Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
I really liked the idea behind this retelling. Having the two of them already have a past together was great and the reason that they fell apart was believable. Unfortunately, I just didn't like the execution of this story. And they fey thing, while a nice twist, seemed like it was quite literally just plopped into the middle of the story. It was also kinda short. I'm not sure how they get 260 pages, because there's just no way. I read it in about an hour or so and there's no way I read that fast. Maybe if it was longer it could have been better. But as it is, it was an okay read but I most likely will never read it again.
So, I'd read the reviews before reading this book. I had a fairly good idea what I was getting into... BUT I HAD NO CLUE what I was getting to. They weren't joking. This book was HORRIBLY put together. Ok, so the writing isn't that great and the story is cheazy and something a freshman high schooler could have written... what killed it for me was the lack of editing! There were what I guess were editing comments still within the story...
...and the spaces! OMG there were spaces everywhere, but some denoted a change in time/thought and others were a break between paragraphs so you were never quite sure what was going on.. Mix that with confusing thoughts of 'who just said what' and it can almost be painful to read. I've read worse stories, but none that were so painful to read strictly based on formatting.
...and the spaces! OMG there were spaces everywhere, but some denoted a change in time/thought and others were a break between paragraphs so you were never quite sure what was going on.. Mix that with confusing thoughts of 'who just said what' and it can almost be painful to read. I've read worse stories, but none that were so painful to read strictly based on formatting.
Would have been better if more attention was given to the fae aspects of the story. Still a fun read though.
Raunchy cinderela
Take the fairy tale you know and add a whole lot of sex. That is basically this story. It has all the elements but with the plot focusing on getting laid.
Take the fairy tale you know and add a whole lot of sex. That is basically this story. It has all the elements but with the plot focusing on getting laid.
Years ago, Lady Ella and Prince Daniel were friends, but with his military service and her father's death, they ended up separated (Daniel was even told Ella died). Years later, they meet again due to her unconventional response to his ad for a wife, but he doesn't recognize her, and she's angry with him due to past events.
I really like the premise, though Daniel is basically abusing his royal power to force her to come to his castle for his search for a queen (his people threaten to arrest her if she fails to show up). I like their chemistry. The world building is limited, and the world itself is odd (part fairy tale medieval, part modern). This book is okay, but had the potential to be a lot better.
I really like the premise, though Daniel is basically abusing his royal power to force her to come to his castle for his search for a queen (his people threaten to arrest her if she fails to show up). I like their chemistry. The world building is limited, and the world itself is odd (part fairy tale medieval, part modern). This book is okay, but had the potential to be a lot better.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In a world where modern mixes with fairy tale medieval, a Cinderella heroine tries to avoid the feelings she has for a childhood love.
I found this to be an average adult interpretation with hints to the rest of the fairy tale world.
I found this to be an average adult interpretation with hints to the rest of the fairy tale world.
I've never read anything by this author, but her tone in her newsletters has been a little off-putting to me for a while now. However, when I noticed I needed a book for an exotic locale and the third one fit the bill, in addition to needing a fairy tale retelling for a bingo challenge square, I decided to give her work a try. While I am not overly impressed with the author's work, I am intrigued enough to continue reading the series to see if it improves.
The premise of the story is rather unique! There's a great mash up of fairy tales and the surrounding mythos, and I really liked how the author combined some of the more modern aspects of the fairy tale into her story. I loved Ella herself...her strength and snarkiness stood out the most for me. I absolutely hated Daniel for the entire story! He came across as a self-absorbed prick! I did like how he tried to redeem himself for past actions, but it felt too little too late.
The world building on the story was well done, and easily relatable. However, the plot felt a little rushed, especially at the end of the book. I wound up going back and re-reading several passages near the end because I couldn't understand what was happening in certain places. I wound up docking a star for that alone, because I really didn't like having to re-read the book as I was reading it! All things considered, it was a decent read, and I am hoping things get better from here.
The premise of the story is rather unique! There's a great mash up of fairy tales and the surrounding mythos, and I really liked how the author combined some of the more modern aspects of the fairy tale into her story. I loved Ella herself...her strength and snarkiness stood out the most for me. I absolutely hated Daniel for the entire story! He came across as a self-absorbed prick! I did like how he tried to redeem himself for past actions, but it felt too little too late.
The world building on the story was well done, and easily relatable. However, the plot felt a little rushed, especially at the end of the book. I wound up going back and re-reading several passages near the end because I couldn't understand what was happening in certain places. I wound up docking a star for that alone, because I really didn't like having to re-read the book as I was reading it! All things considered, it was a decent read, and I am hoping things get better from here.
The bones of the Cinderella story with bits of fae thrown in there for magical elements. The worldbuilding was really minimal. I am all about making your reader work for it a bit, but there was just too much not explained or elaborated on that made it seem like you were missing half of the book.
A contemporary slant to the well known fairy tale, where a girl down on her luck and a prince, or king in this version, fall in love but a number of things keep them apart.
Dane needs to get married and produce an heir to his kingdom, and devises a way to find the woman who will be his future queen among his many subjects. He requests all eligible women who fit the criteria set to send him risque photos, in order to eliminate all the ones who actually do.
Ella, who is no dummy and does not want to get selected anyway,, utilizes her sense of humor and sends him a "fuck you" note with her application instead.
To her surprise, despite her efforts to be eliminated, she is among the ones who are invited to the palace to meet the king and has even managed to gain his attention.
It turns out that
Many years have passed since they last met, so he doesn't recognize her, but immediately feels drawn to her, and the more he gets to know her, the more he falls for her, and he is determined to make her his queen.
Unfortunately, a misunderstanding causes Ella to use her first of two wishes to the Fae, and wishes to only be able to be seen by those who are worthy, and disappears from the palace, leaving only one of her glass slippers behind.
Dane moves heaven and earth to find her, discovering their past in the process, until he eventually hosts a ball and claims that he will marry the woman whom the glass slipper would fit. Ella goes to the ball, fully expecting Dane to not be able to see her, but he does and the two get their happily ever after.
The copy I read needed some more work, since there were misspellings and other bits and pieces that needed some editing, but I really enjoyed the world and the story, so I didn't care too much about the mistakes.
This first book has set the stage for many other stories to come, including the one that follows next, A Little Siren, that is a retelling of the little mermaid if I'm not mistaken.
Dane needs to get married and produce an heir to his kingdom, and devises a way to find the woman who will be his future queen among his many subjects. He requests all eligible women who fit the criteria set to send him risque photos, in order to eliminate all the ones who actually do.
Ella, who is no dummy and does not want to get selected anyway,
Spoiler
since she has history with DaneTo her surprise, despite her efforts to be eliminated, she is among the ones who are invited to the palace to meet the king and has even managed to gain his attention.
It turns out that
Spoiler
the two had met when they were children and became friends, but upon Dane's return from the war he was told that her line had died out, and then when her circumstances changed and she wrote the palace for help, reeling from the death of his mother, Dane, not realizing who she was, responded to her letter with a cruel missive that broke her heart and trust in him.Many years have passed since they last met, so he doesn't recognize her, but immediately feels drawn to her, and the more he gets to know her, the more he falls for her, and he is determined to make her his queen.
Unfortunately, a misunderstanding causes Ella to use her first of two wishes to the Fae, and wishes to only be able to be seen by those who are worthy, and disappears from the palace, leaving only one of her glass slippers behind.
Dane moves heaven and earth to find her, discovering their past in the process, until he eventually hosts a ball and claims that he will marry the woman whom the glass slipper would fit. Ella goes to the ball, fully expecting Dane to not be able to see her, but he does and the two get their happily ever after
The copy I read needed some more work, since there were misspellings and other bits and pieces that needed some editing, but I really enjoyed the world and the story, so I didn't care too much about the mistakes.
This first book has set the stage for many other stories to come, including the one that follows next, A Little Siren, that is a retelling of the little mermaid if I'm not mistaken.