puts on servants' clothes and dirties her face, in hopes that Char will not recognize her. But, of course, he does. Ella tries on the glass slippers from her father's wedding, and they fit her perfectly. Char unintentionally orders Ella to tell him honestly if she loves him or not, which she says she does, and happily he "orders" her to marry him. Ella realizes that she has put him in danger and fights the curse to refuse his order. In the end, her love and her willpower break the curse.

In the end, Olive marries a count only for food and money, Dame Olga is left still in eternal love, and Hattie never marries; Ella and Char live happily ever after.

Reader reviewed by Springhair

Most of you have probably heard of this book, and know the general storyline, so Ill just say this: read it. Do it now. This is one of the best books you will probably ever read. It is tons better (and way different) than the movie, so if thats the reason you are avoiding it, then dont. I cant say enough good things about this book, and I wont even try, so go read it now.

Reader reviewed by MEB

Gail Carson Levine wrote one of the best books ever! It is a great book for all ages.Not only do you relate to the characters,but you can go into a world unlike any other.From ogores to unreasonable faries,Ella Enchanted is exciting until the end. MEB :)

Reader reviewed by MEB

Okay,so the book ROCKS, but you might be dissipointed by the movie (is'nt that how it always goes?). Sorry,Anne Hathaway,but the movie stunk.
I'm sure you will love this book.I sure did,considering I read this over and over again.

Have fun reading!!
-MEB ;)

Reader reviewed by Tiara

This is the best retelling of cinderalla i have ever read. its so good that i ddin't even know it was a retelling of cinderella until someone told me later. Ella is a young girl who has been given the "gift" of obedience. She must do whatever anyone tells her to do. Can she find the fairy lucinda to take her gift away and win Prince Charming's heart? Find out in a book you will read again and again and agian. believe me, I know.

Reader reviewed by Mary

Ella of Frell was born cursed with the "gift" of obedience. The gift? Well, it was given to her by the fairy Lucinda. Unfortunately that means that she has to do what anyone tells her even chop off her own head...


This book is very much like a fairy tale. Ella is a believable character that has everyone rooting for her from the very beginning. The villains are evil and of course, she has her very own charming prince.

Reader reviewed by graceface

Right after she was born, Ella of Frell was given a gift/curse of being obedient from Lucinda, a fairy whose "gifts" were well meant but often went awry. With help from her fairy godmother, Mandy, and her friends, Areida and Char, Ella tries to break the curse in a series of events that are witty, funny, and altogether enjoyable! A retelling of the Disney classic Cinderella, Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted is a truly spellbinding tale that will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.