She's lying-or, at least, not telling the whole truth. The Godmother answers that she can't help everyone, so she helps the ones who are the least tough. Because You Can Cope: In 'Godmother', a Fairy Godmother is confronted by a young princess who has just survived a harrowing adventure without any magical assistance, and demands to know why she didn't get any when other princesses in less dire circumstances did.In Bryony and Roses in particular, the heroine is chosen specifically because of her gardening expertise.

Author Appeal: Almost all of her protagonists have at least some knowledge of horticulture, and many are avid gardeners.Examples include some of the plants mentioned in Bryony and Roses, and the enchanted bird in 'The Dryad's Shoes'. Artistic License – Geography: Some of her fairy tale retellings, while being set in the default medievalish Europeanish setting for fairy tales, include North American bird or plant species, because the author is a gardener and a birdwatcher, and includes details from her own experience.'The Tomato Thief' (sequel to 'Jackalope Wives') features a foreign god who transforms people into birds and thereby forces them to do his bidding.'Jackalope Wives' applies the myth of Selkies and Wereseals to jackalopes, so that they can be forced to take human form if their skins are hidden.In The Raven and the Reindeer, a reindeer gives its skin to the protagonist so that she can become a reindeer herself.Alternative Calendar: Illuminations is set in a Europe that has adopted the French Republican Calendar.Other works by Ursula Vernon contain examples of: Works by Ursula Vernon with their own trope pages include: A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking (2020).Jackalope Wives and Other Stories (2017).The Seventh Bride (2015) (Re-released in print).Nine Goblins (2013) (a sort-of prequel to Elf vs.Gearworld (Both a quasi-narrative journal and a generic setting for many paintings tragically unfinished).Orc (tragically unfinished however, see below)

A Conspiracy of Mammals (sadly unfinished).

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