Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Cinderella Is Dead

This review will contain spoilers for anyone who wants to avoid those. I really wanted to like this book, but it ultimately fell flat for me.

Let's start with the positive aspects of the book:

The LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation, especially in the YA fantasy realm. I think more books should be published for this audience with this type of representation. Especially with BIPOC characters as the main characters, rather than being reduced to side characters that are only present to move the plot forward.
The twists being placed on the Cinderella story.
I enjoyed getting to see a version where Prince Charming is actually a bad person, and the twist of the fairy Godmother being a witch was fascinating. Although I found her reasoning for continuing to aid in his plans to be a bit weak, it was interesting to see how she still suffers from the guilt 200 years later.
The writing is done in a way that makes the story easy to read, so I would recommend it for people who are not big into reading, but especially for those new to reading fantasy.
I do like the fact that the story is about strong powerful women fighting against the patriarchy, although that also is a part of my critique.
I also liked the fact that Ms. Bayron didn't feel the need to drag out the story to become a series like a lot of fantasy stories that are released these days. While the story could've been fleshed out more, it would've been too much to do another story set in this same storyline.

Now onto the aspects that I did not enjoy:

The World building - There is not enough time making sure the world makes sense, nor that it feels like a real place. We are told multiple times that the kingdom of Mersailles is bigger than just the city of Lille, but we are never told or shown any other areas of the kingdom. The lack of a drawn map also makes it difficult to have a scale of Lille or the rest of the kingdom, and let me to believe that the city is entirely surrounded by the White Woods, which I don't think is true.
The magic system - The magic system is never fully explained, nor does it play a part until
Constance and Sophia make it to Amina's cottage in the woods.
We know that Sophia doesn't believe in Helen's potions, but for the first 1/3 of the book it is the only connection to magic in the entire book.
The romance - Sophia begins the book completely infatuated with her love for her childhood best friend Erin. We are told that Erin is also in love with her, but I never got the impression that the love was mutual. I was looking forward to two badass sapphic characters taking down a patriarchal system, but Constance and Sophia's lovestory begins too quickly. Sophia moves on from Erin so quickly that it feels strange. I understand that teenagers can fall in love quickly, but it makes it feel like her feelings for Erin so not hold as much weight as we are lead to believe in the beginning.
The handling of the patriarchy - I was surprised by the fact that no one gives any trigger warnings for this book. Despite the popularity on TikTok and YouTube, I have yet to see anyone mention the abuse that is depicted in this book. While it is not described as explicitly as it would be in an adult book, there are still depictions of domestic violence and femicide within the story. I was unprepared for this. It is mentioned that a lot of what happens to women in this society is a direct result of the laws the king has put in place. Which gets to my next point, why are these laws in place.
We learn that Prince Charming has been single handedly running this kingdom for over 200 years. Which begs the question of why he wanted to take over this specific kingdom, and why he chose to put these laws in place. He is written almost like a cartoon supervillain, which I feel like is a disservice for what the story was attempting to do. We never find out why he hates women so much, just that he does. We know that he fell in love with Cinderella at first sight, and that he slowly drains her life to punish her for not loving him. But we never understand why a man who clearly hates women would try to force Cinderella to love him. I can believe that he would kill her to avoid her being able to leave him, but that is the only part that I believe.
Luke - While I did enjoy the character of Luke, he was underutilized. He could've been written out and the story itself doesn't change.
Sophia - I wanted to like her as she should be everything I would want in a main character, but I found her to be annoying. She was stubborn and headstrong to the point where she constantly endangered herself and others. I've read worse main characters, but I found myself at times wanting her to experience at least some consequences.
The overall pacing - The first two paragraphs of the plot summary take 125 pages to happen. I understand that some backstory has to be given, but that is a bit absurd. I also felt like it would take too long for an event to occur, but then it would pass really quickly. For instance,
when they raise Cinderella from the dead to speak with her. It takes 5 chapters for them to finally perform the necromancy spell, only for them to end it within the chapter WITHOUT their questions being answered. It took so long for it to happen, only for the whole thing to be over almost immediately.

I don't think this is a bad book. In fact I think I would've enjoyed this if it was out when I was 13-15. I just think that it is a story that could've been developed a bit better. I do plan on reading more of Kalynn Bayron's books, I just think this one was not for me, which is ok. Reading is subjective after all. I'm glad that some people were able to enjoy this book more than I was.

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lady_red's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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

3.5

Lovely plot! I just feel like the book and the writing needed a little more refinement before publication (unless you’re looking for an easy, one-sitting book).

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ladybanecourt's review

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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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cinnamonghostie's review

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adventurous dark 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

3.0

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micaelacccc's review against another edition

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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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impalalibrary's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

WoW WoW WoW WoW, I think I found a new all time favourite!!

This book is so amazing all throughout, I absolutely adore the main characters, their actions, their bravery, their connection.

I love how this book in many ways silently referred to real life, in means of oppression and the way too many countries are lead. It gave me chills an uncountable amount of time and I just loved every second of it.

If I could give a book 6 stars, this would be it!

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chelskiig's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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amalyndb's review

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I would have adored this when I was younger.

I do like the concept.

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