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Cover for A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms

A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms

by Mercedes Lackey

books
6
pages
~1.9k
complete
2016–21

Epic/High Fantasy, Romantasy, Mythic Fantasy

Ranked #30 in Complete Epic Fantasy

Is it for you?

In the Five Hundred Kingdoms, a magical force called the Tradition forces mortals to act out predetermined fairy-tale archetypes. When Elena Klovis dodges her scripted Cinderella fate, she trains as a fairy godmother to outsmart magical plots and rescue others from tragic endings.

You'll like it if you enjoy

  • Subversive fairy-tale retellings
  • A clever, pragmatic heroine
  • Lighthearted romance with gentle humor
  • Magic used to outsmart fate

Good to know

  • Predictable villains and straightforward plotting

How it ends: A rushed final book draws mixed reactions, though readers still enjoy its lighthearted tone and fairy-tale twists.

Tags

  • Female Lead
  • Smart MC
  • Strong Female Lead
  • Single Love Interest
  • Lighthearted
  • Fast Paced
  • Unique Magic System
  • No Gore

Reading order

  1. Cover for The Fairy Godmother: The First Five Hundred Kingdoms Novel of Magic and Romance (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 1)

    Book 1: The Fairy Godmother

    277 pages2016

    Elena Klovis was destined to be Cinderella, but when her fairy-tale ending derails, she chooses her own path. Instead of succumbing to the crushing pull of the magical force known as the Tradition, she becomes apprentice to a real fairy godmother. Tasked with steering others through fraught destinies and dealing with pompous princes, Elena must master her craft. In The Fairy Godmother, taking fate into her own hands means risking everything—especially when an unexpected romance emerges.

  2. Cover for One Good Knight: A Charming Romantic Fantasy Retelling of Saint George and the Dragon (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 2)

    Book 2: One Good Knight

    2021

    Princess Andromeda believes research and wit can outsmart any crisis, but Acadia's tyrannical magical force, the Tradition, demands a maiden sacrifice to appease a rampaging dragon. When chosen as the offering, she refuses to play the helpless victim. In One Good Knight, she teams up with Sir George to confront the beast on her own terms. Armed with a sharp mind and fierce resolve, Andromeda sets out to outwit ancient lore and forge her own triumphant destiny.

  3. Cover for Fortune's Fool: A Fantasy Romance Novel – A Five Hundred Kingdoms Series Epic of Jinn and Spies (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 3)

    Book 3: Fortune's Fool

    343 pages2021

    Ekaterina is the seventh daughter of the Sea King, serving as both royal emissary and her family’s most lethal secret spy. Her mission to investigate neighboring Belrus leads her straight to Prince Sasha, a supposed fool hiding deep secrets. But when Ekaterina is abducted and imprisoned inside a powerful Jinn’s fortress, survival requires more than diplomacy. In Fortune's Fool, she must rely on her sharp intellect, a paper bird, and an unlikely champion to defy fate and break free.

  4. Cover for The Snow Queen: A Five Hundred Kingdoms Fantasy Romance of Magic and Mystery (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 4)

    Book 4: The Snow Queen

    416 pages2016

    Aleksia, Queen of the Northern Lights, is rumored to rule with a heart of pure ice, yet she cares deeply for her frozen realm. When an impostor unleashes terrifying malice and frames her for the carnage, Aleksia embarks on a perilous trek across a land of eternal winter to uncover the truth. In The Snow Queen, she must marshal her icy sorcery and a mother's faith to rescue a missing warrior and defeat a heartless enemy threatening to plunge the kingdoms into darkness.

  5. Cover for The Sleeping Beauty: A Fantasy Romance Novel – A Five Hundred Kingdoms Story of Magic and Mythical Adventure (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 5)

    Book 5: The Sleeping Beauty

    412 pages2016

    Princess Rosamund knows that defying the realm's rigid customs brings disaster, but when a huntsman targets her life and dwarves capture her, she must take radical measures. To shield her kingdom from catastrophic invasion, Rosa willingly enters a deep magical slumber with her stepmother's help. In The Sleeping Beauty, she wakes to find her destiny in turmoil, forced to navigate pushy suitors, an enigmatic outsider, and the ultimate test of claiming her throne as a true queen.

  6. Cover for Beauty and the Werewolf: A Five Hundred Kingdoms Fantasy Romance and Clever Fairy Tale Retelling (A Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 6)

    Book 6: Beauty and the Werewolf

    416 pages2017

    Determined to avoid the doom that befalls elder daughters in traditional lore, Bella dons a scarlet cloak and braves the dark woods to seek an elder's wisdom. Instead of a normal journey, she faces a vicious wolf attack and ends up sequestered in a remote castle with a nobleman cursed to transform under the full moon. In Beauty and the Werewolf, Bella finds herself drawn to the eccentric inventor behind the beast, battling perilous enchantments with godmotherly magic to rewrite their story.

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