Once upon a time there was a fairy godmother named Desiderata who had a good heart, a wise head, and poor planning skills—which, unfortunately, left the Princess Emberella in the care of her other (not quite so good nor wise) godmother.

Now it’s up to Discworld’s witches Magrat Garlick, Granny Weatherwax, and Nanny Ogg to hop on broomsticks and make for far-distant Genua to stop a wedding—to ensure a servant girl does not marry the Prince. It's a journey plagued with detours, including the occasional vampire, werewolf, and falling house (they are witches and this is a fairy tale).

But the trouble really begins once these reluctant foster-godmothers arrive in Genua to torpedo this particularly enchanting “happily ever after,” especially when it comes with glass slippers and a power-hungry fairy godmother who has made destiny an offer it can’t refuse. As even these clever crones discover, it’s hard to resist a good tale, even when the fate of a kingdom depends on it.