The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt

Title/Author: The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt
Publisher/Date published: Carina Press, September 27th 2010
How I got this book: I got it from the publisher through NetGalley
Why I read this book: I have wondered what happens to the other people in fairy tales. It's actually a novella.

Goodreads summary: "Have you ever wondered what happens to the other people in the fairy tale?
Things look grim for Talia and her mother. By royal proclamation, the constables and those annoying “good” fairies have taken away their livelihood by confiscating their spinning wheel. Something to do with a curse on the princess, they said.
Not every young lady has a fairy godmother rushing to her rescue.
Without the promise of an income from spinning, Talia’s prospects for marriage disappear, and she and her mother face destitution. Past caring about breaking an arbitrary and cruel law, rebellious Talia determines to build a new spinning wheel, the only one in the nation, which plays right into the evil fairy’s diabolical plan. Talia discovers that finding a happy ending requires sacrifice. But is it a sacrifice she’s willing to make?"

I was a bit shocked when I saw the e-book only had 97 pages, I never read anything that short. But I decided what the heck, let's just find out, the summary sounded promising.

And I liked it. I really did. We're given a look at the life of the people in the fairy tale who are affected by the main events in the fairy tale. Talia looses her livelihood and her chance at marriage when their spinning wheel is taken away. This leads her to do a number of things I would consider bad choices. But for her it seems to be the only way.
The Sevenfold spell refers to the princess in Sleeping Beauty and how her 7 fairy godmothers never finished the spell to give her everything a princess needs. She lacks something essential, which I will not give away because that would ruin it.

I loved how Talia was loyal to people. She saved the princess without caring what it would do to her or that she could benefit from it herself. I'm sad the story wasn't longer, because I would have loved so see this more expanded and with more depth to it than can be accomplished in a novella in my opinion.

I laughed so hard at the part where Talia's mother whacks one of the fairies with a broom, that was amazing! Fairies are mostly thought of as annoying and troublesome where Talia lives.

Also, I absolutely LOVE the cover. After reading Halo I was a bit wary of judging a book by its cover, but this one actually lives up to it.

This is a quick, enjoyable reads for those of you who have also wondered what the normal folks get around to in the fairy tales we all love.

My rating: 4 stars