fairest.

Let me first just say that I hate the cover of this book. It's so busy and tacky and in real life it has ugly shiny gold on it. It really didn't appeal to me at the book store. But I like the movie Ella Enchanted, and had heard that the book was good. So I put my cover-judging aside and bought it... and I'm glad I did! Here's a little peek from the back cover:

Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty.... Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualitites prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light--especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom.

I love fairy tales. And romance. And happy endings. And this book. 3.5 out of 5 stars. I plan to read some of Gail Carson Levine's other books. Ever is next on my list.