On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Amaranth Enchantment a 4. Likewise, if you are a fan of The White Horse, The Goose Girl, or Ella Enchanted, you are likely to also enjoy The Amaranth Enchantment. So if you have enjoyed either of those movies it is likely you'll enjoy this story. That said, I must admit there were certain elements or aspects that reminded me of a few pre-existing fantasies such as Enchanted and Stardust. It wasn't just another rags to riches story. I really enjoyed the The Amaranth Enchantment and I think Berry's unique twist to this Cinderella-story is part of why I liked it so well. Intended for young readers (ages 9-12) there is no inappropriate language or love scenes, making it a clean and fun read for readers of all ages. The Amaranth Enchantment is a clever, entertaining, and fast-paced read with a somewhat surprising ending. What follows is a tale of romance and adventure woven together in a fantasy and fairytale setting. It all starts when a handsome stranger appears in her uncle's shop, followed by a mysterious woman with a likewise mysterious and very beautiful gem, and then later in the evening a fleeing individual begs refuge in Lucinda's bedroom. Life is very lonely and bleak for Lucinda, especially under the oppression of her aunt, a mean-spirited woman who seems to hate everyone, especially Lucinda.Īnd then one evening everything begins to change.

The Amaranth Enchantment is a sort of coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of Lucinda, a 15-year-old orphan, who in her short life has gone from riches to rags and from being an adored daughter to being a servant in her uncle's goldsmith/jewelry repair shop. The title intrigued me and after a little research (reading the story's description) I quickly added it to my TBR list. I first learned of the book through Noel's blog Never Jam Today. It was released in March of this year and has already attracted quite a bit of attention amongst readers and bloggers.

The Amaranth Enchantment is Julie Berry's debut novel.

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry