A really exciting, engrossing story with a fresh perspective on the fairy tale you thought you knew. More queer girls and f/f pairings in YA fantasy, please! I picked this up and finished it in a single day because I was just that captivated by the story. I’m so impressed by the future of YA; heroines like these are exactly what I would’ve wanted as a younger reader and they’re so fun to read even now that I’m older. Pick this one up if you’re even gently thinking about it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love a good re-telling and while some fairy tales have been overdone, like Cinderella, I think there’s also always ways that writers can change things up and create something new. On that front I think Bayron accomplished that with Cinderella is Dead. Unfortunately this particular re-imaging wasn’t the right book for me.

I’ll say it now that I’m over stories where the fictional society is built around female oppression and that’s the basis of the story. There’s a reason I have no desire to try The Handmaid’s Tale and other stories like it. But that’s what this book is. Two young women smashing the patriarchal order that has kept them all but captive. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but it’s one of those types of stories I’m not really interested in reading, not without there being a larger plot beyond that.

But I like re-tellings and had hoped this book would be an exception.

Unfortunately that wasn’t my only issue. One of the aspects I struggled with the most was the lack of character motivations. I knew they wanted to overthrow the patriarchy. Everything in this book seemed to be designed to tackle that goal rather than tell the story of a specific character. I never really understood Sophia, or why this was her story. What made her, specifically, the right protagonist for this story.

I know she’s stubborn and headstrong, and doesn’t always think before acting. Which is fine. But that’s all I really know about her as a person. And the same for Constance. And the villain for that matter. I didn’t understand what made them special beyond their role. The companion. The villain. This book read much like a fairy tale in that regard, where everything lingers on the surface to lead the reader to some final understanding.

So as I read, I didn’t always understand the decisions the character made. The relationships they built. Everything was missing that emotional connection I thrive on as a reader. That character development that really strikes a chord with you as you read. It’s what I look for in stories, and I didn’t find it in Cinderella is Dead.

That said, this book is fast-paced and definitely a quick read. I liked the idea of Cinderella being the foundational story upon which an entire culture and kingdom was built around. It’s not something I’ve seen before and definitely made this book stand out in that regard.

More importantly, this book is needed. Here is a diverse cast of characters burning away a harmful, oppressive way of life. The message is a strong one and I applaud this book for bringing it to light. And for those looking for a F/F romance, you’ve definitely got one here! I liked that it didn’t consume the plot but acted as a true subplot (which isn’t always the case in YA fantasy).

I’m not sure I would recommend Cinderella is Dead for the execution, but I do think a lot of my reading experience came down to a disconnect with the characters and the overall theme so take from that what you will. If you’re looking for a unique Cinderella re-telling, this may be the book for you.

This was so much fun. I loved every minute of this book, I enjoyed the writing, the story and the characters so much. The spin on Cinderella’s tale was one I hadn’t encountered before, and I loved all the reveals of what really happened to her.
I can’t recommend this book enough, and am so excited for my finished copy to get here!

This is a fantastic retelling of the Cinderella tale, decades later, in a new kind of town. A Black girl lead, kick-butt empowerment, fighting against the patriarchy, & lesbian love story make this a hit of a YA novel!

I finished this fantastic book in 2 days and I am very sad to have finished it, but very happy to have experienced it. Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for sending me an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Story and the Setting

The story-telling in this book was beyond good. Kalynn Bayron was truly given a gift and she used it to give us a different kind of fairy tale. The world that the main character, Sophia, grows up is one that can be all too familiar for some women. Men are head of household and make all the decisions and women have almost no say at all. And this all originates from the story of Cinderella and her Prince Charming. I never would have thought that there could be such a different version of this story, but Bayron has managed to surprise me at every turn. With each chapter you learn more and more about what happened to Cinderella and realize just how bad the city of Lille is. The world-building was really well done and nicely paced throughout the story and It was very easy to get a feel of how the lands laws shaped each of the characters. I thought that the story was extremely original and I loved that it set during a time where magic and fairy tales are real.

The Characters

I don’t get to read about queer black girls very often, but after finishing this I realize I need to make it my mission to find more of these stories. Sophia being in love with a woman gives her a drive throughout the story that made me wish very much for her success in her task. My heart really ached for her when she just wanted to live in a world where she could be herself and not be someone’s property. By the end of her story she is truly ready to die for this and I admire her so much for that. Bayron does a great job of making the romance in this book organic and beautiful. It makes you agree with Sophia that this is something that should be fought for.

The End

I truly did not want this story to end. While the ending was wrapped up very nicely, I still long for a book 2 and to continue Sophia’s story. She was just everything I wanted to be when I grew up and I very much see myself reading this book to my future children. The ending of this book was full of hope and a promise of a better future for the people of Lille.

Overview

Read this book. If you have ever felt like you couldn’t be yourself for fear of disappointing someone, read this book. If you have ever wanted a strong, queer black woman to be a main character in a fantasy novel, read this book. And if you love romance that seems to come so easily to some characters, read this book. I truly, truly loved this book and could not put it down. It is important that stories like these are told, not just for us but for future generations as well.

Cinderella is Dead was a book I eagerly anticipated, so I was thrilled when I got an arc for review! Imagine my disappointment when I found myself trusting through it like quicksand. It was slow paced, the characters were a little too generic, and the story overall just seemed to fit the young adult bubble, just set in a different land. I felt like I’ve read this book many times, just with different characters and a different world. It wasn’t terrible, however, and if I’d read this book five or so years ago, it probably would’ve been a five star read. I love the diversity and the representation, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped to, Younger fans of young adult will undoubtedly love this, as well as fans of the tale Cinderella. Unfortunately this just fell a little flat for me.
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*I received an E-arc from Netgalley to facilitate an honest review of this title*

3.5 Stars- strong debut YA Novel and a fresh take on the Cinderella Myth.

This was really quick to read and fun Cinderella "retelling". It features a f/f romance and had a very strong tone of feminism and bringing down the patriarchy.

While I enjoyed the writing and the interesting take on the Cinderella myth, I did find the romance to be extremely rushed, too insta-love for my personal taste.

There were a few plot conveniences and aspects I would have liked to have seen be done differently, BUT all in all, this was an enjoyable read!

While the cover is stunning, the story itself is even more fabulous. Sophia attends her first ball at the age of sixteen. The women in her kingdom grow up reading the story of Cinderella, with the expectation that they strive to be like her. Young women are sent to the palace each year to attend and for a man to choose to become engaged to them. They have three chances, and then are considered forfeit, with a mysterious fate in a workhouse. Sophia, however, does not want to marry. She sees that the women in her kingdom are treated horribly by so many men, even if the men directly in her life have not abused their wives and children. Also, Sophia does not want to marry a man. She is attracted to women, and in love with her best friend Erin. Her family and friends know this, but even Erin thinks it's safer to go with the status quo.

However, Sophia can't do that. During her ball, she ends up running away. In the process, she meets Constance, a descendant of one of Cinderella's stepsisters. From Constance, Sophia learns the truth about Cinderella's story. The version she grew up with is even more of a lie than she suspected. The two plan to take down the evil king that rules over the kingdom, so that no woman has to experience what Sophia and her loved ones have.

To be honest, I found the plot to be predictable, but I'm also an adult reading a YA novel. (Not that YA novels are predictable or juvenile - I love them!) It also is such a mirror for the way women are treated in reality and the white male patriarchy of the modern world. For centuries, anyone who is different has been beaten down. There are also many mirrors of the good men who benefit from the way the system currently works, and while they love the women in their lives, they do not always stand up for what is right. We also see the women who benefit from the patriarchy and disregard other women and their struggles, or turn a blind eye to their own suffering because they have been taught to for so long. Finally, in Constance and Sophia's journey, we meet a mysterious witch with ties to Cinderella, a clear example of someone who has benefited from and even helped the "bad guys" only to relearn and become an ally. (Though without spoiling, there's a twist there that did surprise me in the last few pages!)

Overall, this was a timely, subversive, feminist read that I absolutely adored. I highly recommend this 5 star book. My thanks to the author, Bloomsbury, and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️Book Review⭐️
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Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
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Cinderella Is Dead is out as of July 7th!!!
If you are able to, please consider purchasing this book from your local bookstore 💙 they need love during these crazy times too.
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I was given an ebook arc by NetGally in exchange for an honest review.
This story sucked me in without my realization. One minute I was opening the Kindle app and the next I was 1/3 of the way through the book. This retelling has the perfect blend of world building while keeping it fast paced.
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Cinderella has always been my favorite fairytale. I love that even though she was forced into servitude in her own home she remained ever gentle and ever kind. Sophia however is not as fond of her as I am. Well maybe not her exactly but the legacy she left.
It has been 200 years since Cinderella’s passing, and in her honor every year there is a (mandatory to all females of the age of 16) ball where the men get to choose their brides without their consent.
Despite having her choices taken away and her whole life planned out for her, Sophia tries to convince the love of her life and best friend Erin to run away with her. But when Erin refused, Sophia reluctantly goes to the ball.
After situations there go terribly wrong, Sophia flees from the ball and seeks refuge from the guards who chase her. Stumbling upon Cinderella’s tomb, she meets Constance, Cinderella’s last direct descendent.
With Constance’s help, along with her step sisters, they divulge a plan to overthrow the King and change the way things have been done for the past two centuries. But our hero’s soon find out that there is much more to Cinderella’s story than they were ever told.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: abuse, arranged marriages, death, homophobia, misogyny, human trafficking

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and Netgalley for providing me with an arc for review.

"Money, power, class, all those things come into play, but the founding tenet of our laws is that women, no matter their standing, are at the mercy of the fickle whims of men."

Cinderella is Dead is a powerful take on a classic tale.

Sophia is sixteen year old who has questioned the way her world operates and how women within the kingdom do not have any of their own agency. As the story escalates Sophia learns the truth of how the rules came to be. Bayron is very direct towards the horrendous treatment towards women and all the ways that it can manifest. It was a little on the nose at times but that's honestly just a thing that happens in YA.

I really did enjoy this story. Much darker than I anticipated but that does not bother me that much. We got a story of queer teenage girls saying fuck the patriarchy. Another thing that I liked is that this isn't a story that takes place over 3 days. The feelings that they have for each other are something that blossom over time. I read this in about two days just because I couldn't wait to see how the heck this book was going to end.

Loved! A beautifully depicted world full of strong, self-empowered women. Definitely would recommend!!

Rating: 3.5/5

I want to first be clear about one thing, the story fascinated me. I loved the premise of the book and where the author took it throughout the story. I thought the messages being presented were extremely important and great messages to be put into the world, especially right now. However, there was a good amount I didn't enjoy about the book as well.

I found most of the characters to be really one sided or flat. It felt as if they were only the purpose they had in the novel, does that make sense? I just felt as if they could have been developed better. I also felt that the world was underdeveloped as well. There were moments that everything was described and I was brought into the novel in a great way, and then there were times where I couldn't picture the scene in my head. It also didn't help that I wasn't a huge fan of Sophia, as I found her youth to come through often and made her seem a little immature. But then again, she was 16, so I suppose that makes sense.

I really did enjoy the story. It had turns I wasn't expecting and a premise that would keep anyone interested. I still would recommend it to those around me that are interested, it just wasn't perfect for me, and that's okay! It was still a good read.

First, I loved the idea of this story. Just the concept of turning Cinderella - which I've long found the most boring fairy tale - into this Handmaid's Tale-esque queer-black-girls-smash-the-patriarchy dystopia is amazing, and I'm tempted to give 5 stars for that alone. Also, the way Bayron twists the fairy tale and the spin she puts on the fairy godmother is so unique and fun!

The characters did feel a little flat to me, and the physical world felt practically nonexistent. I think part of that is due to the dystopia genre and first-person present tense narrative just bringing you so close to Sophia's view that you can't see much beyond it. But I do wish that there had been a bit more. More details, more fleshed-out characters, more of the story itself. With a little more depth, I would have happily devoured a version of this story twice as long.

I received an early copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cinderella is dead is the reimagining we need, especially in times like these, This book takes the story you think you know (both the original fairy tale and the Disney version) and tells us everything we know is wrong.

Sophia lives in a terrible and misogynistic kingdom in which every year, girls must go to a ball to be claimed by their suitors. She is having none of it and would much prefer to run away with the girl she has been in love with her whole life. Well, things go sideways and our story unfolds. Full of beautiful imagery, great action, and an overall amazing story, this one get 4.5 stars out of me.

Sophia is so strongwilled and firm in her beliefs. WIll she overtake the kingdom and get to be with who she loves? You'll have to read it to find out. Trust me, it's worth it!

http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/cinderella-is-dead/

It’s been two hundred years since Cinderella met her Prince Charming. Her dream come true has become a nightmare for the girls of Lille. Every year, all eligible young girls must attend the royal ball, where they vie to be selected as brides for Lille’s men. For the girls who are not chosen, there are dire but mysterious consequences.

It’s time for Sophia to debut at the ball, and it’s the last thing she wants to do. For one thing, she’s gay and doesn’t want to marry a man at all. She’s also noticed that many of the marriages that result from the ball are anything but happy. But refusing to attend would ruin her family, so Sophia goes. Disaster strikes, and soon Sophia is on the run with another girl. Constance, and they become a fierce two-woman resistance against the king. Along the way, Sophia discovers that the official version of the Cinderella story is a lie.

I read this 400-page novel in about three hours. Marion recently described an experience where she sat down to sample a few pages of a book, and in the blink of an eye she’d devoured a large chunk of it. Cinderella Is Dead (2020) was like that for me. It’s incredibly fast-paced and addictive. I was thoroughly caught up in the lives of these girls, the dangers they faced, and the secrets they were discovering. And very, very much rooting for them to depose the horrible king and establish justice.

The use of Cinderella as the basis of a dystopia is unique and works well. It seems like it might be a critique of theocracy — after all, people have been making laws based on stories for millennia! It also plays on the way the reader’s inner child reacts to the familiar tropes of the fairy tale. There’s a part of my brain, and probably a lot of other people’s brains, that still gets a little dreamy at the thought of fairy godmothers and glass slippers. It’s kind of, I won’t say “fun” exactly, but maybe “satisfyingly twisted,” to see the story’s warped reflection.

Kalynn Bayron peppers images throughout the book that are clues to what’s really going on, but doesn’t explain them until later, at which point their true meaning is revealed. There were several times I read a scene and then flipped back to an earlier point because something sounded familiar, to find that yep, that was there all along! I kind of want to reread the book and see if there’s anything else I can catch the second time around.

The love story can seem like it’s moving too quickly, but I don’t think that’s actually the case. The book covers a couple of months. It just doesn’t seem like that long because the novel itself moves so quickly and doesn’t linger on periods of inactivity.

Cinderella Is Dead is an exciting YA novel that subverts a beloved fairy tale and gives us heroines to cheer for. It’s so propulsive that you’ll probably finish it long before the clock strikes midnight. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Bayron does next.

Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for an e-arc for review. I was so excited to read this book, especially for pride month. This is a Cinderella "retelling" or more a continuation set 200 years later with a young girl ready to take on the King and challenge the patriarchy - sounds amazing right?!

This book was really hit and miss for me. First, I did enjoy the storyline overall and it was an easy, enjoyable read. I love fairytales, so anything connected to those is great for me. It's also got a great message - anything YA that is women empowering and discussing relationships that you want, consent, etc are important and this was done in an approachable way.

I just wish the book overall was a little more developed - the characters and their relationships felt really one-noted and a little disconnected. There was just a lot more personality and moments missed that could have helped the readers really connect with the characters. Also, the pacing was a little off for me, I thought the beginning was a little slow, huge build up and then book it was over. I prefer a little more even paced and would have liked to know more after the ending. There was a lot of conveniences in the plot as well, so it felt rushed in some places because the main character didn't have to work that hard sometimes.

The premise of this book is extremely interesting. A patriarchal society that uses the story of a girl escaping abuse as gospel to push them into abuse is very compelling. I really liked the setting and the characters in this book, because they were practical (mostly) and fierce. But the execution of this vision kind of fell flat for me. As much as the story explores every avenue, it is not thorough in its details of the moment. It almost feels like someone is trying to rush through a story that has been told many times over rather than take their time with it, accentuate it with details and imagery that stays in your mind.

The plot is very good because it gives the protagonists time to develop and to go on both an actual and metaphorical journey. But the rushed execution pricked me at every turn.. I like when the authors takes their times with the scenes, setting them up so that I can imagine every minute detail. Although the characters are fascinating, this aspect of the book kept me from feeling like I was with them and love them.

I liked the themes this book explored of putting the onus of safety and men's action on women by asking them to shut themselves in their homes, of women expected being available to men, of erasing women and their achievements from history, or villain-ising them. It certainly sets up a Cinderella story with strong role models and puts a very realistic twist to the fairy tale we are so often pedalled.

I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this remix of Cinderella, teen girls are required to appear at the annual ball. If girls get chosen they are forced to marry their suitors, if they aren't they are never seen again. Sophia would rather marry her friend Erin, however, that is not allowed. When Sophia runs away, she meets a group that figures out how to break the curse.

#cinderellaisdead #diversecinderella #cinderellaremix #netgalley #KalynnBayron

“Do not be Silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.”
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Imagine a main character in a Cinderella retelling that wants everything but to go to the yearly ball. Living in a kingdom where eligible girls are forced to attend the dance; having to adhere to strict rules of the king and always abide by the word of their head of household and in the cases of our main character, Sophia, having to hide who they truly are.
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The story takes us through so many hot topics, adventures, ups and downs; and can hold a place in a lot of hearts. While this is a retelling of Cinderella, it’s a fresh spin all together, as the “true details” of Cinderella’s history unfold and how it’s been used over hundreds of years to control the people of her town. There’s queer recognition, women’s rights, political power struggles, family struggle, and romance combined throughout.
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I did feel the romantic interests of Sophia felt a bit distracting at times, and almost too convenient to the story line. Her character was a little repetitive with emotions, and her youth showed though; but it did give way to some character growth by the end of the story.
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Overall, a steady fast paced read, that kept me coming back to it, never boring. Of course the amazing message of being true to yourself, and always standing up for what you believe in no matter how hard it may seem, gives you a much happier ending than hiding who you are.
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Rating: 3.5/4

This was so good! I love a good feminist retelling, and this was that + dystopian vibes + activist vibes and sapphic love and I’m there for all of that. Plus the cover is actual perfection.