From Publishers Weekly

The prolific Lackey (the Valdemar series) draws on the darker, Brothers Grimm side of fairy lore for her enchanting tale, the first title under a new Harlequin imprint to spotlight romantic fantasy. In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, the Tradition, that ineffable magic, holds the promise of happily-ever-after for all deserving young maidens and courteous princes charming. But the Tradition also leads some in its thrall to pain, suffering and gruesome death. Feisty 19-year-old Elena Klovis seems destined to be an Ella of the Cinders (Cinderella), at the mercy of her wicked stepmother and greedy stepsisters. To escape their clutches, Elena tries to get work as a maidservant, but her fairy godmother, Madame Bella, has other plans for her. Elena becomes Madame Bella's apprentice, doing her best, among other challenges, to ensure that evil does not subvert Tradition. The only problem is that fairy godmothers are not themselves allowed to fall in love. It's up to Elena, who has vowed to reform a wayward prince, to tease out the threads of a new Tradition. Lackey has created an intelligent, self-possessed heroine with whom many readers will identify.
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From Booklist

The prolific Lackey will enchant readers with this delightful twist on traditional fairy tales. In the land of Five Hundred Kingdoms, "Tradition" rules, and everyone is expected to fit into established fairy tales. Enslaved by her wickedly avaricious stepmother and stepsisters, Elena should have had a Cinderella-like life, but when things didn't work out, she flees and seeks work. Her fairy godmother, in fact, the fairy godmother of several kingdoms, makes her apprentice fairy godmother, and it's her duty to prevent the bad things that come with Tradition. Her life takes yet another curious turn when, disguised as a crone to test three questing princes, she loses her temper with Prince Alexander. He acts like an ass, so she turns him into one. Unwilling to let a defenseless donkey wander the woods alone, she takes him home and puts him to work transforming his life. Lackey's satisfying fairy tale will captivate fantasy readers with its well-imagined world and romance fans, who will relish the growing relationship and sexy scenes. Diana Tixier Herald
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They had thought they’d escaped most of the danger surrounding them, when in truth they’ve made it worse by unintentionally sparking a civil war amongst vampires.

1940, entre le Montmartre de Doisneau et un petit village du Bordelais. La difficile adaptation à la campagne d’un enfant hanté par le souvenir de sa mère disparue, arrêtée par la Gestapo à Paris.Arnaud, 11 ans, n’a jamais quitté Paris, où il est né. C’est depuis les fenêtres de son immeuble, réfugié chez sa voisine, qu’il a aperçu deux hommes emmener sa mère. Depuis, ce souvenir le hante. Il est alors recueilli chez ses grands-parents maternels, de rudes paysans de la région bordelaise. Marguerite, sa grand-mère, ne montre aucune tendresse envers ce petit-fils dont elle ne connaît pas le père. Elle l’envoie garder les moutons et lui fait faire de menus travaux à la ferme. La vie est dure à Lussac, et elle ne fait pas de cadeaux. Outre son pied bot, qui lui attire de violentes moqueries, Arnaud souffre des remarques virulentes sur sa mère que tout le monde, dans le village, traite de prostituée. Mais, peu à peu, l’enfant va s’habituer à son environnement campagnard, se lier d’amitié avec une petite voisine, et gagner l’affection des siens. Pourtant, un secret plane à Lussac, secret qui pourrait bien être lié au passé de sa mère... Pourquoi celle-ci n’est-elle jamais revenue au village et a-t-elle rompu tout lien avec ses parents ? Pourquoi le châtelain voue-t-il une telle haine envers son grand-père ?