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.

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐✰

Song like this Book: Safe & Sound by Jackie Evancho

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!

 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