I love fairy tale retellings. I'm not familiar with the Grimm brothers' "Maid Maileen," the tale that inspired this story, but now I think I'll hunt the original down. Shannon Hale places characters from this tale in a fantasy world that resembles medieval Mongolia. The heroine and narrator, the lady's maid Dashti, is incredibly likable. She is not a frail beauty, but a homely, loyal and empathetic girl fighting against terrible circumstances and a cruel villain. I recommend this unique story to all fairy tale fans.