Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Synopsis: 

“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, 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.”

Review:

Ella Enchanted was published in 1997. In 1997, I was 12 years old, already an avid reader and I fell head over heels in love with Ella’s story. It became one of my favorite re-reads over the years, although it’s been a hot minute since I’ve read it. So when the publisher reached out to inform me Gail Carson Levine had written a companion novel, I was excited to travel back to Frell.

I love Evie’s drive and focus on her career. She loves being a healer, always looking for a new cure that will help her community. But, when her good friend proposes, Evie has more than marriage on her mind and turns him down. Enter our not-so-favorite fairy, Lucinda, who curses Evie. Lucinda turns her into an ogre to find true love otherwise she’ll spend the rest of her life liek this.

I love companion novels even more than series because you get to often explore other characters within the same world. Gail is able to expand Kyrria as Evie travels as an ogre to find true love and a proposal to save her. I think what I enjoyed the most in this story is how Evie must battle between her ogre and true self all the while searching for a proposal when she really isn’t sure she believes in marriage in the first place. I liked the back-and-forth feelings, emotions, decisions and choices Evie makes as she grows and learns in her altered state.

Overall, I think Ella Enchanted is still my favorite, but likely because I have such a history with the story. But, if you’re one for fractured fairy tales or retellings, Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is definitely one to read (especially if you’re an Ella fan). Plus, the publisher website has a book discussion guide already created making this an easy book discussion choice!

Need to Know:

Title: Ogre Enchanted
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 16, 2019
Page Number: 352 pgs.