Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

49 reviews

kickitupanotch7's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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tlaynejones's review

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

This was great. I had read lots of mixed reviews, so I wasn’t sure going in if I would like this. This is my fourth book by Bayron and it might even be my fave. If you’re in the mood for a standalone YA dystopian fantasy about taking down the patriarchy with sapphic romance all wrapped up in a retelling, then I would recommend this.
 CW misogyny, homophobia, lots of violence against women.
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just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

 
I have had a soft spot for fairy tales since I was young. And, as we all know by now, I love a retelling. I especially love it when they reclaim the original as something feminist, queer, revolutionary. It's like, the best of all the worlds. So, I've had this one on my TBR for awhile and this most recent vacation, and the need for an entertaining airplane read, was the perfect opportunity. I read it all in a single flight. 
 
Per Goodreads, the blurb for this novel is: "It's 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl's display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her stepsisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all--and in the process, they learn that there's more to Cinderella's story than they ever knew." 
 
Alright, this was exactly as advertised. It met expectations, nothing more and nothing less. As far as the general story development and writing, it was fairly basic, especially as fantasy goes. The world-building was pretty surface-level and the characters pretty predictable. And really, it was very clear from the beginning that something weird was going on, that there were secrets and buried truths. But, I was interested enough to keep turning pages, adn the basic-ness meant that I was able to speed right through it. So, I went along for the ride. Things remained this recognizable throughout, even through the big twist and the ending (some elements, *SPOILERS* like soul stealing and the dead turning to ashes are decidedly not new). And yet, fantasy is always a bit trope-heavy. Plus, as this is a princess-story retelling, it makes sense that being groundbreaking wasn't necessarily ever on the table. Perhaps some things were heavy-handed, sure, but that doesn't make the messages wrong. The one thing that I wished I had bought into more was the romance. I mean, I loved that it was f/f, so much. But it just wasn't robust enough for me to fully believe it. Ah well. 
 
There were also a few aspects that I was, objectively, very into. The reframing of the "wicked" stepsisters was great. That the men writing the history would reframe the women who resisted as wicked fits a deeply believable and relatable IRL narrative of victors (re)writing history. On this same point, that “Cinderella’s story is so much more complicated than I imagined.” is a central theme is something I really appreciated. Because isn't that all of it? That women are flattened into something aspirational and simplistic and all the nuance is pulled out in favor of promoting conformity and obedience. And the extremity and entitlement of that reaction to rejection?? Like I said, maybe heavy-handed, but only because it's so upsettingly accurate. I was also absolutely on board for the couple of ways that necromancy was infused into this story. That's a dark magic element that really did give something new to this typically very light and sweet plot fairy tale plot. I do love some dark sh*t now and again (see my love for Gideon the Ninth). 
 
While this wrapped up pretty quick and easy, and you know the transition wasn’t that easy, I feel like the hopefulness in it is something big and worth celebrating. And all that being said about basic-ness, I was looking for a quick and easy plane read and it definitely delivered exactly as I had hoped on that front. I didn't have to think or try hard to follow, and the writing and pacing and development was solid enough that I wasn't negatively distracted by it. So, color me definitely entertained. I'll be keeping Bayron's other retellings in mind for the next time I want a similar vibe/level read.  
 
 
“‘I’ve never heard of anyone leaving without the king’s consent.’ / ‘Neither have I, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. We’ve also rarely heard about people like us and yet here we are. Just because they deny us doesn’t mean we cease to exist.’” 
 
“The truth is tricky. People want to know it, but when they do, sometimes they wish they didn’t.” 
 
“The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into a dark and dangerous place.” 
 
“It’s risky,” says Constance, reading my expression. “But sometimes that’s the only way to get things done. Take the risk, light the fuse. Onward.” 
 
"Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it can’t be true.” 
 
“And you’re not lost?” I think for a moment. “Maybe I am. But the difference is that I want to be found. I’m not happy pretending everything is fine when I know it’s not.” “And just who is it that you suppose will find you?” Amina asks. “It’ll be me,” I say. “I will find myself.” 
 
"Look at your children, your friends, your wives, and your daughters. Don’t do what is right because they hold those titles. Do what is right because they are people. Make a choice to change things.” 
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skye_era_books's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW. This was my first Cinderella retelling and I cannot put into words how much I loved it — plus it was sapphic so that’s a huge win! 
Cinderella is Dead shows a dark twist to our beloved Disney version of Cinderella. The people of Lille are under the rule of a very cruel king who demands that everyone lives by his rules and the rules of the Cinderella story. Girls and women are forced to go to the ball, where men will either choose them or they will be forfeited. But Sophia wants to put a stop to this. She does not want a husband, and she intends to save herself and the people of Lille from the king’s reign.
I absolutely loved Sophia and Constance’s relationship, and loved
Amina (the “fairy godmother” until we realize she was the king’s mother!! I was GAGGED at that point okay! I was YELLING.
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lentils1012's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Even though I needed some time to get into it, I ended up really enjoying this book.
I also was kinda surprised by the amount of toxic masculinity but it was great to see the protagonist fight against it and being very brave. I loved Sophia und Constance and their relationship, especially if you compare it to Sophia's relationship with Erin. 
The only thing which confused me a bit was Amina's character and behavior. Therefore I maybe would have liked the book to be a bit longer for a better understanding of what she did in the end. 
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mariamj's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Amazing take in a classic fairytale. It was really dark with so many twists and turns. Love every minute of it!
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anonymous_traveller's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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veeloucagraph's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

What a dumpsterfire 
Check out my rant: 
https://youtu.be/lJJe_m6bCMA
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majesticisme's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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t1k1_bab3r's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This book is really good, but I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s not a good book. It’s not a bad book. It’s a book. If someone told my they didn’t like this book I wouldn’t understand why but equally to say it’s good is laying it on a bit thick. 
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