The magic continues in New York Times bestselling authorMercedes Lackey's enchanting Tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, when a beauty must battle some beasts before she rescues her prince... The eldest daughter is often doomed in fairy tales. But Bella-Isabella Beauchamps, daughter of a wealthy merchant-vows to escape the usual pitfalls. Anxious to avoid the traditional path, Bella dons a red cloak and ventures into the forbidden forest to consult with "Granny," the local wisewoman. But on the way home she's attacked by a wolf-who turns out to be a cursed nobleman. Secluded in his castle, Bella is torn between her family and this strange man who creates marvelous inventions and makes her laugh-when he isn't howling at the moon. Bella knows all too well that breaking spells is never easy. But a determined beauty, a wizard (after all, he's only an occasional werewolf) and a little Godmotherly interference might just be able to bring about a happy ending....