Before Midnight Book Review

Book Name: Before Midnight

Author Name: Cameron Dokey

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Release Date: March 1, 2007

Number in Series: Standalone

Number of Pages: 193 pages

Review:

    Cendrillion was born the night her mother died and her father wants nothing to do with her. Instead, he leaves to join the king’s court, but not before leaving another child behind at his home, a boy named Raoul. The two children are raised by the household servants and have lived without a word from Cendrillion’s father for sixteen years. Then one fall day, a message arrives, stating that Cendrillion’s father has remarried and her new stepmother and two stepsisters appear not too long after. At first, they do not know Cendrillion’s true heritage, believing her to be just another servant. But things finally come to light just as a grand ball is announced. Unknown to Cendrillion and Raoul, this ball will change their lives forever.

    I feel this is a very poor adaptation of the original Cinderella by Charles Perrault so I do not care too much about spoiling it. You have been warned!!!!

    There is too much focus on Cendrillion’s life before and right after her stepmother and stepsisters come into her life, leaving very little time for the ball aspect of the tale and even less time for the love stories. Cendrillion is mostly okay with her role in life, and she does not even bring up who she is to her stepmother for months. Her identity is only revealed because her friend Raoul saves her from being sent away by telling her stepmother after him, Cendrillion, and one of her stepsisters have a falling out. Also, out of all the stepfamily, only one is mean to Cendrillion, Anastasia, whose heel turns the second she finds out Cendrillion is her stepsister.

     Then there is the romance. Ugh, the romance! Nothing but love at first sight for all couples involved. At least they have Raoul fall in love with one of the stepsisters, not with Cendrillion as I thought. Incredible considering the plot twist That Raoul is the long-lost twin brother of the prince I first believed it would be Raoul and Cendrillion together by the end. But no, he falls head over heels for Anastasia after saving her from being trampled by a horse. Cendrillion’s other stepsister, Amile, just comes out and says she likes this soldier about eighty percent into the book. Those two characters had only one scene together by that point! 

    Then there is Cendrillion and her love interest, Prince Pascal. He is not mentioned until about seventy percent into the book. He sees her at the ball briefly, only for Raoul to brag in and everyone freaks out at the revelation the two are twin brothers. Prince Pascal then meets Cendrillion right before midnight back in the ballroom and they share a dance, which leads to a kiss. Yes, the author followed that part from the Disney version of Cinderella. One big difference is Disney’s Cinderella in barely an hour while a book can be as long as the author wants and can have so much more happen. Instead, the author wanted to spend eighty percent of the 193 pages on Cendrillion’s life before the ball and then rush the rest. This book is not good at all, and I give Before Midnight two out of five stars.

Rating:

    ⭐⭐✰✰✰

A Song Like This Book:

Aeon by Nick Murray and Featuring Juliet Lyons