Reviews with content warning for Vomit - Cinderella Is Dead

I absolutely loved this book, the only thing was the writing style sometimes (only sometimes, mostly it was fine) made the flow a bit strange, but the actual content of the book more than made up for it. I would definitely recommend it!

Content Warnings

annettewolf's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

3.5

As far as fairy-tale retellings/re-imaginings go, this is a solid story with excellent twists on the tale we're familiar with in its various versions. We have just enough grounding us in the familiar, with updated, about-damn-time feminist themes. And the protagonist is sapphic, which of course makes me happy.

Unfortunately, the writing didn't do it for me all the time. There were times when the characters would come up with a plan, but the plan didn't make much sense. It was kind of like a series of excuses to connect the beats, or get the characters to the right location for the next thing that the author knew was going to happen. That said, I honestly didn't see the plot twist coming at the end, so, that was well done.

The romance was a little insta-love-y to me, and I didn't feel like there was much to connect with, with the main character. In some ways it was like the plot was moving too fast to spend much time exploring how she was feeling about everything. I wanted to know how she felt about things with her parents, things with her girlfriend. And we got some tantalizing glimmers of her interest in witchcraft, but, again, not enough time spent on it to really explore the connection between witchcraft and resistance (or if you want to be really on-the-nose, smashing the patriarchy). There's somehow enough time to hang out at various locations for a week at a time to "come up with a plan" or prepare for a spell, but not enough time to explore her emotional state. That was a bummer.

I think we can always use re-imaginings of old stories. And this take on the Cinderella story is inventive and explores themes that I really love. Even if the writing wasn't always my cup of tea, I'm really glad this story exists to help introduce young readers to these themes, and give us a sapphic, Black protagonist who has a lot of traits to love.

Content Warnings

dhwani's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

amoscreates's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The pacing was a little too fast for my taste and while the main character was very lovable and relatable i did have my issues with the side characters. The big plot twist wasn't something I particularly liked or cared for, but i did not see it coming so there's that.

Overall a quick fun read, would recommend but probably won't reread it myself.

Content Warnings

More...