Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Woodcutter Sisters bk 1. Harcourt, 2012. ISBN 9780547645704
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Sunday is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter and has to be careful what she writes as it could come true. When she kisses a frog, it changes into Prince Rumbold, who is despised by Sunday's family.
One of my favourite genre is that of a fairy tale retold and I was hooked right from the beginning with this funny, witty, romantic story of Sunday who is 'blithe and bonny and good and gay'. Of course she has the handicap of having everything she writes down come true so she has to be very careful. After she kisses the frog to whom she has been telling stories, unbeknown to her he turns back into Prince Rumbold. He is determined to woo her but his courtship doesn't go easily and Kontis takes us through the stormy path of true love.
Kontis is amazing, retelling many fairy stories in a fabulous mix of complex ideas and events. The old rhyme about children who are named after the days of the week is particularly apt and weaves its way through the story, helping the reader understand the natures of Sunday's seven sisters. Great characterisation and plot make this a very readable story.
However what stood out for me was the humorous dialogue that often brought a smile to my face. This is a feel good book that would be a wonderful lift for anyone looking for interesting, well written fantasy. It is worthy of the awards that it has garnered, including an Andre Norton Award Nominee (2013) and YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten) (2013) and it looks as if there will be more books to follow.
Pat Pledger