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mehsi's review
2.0
A retelling of Cinderella, should be fun right?
I was so excited about this book, it looked adorable, fun, and magical. Plus, I am a big lover of Cinderella retellings. I always love seeing people grab the original story and make something new out of it. But then I started reading it and it just wasn’t it.
This book and I just didn’t work. There was just something off about it. A few things that have contributed: The ending which just felt like there was meant to be more, but then cut off. The writing style that felt weird, I am not sure how to explain this one, but sometimes a writing style just doesn’t work for me. That it took so long for a reveal that I already saw coming miles away? That Cinders was not really an interesting character? That she was actually kind of boring and bland. Sparks who was an annoying talking dog? Then again, I am already not a fan of the talking animals trope, it works if the story is about a world with only animals, but if it is a human + talking animal it generally doesn’t work for me. I guess all of these and more. It took me way longer than normal to read a book of this size and I have even put it down a number of times to do something else, eventually I just pushed myself to read it on in the hopes it would become better.
As I said I did like that this was a retelling of Cinderella. But I also really loved seeing all the other fairy tale characters pop up or be mentioned. Like Belle and the Beast, Hansel and Gretel, and more. Yep, Cinderella (or Cinders as everyone calls her) is not the only fairy tale character in this world. The witch from Hansel and Gretel even lives in the forests near her home! So fun!
I also loved the illustrations, they were so fun. Pippa Curnick has an adorable and fun style. I definitely want to see what else she has done.
So yeah, all in all, not a book I enjoyed that much.
I was so excited about this book, it looked adorable, fun, and magical. Plus, I am a big lover of Cinderella retellings. I always love seeing people grab the original story and make something new out of it. But then I started reading it and it just wasn’t it.
This book and I just didn’t work. There was just something off about it. A few things that have contributed: The ending which just felt like there was meant to be more, but then cut off. The writing style that felt weird, I am not sure how to explain this one, but sometimes a writing style just doesn’t work for me. That it took so long for a reveal that I already saw coming miles away? That Cinders was not really an interesting character? That she was actually kind of boring and bland. Sparks who was an annoying talking dog? Then again, I am already not a fan of the talking animals trope, it works if the story is about a world with only animals, but if it is a human + talking animal it generally doesn’t work for me. I guess all of these and more. It took me way longer than normal to read a book of this size and I have even put it down a number of times to do something else, eventually I just pushed myself to read it on in the hopes it would become better.
As I said I did like that this was a retelling of Cinderella. But I also really loved seeing all the other fairy tale characters pop up or be mentioned. Like Belle and the Beast, Hansel and Gretel, and more. Yep, Cinderella (or Cinders as everyone calls her) is not the only fairy tale character in this world. The witch from Hansel and Gretel even lives in the forests near her home! So fun!
I also loved the illustrations, they were so fun. Pippa Curnick has an adorable and fun style. I definitely want to see what else she has done.
So yeah, all in all, not a book I enjoyed that much.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
3.0
[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
3.5 stars = Good+
A cute fractured fairy tale that starts with a Cinderella story but where Cinders has magic. That then launches the larger story of Cinders in search of the truth of who and what she is and what that means for her future. This feels on the young side of middle grade and should be a fun series for kids.
3.5 stars = Good+
A cute fractured fairy tale that starts with a Cinderella story but where Cinders has magic. That then launches the larger story of Cinders in search of the truth of who and what she is and what that means for her future. This feels on the young side of middle grade and should be a fun series for kids.
readershark's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a breath of fresh Cinderella retelling! Cinder is our not-so-average protagonist who gives new life to Cinderella retellings. With cute illustrations, good morals throughout, and a tough as nails girl leading the story, this book is sure to dazzle the young readers it’s made for.
clarab12's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a cute book and I must say laugh out loud.
I read it with my son and he now says he wants to read more books like this. It may be aimed at girls but it's very much enjoyable for boys.
I wish there were books like this when I was young with such cool female characters who take no nonsense!
I read it with my son and he now says he wants to read more books like this. It may be aimed at girls but it's very much enjoyable for boys.
I wish there were books like this when I was young with such cool female characters who take no nonsense!
amysreading_nook's review against another edition
5.0
I mean this was utterly and completely delightful. Even though this is marketed at children I absolutely adored this and found it hilarious. Cinders is such a wonderful character; she had such heart and fight to her but was also so humorous. I love this alternate take on Cinderella and the modernistion of it! Brian is wonderful. Why should Brian be a male name eh?!
The illustrations in this book were wonderful and just utterly brought this book to life. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series; I also love that characters from other fairytales pop up, such as Bo Peep and Jack and Jill! Just delightful, recommend for all ages!
The illustrations in this book were wonderful and just utterly brought this book to life. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series; I also love that characters from other fairytales pop up, such as Bo Peep and Jack and Jill! Just delightful, recommend for all ages!
odettebrethouwer's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, dit is geweldig! Het is echt heel grappig - ik heb meerdere fragmenten voorgelezen aan mijn man. Het is avontuurlijk, het is stoer. Het is alles wat je van een kinderboek van deze tijd verwacht. Love it! Nu al zin in de andere delen!
emhromp's review against another edition
4.0
Ik ben altijd te porren voor een sprookjesachtige hervertelling, en Cinders is één van de grappigste die er te vinden is. Lekker chaotisch, droog en met onverwachte bekenden, deze is perfect voor meisjes van een jaar of negen.