3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
This was an imaginative and original retelling of a story we all know very well. In Lille, Cinderella is revered for having been chosen by the prince at the ball and for generations women have been forced to follow in her footsteps and attend a yearly ball to be “chosen” by a man. Sophia is fed up with this oppressive, patriarchal regime that allows women no freedom and sets out to destroy it.
tl;dr—queer black girls overthrow the patriarchy.

I loved the protagonist of this story, Sophia. She was a likable person and really had a lot of strength of character.

I wish there had been more development of the romance. Sophia and Constance basically spend the entire novel together and I feel their connection was not explored very deeply. It was that automatic love which came across forced and one-dimensional on the page. I love the representation but it does make me question if the writer is queer herself because many aspects did not...compute romantically.

All of the action occurred pretty quickly towards the end and I would have liked more of a fleshed out ending.

There was a lot of drama for a YA novel and the plot twists were all very interesting and well-done.
Overall, this book was a fun and easy LGBT+ fairytale retelling. I consider it even closer to middle-grade than YA and while I don’t believe I am the target audience, the target audience will love it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 😊

Thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury for letting me read this one!

I was so excited for this book, but it did leave me disappointed in a few ways.

I was so ready for these girls to overthrow the patriarchy and shake up the status quo but the first half of this book was just a trigger-fest of throwing every traumatizing encounter women have had with men for centuries all in one place. It was honestly very hard to read. I know this was trying to make a statement and I get it, I do, but it was too heavy-handed and more just painful.

Insta-love. This is really my own personal preference but insta-love drives me up the wall. I need a little more development.

I will say that I did like the main group of characters, but I wish there would have been more development of them.

We need more books that give queer black girls the spotlight, and I hope that’s something I can really look forward to in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the eARC of this book!

So, I've just finished this book, and I'm ready to join my queer sisters in burning the palace of the patriarchy to the ground. Who would like to join me?!

Reasons to read this book:
1. A take no shit main character who looks at everyone around her and thinks 'Woooow y'all are really brainwashed, huh?
2. Said main character being unapologetically and unashamedly queer. She doesn't feel bad for herself. She feels bad for everyone else who can't see how ridiculous everything is.
3. Girls who pine for each other but in a really obvious 'yeah I was checking you out by the fire' way.
4. An actual real life but told in a fairy tale setting about the way women are treated as lesser and commodities, being told that they should be grateful for what they have instead of complaining about what they don't.
5. An actual real life but told in a fairy tale setting about the way queer people are seen to this day as being 'other'.
6. An interesting villain and a surprise twist I didn't see coming, but made so much sense.
7. So many other reasons. I'm perilously close to spoiling, so I'll stop.

Read this book and love this book! I did!

I loved reading retold fairytales and this one stands out among the crowd in YA. Set hundreds of years after Cinderella dies, the kingdom now mandates girls go to the ball to be claimed by their future husband. Sophia would rather run away, but her best friend, and the person she would rather marry, won't go. They attend the ball with disastrous consequences. Sophia is finally on the run, but even then things don't go as planned as she meets a descendent of one of the "evil" stepsisters and finds out the truth is much more than the fairytale they've been forced to remember. I loved reading in this world of what would happen if a fairytale was real, but the story was false propaganda to support the prince instead. The call back of characters we'd know from the tale but seen in new ways was a lot of fun to read. This tale is much darker and full of suspense, mystery, horror, and social commentary. I was surprised by the magic and how our hero's journey took unexpected turns. The genre blending means this books should have broader appeal to readers, and I look forward to what comes next.

Trigger warning: sexism, domestic violence, internalized homophobia, homophobia, sexual molestation, use of a love potion, threats of violence

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really intrigued about a kind of Cinderella retelling much like Stepsister, where we come to the story after the main story has already happened. In this case, 200 years afterwards, with a queer Black woman leading. In terms of covers, I really like the UK edition a lot better than the US. The art style is more my jam.

What I Liked
--The writing was well-done, although the pacing was a bit off from time to time. It was atmospheric and felt like a fairy tale.

--I thought the twists introduced to the original Cinderella tale were really interesting! I'd love to read a prequel.

What I Didn't Like
--I don't think I ever really came to understand Sophia as a character. I could kind of get why she was so rebellious but it was to a point where I wondered why she couldn't grasp the severity of being so rebellious. She knows how people are treated when they go against the king, and will often be judgemental of those around her who are trying to play it safe. She pushed Erin a lot, so it's no wonder Erin scurried away from her, terrified for her life. And she expects people to fight back when, after 200 years, there's been no proof that the system can be changed. She's a selfish character who doesn’t seem to recognize the damage she could do to others when she’s outspoken, and often makes foolish mistakes in the story.

--Constance, the love interest, was about as interesting as cardboard, which of course translated to a real lack of chemistry between her and Sophia. Their flirting, sometimes at inappropriate times, became really grating as time went on. It was basically insta-attraction and then very shortly after, insta-love. I don't care for these tropes.

--The rest of the characters were really bland, overall. I couldn't even root for a side character.

--The world was so very blatantly patriarchal, it became really cringey to read, and the king himself was just blatantly, cartoonishly horrible. At some point, I stopped caring if they managed to defeat him.

--As I alluded to before, the pacing was weird, and the story began to really drag for me. It was really predictable and basically, once I figured it out, I got bored waiting for the protagonists to figure out the truth, too.

--The thing that most irritated me was how villanized Erin was. She has feelings for Sophia, but because of what she's seeing around her and being told straight to her face by her parents that if she doesn't follow the rules, she'll be disowned, it's no wonder she pushes away from Sophia's rebellious nature and tries to follow the rules. And yet, she's basically called a coward for her actions, and I hate that self-preservation is treated like a coward's way out. I also hate this trope where one queer character is angry at another for not being out--in this case, for not fighting to be with Sophia. Plus, Erin becomes a battered woman for no other reason, that I can see, other than to drive Sophia's story and that really pissed me off. She lashes out at Sophia at one point, and all Sophia can think about is that her heart is breaking--not that Erin is being beaten by her husband. Then she's not even given a mention at the end. The treatment of Erin was really disheartening, and left a sour taste.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, there was very little that I ended up liking about this book, and no one is more disappointed than I am. I was ready to hype this book, but I guess it just wasn't for me.

This was so engaging and exciting, and I sped through this in less than a day! Cinderella Is Dead was fierce and a twisted fairytale of girls taking down the corrupt system they live in, even when everyone else thinks their efforts are fruitless.

If you're looking for a super fast-paced read of queer girls overthrowing the patriarchy, Cinderella Is Dead should absolutely be on your TBRs.

Cinderella Is Dead certainly delivers on its promise to be a story about 'Black queer girls taking down the patriarchy,' and I enjoyed reading it. The story is told in first person from Sophia's point of view, and it starts when she turns sixteen and is forced to attend the annual ball in commemoration of Cinderella. She desperately wants to do anything but attend the ball, however, and this leads her down the path of rebellion, especially when she meets Constance, the last living relative of Cinderella and her family. One of the aspects I related to most from the story (since I am not Black nor queer) was women suffering from the complete power and control men have over society. Some of the lines Sophia quips while at the ball really struck home and made me realize that even though we live in a better society than Sophia and her friends, we are not living with complete gender equality.

My favorite character was definitely Amina because she was the most morally gray and had the most secrets to discover. I can't tell you who she is without giving away some of those secrets, though. ;)

I thought the author was able to take the original Cinderella tale and give it some new and fun twists, both through the version of the tale told in Sophia's world and how that tale has built the world Sophia now lives in. However, I would love to see the author's writing style grow in her next book. Her sentence structures were simple and straightforward, and much of the dialogue and description was on the nose, not leaving as much to the reader's imagination and at times feeling a little too perfect and polished. For me, it meant that I didn't feel as emotionally drawn into the story. Even so, I do think Cinderella Is Dead would make a good selection for someone straddling the line between middle grade and YA. It would provide a story that a younger reader could enjoy in the YA genre without having to worry that the story will get too dark and sexy, as a lot of YA has.

Overall, I'm glad I read Cinderella Is Dead. I would recommend it to younger readers of YA, Black readers, LGBTQ+ readers, and fans of fairytale retellings.

There is something incredibly powerful about a book focused on "Queer Black girls team[ing] up to overthrow the patriarchy in a world where Cinderella was real but has been dead for 200 years".

Sophia Grimmins is a 16 year old girl who is tired of playing by the rules set forward by the King. Years earlier, Prince Charming transformed the kingdom into every misogynist's fantasy, where women have lost their rights. They are required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men select wives and can treat them however they please afterwards. Not every home is full of warmth and comfort. If a suitor does not match, the girls not chosen are never heard or seen again. These strict laws have forced Sophia to make the desperate decision to flee. She doesn't want to marry a prince, she wants to marry a princess, her best friend Erin. Sophia dreams of being free. This unexpected path leads her to meet Constance, the last known descendent of Cinderella and together they vow to take the King down once and for all.

"Cinderella is Dead" will have you engaged until the very end. I did not expect to read the book in one day. Kalynn Bayron's retelling of Cinderella is a refreshing and exhilarating take. It provides commentary on modern issues with women's rights that we are still facing today while keeping parts of the original fairytale.

That said, the story lacked build up and development into the romance of Sophia and Constance. Whenever I come across stories where love happens this instant, it's normally in a weak-written Fanfiction. There is a lot happening in the plot so I understand why it's skimmed over, but it's important to take time to fine-tune the subplots as well, especially when promoted as being sapphic. We want to be shown how they connect.

Like many dystopians, the story followed a basic sequence where the protagonist is frustrated with how they're forced to live their life, chooses to rebel and finally, defeats the governing body. While the ending itself is predictable, the reader is able to travel on a journey with twists and turns before arriving at their final destination. It's an easy and fast-paced read that one is not likely to regret.

I received this book early from #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’ve decided not to do a summary this time and just jump right in to my thoughts.

I first heard about this book from an Instagram live and knew right away that I was going to have to read it and quickly. I got on Netgalley because I just didn’t think I could wait until its release date in early July. It took a while to get approval, but as soon as I got it downloaded, I started reading it.

First impressions – as a parent, I was annoyed with the main character, Sophia. She wants to change all the rules in their land which is controlled by a misogynistic king who has no problem chopping the heads off those who oppose him. Her parents were first concerned with her safety, and disrupting the societal norms would not make her safe. In fact, there is a point when Sophia asks, “Don’t you want me to be happy?” And the response is no, I want you to be safe [alive]. I felt this deep in my heart as a mom of two girls.

As I read, though, I began to come around to Sophia. No dictator or dystopian ruler is ever overthrown without someone risking everything. Sophia is a strong (and sometimes reckless) main character. She cares deeply about the people she loves, and she wants better for everyone, including herself.

The setting and story building are fantastic. It is very easy to visualize what this society looks like. Every time I picked it up to read, I was transported to this world. This book is very well-written, and I am looking forward to reading more by Bayron.

Upon seeing a queer, diverse continuation/retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale, I was immediately intrigued. This took the original story and turned many aspects of it on its head, which I really appreciated. Although I saw a lot of the reveals coming, I still enjoyed how they came to pass, and am looking forward to seeing more from this author.

TW for human and animal death, toxic masculinity, homophobia, classism, and ableism. FYI, this book does not included genders other than male and female.

3.5 stars; thanks for Netgalley for the eARC.

A subversive, feminist take on the Cinderella myth, Cinderella is Dead is part queer love story, part resisting the patriarchy. There is a lot to like in this debut. It isn't perfect, but the ideas are on point and the execution is reasonably good. Not to mention, I love that this gives a gay Black girl a ball gown and a dagger.

200 years after Cinderella found her prince, girls are required to attend a ball every year starting at 16 where they will be chosen as brides for any men who are interested. Laws are heavily misogynistic, mandating strict curfews for women and children, requiring modest dress for girls, placing all power in the hands of men, including all finances and ability to abuse their wives without recompense. Meanwhile the Cinderella fairytale is a required text that girls must model their behavior and dreams after. Deviation results in swift and brutal punishment by the king.

Sophia is 16 and nearing her first required ball where her parents hope she will gain a husband. But she would rather marry her best friend Erin than any male suitor. If she truly wants to change things, she must uncover the true history of Cinderella and take down the king.

I have to say, I was completely riveted for about the first 40% of this book. We get a world that is horrifying and a MC who wants nothing to do with the life she is supposed to want. All the way up through the end of the ball and transition that follows, I could not get enough and blew through the story. There is teen angst, lots of very creepy men, and characters who are forced to hide who they are, including a cinnamon roll of a gay guy.

After that point, things get admittedly more messy at times. The way we learn about the history of Cinderella is a little clunky, there is a plot twist about the king that becomes painfully obvious pretty early on, at least (view spoiler) some of the messaging is a bit on the nose, and the way the romance goes moved a little fast for me to be fully invested. That said, I really like what this book is doing in asking questions about how fairy tales can be problematic, how history can be rewritten by the victors, why some people are so afraid to stand up for what's right, and the power of women who come together for a cause. It offers a different sort of fairy tale where the girl defeats evil and gets her princess. While it definitely reads like a debut, I think this is one worth trying and I look forward to seeing more from Kaylynn Baron in the future.

Content warnings include murder, misogyny, homophobia, violence, death of a loved one, rituals, necromancy, domestic violence

Full review here: https://fictionfixerreads.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/arc-review-cinderella-is-dead/
I think Cinderella Is Dead was a fun read and I loved the clear Black sapphic representation this book portrays. I love the twist in the fairytale and the critique of sexist and toxic governmental systems, BUT a lot of its execution was lacking because of the spoonfeeding, slow pacing, and so-so handling of nuance on its villain.

I received a physical ARC from the publisher at Yallfest and an electronic copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Cinderella's story has lived on for over 200 years after her death. Teen girls are required to appear at the Annual Ball in order to be selected as brides. If the girls aren't chosen by suitors, they are never heard from again. Sophia would rather marry her best friend Erin than subject herself to the tortures of the Ball. However, the world of Lille hasn't left many choices for its young women. At the Ball, Sophia makes a snap decision to run and stumbles on a young girl named Constance at Cinderella's tomb. Together the two of them learn the untold aspects of Cinderella's tale and the terrible truth of Lille's history.

I loved this retelling of Cinderella. It was so cool to see the different pieces of the fairytale twisted and turned into another story. I feel like this is story of Cinderella's rage and all the other women who were silenced by the patriarchy. The bleakness Sophia faces throughout this story was hard to swallow and definitely made me feel a bit depressed at times.

However, Sophia, Constance and the truth of Cinderella's story kept dragging back my focus to the action. I wanted to like Erin for Sophia's sake, but I never felt the chemistry between the two. Constance and Sophia on the other hand... Constance was a whirlind and a wildfire all in one. I loved how fierce she was, and her readiness to throw daggers didn't help. It complimented Sophia's willfulness and refusal to be less than she was.

Around 75% I was a little worried the story wouldn't be wrapped up. I'd love a sequel or spin off just sayin. But by the time the book had ended I was in shock with the last couple of revelations that occurred. I LOVED how it ended, it gave me hope and it made me happy. Is there any chance I can have a novella set like 10 years in the future?? Or maybe Ms. Bayron will bless us with another queer fairytale retelling next? Whatever the case, I will definitely be reading it.

“When the leader of this kingdom treats women as property, it sets an awful precedent. People think it’s okay to do the same.”
Before I get into the substance of my review: thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for providing me an ebook galley of this story!

This book. THIS BOOK.

Cinderella is Dead is set in a fantasy kingdom that has been ruled for 200 years by a misogynistic tyrant. Every year there is a ball where women are mandated to go and men are encouraged, and the men size up the women before taking them home. It’s a meatmarket, but in pretty dresses.

The main character, Sophia, realized at a young age that she didn’t love men, she loved women. When she rebels against the ball and the leader of the kingdom, she becomes public enemy number one.

This story is engaging and fun. At some points the writing felt a little rushed and the characters a bit stilted, but the atmosphere and the commentary on the Cinderella myth made all of that worth it to me.

Girls grow up hearing of the Cinderella fairytale, reciting it, wishing for a Prince Charming, and this fictional kingdom reflects the damaging realities of this myth. Girls who aren’t Cinderella, who don’t fit her perfect domesticity and her humility, often feel like they can’t be a princess, can’t find love. This story takes that idea, takes feeling like Cinderella is not your role model, and gives it a voice. A loud, angry voice.

A couple reviews of this book have described it as “queer black girls dismantling the patriarchy”, and I’d like to say amen to that. This book is fierce and angry and feminist in all the best ways. I highly recommend it.

I just want to say how much I loved and devoured this book.  I could NOT put it down!  This was one of my late night reads, finishing it in a day.

Sophia lives in Lille, 200 years since Cinderella found her Prince Charming.  Now, at the age of 16, every girl gets to meet her own "Prince Charming" at the annual ball... whether she wants to or not.

Under an authoritative rule by a demanding king, Sophia is living a life she does not want.  Women are no more than property of their fathers and husbands.  There are curfews, rules, and laws.  They have little rights.  They are required to attend a ball, look their best, and draw in the best suitor.  If they don't, after a certain amount of times, or if their parents chose, their lives are forfeit - at the mercy of the king.  They don't get to chose their suitor - they especially don't get to chose a suitor of the same sex.  

Sophia is not like the other girls.  Not only does she question the official Cinderella story, she would rather marry her childhood friend Erin, not some male suitor.  When the ball arrives, and drama ensues, Sophia runs, and finds herself in Cinderella's mausoleum.  From there, the story of Cinderella and Prince Charming starts to unravel.  Did Cinderella really get her happily ever after, or is there more to the story than what the official story says?  Who is the real evil in the story?

I feel that this book needs a TW right away for spousal abuse.  It's not much, but it's there, and may affect some people.  That does NOT take away from the story, and it actually makes such a point for the story. 

This is a love story, a fractured fairy tale, and an alternative perspective to what we think we know.  I absolutely loved this book.  Sophia was a believable protagonist, who didn't want to hide who she was or conform to the expectations that were made for her.  She wants to live her life.  Erin is a believable friend, a character who denies who she is because of the expectations put upon her, and ignores what she wants because everyone tells her to.  I hurt for Erin, but at the same time, I shake my head for her.  There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, and a lot of things I didn't expect, which I loved and kept me reading.  It is a great book, a great representation for the LGBTQIA+ population who have been forced over time to conform to societal views of heteronormative relationships and expectations.  I hope it gets the reception it deserves.

Over the past 72 hours, I’ve read two “Cinderella” books, which both release the same day. One is your traditional Anglo-Saxon version reimagined, the other is dark tale that questions “happily ever after.” Kalynn Bayron’s Cinderella is Dead is infinitely more complex.

I’ve read a number of reimagined Cinderella’s over the years. Some are the actual Cinderella story. Others look at life after. None have been as evocative as Cinderella is Dead. The story is at once familiar and foreign, dystopian and fairy tale. In many ways, it’s like looking in a mirror.

There are two elements that I struggled with, though not enough to not recommend the book. I don’t want to give too much away, here, so my descriptions will be vague.

First is Sophie’s sudden change of heart. She’s practically obsessed with one love interest only to drop her as soon as she meets someone else. While it’s clear the author tried to account for this, it feels almost like a plot prop than storyline.

My other issue comes with a character who doesn’t come into play initially but is consequential to the overall outcome. This character is complex and probably more interesting than any other — they could have their own book. And yet, this character’s key climactic actions are rushed an never completely fleshed out.

Author Kalynn Bayron has created a world that will resonate with most readers. It’s hard not to see yourself in at least one of the roles. Her writing envelopes you from the first page and sticks with you after you finish. I’m excited to read more from this debut author.

I really enjoyed this creative reimagining of the classic Cinderella story. Set only 200 years after the death of Cinderella, it imagines a harsh and patriarchal society reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale. A cruel king rules the land, where women serve no purpose other than being wives and mothers, and Cinderella’s story is the governing text by which women are required to conduct themselves. The book is a delightful blend of modern social issues (the main character longs for society to accept her sexuality, while a villager tells the main character she would be prettier if she smiled), and imaginative fairy tale lore. I especially loved the twist about the King’s true identity. A great read for young adults.

This book was off to a rough start for me. It took a very long time for the story to be set up, when at the same time the world building felt very straightforward. And it wasn't until around halfway into the book that I felt like the story was really kicking off. That was too late for me to really become invested in the story, but I did start to feel intrigued because an exciting plotline was introduced.

Unfortunately, that plotline ended up less exciting that I hoped, and even though it pains me to say this, I just found this a really boring read. The main character was so flat, I could hardly tell you anything about her. And the rest of the book just felt so bland to me.

Overall, I feel like this book could have been structured better to pull the reader in earlier on. I did think this take on the Cinderella story was promising, but I just found the execution to be lacking.

I thought this book was a such clever twist on the Cinderella tale that we all know. Bayron creates a world that feels so foreign yet so similar to ours socially. I liked Sophia's tenacity and confidence in who she is. FOr a second, I thought there was going to be a f/f/f love triangle, which I was down for. However, I think I loved that each of Sophia's relationships (her growing apart with Erin and growing closer with Constance) was a much better choice for the narrative. The plot twist at the end; with the witch being the mother of the prince, felt a little obvious, but entertained me nonetheless.

I loved this. I'm a sucker for queer fairytale retellings and this perfectly filled in that niche of my heart. I can't wait to read more from Kalynn Bayron.