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    The Amaranth Enchantment
    The Amaranth Enchantment
    The Amaranth Enchantment
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Amaranth Enchantment

    Written by Julie Berry

    Narrated by Celeste Ciulla

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Author Julie Berry presents a stylish new fairy tale in her enticing debut novel, The Amaranth Enchantment. Orphaned as a young child, Lucinda is taken in by her uncle to work as a servant in his jewelry shop. But when a witch's gem goes missing, Lucinda embarks on a harrowing adventure to retrieve the precious stone. "Romantics and fantasy lovers will happily devour this debut novel."-School Library Journal
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMay 14, 2010
    ISBN9781449824716
    Author

    Julie Berry

    Julie Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor and Los Angeles Times Book Prize shortlisted novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me (2013, Viking), the Odyssey Honor title The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place (2014, Roaring Brook), and several others. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College. She divides her time between Massachusetts and California with her family. Julie Berry is a prolific author of critically acclaimed books for children, including middle grade and YA novels. Her book The Passion of Dolssa was a 2017 Printz honor title. Julie is active with school visits and conference appearances. For more, see julieberrybooks.com.

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    Reviews for The Amaranth Enchantment

    3.5/5

    25 ratings21 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This was a Cinderella-type fantasy romance. It had a small amount of magic but overall it was a story about a girl, Lucinda, who was born into a wealthy family only to suffer a terrible reversal of fortune when her parents die. By age 5 all the luxuries and niceties are gone and she is taken in by her kind but poor uncle. She grows up tending to his jewelry shop and trying to stay out of the way of her very unkind aunt.Lucinda, now 15 years old, is cleaning the shop one day when a series of events change her life once again: a "witch" drops off a valuable pearl to be repaired, the handsome young prince stops in to search for a piece of jewelry for his soon-to-be princess, a very likeable young thief breaks into Lucinda's room and steals the pearl, her uncle dies and her aunt throws her out onto the streets. What happens next is a fast-paced and often times funny adventure of how Lucinda steals back the pearl, winds up in jail, escapes and then falls in love.Overall I enjoyed this story, especially because it definitely passed the time while I was driving to Ohio. There are some strange threads to this story that sort of stood in the way of making this a 5 star book. When you read it, I think you'll understand but I also think you will greatly enjoy this one simply because it is light-hearted and fun with a small amount of danger and mystery.PS: An amaranth is a mythical red flower that never dies.PPS: I dare you not to fall in love with Dog!
    • 4/5
      Orphaned as a child, Lucinda works as a servant in her uncle's shop. When a stone entrusted to her by a woman rumored to be a witch is stolen, Lucinda attempts to steal it back - from the crown prince.
    • 4/5
      A prince who looked like he swallowed the sun? A princess who looked like she's made from crystal sugar? Those words made me laugh when I read them.And who names their pet goat Dog? Only in this story, I think.This is probably the first book in a while that I devoured reading as soon as I got a copy (and finished the book I was reading before) I had to read and find out what happens next! Who is Beryl? What is she? Even Peter kept me guessing.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Lucinda is such a lovable character. She's like Princess Sarah and Cinderella combined into one. With Beryl as her fairy godmother. Sort of. Except she's immortal and deathless.My mouth literally fell open while I was reading the ending! I knew there was something about Peter! Who would've thought he'd be King? And Gregor's older brother too!This is also the first book I've read (in a while, too) where the Prince cried. He felt more real than all the Princes I've read of. Heroic? Handsome? Sure, but never crying for a girl.The side of the story about Beryl was a bit weird though. The way the angels played a part in the story. Was Beryl like her fairy god mother? With a story of her own?Hmm... But I like the ending. I feel sad for Lucinda and her home, but happy for her and Gregor. I did wish for a royal wedding scene though, at the very least and a bit disappointed it didn't happen.I love Dog!4.5 stars, again!
    • 2/5
      It's a cute story but a bit too simply told. The age group is more young middle school than teen. The twist on the traditional Cinderella tale is nice but the from an alien world character of the witch seemed out of keeping with the general spirit of the story.
    • 3/5
      A spin on the story of Cinderella. Lucinda Chapdelaine is born of a wealthy family. She loses her parents at the age of five and finds herself living with her uncle and step-aunt.Within a matter of days, Lucinda meets a number of very unique characters. One day, two interesting customers appear in her relative's jewelry shop. The first is Beryl, who brings with her a rather large and mysterious jewel to be repaired. The second is a young man who is very handsome. She finds out that he is Prince Gregor and happens to be looking for a piece of jewelry for his betrothed that says "forever". When a priest visits the store and informs the family that Beryl is a witch, Lucinda is prompted by her aunt to return the jewel to said owner for fear of being cursed by the "Amaranth Witch". Lucinda does not return the jewel as told, she decides to hold on to it. That night, a strange young man named Peter appears at her window. He needs a place to hide and Lucinda -against her better judgment- allows him to stay on the floor. Little does she know, Peter is a notorious street thief and the jewel in her pocket when she goes to sleep, not so safe.Lucinda's life turns upside down when her uncle suddenly dies and she is thrown out on the streets by her aunt. The three strangers she recently met will change Lucinda's life, for better or worse.A heroine, an evil step-aunt, a witch, a prince, a thief, a princess, a royal ball, an immortal villain and a goat named Dog.A nice, easy read. The story was cute and slightly different from the original Cinderella. Probably more for the young teens, 10-16.
    • 3/5
      So I guess I'm kind of in a "fairy tale" book mode. This is the third one in just the past few weeks. Can't say it's a bad thing, I suppose that sometimes it's just good to enjoy a book that's magical, simple and reminds me of my childhood. After enjoying Princess of the Midnight Ball and Princess of Glass so much, The Amaranth Enchantment was kind of "next in line" for these types of books. However, I found that there is a huge difference between those two novels and this one.The Amaranth Enchantment is a simple, fairy tale-esque novel in a historical setting that appeals more to middle school-age readers than teen level. The novel tells the story of young Lucinda who, after being orphaned, was sent to live with her Uncle and abusive Aunt. Being treated as little more than a servant, Lucinda works in her relatives' goldsmithing shop until one day, the mysterious Amaranth Witch appears in the shop. After ending up with the witch's prized gem, Lucinda finds herself in the company of a boy who isn't who he seems. But after being kicked out of her home, Lucinda befriends the Amaranth Witch and find herself at the center of a danger game of finger-pointing...Overly simply and somewhat contrived, The Amaranth Enchantment is, overall, an incredibly predictable and dull book. Though the end does seem to come somewhat out of left field (and appears to have been tacked on specifically so that the book could have a "happy ending"), the rest of the story is fairly predictable and just feels flat and mostly uninteresting. In particular, the author seemed to take one or two plot points and then spin them around endlessly without really going anywhere, taking to long to get somewhere, or just to take up space.I was strangely surprised by this, as The Amaranth Enchantment started out with plenty of promise. The setup was interesting, Berry's writing style is wonderful, the mythology Berry spun about the witch was unique and fascinating, but it just didn't seem to really go anywhere or come into its own. These were some of the things that kept me reading, but with flat characters and a dull plot, pushing through this slim 300-page volume was painful at times.While this certainly isn't the worst book out there, and Berry's writing style does show promise and talent, The Amaranth Enchantment just wasn't that enchanted to me.
    • 4/5
      This was a really good book. I heard about it through a newspaper article my mother sent me with a list of LDS women who have all jumped into the YA Fantasy realm. The article listed 2 of my favorites, Stephenie Meyer and Shannon Hale, and also included Julie Berry, Jessica Day George, and Mette Harrison Ivie.I am so glad my mom sent me that article. I've read 2 books by Ivie and 3 by George and they were all pretty good. This is Julie Berry's first book and I really, really enjoyed it. The writing was witty and concise. The story was believable (as far as magic is concerned) and there were a few twists along the way.
    • 5/5
      This was a really great book. Cinderella retold. It was well-written, good for tweens, and checks out well at the library.
    • 3/5
      other worlds, Cinderella and other themes in a story with lots of twists not always strong but a good read
    • 3/5
      It was a little disjointed, especially towards the end. It didn't seem to flow very well. Also, it was a little frustrating how the main character, Lucinda, jumped from one conclusion to another. However, it's a quick read, holds the reader's attention, and is a lovely fairy-tale quality young adult novel.
    • 3/5
       Can't say that I loved it....but a well written page turning book. Just right for the audience targeted. Cinderella is my all time favorite fairytale and this was a nice twist to it. Good one to enjoy with your younger children well...girls anyway...boys might like it as it does have a nice amount of adventure in it that might keep them involved. All around nice book with not alot of snags just a good old fashioned game of seek and find.
    • 3/5
      Ever since the death of Lucinda's parents, she has been forced to live under the thumb of her bitter and overbearing aunt and her weak uncle, working at their jewelry store. Within one eventful day, Lucinda's life drastically changes. During this short period of time, she deals with a lovesick prince, a mysterious witch, a charming thief, and a tragedy that leaves her homeless. Things quickly go from bad to worse for Lucinda as she tries to put the pieces back together. When I picked up The Amaranth Enchantment, it was because I was in the mood for a feel good, happy ending fairy tale. I was certainly not disappointed in that but I was surprised to find that Julie Berry's story had plenty of action as well as unexpected plot twists and turns. I enjoyed that each of the characters showed both strength in some areas and weaknesses in others. It made them much more realistic. The prince was a little weaker than I would have liked personally, but he fit so well with Lucinda. The Amaranth Witch was by far my favorite character, mysterious in so many ways yet very apparently flawed and insecure. I would recommend The Amaranth Enchantment to anyone who enjoys a happily-ever-after kind of story with some unique twists and turns along the way
    • 4/5
      Poor orphan girl in a miserable situation, trusty animal sidekick, mysterious but beautiful witch, a charming prince, yet another prince in disguise, and a ball that decides the fate of just about everything. This little fantasy novel has everything that builds a fairy tale, and it pulls it off okay with some unique plot devices. The science fiction elements are completely unexpected, for one thing. In the beginning, Lucinda, the main character, was refreshingly unique because she does cry and she does think for herself, but later on she starts to just be a bit of a crybaby. Still, she manages to overcome her tears every time, so good for her.All in all, it's a very average fantasy book that's perfect for when you want a quick fairy tale read, but it's nothing special. I'm hoping that with more practice, Julie Berry can produce some really spectacular fantasy novels.
    • 5/5
      This was a fun and enchanting read. Those you enjoy princess/fairy tale type stories you will definitely enjoy this book. It was a sweet tale full of twists and turns with lovable characters.Lucinda is being raised by her Uncle, who is a jeweler, and her Aunt who hates and abuses her. She used to be the daughter of nobility but her parents' untimely death destroyed all of that. When her uncle passes away Lucinda is forced out of the house by her aunt and ends up moving in with the Amaranth witch. Now Lucinda is tasked with retrieving a special jewel and gets entangled with evil judges, a handsome price, a dashing thief, and a goat who acts like a dog.This book was an excellent light fairy tale read. The plot is incredibly well woven and full of magic and mystery. There are some wonderful twists at the end which really keep the reader guessing. The characters are all well-done and likable. Lucinda has a good amount of spunk and a nice sense of humor that keeps things fun. The writing style is easy to read and very engaging. The book is appropriate for middle grade and older readers.All of the characters in this book were interesting and fun. You have to love the charming prince and the thieving rogue; sure they are kind of typical to a fairy tale story like this but they were really well-done in this story and lots of fun to read about.Overall this was just a very fun and entertaining read. A wonderful light read for fairy tale lovers out there. If you like this book you might also be interested in Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith, Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, or any of Tamora Pierce's books.
    • 4/5
      Once upon a time...
      Lucinda had a wonderful life; parents who adored her, wealth, privilege, all the fine things of which a girl dreams.

      Now...
      That's all gone - Lucinda's parents are dead and she lives working as an unpaid drudge for her kind, goldsmith uncle and the mean greedy wife he doesn't dare to defy. Then things get worse than Lucinda could have ever imagined - following the death of her uncle, Lucinda's aunt accuses her of the theft of a precious stone left in the shop by Beryl, the Amaranth Witch (Falsely! It was that street scamp Peter!) and kicks Lucinda out onto the streets. Lucinda will have to use all her wits to retrieve the stone from Peter, but distractions abound, particularly in the forms of charming Prince Gregor and one stubborn goat named Dog. As Lucinda searches for Peter and the stone, she discovers that not all is precisely as it seems, but can she learn the truth in time or will disaster strike?

      Although it is an original story, The Amaranth Enchantment has all the hallmarks of the best fairy tales - an orphan, a fairy godmother, a prince, hidden identities, a masked ball, and of course, lots of magic and romance!

      I hope the above is all correct as I actually read this over a year ago. I was very distracted while reading it because I had gotten it into my head somehow that it was a fairy tale retelling as opposed to an original story, but I couldn't make it fit with anything I knew. Everything made much more sense once I realized it was an original.
    • 4/5
      This book seems to combine elements from several fairy tales, but it works. Lucinda lives with her uncle and mean stepmother after her parents go to a ball and never return. She encounters a young thief, and a mysterious woman all in one day, and the two, separately, will change her life. She falls in love, has her heart broken, is almost killed, and falls in love again. She even manages to regain what is rightfully hers. Julie Berry does a very impressive and skillful job of weaving together what initially seem disparate events.
    • 4/5
      My only complaint was it was too short. I sped through it in a couple hours, tops.
    • 3/5
      15-year-old Lucinda Chapdelaine used to be the daughter of well-to-do merchants, intimate with the royal family themselves. Then, her parents die in an accident, the family’s wealth mysteriously disappears, and Lucinda is forced to live with her uncle and her horrible aunt. Lucinda lives and works like a servant, never even daring to dwell on the past or dream of a better life.Then, a beautiful stone sets off a chain of events that changes Lucinda’s life. She befriends Beryl, a mysterious lady with witch-like powers, who gives Lucinda a difficult task. If she succeeds, she may end up with all her former glory restored, and perhaps even more in the way of friendships and love. If she fails, however, it may cost Lucinda and her friends their lives.Julie Berry does an admirable job of modernizing the feel of a classic fairy tale. The tone of the story is lilting and reminiscent of old stories, full of peril and triumph, and then more peril and more triumph. I really enjoyed all the fantastical elements of THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT: this is a mixture of beloved fairy tales like Cinderella and more.The characters, however, were not very easy to connect with. Berry’s storyteller writing contributes to the fairy tale feel of the novel, but also distances us from the characters at the same time. It took most of the book to convince me to care for Lucinda, her ragamuffin friend Peter, and Prince Gregor—although the hint of a love triangle between the three really helped keep my feelings of apathy at a minimum.Overall, THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT will satisfy readers looking for a tale full of magic, heroic actions, wonder, and victory.
    • 4/5
      The Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry, has this really charming quality to it, and while reading it I often thought, “You know, this could be made into a Miyazaki film.” It had that Studio Ghibli feeling.Lucinda, the main character, is an orphan living with her kindly uncle, and her cruel and greedy aunt. And then she meets a witch, a prince, and a thief. And if that sounds like the start of a fairy tale to you, then you’re on the right track, and we haven’t even met the goat yet.When a very important jewel belonging to Beryl (who may or may not be a witch) is stolen, Lucinda accepts the task of finding it once more, in exchange for her childhood home, and enough money to never have to depend on anyone else again.But well, easier said than done, right?I really liked The Amaranth Enchantment, and it’s an easy book to start reading and then get lost in. A lot of books I read chapter by chapter, but this one I read in chunks, wondering where the time went.Still, there was a lot that frustrated me about it. Lucinda and Peter (the thief) had great chemistry together, whereas Lucinda and Gregor had about as much steam between them as two piles of moss. I just kept hoping, “Oh, maybe now she’ll finally shut up about Gregor and pay attention to PETER!” Alas, it was not to be.Plus, the pacing of the story was…odd. I don’t know that I would call it bad, but it definitely threw me off a bit in places, especially toward the end. I think some of the scenes could have been rearranged and it would have helped.And yet, I really liked this book. It’s clever, and the two characters we spend the most time with, Lucinda and Peter, are interesting and intelligent. And like I said, there’s a goat!I really emotionally invested myself in the story. At one point I had to turn off my Kindle and go about the rest of my day, because I was so worried about what was going to happen to Lucinda that I couldn’t keep reading. And then I got over it because I was so worried about what would happen to Lucinda! I HAD to keep reading.By time she reaches her happy ending, there’s no doubt that she deserves it, and I felt..satisfied. The fairy tale feeling.
    • 4/5
      This book is just what I needed to read. It was sweet and enchanting and kept me hooked until the end.This novel is an obvious spin off of Cinderella, which is something, I personally, never tire of, but I could see how some might not be too enamored with another Cinderella story. I still feel The Amaranth Enchantment had a unique spin to it that made it its own. I could probably gush and gush about this book forever, but I just loved this story! It was corny and was just what I need to warm my spirit. I definitely recommend this book to those who love an innocent love story that has a happy ending.
    • 3/5
      What’s better than a traditional Cinderella story? One that steals elements from the tale, but forges its own path. The Amaranth Enchantment is about a girl named Lucinda whose parents died in a horrible accident the night of a ball. She goes to live with her uncle and step-aunt, a woman who treats her like a servant. A magical woman—the book’s version of a fairy godmother—is the catalyst for Lucinda leaving to make it on her own. Following the elements of a fairy tale, she falls in love with a prince and winds up at his ball, but that’s where the similarities end. In a way, the novel reminds me of a Disney movie because memorable characters include a lovable thief named Peter and a pet goat named Dog (why Dog, idk, but it’s cute!).The Amaranth Enchantment might read like a fairy tale, but it also has some sci-fi tendencies. The “godmother,” Beryl, is from another planet and has a special stone that gives her magical abilities. This stone is so valuable that an evil man wants it and will stop at nothing to get it back. Beryl begs Lucinda for help, offering to restore everything she lost if she can retrieve the stone, which was stolen by a thief named Peter and sold to the Crown Prince. This is one place where The Amaranth Enchantment succeeds: Lucinda doesn’t wait around for a man to save the day. She pulls it together and takes charge herself despite the consequences. She was the opposite of Beryl, who wasn’t able to solve her own problems. My favorite character was Peter, the thief. He was the most animated, and stole every scene. He had surprises up his sleeve that I never saw coming, too. I felt he was the most well-developed of all the characters. While I admired Lucinda’s spunk, I felt she was a little too naïve at times and often found herself in bad situations due to this. I also wish Prince Gregor was a little more fleshed-out. There weren’t as many romance scenes as I would have liked, but I’m hoping to see more in Berry’s future novels. For a debut novel, The Amaranth Enchantment had many good ideas, and the story was still fun to read. There were twists and turns I never saw coming, and I loved the fact that despite the Cinderella influence, Lucinda was her own heroine, and not a reincarnation of anyone else.