Cinderella Book Recommendations

 From Rags at Riches

    Her stepmother and step-sisters made her work from dawn to dusk and sleep in a small, cold room. when the chill became too much to bear, she would sleep near the kitchen fire where cinders would fall on her. this is where she got her name, Cinderella. There have been many versions of Cinderella from many countries throughout history. It is believed the first version was either from Ancient Greece or Asia but did not become well known until French author Charles Perrault published it in a book featuring other Fairy Tales in 1697. For this post, I will be recommending five retellings of Cinderella for you to read. 

Book 1: Geekerella

    This first book features Cinderella in a contemporary setting. If you love geek culture and the con scene then you will love all the references in this book! 

Book Name: Geekerella

Author Name: Ashley Poston

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Book Number: 1 of 3

Number of Pages: 320 pages

Book Description:

    Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.

    Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

    Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

Book 2: Cinder

    The Next book is the amazing debut of one of my favorite authors, Marissa Meyer. In this series, The Lunar Chronicles takes Fairy Tales and places them in a futuristic world!

Book Name: Cinder

Author Name: Marissa Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Book Number: 1 of 6

Number of Pages: 400 pages

Book Description:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Book 3: Cinder & Glass

    This next book places Cinderella in a more real, historical setting. She also goes by the name Cendrillon in this story, which is a common alternate name used in different versions of the tale.    

Book Name: Cinder & Glass

Author Name: Melissa De La Cruz

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Romance

Release Date: March 8, 2022

Book Number: 1 of to be determined

Number of Pages: 336 pages

Book Description:

    For this princess, winning the crown is no fairytale.

    1682. The king sends out an invitation to all the maidens in France: their presence is requested at a number of balls and events that will be held in honor of the dashing Prince Louis, who must choose a bride.

    Cendrillon de Louvois has more grace, beauty, and charm than anyone else in France. While she was once the darling child of the king's favorite adviser, her father's death has turned her into the servant of her stepmother and cruel stepsisters--and at her own chateau, too!

    Cendrillon--now called Cinder--manages to evade her stepmother and attend the ball, where she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother Auguste.

    Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other women at court for the Prince's hand.

    Soon, as Cendrillon glows closer to Auguste and dislikes the prince more and more, she will have to decide if she can bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave the life she hates.

    Melissa de la Cruz takes a lush, romantic hand to this retold fairy tale classic.

Book 4: So This Is Love

    This book is part of the Disney Twisted Tales series, where one part of a Disney movie is changed, twisting everything in the story. This one asks: What if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?

Book Name: So This Is Love-A Twisted Tale

Author Name: Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy/ Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Book Number: 9 of 13 ( More in development)

Number of Pages: 416 pages

Book Description:

    Unable to prove that she's the missing princess, and unable to bear life under Lady Tremaine any longer, Cinderella starts work at the palace as a seamstress. However, when Cinderella finds herself witness to a grand conspiracy to take the king - and the prince - out of power, she is faced with questions of love and loyalty to the kingdom. Cinderella must find a way to stop the villains of past and present... before it's too late.

Book 5: The Peasant's Dream

    This last recommendation takes the Cinderella story and gender swaps it! If you want a nice, sweet read this book is a perfect candidate!

Book Name: The Peasant's Dream

Author Name: Melanie Dickerson

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Romance

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Book Number: 11 of 11

Number of Pages: 311 pages

Book Description:

    In this reverse reimagining of the Cinderella story, secrets and dangerous enemies threaten a fairy-tale romance.

    Adela, daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim, is rarely allowed outside the castle walls. But one day, longing for freedom, she sneaks away to the market disguised as a peasant. There, she meets a handsome young woodcarver named Frederick.

    Frederick, a poor farmer, is the sole provider for his family, and he often has to defend his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He dreams of making a living carving beautiful images into wood, and he is thrilled when the Bishop of Hagenheim commissions him to carve new doors for the cathedral. As Frederick works on the project, he and Adela meet almost daily, and it doesn't take long for them to fall in love. Yet her true identity remains hidden from him.

    When disaster separates them, Adela and Frederick find themselves caught in the midst of deceptions far more dangerous than innocent disguises. As the powerful lords set against them proceed with their villainous plans, secrets emerge that put Frederick and Adela's future at risk.

Conclusion

    Do any of these books sound interesting to read? Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments below! I might also do a part two as there are so many Cinderella Retellings out there!