Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Cinder Ella

Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

myblackbookish_life's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

Even though I enjoy Cinderella retellings, and I did enjoyed this short read, I won't be rating this book. For once, I forget how dark the source material is and the mental, emotional, and physical abuse Cinderella suffers. So to see that story featuring a Black trans woman (even though I'm stoked for the happy ending Ella has in this book with a new town, new friends, and the Princess) it took until the 70% mark for us to get to the more 'joyous' part of the story and THEN it was over.

....we could have at least got an epilogue or sum.

That being said, I do plan to read the other books in this series!

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linniescorner's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

3.0

A sweet trope-y fantasy retelling. The writing is pretty okay - in the beginning a bit slow and repetitive for my taste - but towards the end picks up. I do wish it was maybe 20-30 pages longer as it felt a bit rushed.

Overall sweet, wholesome, and affirming!

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maya_b's review

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

This was really adorable and made me very happy while I read. Especially the first half. Yes, the family is horrible, but Ella is just so cure, and the tailor is amazing, and the princess and Lily are really great, and I was grinning the whole time because it was such a cute and happy little story and I could have read a lot more of it just like that.

Sadly, at the beginning of the second half, I wasn’t as convinced. I think it was still a good story, but it went by too fast. If it would have had a hundred more pages, or maybe even more, I feel like it would have worked amazing, like this it was going by so fast, that I felt like it wasn’t really necessary. There was so much going on just to be immediately fixed again, that I personally would have preferred to just have all of it be as happy as the beginning.

But it was quite the cute ending again, and I think with a few 100 more pages to let the story fully unfold it would have been amazing. Also then maybe there would have been time to develop a few other things as well, because while it didn’t bother me (since it made for a nice story for Ella and she deserved it), it was a little strange that the stepmom didn’t believe her that she was a woman, but also made her dress like one? Or maybe she didn’t know? But the father knew, so why wouldn’t she? There was just some stuff that felt like it wasn’t fully planned through.

Also I felt like the description of Heather about what a woman is was a little too simple

(“Your name is Ella, you wear skirts and plant flowers. Sounds like a woman to me.”)

, but I don’t think it was meant that way. I think my problem is that I immediately turn this sentence around

(woman = wears skirts and plants flowers)

, but of course that’s not what this book is trying to say, and I’m aware of that. It just made me stumble a little and I felt like there would have been another way of phrasing it, that would have made it clear also but not tried to describe what a woman is.

But I still enjoyed the story a lot, and it did make me happy (most of the time). Just some stuff wasn’t that good in my opinion, and could have used a bigger book to actually get into it, because then it would have been good, I think.

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readingwithsierra's review

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

Short, sweet and queer. I love that ❤️

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abicaro17's review

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lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

This was really sweet! A quick read about Ella and Liz, a servant and a princess falling in love. Very sweet and a great happy ending.

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saskiajva's review

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hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

This is such a sweet, warm, fluffy story. A quick feel good read with a wonderful happily ever after

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kassie_rankin's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.75

I am a fanatic of Cinderella retellings, and this is a great one! I love the diversity within the characters; it reminded me of the 1997 Cinderella movie, starring Brandy, which happens to be my second favorite Cinderella movie!
I loved the ending, which allowed for a happier ending in a new place. The new home and new town are pretty cute and made me feel all the warm and cozy feelings!
The only negative I had about the book is that the setting felt very medieval, but they had sushi at the ball, which does not fit the time period. But that is a small and easy thing to look over.

You should read this book if:
• You love Cinderella or Disney retellings
• You love LGBTQ+ representation
• You love short stories

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