Review of "Hazel Tree" by Melissa Mead

"Hazel Tree" by Melissa Mead, appeared on February 27, 2013 as the next installment in Daily Science Fiction's every-other-Wednesday fairy tale offerings.  "A wicked step-mother and her two natural daughters make life miserable for a girl who consoles herself by planting a magic hazelnut tree and baking hazelnut concoctions from its fruit."

There is a variant telling of the old household tale, Cinderella, in which the unfortunate step-child plants a hazelnut branch on her mother's grave which then grows into a magic hazelnut tree.  The same thing happens in Ms. Mead's tale, only her telling is punctuated by asides from the author that, while meant to be humorous, interrupt the flow of the story.  3 out of 7 rocket-dragons.