This was a really interesting take on Cinderella, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

An absolutely charming and unique retelling of Cinderella! I love a good villain redemption arc, and this was right up my alley. Cheesy, fun, and with a nice sprinkle of LGBT representation, this is definitely going into my rotation of fairytale retellings I recommend!

3.5 stars

I was given this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

An after the event telling of Cinderella (Ella Rose) with a magical LGBTQ twist.

I really liked this retelling. Our MC or Evil Step Sister struggles with that inner negative voice that sounds like her Evil Mother. Something quite a few people can identify with. Our MC learns how to cut her puppet strings and think for herself. Realizing the life she was fighting so hard for wasn't what she wanted. There's a lot of charter development despite the occasional backslide.

Our story takes us on a cursed journey to save the kingdom and as a result our MC and many others. The story is fast paced, the characters are loveable and inclusive. There's nothing like getting an old story with a modern twist. 4⭐

This was a cute LGBTQ retelling of Cinderella, where at least one of the step sisters doesn't turn out to be evil. This reminded me a little bit of one of my favorite movies, which is also a Cinderella retelling, Ever After.

The adherence to the concept of a historical fiction was a little slipshod, but I don't think this is intended for the hardcore historical fiction fan. In this telling, Aralyn, the non-evil stepsister, is now having to take over Ellarose's chores now that Ellarose has married the prince. Aralyn, Ellarose, a guard, and Aralyn's own fairy godmother have to work together to retrieve the three pieces of a magic sword to save the kingdom. This is really a tale of sisterhood, cooperation, and finding your own family. This does seem to skew towards a younger audience, so I think middle grade & YA would both enjoy.

Looking for a fresh take on the classic Cinderella story? Look no further, this retelling from the point of view of a (formerly) wicked stepsister ready to redeem herself and find her own happy ending where she can be the prince is ready to captivate the audience.

This book surprised me. It is much better than I expected. I love retellings and continuations even more but they are not often well done. This is well done. Highly recommend for collections where retellings are popular.

Thank you to the publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide/Disney Hyperion and NetGalley for this eARC for review!

4/5 stars

Firstly, THIS COVER? Absolutely beautiful. After finishing the story, it perfectly encapsulates each character and who they are with each other. I will admit that part of the beginning of this story did feel slower and a bit difficult to get momentum built, but once I reached the 20% mark this really took off! The plot had the perfect amount of worldbuilding and detail, but was definitely designed for a younger YA audience and wasn't very complex overall. It honestly made for a truly enjoyable and easy read for me, personally. I would absolutely DIE for her fairy godmother, hands down LOL.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I just didn't actually get around to reading it while it was still "advanced." My apologies.

This is a case where I very much wish that Goodreads and other sites would let you use half stars for ratings because this would definitely qualify for 3.5 stars if I could. It was cute and I enjoyed the story for the most part, it just didn't have that little oomph to get it to four stars total.

A Spark in the Cinders is inspired by the story of Cinderella but with a couple little twists. This is after Cinderella married the prince and it's primarily about one of the stepsisters. Only this Cinderella needs help saving her kingdom and it turns out that one of her stepsisters is one of her best allies, though she starts out planning on revenge.

The characters were interesting. I liked the very fey-like take on fairy godmothers/godfathers. I also really liked the addition of a little girl/girl romance with Cinderella's stepsister and one of her knights. It had some good moments, lots of girl power, and some truly fun scenes.

The only downside was the number of times the dialogue got a little "preachy." Not in a religious manner but in a "we are the good guys and you are the bad guys and we are going to win because we'll be good to the peasants and we care and love one another." It made it very black and white and a bit cringey. And these types of conversations popped up multiple times throughout the book.

I also appreciate that this appears to be a stand alone.

Overall I enjoyed the story, I just didn't really love it.

When her stepsister, EllaRose, won over the prince, Aralyn lost everything, including her family’s chance at getting out of destitution. Since Ella’s departure, Aralyn’s mother has turned her abusive behavior on her. When diplomatic relations become strained, EllaRose enlists Aralyn’s help to find an ancient fey weapon that is the kingdom’s last hope of survival. While EllaRose enlists her help to find the weapon, Aralyn’s mother and sister are brewing some trouble of their own. Can Aralyn live up to her stepsister’s trust in her and save the kingdom? Will she find a way to stop her family from destroying everything?

A fractured fairy tale of Cinderella, the plot is well-developed and enchanting. The characters are easy to relate to and bring the world to life. The world building is engaging and well-done. Fans of fairytale retellings, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

This book definitely gave me more Maleficent / Sleeping Beauty vibes than Cinderella. Besides the step sister and Fairy Godmother aspect there were more similarities to the other Disney story in my opinion. This was an ok quest of new found families. I enjoyed this one but I think I enjoyed the beginning dynamics more than the middle and end.

The twist in roles in A Spark in the Cinders was really exciting. Not only that but Lady Vee gives off strong Brienne of Tarth vibes... I loved the dynamic between Vee and Aralyn as they go on their quest to find the Protector Blade. It put an original spin on the prospect of what happens after "happily ever after" and how the characters are affected after the fairytale has ended.

I really enjoyed the language and attention to detail that Elder Moke went into when describing scenes and the emotions the characters were feeling. It was a compelling narrative and fully enjoyable read.

A Spark in the Cinders is a creative reimagining of the Cinderella story. My opinions about the book are mixed. To give a few positives, the story is creative. In this story, you get to see Cinderella living out kindness to her sisters, but she also shows how she loves her realm and the prince with whom she fell in love. The main character may be out to help herself in the beginning but changes and matures. The main character's fairy godmother makes me laugh.

Jenny Elder Moke writes truly enjoyable books. A Spark In The Cinders is Moke's take on what happens next with regards to Cinderella's stepsisters. Aralyn was prepared to catch the eye of the prince, but it turns out Ellarose, aka Cinderella, wins his heart. So, Aralyn is now cleaning the fireplace and has taken Cinderella's spot in the home. However, the kingdom is not doing well. The Chancellor is prepared to mutiny and takeover. The people are suffering. And so, Aralyn embarks on a journey with a lady knight - Vee - to find pieces of the Protector's Blade and help save the kingdom. In tow is Aralyn's own fairy godmother, Lyra.

Aralyn goes on quite a journey in A Spark In The Cinders. She learns that she's not "bad" per se. She is smart and cunning -- skilled in politics. However, now that her life is all derailed and her family is poor -- she's got to figure out a way to get back on track. Aralyn wants the Protector's Blade for her own ends at first. But again, she not only journeys to distant parts of the kingdom, but she has that journey of self discovery. I loved it. I also loved her connection with Vee. We don't see as much of Ellarose, but this isn't her story. Vee is interesting because she's had to fight to become a knight and she's really good at it. I'll also put out there that this book fell into the whole theme of sapphic summer and it was so well done and perfectly written. Overall, highly recommend this if you like YA fantasy with a new take on old fairytales.

One of Cinderella's stepsister carves out a story for herself in a kingdom at the brink of destruction.

A fantastic story arc for a misunderstood villain of my childhood! I love seeing meek characters become battle-fighting lead character taking control of her own story.

I love the reimagined fairy tales - and this was one of the best ones I've read in a long time. This tells the story after Cinderella marries the prince - from the POV of one of her stepsisters. We get strong independent women, LGBTQ+ relationships. A fun read.

This was wicked! I love a fractured tale but honestly anything with elements that even hint at a fairy tale and then twist it are my kind of story. Jenny Elder Moke is a great writer and I look forward to reading more of there works!


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

While I believe this book will appeal to a mass amount of people, it did not appeal to my liking. The character development was great and you truly understood the characters however, I did not feel a connection to them. I wasn't invested in the story. I am not sure if this was the writing, the speed of the book or just not focusing but I have to say, many people will love this book but I was just in the middle,.

A twist on the Cinderella fairy tale, focusing on her stepsister Aralyn. Ellarose discovers a plot to overthrow the current king and enlists the help of Aralyn to find the ancient blade needed to restore the kingdom. Aralyn must go on a quest with knight Vee and together they go through difficult challenges that test their perception of who they are and helps them break free from the restraints of the disapproval of their parents. Overall, an adventure story that features a lot of character development.

I love fairy tale retellings with a twist and I absolutely love them with a fairy godmother in the midst. Jenny Elder Moke does a fantastic job with character development and pacing. Ellarose's (Cinderella's) sister, Aralyn, gets her story and adventure while trying to regain her mother's favor. Middle grade students should love this unique spin on the Cinderella story.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!