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annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
I have a very weak spot for Cinderella retellings. It's hard to explain why the story of Cinderella, and therefore all different versions of it, speak to me like this. I guess it's the idea that no matter who we are wonderful people can fall in love with us. Or maybe it's because it's one of the few stories where the heroine is kind and loving and forgiving and obedient and still gets her happy ending, without having to change. When I saw this on BookSirens I therefore didn't hesitate.
I'm so glad that I gave this story a chance! The setting gave this story a really original touch. Although the story is relatively short the author manages to give a thorough description of the world and how life is organized within said world. Therefore it's also easy to understand why El is stuck in the situation she is in. It's not just because she loves a house or place. She simply has no other choice. She has to stick to the life she's given. There's no way out.
I also really loved that in this story El isn't longing to go to the ball. Although I'm one of the first to get angry when people say that El is just waiting for a prince to save her, it's quite clear in this case that her desire to participate in the challenge has absolutely nothing to do with the prince. She wants this for herself, because it might offer her a chance to get a better life, because it might be her way out of the situation she's in.
However, that doesn't mean there isn't any romance in the book. The romance is quite subtile and it's for sure not the main focus, but it's clearly there. And although it's not the main focus, the connection between El and her prince is there from their very first interaction. Their connection is also clearly based on their personalities. They just click. They can be themselves around each other and they can look at the other without judgement. And that? That's what true love is about!
I can't wait to read the rest!
I'm so glad that I gave this story a chance! The setting gave this story a really original touch. Although the story is relatively short the author manages to give a thorough description of the world and how life is organized within said world. Therefore it's also easy to understand why El is stuck in the situation she is in. It's not just because she loves a house or place. She simply has no other choice. She has to stick to the life she's given. There's no way out.
I also really loved that in this story El isn't longing to go to the ball. Although I'm one of the first to get angry when people say that El is just waiting for a prince to save her, it's quite clear in this case that her desire to participate in the challenge has absolutely nothing to do with the prince. She wants this for herself, because it might offer her a chance to get a better life, because it might be her way out of the situation she's in.
However, that doesn't mean there isn't any romance in the book. The romance is quite subtile and it's for sure not the main focus, but it's clearly there. And although it's not the main focus, the connection between El and her prince is there from their very first interaction. Their connection is also clearly based on their personalities. They just click. They can be themselves around each other and they can look at the other without judgement. And that? That's what true love is about!
I can't wait to read the rest!
alongreader's review
4.0
In a futuristic city-ship, El is trapped in her stepmother's home, forced to work for her keep. A city wide contest is her only chance of escape...if her stepmother doesn't stop her from going.
This is a fantastic start to an exciting new series. The world building is well thought out and cleverly doled out, not so much to overwhelm but not so slowly that I got bored waiting for it. The characters are well written and I hope they at least cameo in the following stories, which I very much hope I get read! It's a great series overall.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a fantastic start to an exciting new series. The world building is well thought out and cleverly doled out, not so much to overwhelm but not so slowly that I got bored waiting for it. The characters are well written and I hope they at least cameo in the following stories, which I very much hope I get read! It's a great series overall.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
millennialbookreview's review
4.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this both as a science fiction novel in general and as a retelling of Cinderella. I'm a sucker for retellings of any kind, so I was excited to read this one. The author did an excellent job of using the set-up of a familiar story, Cinderella, to tell a unique story. I enjoyed the fact that the competition didn't revolve around the prince.
The author's writing style wasn't my favorite and I found it a bit difficult to become immersed in the story at first. There also wasn't as much explanation of El's world and how it works as I would've liked.
I enjoyed this both as a science fiction novel in general and as a retelling of Cinderella. I'm a sucker for retellings of any kind, so I was excited to read this one. The author did an excellent job of using the set-up of a familiar story, Cinderella, to tell a unique story. I enjoyed the fact that the competition didn't revolve around the prince.
The author's writing style wasn't my favorite and I found it a bit difficult to become immersed in the story at first. There also wasn't as much explanation of El's world and how it works as I would've liked.
books_dogs_lexi's review
4.0
This was a free e-book given to me by BookSirens for review and the following is my unbiased opinion.
Fairytale retellings are a small weakness of mine. Space opera is rapidly becoming a larger weakness. After struggling with a week long book slump filled with attempts at other genres, this one showed up, glowing, with angels singing around it.
Midnight Wings is a version of Cinderella, taking place on a spaceship-colony. The Prince is a space fighter pilot. El, our heroine, is barely living as a servant to her stepmother’s family while also working at a jet repair shop. With the help of friends, our heroine makes it to the “ball” —a flight simulator competition piloting jets against an enemy starship.
World building is a little more scant than most, but the action moves along at a good pace. A few questions left unanswered: are these people at war? Against whom? Is the colony in danger?
All in all it was a fairly good read, enough to see potential in the future works. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
.
Fairytale retellings are a small weakness of mine. Space opera is rapidly becoming a larger weakness. After struggling with a week long book slump filled with attempts at other genres, this one showed up, glowing, with angels singing around it.
Midnight Wings is a version of Cinderella, taking place on a spaceship-colony. The Prince is a space fighter pilot. El, our heroine, is barely living as a servant to her stepmother’s family while also working at a jet repair shop. With the help of friends, our heroine makes it to the “ball” —a flight simulator competition piloting jets against an enemy starship.
World building is a little more scant than most, but the action moves along at a good pace. A few questions left unanswered: are these people at war? Against whom? Is the colony in danger?
All in all it was a fairly good read, enough to see potential in the future works. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
.
bookishkandice's review
4.0
Cinderella retelling with a sci-fi twist?! Heck to the yes! As soon as I saw that description, I jumped on this book. I have been loving the retellings that have come out lately and I enjoy seeing how authors have taken the basis of a story and recreated it to make it their own.
This novella keeps to the basic Cinderella story with El, short for Eleanor, living with her stepmother and two step-sisters. She is downtrodden, poor, and slaves away each day doing whatever her step-family demands of her. The sci-fi comes in on where this story takes place, in space! They live on a space station and instead of a ball, there is a fighter pilot competition!
Overall, I loved the premise of the story. Changing up the scenery and giving the story its own sci-fi twist was a great idea. There is a prince in this story, but he doesn't get El out of her situation, just simply provides the means to do it. She has to learn to rely on friends and her own skill to help her escape her evil step-family and her situation. I loved that twist to the story. The author allowed El to be a strong woman who had to learn on her own to find her own way, with the help of her friends, but not a man who comes in and sweeps her off her feet.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and I plan to read the next one in the series.
Full disclosure, I received an advanced review copy for free from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review of the book nor my opinion.
This novella keeps to the basic Cinderella story with El, short for Eleanor, living with her stepmother and two step-sisters. She is downtrodden, poor, and slaves away each day doing whatever her step-family demands of her. The sci-fi comes in on where this story takes place, in space! They live on a space station and instead of a ball, there is a fighter pilot competition!
Overall, I loved the premise of the story. Changing up the scenery and giving the story its own sci-fi twist was a great idea. There is a prince in this story, but he doesn't get El out of her situation, just simply provides the means to do it. She has to learn to rely on friends and her own skill to help her escape her evil step-family and her situation. I loved that twist to the story. The author allowed El to be a strong woman who had to learn on her own to find her own way, with the help of her friends, but not a man who comes in and sweeps her off her feet.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and I plan to read the next one in the series.
Full disclosure, I received an advanced review copy for free from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review of the book nor my opinion.
welkinvault's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
YA sci fi reworking of Cinderella
lattes_lipstick_literature's review
4.0
A Thank you to BookSirens and the Author for allowing me to read this. This is my honest and unbiased review*
Hello Fellow Readers,
I am a huge fan of retellings, So when I saw that this book I knew I wanted to read this, when I saw it was the first book in a series I grew excited. I've never read a science fiction retelling of Cinderella before, and while not my favorite fairy tale by far I still enjoy the twists I read when a author takes a hold of Cinderella's story.
Sieling's Cinderella is pretty different, in Midnight wings her name is El, and is a mechanic dreaming of becoming a jet pilot. El's stepmother, Patricia, and step-siblings, Lonnie and Bree are pretty horrid to El, as to be expected. Patricia is in fact very cruel and you will immediately hate her. The city and social structure of Rove is pretty interesting, I won't go into too much detail but they live on a ship traveling through space.
El and Ri's (Prince Charming) relationship is a bit fast, but with a page length of 128 pages it's hard to really develop or do slow burn. Also, because the short page length the ending did feel rushed. I felt like Sieling was setting up the story where it could go in different directions but ultimately just went for the fastest conclusion.
This book has a lot of surprisingly emotional layers to it, that was only hindered by the short length. Did I like? Yes, but I could have absolutely loved it had it only developed a bit more. We have a main female character dreaming about flying a jet, while also being a mechanic (I personally love any female characters where the author has them in a STEM career or hobby. I will read next book in the series where Jack and the beanstalk will be Sieling's next focus.
Overall, an interesting take on a old classic.
Hello Fellow Readers,
I am a huge fan of retellings, So when I saw that this book I knew I wanted to read this, when I saw it was the first book in a series I grew excited. I've never read a science fiction retelling of Cinderella before, and while not my favorite fairy tale by far I still enjoy the twists I read when a author takes a hold of Cinderella's story.
Sieling's Cinderella is pretty different, in Midnight wings her name is El, and is a mechanic dreaming of becoming a jet pilot. El's stepmother, Patricia, and step-siblings, Lonnie and Bree are pretty horrid to El, as to be expected. Patricia is in fact very cruel and you will immediately hate her. The city and social structure of Rove is pretty interesting, I won't go into too much detail but they live on a ship traveling through space.
El and Ri's (Prince Charming) relationship is a bit fast, but with a page length of 128 pages it's hard to really develop or do slow burn. Also, because the short page length the ending did feel rushed. I felt like Sieling was setting up the story where it could go in different directions but ultimately just went for the fastest conclusion.
This book has a lot of surprisingly emotional layers to it, that was only hindered by the short length. Did I like? Yes, but I could have absolutely loved it had it only developed a bit more. We have a main female character dreaming about flying a jet, while also being a mechanic (I personally love any female characters where the author has them in a STEM career or hobby. I will read next book in the series where Jack and the beanstalk will be Sieling's next focus.
Overall, an interesting take on a old classic.
greergreer's review
4.0
So if you are jonesing for a book right after you read the Lunar Chronicles, may I suggest the Rove City series. Fantasy futuristic fairy tales with the same twist.
nemerith's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first book I read by the author and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.
"Yes, yes", I can hear you think, "another retelling of the same old story..." but in all honesty, it didn't feel like that at all!
Worldbuilding:
Was good! Bit by bit we come to understand how their 'world' looks like (or at least the part that concerns El) and how the society works (or doesn't, depends who you ask). Scenes and environments were clear and detailed enough.
Character development:
Was good. Of course, you can't really expect to know the characters on a very deep level as the book is only 128 pages long, but what we do get is all the necessary info to work with. We know who the players are, their connections and attitudes towards one another and what their goals are. As for our main heroine in this part, El, we get to know her a bit better as we follow her through her trials and tribulations with her stepfamily and her boss, but also when she meets the mysterious Ri.
Pacing and flow:
Were good! I read it in one go and it was really smooth reading. It was entertaining and kept my interest and attention.
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is no sex described (if that is important to you).
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book and I enjoyed it! It was a new and refreshing spin to the old fairytale. Oh and even when you're not really into science fiction (I feel ya), give it a go, while there are sci-fi elements, it's not the main focus at all :-)
"Yes, yes", I can hear you think, "another retelling of the same old story..." but in all honesty, it didn't feel like that at all!
Worldbuilding:
Was good! Bit by bit we come to understand how their 'world' looks like (or at least the part that concerns El) and how the society works (or doesn't, depends who you ask). Scenes and environments were clear and detailed enough.
Character development:
Was good. Of course, you can't really expect to know the characters on a very deep level as the book is only 128 pages long, but what we do get is all the necessary info to work with. We know who the players are, their connections and attitudes towards one another and what their goals are. As for our main heroine in this part, El, we get to know her a bit better as we follow her through her trials and tribulations with her stepfamily and her boss, but also when she meets the mysterious Ri.
Pacing and flow:
Were good! I read it in one go and it was really smooth reading. It was entertaining and kept my interest and attention.
The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is no sex described (if that is important to you).
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book and I enjoyed it! It was a new and refreshing spin to the old fairytale. Oh and even when you're not really into science fiction (I feel ya), give it a go, while there are sci-fi elements, it's not the main focus at all :-)
alex_thomas's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0