Something is rotten in the state of Lille. Things went terribly wrong after Cinderella died. Or were they already wrong before? This debut novel by Kalynn Bayron isn’t exactly a retelling of the well-known fairytale. I’d say, rather, that it’s setting the record straight.

At sixteen, Sophia is about to attend her first ball, in the hope of being selected by a man to become his wife and, for all purposes, his property. If she’s not chosen, shame will befall her family, or worse. The problem is, Sophia has absolutely no desire to follow the rules of the monstrous king of Lille. Furthermore, she’s in love with her friend Erin and would much rather escape with her. Erin, however, isn’t as convinced as Sophia that another way is possible. In searching for that way, Sophia will meet Constance, a descendent of Cinderella’s stepsister Gabrielle, and another fiery and brave girl who won’t let anyone, especially not men, decide what her life should be.

I don’t remember so many of the books I read as a teenager being about overthrowing dictators or ending patriarchy. I am definitely not complaining, dystopian novels allow for fantastically badass characters and when they come with a happy ending, it’s even more perfect. I love seeing good guys or, more precisely, good gals overcome villains and bring hope back to the world.

Despite what felt like sequence-of-tenses discrepancies, Cinderella Is Dead is fast-paced, intriguing, imaginative and I loved the characters (if you read my reviews on a regular basis, you’ll know how important that is to me), even though I wish there was a tad more character development. And obviously, I love the idea of two queer girls throwing down the patriarchy. Kalynn Bayron is a new voice in YA / lesfic literature, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with after this.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cinderella isn't really my favorite fairy tale, but I really liked this retelling or re-imagining if it were because Cinderella actually exists in this world. At times the characters did have that very YA fantasy feel and I had a bit of issue with the insta love especially given the plot. I did appreciate the LGBT+ representation and I think that the story will resonate with a certain generation.

It really shows that the whole idea of happy ever after is fairly misogynistic as the women are waiting for their prince so to speak and that we need to get out of that mindset that the only acceptable happy ending is in a straight relationship and it's pretty much forced down our throats at a young age.

The message is genuine, the characters are thoughtfully developed and I feel that it will easily find it's audience.

4/5 stars

Plot: 4/5 - Cinderella is Dead is the perfect title because it so succinctly encapsulates what this book is about- a fantasy world where Cinderella was real and is now, in fact, dead. The ball has become an annual tradition but only so men can show up can claim themselves a wife, the king holds ultimate power in the kingdom, and everyone treats Cinderella's story as gospel.

I loved how action packed this story was- while we are kind of thrown into the world, I love that there was no hesitation in getting to the meat of the story. The messages of acceptance and overhauling corrupt systems were incredibly timely and powerful. And there was one plot twist that LITERALLY made me gasp and stop in my tracks.

Characters: 4/5 - Our main character Sophia is so, so, wonderful. We know from the get-go that she feels uncomfortable with the mold society wants her to fit- particularly because she is attracted to girls. I love that this was kind of the impetus for her "awakening" but not the only reason she was rebelling- Sophia was also just a genuinely kind and empathetic character who wanted people to lead happy, free, safe lives. I LOVED her chemistry with her romantic interest, who had the quippiest one-liners in every scene! I also really loved Luke, who was a character we got to know early on in the story and I wish we had spent more time with him throughout the entirety of the novel.

Pacing: 4/5 - Like I said, this was so action packed! There were a few things that I would have liked to linger with, but I can appreciate that Kalynn Bayron kept things moving. Personally, I prefer a slower burn romance but I do think that, given the circumstances, it worked.

Writing: 4/5 - Like I said, there were some genuinely laugh-out-loud funny one-liners, but also so many powerful quotes. I was highlighting left and right. There were so many times when I thought "No matter the context, this [what she's saying] is so important". The themes of feminism, fighting corruption, LGBTQ+ rights, and beyond really shone through the writing.

Enjoyment: 4/5 - I really enjoyed this book as a whole! I love the twists, the variety of character relationships, all of the action (and I never say I like fight scenes in books but these ones were concise and clever)... fairy tale retellings are not my go-to but I had such a great time with this one, and I encourage others to pick it up as well!

Cinderella is Dead is one young adult title that packs a lot into the story as it flips the known fairy tale on its head.

While there are some areas of injustice from our reality that bleed into the novel (race and sexual orientation), they are just layers for the protagonist. They mix with the overarching theme of women being kept in place by a handful of men in power. Specifically one man in power...the king. With a cruel rule having been in place since the time of Cinderella, 200 years prior.

The story of Cinderella is used as a form of propaganda in the kingdom. Girls grow up dreaming that they will be deserving of a visit from the fairy godmother. And that they will meet their own handsome prince to whisk them away to lifelong bliss.

The reality in the realm is far from blissful. Women are forced into abusive marriages with no say on anything. Instead, they have rules to govern their lives which promotes the power of men.

Overall, I found this to be a thought-provoking book. One that causes us to look at the history we've been told and question it. But, most importantly, to remember that we all have a voice and can affect change for the better.

This was a very unique take on the Cinderella story. I cheered for Sophia the entire time and enjoyed every bit of her journey. There is absolutely no way for me to summarize this story without giving spoilers so here are some things I want to highlight. Sophia is black obviously from the cover. This does feature a f/f couple and nothing is as it seems. Like I mentioned before, this is a very unique take on this particular fairytale that we have seen done hundreds of ways. I’ll recommend it to anyone who likes retellings and strong female leads.

Thank you Netgalley and edelweiss for a copy of this eARC in exchange for a honest review

What I Loved:
I really loved that this was a retelling, but it had really interesting twists. I absolutely LOVED the extreme changes to the Cinderella story that are revealed as the story progresses!

How I Felt:
Cinderella is Dead takes the reader to a world where the kingdom of Cinderella has turned into a cruel place where women are nothing more than property to be discarded at the whim of any man. All girls must attend an annual ball where they are chosen as wives. Those not chosen have 2 more chances at a ball, after that, it’s a fate worse than death, or maybe it’s just death. Either way, women live in fear, and men rule the day.

Sophia hates all of it. Her idea of happily ever after is with Erin, not with any man in the kingdom. After her required attendance at the annual ball turns into an escape to save her life, she decides that enough is enough. She’s going to bring down the king, and stop the horrible treatment of women.

The plot in Cinderella is Dead was a lot of fun. I didn’t read too far into the synopsis of this one, so I was completely surprised at where the story took me! I thought that it was a really well-put-together story that had so many pieces that fit together perfectly by the end. Halfway through the book, I was concerned this was going to be a series, and I wouldn’t get the ending I wanted until a second book, but everything fell into place and created quite the exciting ending!

This is an LGBTQ story, but I didn’t feel invested in the relationships. Sophia, the MC is in love with Erin, her long-time friend, but there is another love interest that develops with the story. I saw no reason to be in love with Erin. I found her to be cruel and definitely not one to return the love Sophia was trying to give. The second romance was stronger than the first, but I still wasn’t invested in it. I think it happened way too fast, and I didn’t get time to fall in love with them. The entire romance could have been removed, and the overall plot would have held up fine. It wasn’t a bad relationship, I just wasn’t sure it was necessary for this specific story.

I truly enjoyed the characters though. Sophia is this bada$$ girl, she just doesn’t quite know it yet. It provided a great character arc for her, as she comes to be the woman she is meant to be. There’s a character named Amina that I loved. She was quick with snarky comments and filled with mystery. This is one of those stories where the bad guys are BAD, and I really enjoyed that. The king is a B.A.D. guy. Get ready to hate him with me!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I liked the characters, and I thought the plot was exciting and different. It offered a new spin on a retelling and kept me interested to the end!

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Cinderella is Dead to readers that enjoy a strong female lead, YA fiction, and retellings!

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

It's 2oo years after the death of Cinderella, and the ball has become an annual event. Unfortunately for the girls, they are required to attend to be selected as wives and if they aren't selected, they are never seen again.

Sophia doesn't want to find her own Prince Charming though; she's much more interested in marrying in her best friend, Erin. Too bad for her, Erin would rather stay alive and make her parents proud than run away from Sophia.

First of all, I LOVE this cover. It's very pretty, and I love the representation of POC. I have mixed feelings about Sophia. She starts off very selfish, unable to see that Erin is afraid of dying or getting her loved ones in trouble, or not understanding that that her parents were doing everything they could to protect her and she kept throwing their sacrifices away. Watching Sophia's journey to being more understanding was nice. I didn't really care for Sophia's attitude towards those in positions of authority. I totally get that she was angry about how women were treated-I was too-but she didn't seem to comprehend the fact that her smart mouth caused so much pain and suffering.

I loved the dark twist on the Cinderella story. Cinderella did not live happily ever after, Prince Charming really wasn't all that charming, and the fairy godmother didn't save the day.

I love fairy tale retellings! So much! Even more so when they’re a little bit dark and a little bit twisted! Enter, Cinderella is Dead. I don’t think I could do the plot justice, so have some of the official Goodreads description.

“It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.”

Cinderella is Dead took the princess meets prince genre and completely turned it upside down. Sophia neither wished for a prince or to go to a ball. Her character was extremely well developed and had good depth. The relationship between Sophia and Constance was realistic and adorable. It was also amazing and refreshingly representative to see a queer POC as a main character in a fairy tale!

There were a lot of dark themes throughout Cinderella is Dead, which could potentially trigger some readers. Readers who find books that deal with domestic or sexual abuse triggering, please avoid this one!

Two-hundred years after Cinderella married Prince Charming, sixteen-year-old Sophia is preparing for her first royal ball. She will travel to the palace with all of the eligible young women in the land where male suitors will select their wives.

But Sophia doesn’t want to submit to the oppressive laws of the land. And she definitely doesn’t want to be forced into a marriage with a man. Things take a dark turn at the ball, and Sophia launches herself into a mysterious, violent, and magical adventure. She doesn’t have to go it alone: she teams up with an intriguing descendant of one of the evil stepsisters, and a centuries-old witch. Together they embark on a mission to overthrow the patriarchy and to uncover the secrets of the palace. And maybe fall in love.

Cinderella Is Dead is a diverse fairytale retelling without any of the pixie dust or friendly woodland animals, but with all of the romance and drama. It’s like The Selection meets The Handmaid’s Tale meets Gideon the Ninth. Anyone who likes dystopia stories and dark fantasies will love the unique blend of the two genres in Cinderella Is Dead.

While I was excited about the premise of this book, unfortunately it did not deliver. The representation of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ characters is incredibly important and something we need to continue normalizing and supporting in YA; however, from a story and writing perspective, this book mostly flopped for me.

Sophia is another rebellious YA heroine whose reasons for wanting to dismantle a 200-year-old political system never truly go beyond surface level. We are told a lot about her life, but we are never really shown this burning hatred to make it believable. Sophia is rash, talks back to everyone, and is determined to bring down the king without any semblance of a plan. More often than not, I was questioning her actions rather than rooting for her.

Her romance with Constance, while having its cute moments, was very rushed and could have been better developed. Sophia quickly forgets Erin, one of the two loosely established reasons for her rebellious actions, and falls head-over-heels for the fiery Constance. I would’ve liked to see more sparks and yearning between them as we see Sophia realize Constance, and not Erin, is the one she’s supposed to love.

This book is also filled with underused side characters who had so much potential. While I could write an entire paragraph on any one of them, I want to primarily talk about Luke. From the moment he’s introduced, one would think he was going to have a major role in this story. However, he didn't play as big of a role as expected and it felt the potential of this intriguing side character was overlooked.

The SuperEvil™ king was a bit of a caricature, and I didn’t quite understand or buy his motives. The system for choosing his successor made no sense, both before and after the plot twist. As far as a spin on fairy tale villains goes, Shrek 2 did it better.

Another major let-down for me in this book was the worldbuilding. The magic system and connections to Cinderella’s tale could have been more deeply explored or better woven into the story. There were some nice touches, such as stores selling knock-off Fairy Godmother potions or girls desiring expensive glass slippers for the ball, but otherwise it seemed the magical elements were only developed when they were important to the plot.

Now, please bear with me for a bit of Francophile nitpicking. The version of Cinderella used in this book can be traced to the French fairy tale. While many place names in this book are clearly French-inspired – Mersailles, Lille, Chione – the author does not stick with this French theme throughout the story. Although a few characters have French names (Édouard, Gabrielle) most of the characters do not. Erin? Liv? Morgan? Not to mention Sophia and Luke, who easily could have been Sophie and Luc. For worldbuilding and consistency’s sake, I wish the author would have committed one way or the other because the inconsistencies were distracting.

Unfortunately, as I mentioned, the only reason I can really recommend this book is for the representation. It’s an easy enough read with a fun twist on the classic fairytale and elements of girls overthrowing the patriarchy. However, the unfulfilling execution of its promising premise left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s a whole new take on the Cinderella story with a feminist spin. I really liked the concept of the new dystopian world (which has a bit of a Handmaid’s tale feel to it)

200 hundred years after Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, the fairy tale has become a sacred story for the town of Lille. Now, like the rest of the girls, Sophia is about to attend her first ball, in which she has to find a suitor who will marry her. However, rather than looking forward to this milestone, she is dreading it. When she meets Candace, she realize that the story about Cinderella isn’t what it seems to be. Together, the two plot to overthrow the current King of Lille.

I really enjoyed the concept of the story and how it strays from a typical retelling. The only issue I had with the novel was that it felt that the plot was too linear and the characters were a bit one dimensional. Sophia fell out of love with Erin and rebounded with Candace a little too fast for my liking, and it doesn’t help that Insta-love is one of my least favorite tropes.

I really liked how the book was a cautionary tale against patriarchy and conformism and the need for women to speak out. In addition, it’s a great book with lgbtq and poc representation and one fun adventure.

The message was strong and the book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately I felt like the execution fell short.

Nothing like sitting on your stoop reading about a badass queer black teenager smashing the patriarchy. It's been 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but since then tyrannical kings have ruled, forcing every sixteen-year-old female to attend a yearly ball where the men of the kingdom get to choose their wives. Males have absolute power over females and no one is safe from the king's wrath. Sophia would rather marry her best friend Erin, but in an attempt to escape she meets Constance, a descendant of one of Cinderella's step-sisters. Together they form a plot to overthrow the king, and, in turn, overthrow patriarchy. This young adult novel was a lot of fun to read mostly because of the plot, but sometimes I thought there could have been more world building and character building. The writing didn't blow me out of the water, but it's still a fun, fast-paced read. (Disclaimer: I received this from @netgalley, but that in no way affects my review of the book. Thank you @netgalley!) Also, look at me reading more young adult and fantasy novels! Who am I??? Haha Also, mask up if you're outside, friends!

This was a truly fascinating re imagining of Cinderella. LGBTQ fantasy is not something I read enough of and this is one that felt really natural and was also a really great character arc. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that came with the plot, a lot of which I did not see coming. Needless to say, this was a book I devoured and will definitely be recommending to my coworkers and students!

Sophia's life isn't a fairy tale. In her world, the Cinderella fairy tale is all wrong because the Prince isn't all that charming and you want your HEA to bewith the person of your choice. 200 years after Cinderella finds her prince, girls are now forced to attend an Annual Ball where they are paraded around and selected like cattle by men who treat them as possessions. Those girls who aren't lucky enough to be chosen are never seen or heard from again.

Sophia would rather be with her best friend Erin but in this world, that is not an option. So when it's Sophia's turn to attend the ball, she runs away and meets Cinderella's last living descendant - Charlotte. Charlotte's tale of Cinderella and the wicked stepsisters is a lot different from the story that's been passed down through the generations and Sophia and Charlotte hatch a plot to take down the king and set the story straight.

I enjoyed this modern retelling with a rebel spin and an interesting take on Prince Charming.

Oh this hurts because I wanted to love this so much more than I did, it was one of my most anticipated releases this year and I was so excited to read it but in the end it ended up being... just okay.

This is essentially a retelling of Cinderella but with a black lesbian main character and an extremely misogynistic society that uses a skewed version of Cinderella's story to maintain complete and total control over it's society. This idealized version of Cinderella has lead to an extremely misogynistic society that requires it's women to be obedient and subservient and fosters domestic abuse and total control from most men. The king rules absolutely and because of this people are too afraid to invoke any changes.

I found the way that Cinderella's story was used very interesting but other than that this world is just very bland and kind of boring. There isn't much world-building outside of how Cinderella's story has shaped society itself and that made everything a lot less interesting. It was even hard for me to keep names of countries and things like that straight because it was talked about so strangely. In my opinion, the story would have benefited from a better explanation of how the world worked outside the misogynistic and homophobic nature of everything.

I also found the plot very predictable and convenient. Things happened way too quickly and way to easy for me to really care about anything that was happening. Everything was so predictable and there wasn't many challenges that weren't easily beat. I was excited to see Sophia burn the society to the ground and dismantle the patriarchy like this book was trying to do, but everything was so convenient there wasn't even that much dismantling. In just a few weeks everything was resolved and there was a lot of talking about how it happened and not a lot of showing it happen. I think this would have benefited greatly if it were made into a duology because in the end everything was too easy, too predictable and too convenient.

And then there was the insta love. I don't like insta love but I do know it can be done well - this was not one of those instances. Sophia was professing her love and wanting to run away with Erin one second, only for her to be completely in love with Constance just a few days later. It was incredibly annoying to me and I didn't like anything about.

Other than that, I did enjoy the story overall. I really liked the writing and I think the idea was there, I just wish there had been more. I mean, the entire ending is wrapped up in a two page story that mimics Cinderella's fairytale and while that was an interesting idea, I would have loved to see that in another book.

Overall, the idea was there but the execution was not. I do still think there's a lot of people out there who will love this story and I encourage you to try it out because it is an interesting idea and there's good representation. It just wasn't for me.

tws: misogyny, domestic abuse, death, homophobia, murder, grief, on page animal death, mild gore and violence

i really enjoy fantasy retellings, and this one was fantastic. Kalynn Bayron truly did a great job at taking this tale and adding modern twists that are relatable to our current world while keeping the original magical atmosphere of the original tale. i knew i needed to read this when it first came out, and i'm so glad i did. i've been itching to read this sapphic feminist fairytale retelling, and i really liked it!

it was truly so fun to read and didn't feel like a 400 page book as i was reading. the plot was fast paced and characters were always on the move and planning what they were going to do next. i really enjoyed and admire Sophia's character - she's very headstrong and has a fiery personality, but in a good way. people in her life are constantly trying to tell her she just needs to blend in, to hide her sexuality and who she really is, to stop questioning why things are the way they are, but Sophia knows she could never do that.

i think the only thing i didn't love was the romance between Sophia and Constance, because it felt very instalove (lesbians, am i right?) but not fully believable for me. it just didn't feel like there was enough room in the story for their relationship development, and while it's not super prevalent i sort of wish that the romance was left at the beginning with Erin as the catalyst for Sophia's fight for a better future.

Cinderella is Dead is obviously a retelling of Cinderella. Kalynn Bayron was pushing a message during this whole book, and I did not mind it. It could be a bit heavy on the theme of the patriarchy and toxic masculinity, I wish Cinderella is Dead could have gone deeper into the theme and show more layers. I found Cinderella is Dead to be quite enjoyable, I did not necessarily LOVE any of the characters but the story is what I enjoyed. The world-building was decent, I could see the places that needed to be seen in my mind. The ending was obvious but the story was fast past I enjoyed it. The romance was a bit insta-love. The reimaging of some of the characters in Cinderella were wonderful! I fully enjoyed this reimagining of the Cinderella story.

I really wanted to fall in love with this story. It’s has everything I like:

– retelling

– lgbtq+ MC

– diverse and realistic cast

But for me, characters make or break the story telling. The story itself is wonderful and creative. 200 years after Cinderella, her story is still being used to stifle and control women, to allow evil men to sit on the throne, for men to rule over and over again.

It’s the women are suppressed story, living in a world where men make all the decisions, where they can do whatever they want behind closed doors and no one will bat in eye.

I love these kind of stories, I love reading as women come out of their cages and realize that they matter.

But the characters, OH MAN.

I’ll talk about Sophia in a minute – let’s discuss the rest of them.

Erin – If the book ended with Erin being brutally murdered I would not have cared at all. Her entire personality comes down to the fact that she’s pretty, Sophia is in love with her, and she has chosen to be the docile, good little wife and stay in her place. Other than that I have no idea who she is or what she wants.

Luke – he likes boys, and wanted to help Sophia. I’m pretty sure that’s his entire personality and I honestly forgot he existed.

Constance – she’s a descendant of one of Cinderella’s step-sisters. That fact is about 90% of her personality. Her family has spent generations training and learning to fight the king? Yet somehow, with all her pretty dagger work her family has done nothing but run for 200 years and hold on to old letters. She’s also super pretty with red hair.

All of these characters were so one dimensional. They’re personalities boiled down to one aspect of who they are, and all of their actions were driven by just that one small thing. It made it so hard to care about any of them.

Then we have Sophia. First of all, her last name is Grimmins which I thought was super clever. Sophia has more personality than everyone else, but she was a little too much of the “not like other girls” type. She questions the king and the traditions, she likes girls, she likes wearing pants, and has a sharp tongue. Sophia is the outsider, the wolf in a city of sheep. And although at times her character was extremely cliched, she did have some depth to her, she was constantly questioning herself, discovering who she is on her own, not by the measure of Erin, or her parents, or what the King wanted. I enjoyed her journey into knowing what she wants for herself.

Lastly, there’s Amina, who is a very spoiler-y character so I don’t want to get to into who she was. But I loved her. Amina was a very well thought out character, I was constantly questioning her motives and loyalty, and I loved how enough details were given about her to make you constantly question.

I felt disconnected from a lot of these characters, and even more say when it came down to the “telling” instead of “showing” of the plot. I think the focus on toxic masculinity and giving women a voice was well thought out, but didn’t always translate too well. There was a lot of explanations, instead of actually getting to experience the world and the story for myself.

However, I do think the various twists, and the overall idea behind the story was brilliant. I love the idea of a society built around the Cinderlla fairytale, and how it showed the serious dangers of silencing and alienating people based on their gender.

Overall, I liked this story – it wasn’t one of my new favorites, but it was definitely a worthwhile read. It was a good story about feminism, strength, friendship, and not taking any shit from other people.

Set several centuries after the death of the original Princess Cinderella, the story presents us with a world run by a misogynist prince and his henchmen. An LGBTQ-centered re-imagining of the world of Cinderella, Cinderella Is Dead shows the danger of unquestioning belief in an official narrative. I would highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy, as well as folks looking for stories that reflect the important issues of our time.

This book was provided to me as an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Think of Cinderella. Think of the story you know of the evil stepsisters and stepmother, of the benevolent fairy godmother, and the fairy tale romance with the Prince. Then throw it all out the window because the story is so much more than that.

This story is not even a retelling of Cinderella, rather it's a full on re-imagining of the tale we've all known for so long. It is the story Cinderella would have been if it was black, queer, and ready to tear down the patriarchy.

I have to offer up the disclaimer that Cinderella was always my favourite Disney princess, a story I've seen more times than I can count, but my love of the original fairy tale does absolutely nothing to diminish the fantastic tale of this new story.

Two hundred years after Cinderella's story was told, women live in Lille as nothing more than prizes to be won at the annual ball where men choose and bid on a partner - except there is no such thing as partners in Lille. There is only men in control of women, men sending daughters out to be chosen like cattle. And what becomes of the young women who aren't chosen at the ball?

The answer to that question is horrifying.

Read the story never told, the secret behind Cinderella's life, and the fight to liberate the women from the oppressive patriarchy that has dictated life in Lille for two centuries.

I loved everything about this story.. My only real criticism would be that I wish there had been more development in some of the characters, but overall I was satisfied with it!