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fierygecko's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Cinderella is Dead surprised me with it’s world building; I was taken by the concept that Bayron presents of a world continuing on after a fairy tale takes place in it and the impact that has on society. While I really enjoyed this, I also struggled with how absolutely miserable the world is purely because I wasn’t expecting it. The story speaks very loudly about sexism and homophobia, which I think is a good thing. However, I also felt tired at the idea of another novel where being queer was against the norm and looked down upon. Additionally, some of the plot twists in the novel didn’t feel believable to me, which made the ending of the book feel kind of unsatisfying. I think if I had’ve read this when I was of age to be the target audience for this novel, I would have loved it. It asks the hard questions about what princess stories teach us about self-worth, and has an ethnically diverse cast to top it off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death and Pedophilia
Minor: Bullying and Trafficking
content warning for undeath, and gore involving undead creaturesbubblebot's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
already own two books by this author. what is one more hehe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
alys055's review against another edition
It's leaning really heavily into misoginy and homophobia and It's not the vibes I need right now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism
gabi_715's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Trafficking
Minor: Domestic abuse
worththecandle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
sonovahades's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
4.0
this was wonderful. feminism at it's finest, truly. gulped this down in one go. absolutely eating up the message of this book. go lesbians!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
kaitrates's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Struggling to rate this one because upon finishing, I'm left with a sense of disappointment but none of the things I can pinpoint feel they are *the reason* why it felt disappointing.
That being said, there were many things in this that I did enjoy. The elements of the original Cinderella that were woven in and how they existed, the book's commentary on white feminism, misogyny, fasicsm, and "doing things the way they've always been done", and the way it held accountable all who saw what was going on and said nothing. The last 10-15% had me on the edge of my seat as one reveal after another came to light. I also liked that the thing I was internally screaming about—how Manford gets his power—wasn't actually the crux of the resolution. I also like how we got to see each of their prophecies come to pass and in a different way than the characters expected. Oh! And the epilogue which lets be real is The Dream.
Now for things that I didn't enjoy as much. The Amina reveal lost some of its punch given what happens right after. I don't like being left with ambiguityover who's side she was actually on and don't feel that the betrayal really had any tangible impact beside shock value . I didn't buy the depth of feelings between Constance and Sophia. Insta-lust, sure. But we didn't get to see that lust develop into something more. It just felt like unhealthy trauma bonding to me. OH and Luke was one of my fave characters and played such a big part earlier on...why did we see so little of him later in the book?
And I wish part of the new Lille included therapy for everyone lol Lastly, this read as a younger YA to me despite the darker themes.
Overall, this was a great idea that I don't think was excecuted as well as it could be. I'd try another book of Bayron's.
That being said, there were many things in this that I did enjoy. The elements of the original Cinderella that were woven in and how they existed, the book's commentary on white feminism, misogyny, fasicsm, and "doing things the way they've always been done", and the way it held accountable all who saw what was going on and said nothing. The last 10-15% had me on the edge of my seat as one reveal after another came to light. I also liked that the thing I was internally screaming about—how Manford gets his power—wasn't actually the crux of the resolution. I also like how we got to see each of their prophecies come to pass and in a different way than the characters expected. Oh! And the epilogue which lets be real is The Dream.
Now for things that I didn't enjoy as much. The Amina reveal lost some of its punch given what happens right after. I don't like being left with ambiguity
And I wish part of the new Lille included therapy for everyone lol Lastly, this read as a younger YA to me despite the darker themes.
Overall, this was a great idea that I don't think was excecuted as well as it could be. I'd try another book of Bayron's.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
Hooked from the beginning! I devoured this book, so engaging and fast paced. A unique retelling that lived up to the hype! The plot twist caught me completely by surprise, it was so well done.
The only “negatives” that I didn’t completely love (but didn’t keep this from being a 5 star) was the romance and a couple of predictable plot points. The romance was just okay for me, it felt a bit insta lovey. As for the plot points/reveals, I predicted two of them almost immediately 😂🥲
Overall it was a quick, entertaining read! Highly recommend for those that also enjoy retellings
Overall it was a quick, entertaining read! Highly recommend for those that also enjoy retellings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
katjacatbeans's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book wasn't for me. It felt really heavy-handed, there was kind of a rush to the end, and the wrap up wasn't satisfying. there's a strongly established 200yr precedent of subjugation, oppression, and abuse of women - and all queer people, it seems - and the one sentence or so of "we changed everything immediately and fought and drove out everyone who objected" is supposed to reconcile that? Including for folks who are in active DV situations? Not only is it disingenuous, the suspension of disbelief is impossible for me. But maybe that's the actual fairy tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
frawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? N/A
4.5
What if the Cinderella story we all know and love became a prison sentence for women? Men can do whatever they want with the women in town, without fear of repercussions. Women are measured against the perfect Cinderella, with balls for men to make bids and claims for women. Anyone different (like anyone gay) have to hide who they are and accept their fate.
Except Sophia refuses to do this. She runs from the ball and becomes an outcast, and eventually works to overthrow the king.
This book is an adventure, a sapphic slow burn, beautifully written with tough topics addressed. Sophia is sassy, knows what she wants, and is exactly who this place needs at this time. She remains a character I love and revisiting the book feels like greeting an old friend for whom you can't stop rooting.
Except Sophia refuses to do this. She runs from the ball and becomes an outcast, and eventually works to overthrow the king.
This book is an adventure, a sapphic slow burn, beautifully written with tough topics addressed. Sophia is sassy, knows what she wants, and is exactly who this place needs at this time. She remains a character I love and revisiting the book feels like greeting an old friend for whom you can't stop rooting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship