Reviews

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

livingdeadash's review against another edition

1.0

There's a lot I could say, but it has already been said in numerous other reviews. The idea was a good one, but the execution was terrible, to keep it short and sweet.

aleesha_mcnair14's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

I genuinely really enjoyed this book more so than I originally thought I would. I found this book through a recommendation from a friend based on the premise it was a Disney Twisted Tales book and it greatly lived up to the expectations. The added LGBTQ+ elements of the book added an alternate perspective that made me love the characters even more. Sophia was a great character and I cared for her character throughout the book. Constance was a great addition and I loved Luke as well. I really wanted to like Erin but she always appeared to be horrible to Sophia. The story also had twists and turns though like reading about Liv and how quickly they killed her off.

Even when Sophia tried to kill Manford after discovering he was the king all this time but instead he just laughed

. Overall though, the book had some really good shocks though that kept me engaged throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse

clacksee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

silentnpale's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this but the ending was very rushed. It felt like a lot of build up for little pay off and several things felt unresolved.

elliereadsss's review against another edition

3.0

This book subverts the story of Cinderella in the most genius of ways, creating a unique blend of fantasy and dystopia as we follow Sophie, our revolutionary protagonist, 200 years after Cinderella's death.
I had really high hopes for this one, I've been looking forward to reading it since it's release, but unfortunately the book didn't live up to these high hopes for me. I do still think it was a very unique and intriguing story but I didn't feel connected to it at all, nothing pulled me in and for this reason I struggled to follow what was going on. I see the incredible value in this story and I'm sure a lot of people will love it, but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.

sara_naemi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.75

katikins's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The allegory was a little heavy handed, but the story itself was engaging and I enjoyed listening

girl7seven's review against another edition

5.0

 Wow, Cinderella who? Cinderella Is Dead flips the classic fairy tale on its head in the best way possible! It’s been 200 years since Cinderella’s story ended, but for girls like Sophia, it’s not a happily ever after. In a society where girls are forced to attend a ball to be “chosen” by men, Sophia has had enough and isn’t willing to play along—especially when her heart belongs to her best friend, Erin.

One of the most thrilling moments is when Sophia runs away from the ball and teams up with Constance, a descendant of Cinderella’s stepsister (I mean, talk about a plot twist!). Together, they uncover shocking truths about the original story and plot to take down the oppressive system. This book is filled with action, rebellion, and romance, and Sophia’s fierce determination to rewrite her own fate is nothing short of inspiring. If you’re into fairy tales with a twist, this is a must-read—it's fun, fierce, and full of heart! 

bixbiboom's review against another edition

2.0

This book took me a year and a half to get through, and the only thing that kept me going was a dogged optimism that surely it would get better soon. It didn’t. I don’t know how the author managed to take such a promising, compelling premise and water it down to all the depth and intrigue of a Hallmark holiday movie, but kudos to her, I guess. The worldbuilding was solid, the characters were equal turns sympathetic and loathsome, the concept grabbed my interest from the moment I skimmed the blurb, but the story just didn’t pan. Weak writing, plot holes, predictable twists, and a conclusion that fell flat and left me feeling unsatisfied instead of uplifted.

samcknight's review against another edition

4.0

This book is everything I didn't realise I needed in a fairy tale retelling, i.e an unpredictable plot and queer women fighting back against a corrupt patriarchal regime.

The book had a good pace and it kept me reading just one more chapter before I went to bed. I liked the main characters and thought the romance was sweet, it did come across as insta-love but as this is a fairy tale I'm happy to overlook it. The fairy godmother was hands down my favourite character, her story was far more twisted and deep than any of the other characters.

I would have loved some extra depth to several parts of this story but other than that is was a unique retelling of a classic fairy tale and is definitely worth a read.

3.5 stars