Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

63 reviews

littlecatinabox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief

Minor: Vomit and Slavery

just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Physical abuse, Classism, Murder, Bullying, Homophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Grief, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship

peggy_racham's review against another edition

4.5

Fast, engaging and queer. Its a beautifull debut novel and a real break from the mold of the  fairytale story

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Homophobia, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Grief, Blood, Classism, Kidnapping, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny

e_riahh's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Death, Gore, Sexism, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Slavery, Grief, Homophobia, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury

gbrds762's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Vomit, Physical abuse, Confinement, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Murder, Animal death, Classism, Grief, Death, Suicide, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Trafficking

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Animal death, Child death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Classism, Death of parent, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Body shaming

ebp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Bullying, Homophobia, Animal death, Sexism, and Body horror

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Confinement, Gore, Child abuse, Grief, Outing, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

Minor: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

ladybanecourt's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

✨4.25/5✨

This is the third-ever fairytale retelling that I have read, and let me tell you something: fairytale retellings slap. I can confidently tell you that I found this book to be a wonderful retelling that really just boils down to taking back our control over the narrative. To raise our voice against oppression and not be silent to the plight of our fellow people.

It's filled with interesting characters and a storyline that kept me hooked whenever I read it. Plus, as someone who has a short attention span, the short chapters kept me engaged, so that's definitely a plus in my book.

Cinderella Is Dead is definitely a story that deals with a lot of heavy themes, and though it is fantastical in its setting, it exposes heavy-hitting truths about a society that reflects our own. You'll definitely find out when you read the book, so I encourage you to read it! ✨

P.S. For a lot of reasons, I feel like this book will make for a REALLY good film. I'd definitely watch.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Misogyny, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Trafficking

Minor: Homophobia

micaelacccc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, and Confinement

Minor: Grief and Kidnapping

dev921's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Body horror, Confinement, and Child death