Dorothea is a thoroughly spoiled fairy-tale princess, complete with a vague yet menacing curse that keeps her trapped in the castle. When she's ordered to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom, she accidentally uses a wish--and destroys everything. In order to put everything back the way it was, rescue her parents, and save the world, she has to embark on an epic quest in which nothing is as it seems and danger lurks around every corner. 
 This is a delightful book, and it strikes a perfect balance between silly and serious; the stakes are high, but the world is zany and keeps Dorothea and everyone else on their toes. The fairy-tale setting blends with characters and imagery from The Wizard of Oz in a wonderful hybrid that kept me guessing about what exactly was going on here and how it was all going to turn out. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel.