THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT

Spice the Cinderella story with a pinch of out-of-this-world fantasy—and voilà!—Julie Berry’s first book. When Lucinda is orphaned at age 5, her pampered life changes at a dizzying pace. Her servitude at her uncle’s goldsmith shop is turned upside down by unexpected customers: a thief, a prince, and a scheming chief justice. Celeste Ciulla sets a steadying pace and calm tone as narrator. She adds personality to each character, including a flamboyant street rogue named Peter, a tight-lipped aunt, and velvet-voiced, mysterious Beryl. Her interpretation of the bickering between Peter and Lucinda is spot-on—full of whine and pluck. A.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2010]