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yodamom's review
4.0
Audio-Cinderella is not the simple easy going girl of past tales. She has a fire and common sense that will not allow her to fall under a mans rule. Sure, this tales has the evil step mother and a step sister, but all is not as it seems here either. The rats/mice well they are maltese dogs that yap and misbehave. The fairy godmother is a real woman. There is no magic, no mythical beings or pumpkin carriages. The prince is a broke playboy, of course a very handsome one. What romantic tale would work without a handsome prince. There is a castle, beautiful and crumbling. Then there is a real romance, with hurt feelings, pain, lose, hope and love. Bittersweet and realistic.
I enjoyed this version, it was entertaining throughout the book. The narrator was perfect in her reading. I am going to read more in this series.
I enjoyed this version, it was entertaining throughout the book. The narrator was perfect in her reading. I am going to read more in this series.
erikajay's review
1.0
I love Cinderella retellings, but unfortunately everyone in this book is so unlikable!
The author did do a good job of changing the story enough to make it unique.
I’m really glad I started with book 2 of this series, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have continued.
The author did do a good job of changing the story enough to make it unique.
I’m really glad I started with book 2 of this series, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have continued.
obstinateheadstrongcurl's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I read the second book in Eloisa James's Fairy Tales series several years ago and really enjoyed it, but this one didn’t quite live up to the mark. Cinderella has never been my favourite fairy tale, so this one was always going to suffer a bit in comparison to the Beauty and the Beast retelling. The prince’s ego was overly inflated, and it wasn’t something he ever reckoned with. The message was basically ‘princes be princing’. He was annoying to the point that it didn’t make sense that Kate would even be attracted to him. Also, this book came out in 2010 so I know we as a society were less aware, but a European prince going on archaeological digs in Africa and taking artefacts home is not a plot that has aged well.
I did enjoy Kate’s character, she wasn’t nearly so passive as most Cinderella characters, although she did have a bad case of ‘not like other girls’. Henry was a delight; she was such an entertaining character. I also appreciated the communication between Kate and Gabriel. There were a few times when I thought we’d get into the weeds of an unrealistic miscommunication trope, but James kept everything really true to the characters.
butterreadsbooks's review
4.0
Took me a while to finish but i enjoyed it enough. It was kind of just a dumb romance book but that was what was fun about it!
malpal132's review
4.0
i found this to be a delightful retelling of cinderella, especially the first half. the idea of a prince and a castle of misfits and a witty, clever heroine was so fun. it felt like a truly original take. only reason it's not five stars is because i think the pace lags a bit at the end.
stephensstem's review
1.0
DNF - just couldn’t do this one. Tried twice but no. Will skip this series.
sofia_santana's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
adeselnaferreira's review against another edition
3.0
Review completa em: http://illusionarypleasure.blogspot.pt/2013/05/um-conto-de-fadas-de-epoca.html
Meninas bonitas em contos de fadas são tão banais como seixos na praia.
Como Eloisa James começa o seu romance “Milagre de amor”, a verdade é que a caracterização da mulher em “O beijo encantado” continua a ser a beleza da mulher. Ainda que Kate tenha direito a mais atributos como um espírito indomável e inteligência/educação, isso não impede de ser tratada sempre como uma mulher sem dote e sem posses. Este factor faz com que a sua aproximação para com o príncipe seja mais natural e embrenhe o leitor na história de amor – a sua espontaneidade para com Gabriel, os seus diálogos e a forma como o trata leva-nos a que tenhamos pena de Kate por não ter o que “merecia”. A personagem de Gabriel é uma mistura entre fascínio e ódio. Tal como em muitos romances escrito por mulheres, os homens parecem ser no início maus e arrogantes para depois terem espaço para serem mudados pelo amor. Gabriel é um homem que se rege pelo dever dever e que não acredita em casamentos românticos. O que ao início parece um bloco de gelo, vai ficando cada vez mais terno para com Kate, sem querer desistir de cumprir o que lhe é esperado como príncipe. Como é típico nestes romances, tanto o homem como a mulher só se apercebem o quanto se amam quando se afastam ou quase perdem o outro.
Em suma, "O beijo encantado" é daqueles livros obrigatórios para quem gosta de contos de fadas e romances de época. Embora eu prefira sempre as versões originais às actuais, visto serem mais negras e moralistas, Eloisa James criou um romance que fará certamente muitas leitoras sentirem o seu peito apertado durante a leitura. Não podemos esperar nada mais do que um "viveram felizes para sempre", visto que os bons são sempre recompensados e todos merecemos ter o nosso verdadeiro amor.
Meninas bonitas em contos de fadas são tão banais como seixos na praia.
Como Eloisa James começa o seu romance “Milagre de amor”, a verdade é que a caracterização da mulher em “O beijo encantado” continua a ser a beleza da mulher. Ainda que Kate tenha direito a mais atributos como um espírito indomável e inteligência/educação, isso não impede de ser tratada sempre como uma mulher sem dote e sem posses. Este factor faz com que a sua aproximação para com o príncipe seja mais natural e embrenhe o leitor na história de amor – a sua espontaneidade para com Gabriel, os seus diálogos e a forma como o trata leva-nos a que tenhamos pena de Kate por não ter o que “merecia”. A personagem de Gabriel é uma mistura entre fascínio e ódio. Tal como em muitos romances escrito por mulheres, os homens parecem ser no início maus e arrogantes para depois terem espaço para serem mudados pelo amor. Gabriel é um homem que se rege pelo dever dever e que não acredita em casamentos românticos. O que ao início parece um bloco de gelo, vai ficando cada vez mais terno para com Kate, sem querer desistir de cumprir o que lhe é esperado como príncipe. Como é típico nestes romances, tanto o homem como a mulher só se apercebem o quanto se amam quando se afastam ou quase perdem o outro.
Em suma, "O beijo encantado" é daqueles livros obrigatórios para quem gosta de contos de fadas e romances de época. Embora eu prefira sempre as versões originais às actuais, visto serem mais negras e moralistas, Eloisa James criou um romance que fará certamente muitas leitoras sentirem o seu peito apertado durante a leitura. Não podemos esperar nada mais do que um "viveram felizes para sempre", visto que os bons são sempre recompensados e todos merecemos ter o nosso verdadeiro amor.
christene_littlelibrary's review
4.0
A Kiss at Midnight is a cinderella like story of Henry and Kate. Katherine, who pretends to be her stepsister to met the prince to be able to wed one of the high lord but sickness got in the way. I like this cinderella like version with no evil stepsister but with responsibilities and titles that comes their way. The hot scenes are so good! The way Henry came back and forth to Kate and the ball with his soon to be wife. Lov3d how supportive the characters are.
An engaging well written book! Will definitely read more books written by the author. The audio was also good with fancy sound effects that will takes you to the 19th century.
An engaging well written book! Will definitely read more books written by the author. The audio was also good with fancy sound effects that will takes you to the 19th century.
willbefunorelse's review
3.0
I picked up A Kiss At Midnight because it clearly stated it was a Cinderella story. I mean, the girl on the cover is blonde in a blue gown. She’s leaving a glass slipper on the stairs. She’s handing a guy a Valentine’s Day card that says “Let’s BEE Friends” and there’s a picture of a bee on it. Come on.
I actually really enjoyed this book -- mainly because it makes no bones about being a fairy tale, and therefore, logic be-damned. For my full review -- including a specious comparison to Jane Eyre, of all things -- follow the link to That's What She Read.
I actually really enjoyed this book -- mainly because it makes no bones about being a fairy tale, and therefore, logic be-damned. For my full review -- including a specious comparison to Jane Eyre, of all things -- follow the link to That's What She Read.