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A review by blueshadow
Disenchanted: The Trials of Cinderella by Megan Morrison
2.0
Grounded, book 1 of the series, was a fresh look at what may happen when Rapunzel leaves her tower. Disenchanted, book 2, was a flat and predictable lecture on labor rights with a few nods to the Cinderella fairy tale sprinkled throughout.
That's everything good I have to say. Ranting about particularly irritating parts of the story follows.
WHY LABOR RIGHTS? I care about labor rights of many people, but non-existent fantasy characters are not ANY of them. And if you WANT to talk about rights of fantasy people, the correct way to do it is by writing a compelling story with varied characters, and making the rights of the fantasy people a small but interesting part of the plot. (For authors who did it right, try Sharon Shinn in Summers at Castle Auburn, or Katherine Addison in The Goblin Emperor.) Definitely do not write a boring plot with flat, predictable characters just to prove your point (all rich and powerful characters were also selfish and cruel), and have it read more like a persuasive speech than a story.
And while we are at it, can we write a plot that makes sense? This plot was so boring even the author knew it and split it among 3 characters, Ella, Dash, and Serge so more things could happen. And Serge's plotline was the only one that was almost interesting, but it also suffered the misfortune of making absolutely NO sense. Even the events at the end of the book do not really explain why things at The Glass Slipper are the way they are. In which I rant about things in the first few chapters to keep it minimal spoilers:
In which I rant about the ending. I attempt to keep it vague and non-spoilery, but it is the ending after all
And that ending. THAT ENDING. After putting me through hours and hours of boring plot (yes, I listened to audiobook again), I then had to endure
Thank you. I feel better now.
Anyway, it was something to listen to while driving and sitting in waiting rooms. That's right, it was more interesting than listening to silence. My blood pressure got a really good workout.
Content considerations:
This book was more YA than MG. Lots of discussion of the evils of child labor and difficulties faced by the poor working class, discussion of disease, disfigurement, death, a fairly intense fire scene, a suspenseful trial scene, strong theme of romance throughout. Far more likely to appeal to YA than MG.
That's everything good I have to say. Ranting about particularly irritating parts of the story follows.
WHY LABOR RIGHTS? I care about labor rights of many people, but non-existent fantasy characters are not ANY of them. And if you WANT to talk about rights of fantasy people, the correct way to do it is by writing a compelling story with varied characters, and making the rights of the fantasy people a small but interesting part of the plot. (For authors who did it right, try Sharon Shinn in Summers at Castle Auburn, or Katherine Addison in The Goblin Emperor.) Definitely do not write a boring plot with flat, predictable characters just to prove your point (all rich and powerful characters were also selfish and cruel), and have it read more like a persuasive speech than a story.
And while we are at it, can we write a plot that makes sense? This plot was so boring even the author knew it and split it among 3 characters, Ella, Dash, and Serge so more things could happen. And Serge's plotline was the only one that was almost interesting, but it also suffered the misfortune of making absolutely NO sense. Even the events at the end of the book do not really explain why things at The Glass Slipper are the way they are. In which I rant about things in the first few chapters to keep it minimal spoilers:
Spoiler
Why must they serve only clients who are rich? Why do the fairies feel like they must stay at The Glass Slipper if they don't like it there? What are all the other graduates of the fairy academy doing? If there are lots of fairy godparents out there, why are all of them working at The Glass Slipper? I know its this way because it must be for the plot, but IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSEIn which I rant about the ending. I attempt to keep it vague and non-spoilery, but it is the ending after all
And that ending. THAT ENDING. After putting me through hours and hours of boring plot (yes, I listened to audiobook again), I then had to endure
Spoiler
over a solid hour of listening to lie after lie against the characters, which they could not defend themselves against because the author said so. And THEN, after creating this completely artificial impossible scenario, the author pulls an utterly classic, by-the-book Deus ex machina to save the day. And if THAT wasn't bad enough, what this wonderful character said that saved the day was exactly what the other characters would have said to defend themselves if the author had simply allowed that in the first place. AAAAAHHHHHHH!Thank you. I feel better now.
Anyway, it was something to listen to while driving and sitting in waiting rooms. That's right, it was more interesting than listening to silence. My blood pressure got a really good workout.
Content considerations:
This book was more YA than MG. Lots of discussion of the evils of child labor and difficulties faced by the poor working class, discussion of disease, disfigurement, death, a fairly intense fire scene, a suspenseful trial scene, strong theme of romance throughout. Far more likely to appeal to YA than MG.