The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

“Lucinda Chapdelaine was orphaned as a young child when her parents left for a royal ball and never returned. Ever since, she has toiled away in her uncle’s lonely jewelry shop under the cruel hand of her step-aunt. But now, all at once, Lucinda’s lot is about to change. A mysterious woman, a handsome young gentleman, and an unusual gem all enter the shop on the very same day. The woman is none other than the dreaded Amaranth Witch, and she has a daring task to offer. If Lucinda succeeds, she will not only reclaim all that is rightfully hers, but she will discover a true friend…and perhaps a true love. Family secrets, magic surprises, and another royal ball will test her, but Lucinda is determined to find her own happily ever after.”

This was a cute little story, probably meant for a middle-school age audience. It hints a bit of a Cinderella story, but is unique in its own way. I enjoyed the story, although I would have preferred it if had been written for an older audience where the story and characters could have been developed a little more. I won’t go into too much detail since it was meant for a younger audience so a lot was left out. I will say that I was expecting some kind of explanation for “dog”, her goat side-kick. It’s never really explained where he came from and how he is so loyal to Lucinda and almost intelligent. I would have liked to have a little closure on that. This is Julie Berry’s first book and I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.