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kiriamarin's review
Eu gostei desta estória mas é tão curta e como é uma coletânea com vários escritoras, não dá pra desenvolver um arco complexo de personagem e trama, principalmente Charlotte e Lancelot. Poderia ser interessante uma continuação
jessyhayward's review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
melb876's review
5.0
A love-hate relationship with the stepsister
This was a very well thought out storyline for a Villain's Ever After.
The stepsister was sometimes kind, and sometimes selfish (ok, more selfish than kind), but you're able to understand why since this story is from her POV.
There is a bit of magic, but it is not the focal point of this version of the Cinderella tale.
This is a clean romance, with slight violence towards the end (caught alone in a bad part of town, and being attacked, but doesn't go into details).
If you're unsure about the multi-author Villain series, this is one of two I have enjoyed. The other was 'Bluebeard and the Outlaw'. I skipped the "Beast and the Enchantress' because of its poor reviews. I did read the 'Sultan and the Storyteller' and found it painful to get through. I am hoping the rest of the series remains enjoyable. There are a few other authors I really enjoy who are contributing.
This was a very well thought out storyline for a Villain's Ever After.
The stepsister was sometimes kind, and sometimes selfish (ok, more selfish than kind), but you're able to understand why since this story is from her POV.
There is a bit of magic, but it is not the focal point of this version of the Cinderella tale.
This is a clean romance, with slight violence towards the end (caught alone in a bad part of town, and being attacked, but doesn't go into details).
If you're unsure about the multi-author Villain series, this is one of two I have enjoyed. The other was 'Bluebeard and the Outlaw'. I skipped the "Beast and the Enchantress' because of its poor reviews. I did read the 'Sultan and the Storyteller' and found it painful to get through. I am hoping the rest of the series remains enjoyable. There are a few other authors I really enjoy who are contributing.
justcatherine's review
5.0
This series is fantastic. This retelling by Nina Clare? Phenomenal. I appreciated the humanizing of the stepsister, the stepmother comeuppance was fitting, and the story was just a delight to read. Stellar retelling of an oft-retold tale.
mcz's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kiraav's review
5.0
This made me go AWWWWW! I always had a problem with how Cinderella was portrayed as this little goody shoes and the step sisters were evil reincarnated but this retelling was the perfect story I wish the original was. Charlotte is such a great character, I was confused once for a bit when she goes to the palace in place of Blanche but she won my heart with her honestly. Plus she got her own happy ending with Lance which was super duper amazing so I am happy happy!
ivorypalaceprincess's review
4.0
3.5 stars, because I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet fairy tale, but it also just...wasn't necessarily for me
I have a deep and undying love for any stepsister character and so I was ecstatic that the Stepsister was going to be front and center in this story
However, since the book was so short it was as if the author either didn't want to commit to her being as deeply flawed as she claimed or there just wasn't time for such an arc. So what we're left with is a character who flits between being super sweet to exactly what you'd expect from the "evil stepsister" without warning. It wasn't that I felt like Charlotte was acting out of character, it was as if I didn't know her well know enough to know what even was in character for her
For example, we're often told she has no interest in marriage, that she hates the endless flirting and trying to snag a husband, but when something puts a damper on that (which might still procure her financial stability) she falls into a jealous rage and I'm still not entirely sure why....
However, Charlotte and Lance were adorable, I loved their banter and they had such great chemistry. I wished we're gotten more of their shenanigans, because it was definitely the highlight of the book. I did cringe at the "he kissed her to stop her from making a scene" (it was meant innocently enough but regardless of intent, it was uncomfortable). But overall, they were wonderful and I shipped them from the start. 10/10, they're very cute and as much as I love the Cinderella/Prince type relationship, I also have a soft spot for the Flirt/Rogue dynamic of two slightly jaded characters who fall in love
The conclusion of Charlotte's arc was also really nice, I liked the ending a lot. I wished there'd been more buildup, but I also felt satisfied reading the end
Blanche was also a sweetheart and it was so fun to see the Cinderella character as a side character and seeing her story unfold from another's perspective
Overall, would recommend to anyone who likes sweet fairy tale retellings and is looking for something fun and lighthearted to pass the time
I have a deep and undying love for any stepsister character and so I was ecstatic that the Stepsister was going to be front and center in this story
However, since the book was so short it was as if the author either didn't want to commit to her being as deeply flawed as she claimed or there just wasn't time for such an arc. So what we're left with is a character who flits between being super sweet to exactly what you'd expect from the "evil stepsister" without warning. It wasn't that I felt like Charlotte was acting out of character, it was as if I didn't know her well know enough to know what even was in character for her
For example, we're often told she has no interest in marriage, that she hates the endless flirting and trying to snag a husband, but when something puts a damper on that (which might still procure her financial stability) she falls into a jealous rage and I'm still not entirely sure why....
However, Charlotte and Lance were adorable, I loved their banter and they had such great chemistry. I wished we're gotten more of their shenanigans, because it was definitely the highlight of the book. I did cringe at the "he kissed her to stop her from making a scene" (it was meant innocently enough but regardless of intent, it was uncomfortable). But overall, they were wonderful and I shipped them from the start. 10/10, they're very cute and as much as I love the Cinderella/Prince type relationship, I also have a soft spot for the Flirt/Rogue dynamic of two slightly jaded characters who fall in love
The conclusion of Charlotte's arc was also really nice, I liked the ending a lot. I wished there'd been more buildup, but I also felt satisfied reading the end
Blanche was also a sweetheart and it was so fun to see the Cinderella character as a side character and seeing her story unfold from another's perspective
Overall, would recommend to anyone who likes sweet fairy tale retellings and is looking for something fun and lighthearted to pass the time
mushroomie2's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mortonsspoon's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ghostlywater's review
5.0
This book left me so happy. I loved this book. This book took me in a completely different direction emotionally that I had predicted in a Cinderella stepsister retelling.
I feel like this book could have easily been written in a way where it felt cliched and like just another Cinderella retelling with a slight stepsister twist. I almost expected it to feel that way after all of the Cinderella retellings I have read in the past.
But I was completely surprised the more I read as it continually surprised and impressed me. I was especially impressed with how Charlotte, our main character, was portrayed. At the beginning I was immediately assaulted with her shallowness in the moment but as the book went on I was able to see more and more to her and it was a fascinating journey that would not have been the same if the author had written her without the personality that she has.
It was a delight to read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairytale retellings. I think I will explore more books from this author because of how impressed I was with the execution of this retelling. I am also exited to read more villain tales in this collection.
Romance content: Super Sweet. Kisses.
I feel like this book could have easily been written in a way where it felt cliched and like just another Cinderella retelling with a slight stepsister twist. I almost expected it to feel that way after all of the Cinderella retellings I have read in the past.
But I was completely surprised the more I read as it continually surprised and impressed me. I was especially impressed with how Charlotte, our main character, was portrayed. At the beginning I was immediately assaulted with her shallowness in the moment but as the book went on I was able to see more and more to her and it was a fascinating journey that would not have been the same if the author had written her without the personality that she has.
It was a delight to read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairytale retellings. I think I will explore more books from this author because of how impressed I was with the execution of this retelling. I am also exited to read more villain tales in this collection.
Romance content: Super Sweet. Kisses.
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