Elena Klovis has lived in one of the Five Hundred Kingdoms for her entire life. Living as an unpaid servant for her stepmother and two wicked stepsisters The Tradition has determined that she will fulfil the role of Cinderella for her particular kingdom. However there is one small problem with this scenario – the Prince is still only eleven years old so for him to fall in love with Elena would be completely impractical.

Having broken with her particular Tradition Elena attracts the attention of the Fairy Godmother responsible for her particular kingdom and soon finds herself working as the Godmother's apprentice learning how to manipulate magic and the Tradition to avoid some of the less desirable outcomes.

When the Fairy Godmother suddenly leaves Elena finds herself taking over the role of Godmother to the kingdom. She soon finds herself in the middle of one of the more traditional legends – that of the questing princes.

In order to ensure that the correct prince continues onward to win the hand of the princess and eventually rule the neighbouring kingdom she disguises herself as an old crone in order to test the individual princes.

The first prince, Octavian, rode past the old woman begging for food at the side of the road. He considered her so far beneath him that she was not even worthy of recognition. As a result, Elena magically directed him onto a twisty path where he would be destined to wander aimlessly until learning a little humility and losing some of his arrogance.

The final prince, Julian, was the true quester and after giving him a little good advice Elena sends him on to rescue the beautiful princess.

The middle brother, Alexander, took things a little too far. Rather than just ignoring the poor old woman he actually tried to ride her down on his horse – if she had truly been an old lady (rather than a Godmother in disguise) she would surely have been killed. Elena was so angry at his attitude she turned him into a donkey.

Elena realises that she cannot just leave the donkey to wander in the forest so she takes him home to work as a beast of burden until he learns consideration. However, to prevent him from forgetting his humanity Alexander is permitted to take human form for one day a week.

Soon Elena begins to feel an attraction towards Alexander that definitely has the hallmarks of Tradition forging her a new destiny. Surely this cannot turn out well as no one has ever heard of a happily married Godmother have they?

The Fairy Godmother is the first novel published by Luna Books (a newly established Fantasy imprint from the long-established Harlequin Books). As you might expect from a member of the Harlequin stable, Fairy Godmother is a romantic fantasy full of promise, furtive glances and palpitations.

I have to admit - when I received this book and noticed the Harlequin label I was a little concerned. To me the Harlequin label usually means gentle little romances with no big surprises. Now, I don't mind the odd romantic interlude in a book but I am no fan of entire books of "love and kisses". I need not have worried. Although Fairy Godmother does have its fair share of romance there is also a superb fantasy story with a new refreshing look at the world of the fairy tale.

I am embarrassed to admit that this is the first book by Mercedes Lackey that I have ever read and having experienced the quality of her writing it will definitely not be the last. Her characters are so beautifully painted you actually become entangled in their lives. I absolutely loved this book – it was a pleasure to read.

As you might expect from a Harlequin imprint, this book is clearly aimed at the female reader and I have to say this makes a refreshing change from the "sword and slaughter" that you often get in fantasy stories. As a female engineer I spend most of my life in a predominantly male environment so I must admit that to have the excuse to curl up in bed with a romantic novel was extremely enjoyable.

Luna Books may be a newcomer in the world of fantasy publishing but if they maintain the standard set with this first novel then they will surely become a new light in the publishing world.