Set in the world of the Newbery Honor-winning Ella Enchanted, this tale by beloved author Gail Carson Levine stars a clever heroine who is determined to defy expectations—and outwit a fairy’s curse.Evie is happiest when she is healing people, diagnosing symptoms and prescribing medications, with the help of her devoted friend (and test subject) Wormy. So when Wormy unexpectedly proposes to her, … (and test subject) Wormy. So when Wormy unexpectedly proposes to her, she kindly turns him down; she has far too much to do to be marrying anyone. And besides, she simply isn’t in love with him.
But a certain meddling fairy named Lucinda has been listening in, and she doesn’t approve of Evie’s rejection. Suddenly, Evie finds herself transformed from a girl into a hideous, hungry ogre!
Stuck in this new and confusing form, Evie now has only sixty-two days to accept another proposal—or else be stuck as an ogre forever.
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I am a huge fan of Gail Carson Levine, and was excited to see a return to the world of Ella Enchanted. I enjoyed everything about this book—the characters, the world, the plot, the twist on a classic fairy tale, the truths it tells about inner beauty, love, and friendship—and would recommend it to readers 10+ to adult. It’s a sweet, fun, easy, uplifting read.
It’s amazing how someones loves can change u back.
Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is the prequel to Ella Enchanted and a great standalone novel. I have to say that I loved this book as much as I did Ella Enchanted when I was little.
Can Evie find true love, or will she be stuck as an ogre for the rest of her life?
Evie
Evie was just an average fifteen-year-old healer who has seen what comes from marrying the first guy that you think you love. Instead, she would rather be alone with her best friend, Wormy, coming by to visit her and to help him with his ailments. However, Lucinda came by and turned her into an ogre for saying no to Wormy.
The story follows Evie as she is trying to come to terms with being an ogre and trying to get someone to love her. She goes through a lot of things and trying to get two people to ask her to marry them. None of them do.
I like Evie because she only knew what she has seen in her town and didn’t know if she could be around humans for long. Evie is a good character, and I like how she went through everything before realizing that maybe she does love someone more than just as a childhood friend.
Lucinda
Lucinda is the fairy that turned Evie into an ogre because she wouldn’t say yes to a marriage proposal. She is well known for handing out terrible gifts. Everyone knew this, but everyone also hoped that Lucinda wouldn’t stop by with presents for them.
Lucinda popped into Evie’s apothecary, sensing a proposal. Lucinda wants to be there to congratulate the happy couple and to give them a gift. Well instead her gift turned into making Evie an ogre. Eventually, she also gave a gift to another engaged couple. That turned out to be very horrible, indeed, but that is a tale for another story.
I like Lucinda since she is trying to spread cheer and is trying to do the right thing. The one thing that I dislike is that Lucinda doesn’t think about what her gifts do to the person that received it.
Five Stars
Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine sets a good backstory for the lovely novel of Ella Enchanted as it gives us the tale of how her parents got together while also having it be about totally different people. Evie doesn’t think that love is for her because she cares so much about her patients. Five stars seem right for this lovely book, along with recommending it to anyone that loves to read fairytale retellings and middle-grade stories.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
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