Lady Theodosia has certainly gotten the short end of the stick—her stepsister, Princess Beatrice, is telling everyone that Theo, her sister, and their mother are evil, wicked, and horrid people who treated her like a slave. Though this isn't exactly true, it seems her life is thoroughly ruined by the rumor. Her only path forward is a forced betrothal to the Duke of Snowbell, a foul-tempered geezer who wishes only to use her as a brood mare for spare heirs. Desperate for help, Theo clings to the rumor of a fairy godmother. But the fairy she meets isn't at all what she imagined. Cecily of the Ash Fairies is much more interested in gathering powerful favors than providing charitable magic for humans in a bind. Cecily sets Theo to three tasks. As Theo works, she finds kinship with the magical creatures she's helping, and starts to wonder if a life among her human peers is what she really wants after all.