Cinder & Glass Book Review
Author Name: Melissa De La Cruz
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: March 8, 2022
Number of Pages: 336 pages
Review:
In France in 1682, Cendrillon lives happily with her father as she starts her life at the French court. Then one day, her father meets and marries Lady Catherine which starts changes in Cendrillion’s life. She now has two stepsisters and the members of the house staff whom Cendrillion thought of as family are dismissed. Then suddenly, her father passes away. Now Cendrillion is no more than a servant in her own home, being treated horribly by her stepfamily. But hope comes in the form of her dying godmother, who whisks Cendrillion away and takes her to the grand ball held by the King. There she encounters both Prince Louis and his half-brother Augustu. She’s unsure of the former but feels sparks with the latter.
Later that night an announcement is made: twenty-five ladies of the court will be courted by Prince Louis and he will choose one for his bride. Even more surprising; Cendrillion’s name is called as one of the suiters. Panicking and scared of what her stepmother will do, she flees the ball, leaving behind her slipper. The next day she is confronted by Lady Catherine, who forbids Cendrillion from participating in the prince’s courting. But Cendrillion does anyway as it seems it might be the only way to escape her stepfamily for good.
Cendrillion works hard to impress Prince Louis to be chosen as his bride, but as she sees Augustu more, the more she falls for him. Now as the prince’s courting event winds down to an end, Cendrillion must make a choice; marry Louis and be free from her stepfamily or be with Augustu, the man she loves.
Cinder & Glass was a very interesting and entertaining read. I really enjoyed how the story of Cinderella was adapted and changed to fit in the real world of 1682 in France. I feel the book set up Cendrillion’s story from a noble lady to her stepmother’s servant at a good pace. I really felt for Cendrillion at times as she faces the hardships her stepmother puts her through and how she finally has enough of her is great to read. I also liked how she didn’t fall in love with the prince but the prince’s half-brother. This leads to fun interactions Cendrillion has with both, especially Cendrillion’s and Augustu’s romantic scenes. The two are so cute together. This book has the trope of one of the stepsisters being nice but has her stand up to her mother in the end, which was a nice change of pace.
The biggest negative I had with the story was how Cenderillion’s godmother was handled. She’s friends with Cendrillion’s father and even though she says his death affected her so bad that she had to leave court for over a year only sending Cendrillion letters did not sit right with me. I feel like the author should have had a point where she tried to come back for Cendrillion, but was tricked by Lady Catherine in some way before she arrived when the stepfamily was away at the ball.
I also did not like how she came back only to die off the page a few chapters later. The author could have thought of another way to make it so that she could no longer help Cendrillion. Maybe still have her godmother die and have her inherit her gowns. Then when she wants to go to the ball the people who used to work at her home return, dress her up, and get her to the ball. Either way I still really enjoyed Cinder & Glass. I give this book four out of five stars.
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