Magdala is deformed, in a society of perfect bodies and beautiful people, she is the only one born hideously deformed. The story opens with Magdala's everyday life, encountering a stream of thoughtless, automatic insults and snubs from strangers and co-workers, we learn of Magdala's bleak existence and her few joys.

When Magdala is offered the chance to become beautiful, through transferring her consciousness to a new body, her entire life changes. But it is not a fairytale, and she is now under the control of a sadistic and mysterious scientist, Claudio.

Tanith Lee's ability to create a character as complex as Magdala is a trademark of her fiction. The emotions and reactions of Magdala as we first see her, deformed and hopeless, then beautiful but powerless, are described realistically and with empathy.

This is a short but interesting work that has a number of twists towward the end, making it into a book not quite like we thought it was during msot of the story.