The Selection meets Disney's Twisted Tales series in a sparkling romantasy in which Cinderella uses magic to become the belle of the ball... and outshine her princess competitors
Ever since her beloved father's death, Annabelle lives with her step-mother, Melusina, and step-sisters, Bryony and Poppy. They treat her as a servant, expecting her to attend to them at all hours of the day.
But Annabelle is good for more than just cooking and cleaning: the daughter of a seamstress, she can use magic to weave extravagant gowns out of things like smoke, sea foam, and starlight. Her step-sisters take credit for her work and become known throughout the capital for their talents.
When Prince Cender comes of age and is expected to marry, the kingdom's most eligible young ladies are invited to come live at the palace for a few months -- twelve noblewomen known for their beauty, elegance, and most of all, their magical gifts. Magic is a big part of falling in love. When you cast a glamor, you project part of your soul into the world, creating a special kind of energy that'll attract the people most compatible with you. Every week, the potential princesses will attend a lavish ball where they'll have the chance to speak with Prince Cender... and show off their glamors.
Melusina is thrilled when Poppy and Bryony receive their invitations. There's just one problem: her talentless daughters won't last a week on their own. She arranges for Annabelle to take a job as a palace maid so that she can continue making their ball gowns, giving one of them a chance to marry the prince.
But unbeknownst to Melusina, Annabelle and Cender have met before. Though he doesn't recognize her when they reunite by chance in the palace, he still feels a connection to her unlike anything he's ever felt before -- a connection that could lead to both their downfalls...