Ella Enchanted (Enchanted #1)

Reader reviewed by Rachael

It must be really hard to be Ella , she is cursed with a spell of obedience. No matter how hard she tries to disobey her orders she always dose them. But one day she can brake the spell and live happily ever after!

Reader reviewed by Cristina

Could you image being cursed? Could you image having to do everything everyone told you to do? Hard to even think it, right? Well not if youre Ella. At birth, Ella is a cursed by an thoughtless fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Or so she thinks. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been scared by this so-called present, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her mother dies, she leaves her with her mostly absent and selfish father. Then we he remarries, she gets stuck with a disgusting stepmother and two horrible stepsisters, who torture her mercilessly with their knowledge of her obidence. Ella's life and well-being seem in grave danger. But her smarts and saucy nature help her along the way as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery. She goes out to track down Lucinda and make her undo the curse, but along the way she fends off ogres, befriend elves, and of course falls in love with a prince. Its a kind of CinderElla story with a twist. So, of course theres a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after in this awesome book.

I would recommend this book for a quick read when you cant sleep at night or when youre bored and need something to do. Its a fun book complete with everything that makes a story great. Good plot, suspense, fighting, romance and a happy ending. It was definitely a page turner, you always wanted to know what happens next. The story is fantasy and I never really enjoyed fantasy that much, but now Im starting to like it and plan to read more books in this genre. I also enjoy this author. Ive read books by her before and have always enjoyed them. She has a special style of writing. She tries to hold the readers attention and throws a lot of suspense and surprises around in the book. Also, this book is a movie too. You know how when a book is made into a movie the book is always better? (i.e. Harry Potter) Its the case here. If youre interested in the book then read it first, then see the movie. Youll get the story right that way. Its really a great read, you'll like it.

Reader reviewed by Dara

I loved Ella Enchanted, although it felt sort of simple to me as if the author needed to elaborate on certain things. This story was a modern cinderella (definitely) and it felt like an older version of the fairytales we read as kids. This book is a light one anyone can read in their spare time because its such an optimistic heartwarmer of a book. Unfortunately, the didnt do it any justice and i was highly dissapointed. I would reccommend this book to anyone, but id say spare yourself and dont watch the movie, because it kind of ruins the book.

Reader reviewed by iki

It was a different look on the story Cinderella. It keeps you interested. I guarentee you'll love it. It will make you think stories. You should totally read it.

Reader reviewed by Justine

This is a very good Cinderella-like story. A fun read, just don't watch the movie, it is really bad. The book is fantasy like, but you will defiantely love it.

Reader reviewed by Janet

It was a really cute book!! I read it when i was 11 and now I'm 14, so I'm not sure its for me now but I really enjoyed it, and so did my sisters. It was another Cinderella, basically, but I like Cinderella :)

Reader reviewed by Keshia

In Gail Carson Levine's "Ella Enchanted" the main character Ella is given the gift of obedience from the fairy Lucinda which in all actuality turns out to be a cursing on poor Ella. But that doesn't mean that the girl doesn't have spunk. Instead of turning her into a mild young woman the obeidence made her want to rebel. Her her mother dies, and then her father, she is left with her stepmother and two stepsisters. Instead of remaining their slave she sets off on an adventure to find the fairy and undo the spell.

It was a great twist on the story of Cinderella and a funny one too. But also with a hint of danger seeing as Ella has to do anything that someone asks of her without limits. This is a heroine that doesn't wait for the ball but instead finds a prince herself.

Very good read.

Reader reviewed by Aimee

Compared to all the other Cinderella alternatives, this is the best one I've read. First person is a difficult way to write, but Gail Carson Levine passed with flying colors! And it's un-real realizm made it a favorite book of mine. And the way Ella never gives up is so powerful . . . any person who asks me what I think, I'll say 'read it' in a heart beat.

-Aimee

Reader reviewed by ~tiffany^^

Ella Enchanted is a book that i would recommend to anyone who likes fairy-tale, true love, magic, and a bit of a laugh. It is the story of Cinderella, with explainations for the small details missing in the original tale.

Ella is a girl under a spell. She tries to find a way to break the spell when her step-family use it to their adventage. This quest became more desperate when Prince Char declare his love for her.

Reader reviewed by Lea

Being obedient isn't fun, but for Ella its a curse. She doesn't have a choice, she must obey any command. When her mother dies, and her father comes back to live with her, things aren't looking so great. Especially when he marries Dame Olga, and Ella receives two stepsisters, Hattie and Olive. When the girls are sent to finishing school, Ella's life is miserable, but at least she finds a friend.

But of course, everything seems to happen when Prince Char is around. I loved it whenever Char and Ella would interact. Char would relax, and Ella kept falling in love. I hated how Ella couldn't just come clean at the balls, tell Char it was her, but the ending was satisfying. It was great to see that her love for Char and protecting him was the one thing that could break the curse, and set her free.

Ella is easy to relate to, she's smart, friendly and witty. She's a great character to follow. Levine's novel is enchanting.