Stars : 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🖤 Cinderella retelling
🖤 dual POV
🖤 arranged marriage
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 found family
🖤 morally grey
🖤 touch her and die
🖤 that’s my wife *swoon*
🖤 sassy, fiery FMC

“if you’re gone, if you’re light disappears… Elora, I will be nothing but darkness.”

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I cringed through the prologue and first few chapters. Then the story seemed to smooth out, quickly picked up and I binged until about 50%. The story slowed from about 60% to 85% and found myself skimming to push through. I was debating DNF because I didn’t feel as connected anymore, but I continued with hopes for more faeries. I am really glad I did because I LOVED the ending. It was not at all what I was expecting, but definitely leaves me curious to read the second book!
I loved Elora. She was so relatable, had such a tragic background but continued to push forward because of how much she cared for her people and the Cinder Fae. She was so sassy and gave the best banter to our MMC. I ~live~ for a hate to love you vibe.

Finnian definitely grew on me. He is loyal to a fault and will give everything for those he loves. He is definitely the possessive, morally grey prince we all need in every enemies to lovers book. Everytime he said “little doe” I melted even more into a puddle.

“Did I ever tell you that your blue eyes felt like home the night we met?”

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters. Irina was such a great supporting character. I loved her friendship with Elora, and her stubborness with Finnian. I also enjoyed getting to glimpse into her love story.

Whitney wrote great villains that we definitely LOATHED by the end. Jasper was despicable and rotten. Don’t even get me started on Regina.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and felt invested in these characters. I think the book could’ve been shorter, and some of the filler could’ve been reduced to just keep the story moving. There were some spots that could’ve used a little more proofreading and editing. I also would’ve loved more fae. I felt they were missing from over half of the story. Would’ve drooled for more Cedric 🤤

Definitely worth the read if you want a Cinderella meets the fae retelling with spiceee ❤️‍🔥

Thank you Netgalley & Whitney Dean for graciously sharing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏼

This was such a hard book to rate!

The first 10% really did intrigue but I was not convinced by the writing style at first. But then after that first 10% it just went mental! I was completely hooked and so invested! I was here for the tension and slow burn between Finn & Ellie and I loved Irina’s character too.

Once the spice started, it was perfect but it did feel a little bit OTT at times. Especially between about 70-80% mark of the book. Then that tapers off and we get back into the story and it’s brilliant all over again! And that ending! Brilliant!

Would definitely recommend to spicy fantasy romance fans!!

This was my very first Cinderella retelling, and I feel very torn on how to rate this. First and foremost, I believe this book just wasn't for me and that's okay. While I'm not sure if I will pick up the second book I am hopeful for a re-read of Rise of The Cinder Fae in the future to see if my thoughts change.

I enjoyed some parts of this book but I just wasn't the intended audience. This was my first Whitney Dean book and I can see how much effort she put into this, (and how much she loves pumpkins). The duel P.O.V was nice as well.

I thought the fantasy elements were interesting but overall did not make sense to the plot. The Fae (Cinder Fairies) are not as prominent in the story as the title suggests which felt like a letdown.

I struggled to connect to the story and any of these characters. Finnians pet names for Ellie were a little too cringe for me, it felt very YA.

this book was good, i didn't love it nor dislike it, but I found problems with the plot/characters that prevent me from rating it any higher - a book i would still recommend and one i was still glad to read.

I want to thank NetGalley, Undying Raven Press, and Whitney Dean for this eARC

Before I begin this review I want to thank NetGalley, Undying Raven Press, and Whitney Dean for this eARC!

Rise of the Cinder fae is a romantasy novel based loosely on the plot of Cinderella. The book follows Elora, the would be-princess of a fallen kingdom, and Finnian, the arrogant prince of Pumpkin Hollow.

Let’s start off by talking about the things I liked about this book! For starters, I really enjoyed the relationship between Irina and Elora. In fact, Irina is probably the best character in the whole book. She protects and guides Elora to help her build confidence and never treats her like she’s an idiot. She believes in her, encourages her, and shows her how to be a capable woman. In terms of plot, the last 15% was so quick paced and interesting. I really felt like I finally got invested during that portion. Action was finally taking place and with a purpose. We get to see all of the schemes at play between the different groups. The king is truly a nasty despicable man, so Whitney Dean did a phenomenal job convincing me of that. I also appreciate that Finnian and Elora help each other grow and evolve quite a bit.

Here’s where things fall flat for me. Overall the book can be quite confusing. The world building seems sloppy, too much is happening at all times, and information is either dumped or not given at ALL. I found myself multiple times asking, “when did that happen? “why am I just now learning this?” “was I supposed to know this?”. Also let’s talk about the Cinder Fae. The whole book is titled after them yet I felt like we knew so little about them and they played little to NO role in the book. They should’ve been wayyyy more prominent. The plot with the dark faerie that is appearing in her dreams is SO anticlimactic. Yes, the stakes are high. But we’re just supposed to accept that this is all happening over him being salty about his ex? Let’s chat about the romance. It is obvious to me that this book is intended to be an enemies to lovers plot. However, in my mind this was just not done as well as it could’ve been. They start out hating each other for whatever reasons, but then they go back and forth constantly. One second they’re arguing, the next they’re flirting, then back and forth. It’s just too inconsistent for me to consider this a well done enemies to lovers. We need the tension to be prominent and constant for the switch between them to have the impact of an enemies to lovers. Finally let’s talk about the smut. Personally, there was just far too many spicy scenes in this book than necessary. I am by no means anti-spice. In fact, sometimes i love what it can add to a story. But this book could’ve been much shorter without so many of these scenes. A lot of the time they added nothing to the plot.

Overall, this book was a fun, romantasy, adventure. While I listed quite a few negatives, I do not believe this is a bad book. I could see myself picking up the next book, just to see where the cliffhanger ends. I look forward to seeing what other books Whitney Dean puts out in the future.

P.S. little doe is a cute nickname BUT I think it was used just a tad too much for my liking. this goes for any pet name/nickname in all books.

A beautiful retelling! A romance fantasy that’s packed with banter, trauma, strength, love and of course romance. The possessiveness Finnian has over Elora makes him one of my new favorite book boyfriends! I hope we get to see more of their relationship!

Thank you so much to @netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book. It was such a fantastic adventure to embark on!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

This is a Cinderella retelling with an added elements of fae, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, secrets, betrayal and witty characters that left me giggling and swooning.

I loved the FMC Elora so much! She's had a difficult life living with her horrible stepmother and stepsisters after her father passed away, but has always tried to make the most out of the cards that she's been dealt. She was kind, strong and overall just so relatable. Her sass and wit made me love her even more🤣

Then we have Finnian, the MMC, who gives off such rakish vibes. He is such a flirt, even I was blushing! But despite his playful and careless side, he carries a lot of trauma and hurt that he uses alcohol to qualm. But with everything that Finnian knows and loves to now be at risk, he steps up to the plate to become the hero that we all needed him to be.
We love character development!

The romance was such a slow burn that tension between them was palpable. From the constant bickering, the insults and fighting to a classic case of boy falls harder, which I loved! There's just something about a man of power submitting to his woman. I was obsessed with discovering how their love story panned out.

As far as the overall story goes, it does start off slowly. We get some back story along with a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations, which makes for an intriguing plot. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the world and the balance between composed fae and chaotic humans.

But what I enjoyed most was Elora and Finnian's banter🤣 Their relationship is complex, but it's so beautifully written. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, the clapbacks, the faeries, the multiple characters, each with their own distinct personalities and the SPICE! Wooooh, once we finally got there... it was worth it all.
Finnian has such a filthy mouth, you guys!🤣

Rise of the Cinder Fae felt both slow and rushed... some plot points were dropped halfway though, some things just didn't make sense, and there was some spice that felt entirely misplaced. I'm sure this book has an audience, I am just not that person. I almost DNFd three different times, and at the end of the day, I wish I had.

This is a captivating and unique fantasy novel that takes readers on a journey through a broken and forgotten kingdom. The story follows Elora, a young woman who has spent her entire life resenting the royals of the neighboring kingdom of Pumpkin Hollow, who forced the fall of her own kingdom of Ashbury and claimed it as their own. Separated by a mysterious glass bridge, Ashbury is treated as an orphan kingdom, left to suffer and starve while under the false promise of protection from King Jasper. But twenty-five years ago, everything changed with the arrival of the Cinder Fae. These mysterious winged creatures made a deal to keep the entire realm warm with their ability to mine mountainsides into coal. However, Elora and the Cinder Fae hold a secret that could bring about the downfall of Ashbury and the enigmatic creatures who refuse to share their origins.
In her desperation to save her kingdom and protect the Fae she has grown to love, Elora turns to an enchanted spring, convinced that she can make the prince of Pumpkin Hollow fall in love with her and secure their safety. But as she delves deeper into the secrets of the Fae and their magic, she realizes that not everything is as it seems and the consequences of her actions may have devastating effects.
Dean has created a rich and vivid world. The descriptions of the ashy valleys, red skies, and mysterious glass bridge transport the reader into the heart of Ashbury. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own motivations and desires. Elora is a strong and determined protagonist, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her kingdom and the Fae. Her relationship with the Fae is one of the highlights of the book, as their dynamic and interactions are both heartwarming and intriguing.
Dean also does an excellent job of weaving together fantasy, romance, and political intrigue to create a gripping and well-paced story. The inclusion of themes such as loyalty, sacrifice, and the consequences of power add depth to the story and make it more than just a typical fantasy novel. Overall, this is a book that will keep readers hooked from the beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh and exciting fantasy read.

Dnf 70%
As much as I wanted to love this book, it kept giving me reasons not to.

At a first glance, it looked like a Cinderella retelling (we have the evil stepmother + twins) combined with ToG (we have the evil king in his gigantic castle + the tormented prince); but we also have faeries- I couldn’t tell you the sense of their existence, though.

Plot summary (in my way):
Elora wants to save her fallen kingdom from starvation so she plans to marry the prince (Finnian) of the enemy kingdom. She drinks a magic potion in order to gain confidence. The prince’s father also wants her to marry the prince. Elora cries and is extremely sad because her plan worked faster? We can’t tell. The confidence potion made her roll her eyes at times.

The queen, prince and princess tell Elora that the king is evil and to not show him weakness. Elora shows her biggest weakness to the king. Elora cries and is sad because the evil king promised to kill her? To kill the prince? To kill everyone? We can’t tell.

Prince Finnian is an alcoholic because of his father’s mental and emotional abuse. Elora cries and is upset with him about it (all the time, actually). Irina (Finnian’s sister) is in a polyamorous relationship. She takes Elora out of the castle and pushes her to dance and drink with her men. Elora gets drunk and horny for the first time in her life. Finnian sees her like this and realises he loves her- proceeds with the “you’re only mine” , “hope no one touched you before even though I had 828282 lovers” bullshit.

They have their first fight on their wedding night. Elora doesn’t tell him why she’s upset and crying (again). She runs away from home but Finnian finds her. They have s*x in an abandoned castle, on the ground. They admit their feelings for eachother (big surprise).

- and this is where I stoped, because not even the smut couldn’t save it for me (very cringe smut, not what I was expecting);


What didn’t sit well with me throughout the book:
1. the confidence potion she drinks does NOT give her confidence AT ALL (she’s always nervous, always fidgeting, never stands up for herself)
2. the faeries being slaves- how in the world are winged people who can turn anyone to ash in a second be afraid of arrows? like are you serious rn??
3. the Pumpkin Hollow bridge and well, pumpkins- we are being told that the pumpkins are magic, that the bridge is magic- but we don’t see the magic?
4. Elora not choosing Cedric (a literal warrior faerie who was IN LOVE WITH HER) as her lover- make it make sense pls
5. the faeries being mentioned in the TITLE of the book but having literally 4 cameos in 400 pgs- felt like a scam
6. Elora being upset anytime her plans work faster than anticipated- girl just say thanks and move on with your *very poor* scheming?
7. Elora crying and being shocked about the king telling her she will die if she betrays him- hello?? this was a given??
8. Finnian describing Elora: “little doe”, “pure”, “pristine”, “porcelain doll” - it’s giving pedophile and it gave me the ick one too many times
9. no backstory whatsoever about the magic, the faeries, the world- it felt like the biggest plot-hole since this was supposed to be a fantasy

First person, dual POV: Elora & Finnian
Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: 3🌶️
Tropes: Cinderella retelling, fae, morally gray men, enemies to lovers, slow burn, arranged marriage, one horse

A dark Cinderella retelling with morally grey men and toe curling chemistry? Sign me up. I had high hopes for this one due to the build up on insta from the author. It’s valid, honestly.
To start off, I want to point out that I struggled with the first few chapters from Elora’s POV with the world building. There was a hot minute where I was dragging and just praying I could push through. When I got to the first chapter of Finn’s POV, I knew I made the right choice sticking it out. Their chemistry was fire hot! And then when the slow burn match finally struck, it was basically an uncontrolled forest fire. I loved them together; however, there was a few scenes toward the end where I was like, okay we didn’t need this much smut for smuts sake. Because there was a long line of chapters that were just smut. This made our characters growth seem small and their reasons for doing what they do became jumbled and lost.
The storyline of Cinderella meets Fae was a lot of fun. I do hope we get more fae side of things in the second book and I’m fairly certain we will. Our bad guy was awful and I wanted to personally punch him in the face for the things he had done/did, so props to Whitney for bringing out so much emotion on multiple levels. I was gasping, tearing up, kicking my feet, fanning myself, curling my toes in excitement.

Now to the star deduction….
My least favorite thing about this book. The first 10% dragged. 10-75% awesome, great storytelling, cast of characters are wonderful. 75-90% I was lost again in a sense of we didn’t need a lot of what was going on, it could have been condensed as it made for a very slow third act and our mains were in a lust bubble that seemed to change their personalities for a hot second. The last 10% we were back to the meat of the story and was left ready for the next installment.
There were a lot of scenes I felt didn’t need to happen or tidbits that seemed important but were never touched on again, so it was a lot of information for no reason. This made for some slow moments or unnecessary fluff that had me ready to skim.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It could have used some clean up in some areas, scenes that could have been taken out or just lessened, but it didn’t ruin the story as a whole. And I’m wildly excited for the next book.

Could I resist a retelling of Cinderella in a Dark key? Of course not!😂

🔥@ has managed to create a completely original story starring a forgotten princess in a kingdom full of ashes whose only value is the Fairies working in her mine, a prince full of inner demons and a King who reigns thanks to fear.. and the whole thing is surrounded by several elements from the original story such as pumpkins, the castle ( instead of the slipper) made of glass and others.

🔥Elora has all her life been belittled by her stepmother and stepsisters thus coming to be an insecure but kind girl who would do anything to save her town. Even marrying the prince of Pumpkin Hollow with anything but a good reputation and son of the king she detests.Of her I loved her strength and determination to fight ,first quietly and then more openly , for what she believes in without losing her kindness and, meanwhile ,continue to grow up finding a place to belong.

🔥Finnian on the other hand can be safely said to complete Elora. He has a lot of inner demons due to the continuous manipulations of his father by whom he is controlled through the threats exerted on his loved ones . And it is precisely to avoid hurting someone else that he does not let anyone approach him . Until Elora . For thanks to her he will stop running away from his life and find a reason to stay, grow and live .

🔥 I loved the tension, the bickering and their crazy chemistry. Finn and Elora complement and improve each other coming to be the best version of themselves. And nothing I loved them at folia.

✨Rise of the Cinder Fae was an original read (despite being a retelling) with evocative writing , a brisk pace, and well-developed characters with great development. The only flaw I could find in it is that the 'element of the Fae that initially seemed very important gradually faded away and became almost invisible ... but in any case it is a read I loved!

❓ The last retelling read?

I could NOT put this book down!

From the very beginning, it already has my attention because the setting was just so intriguing. Every time that the world expands around the FMC, Elora, and new characters get introduced, there was a constant feeling of suspense. I think this was genius writing because Elora is missing so many information from the before, so she moved in the world with confusion and curiosity to untangle secrets and mysteries and she shares this feelings to us as readers.

The MMC, Finnian, seemed callous when he was introduced and we quite literally get his POV before Elora even met him, which meant that we get to see her through his eyes! It was so interesting to hear his thoughts of her and all his assumptions. I wanted to reach inside the book and give him a better understanding of Elora myself since I got to know her first and felt loyal to her side.

They had so many presumptions and prejudices against each other than it was basically hatred at first sight for them, but the undercurrent of sexual tension was there, just enough to keep me on my toes. There were a good amount of characters in the book and I enjoyed getting to know them, especially Finnian’s sister, Irina. She was an incredibly strong, empathetic, and mature woman who gave Elora the support system she needed when she was surrounded by enemies in an enemy kingdom. It was delightful to watch their friendship grow and develop!

Of course, it was even more delightful to watch Elora and Finnian as they try to navigate each other. Finnian definitely fell first but was in denial about it. He was a GONER!

“Longing — I long for her. I’ve never yearned for anyone, but I search for her when she isn’t near.”

Elora was quite naive but she held so much strength inside her. She may not be a warrior who could cut down soldiers but she had a strong will. She never wavered in her goals to save her people and protect those she loves most.

Also, I totally did not expect this to have a great spice, but OMG it was hot. Finnian knew what he was doing. There was absolutely no mistaking who was in charge in the bedroom and it was not Elora (and she was really down for that).

“Kneel, Elora.”

“Hollow cheeks, Ellie.”

“I love how beautiful you look when you cry for me.”

SCREAMING I WAS GAGGED

Thank you netgalley for this ARC!

“There is only one way this can end…ruin.”

Rise of the Cinder Fae is a dark fantasy Cinderella-retelling, with so much action, angst and love. It’s a truly gripping story that had me hooked from the very beginning.

Elora and Finnian’s story is such a delight to read about. They start out as enemies, with all of their interactions ending in arguments, but you can still feel the undeniable attraction they have for one another. As they begin to open up to each other, they also face a lot of trials that try to push them apart, a lot of them to do with Finnian’s jealousy and protectiveness.

I loved the way Elora grew into herself, and despite growing up being repeatedly told she wasn’t enough, she manages to move past this and take back her power.

A fantastic fantasy Cinderella-retelling, and an author I will definitely be reading more books from!

Let me preface this with Fairy tale retellings are usually not my jam. It took me three times to get started, but after a few chapters I was in it for the long haul. I enjoyed that you get the “Cinderella” feel, but the story does have it’s own unique twists.
You’ll find:
• Enemies to lovers
• An arranged marriage
• Forced proximity
• Spice
• Fae
I loved Elora’s growth during the story. I loved her even more after learning that she enacted that growth herself without the help of Fairy magic. Finnian did not start off as my favorite character, but he grew on me. The banter between Finnian and Elora is great. I love that they are both smart a**es, and that the tension between them builds slowly.

That being said, I was not super crazy about either of them for a while after they wed. The uber possessiveness and smex scene after smex scene was a little too much. I am all for smut, but the smut took over the storyline for a few chapters. I just wanted to get to the fighting at that point. From then on though, the story takes back off and the MCs are bearable again.

There are other notable characters. Irina, Fin’s sister, is a fantastic supporting character that is fun to read as well. By the middle of the book you’ll want to jump straight into the page and strangle the pumpkin-loving gourd of a king.

The ending came pretty fast, with some twists that you don’t see coming. Overall, I would say it is worth the read! To get me to enjoy a retelling is praise in itself. I will definitely be looking for the next book and what happens with Fin and Elora.

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover on NetGalley is what initially drew me in. It is different on Kindle and Goodreads. Bring back the NetGalley cover. I am not crazy about the fiery couple cover. Once again, I read this as an ARC copy, so my complaints may not be warranted by the time it is published. Give Elora and Fin a chance!

Thank you to NetGalley, Whitney Dean, and Undying Raven Press for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Whitney Dean for the opportunity to read this amazing story early!


“What a foolish doe to graze where lions play.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor after that ending!! I have followed Whitney Dean on Instagram for a while and I own her other works but as I prefer to read a series all in one go I can admit that I was waiting for her series to finish before I jumped into her work and then I saw she was releasing a Cinderella fairytale retelling, and I jumped at the chance to read it… and omg it was a full on masterpiece y’all! I won’t spoil anything but if you are looking for a Cinderella retelling, filled with lies, betrayal, fae, magic, evil stepmother and evil kings, found family, spice, a plot that never stops and the most amazing enemies to lovers romance… look no further because this book has it all

In Rise of the Cinder Fae we meet Elora, our FMC, who after her father’s death has without the title or pay basically taken over his job as keeper of the fae. And while Elora loves the Fae she despises how they’re treated, in fact she despises her whole hometown is treated. Elora with the “encouragement” of her stepmother hatches up a plan to save her town, her people, and her Fae if it the last thing she does… and that may just involve tricking a playboy prince into playing nice. And while Elora is ready to give everything up, even her life for this plan to work and save her people… she didn’t realize that it may be her heart she has to give up instead.

If you think the plot alone is enough to call this book amazing, you would be correct but the characters are what will really seal the deal! Elora, I loved from page one! Even though she had been pushed around her whole life she still cared for people unendingly. Not only that though while a bit timid at first once her fiery spirit sparked it couldn’t be stopped, and she refused to be a damsel left in the dark or behind!! She was just an amazing FMC and I can’t wait to read more about her! Then you had Finnian… the playboy prince, with every rumor known to man spread about him! But boy oh boy does he tug on the heartstrings… with his own secrets to hide and a mother and sister to protect Finnian has decided there is no room for anyone else in his heart, and so obviously when we first meet him he’s a complete alphahole… but as the story progresses we see that while always an alpha male Finnian also cares deeply for those he lets into his heart, and has a spirit that refuses to be broken, and honestly he has some of the swooniest lines ever!! And I loved him, I really just can’t wait to see what’s next for him and Elora!

Honestly though, I can’t get over this book you guys! It was a work of art! I was frustrated that I had real world things that needed my attention because I would much rather have been in this world so, again I will say if you love world building, evil kings and stepmothers, found family, fae, magic, and enemies to lovers with some real touch her and iykyk vibes this book is a must read for the TBR!

HAPPY READING 📖

Absolutely loved this retelling of Cinderella! The tension between the two main characters was sooo good it had me at the edge of my seat the entire time!!! This book is everything a Romantasy story should be! The spice the enemies to lovers and the slow burn just *chefs kiss*
It was just wow! Whitney you did it again!

Overall: 4.5/5
Spice: 3/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the twist on this Cinderella retelling. The first few chapters were a little slow, but it was necessary for the world building that needed to happen and I feel like that is common when starting a new book anyways. Once I got a few chapters in, I was hooked. I LOVED getting to know Elora and Finnian and see their growth throughout the story, and I think the dual POV really helped with that. And the spice was good, maybe a little dark for some, but you are warned at the beginning of the book and I enjoyed it! And wow, the twist at the end!! I am so glad there are more books to come and that we aren’t left with that ending forever. Definitely recommend and cannot wait to read the next one when it comes out!!

**I will note that there are areas with some grammar and verb tense inconsistencies in this book, but it didn’t take away from how good the story was.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an E-ARC for review.

RISE OF THE CINDER FAE - 5/5 stars

setting
- 4.5/5 i really like this universe whitney dean created, it’s so cool to see the worldbuilding with this fantasy universe, esp knowing it’s a dark fantasy fairytale retelling so seeing all of the cinderella tie ins was so cool, and it was even cooler to see that but not really know what’s going to happen! and seeing the juxtaposition of ashbury vs pumpkin hollow was crazy, and being able to experience the extent of jasper’s devastation through the setting alone was really interesting

writing
- 4/5 there are some weird tense switches (it’s all supposed to be present tense, but there’s some sentences sprinkled throughout that are past tense and it is confusing), but i can’t really fault the author for that bc i did read an arc that still has to go through its final round of editing so i don’t dock her for that. otherwise i do really like her writing style and i am excited to get the final copy and reread this story bc it is absolutely incredible and i'm obsessed

characters
- 5/5 the characters and character development are so fucking insanely good in this, elora and finnian are so well developed and perfect for each other, and all of the side characters are incredible too!!! the character development throughout this book was so fantastic, by the end i was shocked and awed

plot
- 4.5/5 i did find some plot holes while i will detail down below, but they were mainly towards the first 50% of the book and they mostly wrapped themselves up for me, but i think it’s worth it to mention. it’s def a trust the process kind of book in the first half but even despite the potential plot holes, i actually really genuinely loved this story!!! i love dark fantasy fairytale retellings and this is such a top tier adaptation of cinderella and oh my god. THAT ENDING???? i was screaming crying sobbing throwing up!!!! i was NOT expecting that at all and i am BEYONDDDDDDDDD excited for the next book. i am not exaggerating that this is one of the best romantasy books ive ever read simply because the fucking romance was some of the best ever. genuinely so passionate and the enemies to lovers was absolutely SPOTTTT ONNNNNN!!!! i was eating it UP every single second and i will never stop thinking about elora and finnian’s love story. ever. they are MATES!!!!

these are the potential plot holes or plot points i didn’t fully understand while reading: ( **** SPOILER ALERT AHEAD **** )
- (1.) some of the plot twists in the beginning seemingly came out of NOWHERE. like when they revealed that elora’s dad had already given her away to the king and the prince had already agreed to marry her and yet acted brand new when he met her like ???? the way that played out didn’t really make sense to me. some of the plot points towards the beginning 35-40% don’t seem to have any foreshadowing and it felt a bit weird and kind of blindsides the reader when it comes out of nowhere and is at odds with what you already know bc you’re like… what? LMAO
- (2.) the way that elora was supposed to be seducing the prince for a betrothal and then she absolutely went the other way and acted like she HATED him when they met? like girlypop is that not the whole reason why you drank the spell? maybe all it did was give her the confidence to show her true feelings (her hatred) but damn girl. all i could think was that she completely lost the plot LMAO.
- (3.) i am still kinda confused as to why the king had so much power and why they couldn’t fight back. why not just kill the king? if the king is dead surely his men won’t care to be loyal anymore, they’re literally only loyal bc he blackmails and bribes them to be so like??? i don’t get it. and why can’t the cinder fae just kill him? why do they agree to be locked up and used as slave labor? they told elora that their power spans WAY beyond what they’ve shown and yet they don’t fight back against the oppressive king when they see how horrifically he treats everyone and the devastation he causes? also how did this man even become king? his backstory made it even more confusing bc if his father wasn’t a king and they just erected a monarchy out of thin air, how did he manage to create such a strong kingdom and become this almighty ruler that everyone obeys and the neighboring kingdoms just accept? how did they find so many loyal soldiers to fight all these battles (ashbury & hogsfeet specifically) when the monarchy is so new? i know jasper is supposedly cruel and he blackmails people but i cannot imagine he could’ve killed his brother, become king, erected an army and forced his subject’s loyalty, and then had time to wage war against ashbury and hogsfeet and demolish them. and ashbury and hogsfeet happened 25 years ago in the story so how old is this guy? idk maybe i am overthinking it but the timelines seem weird and it doesn’t feel totally believable from a reader’s perspective. but it does come together a little more towards the end because you really get a sense of how deeply jasper has rooted fear into everyone and kept them controlled so it makes a little more sense??? esp when you think about how terrible the repercussions would’ve been if an assassination attempt would’ve backfired

readability
- 4/5 it was pretty easy to get through, i found myself wanting desperately to keep reading which is exactly what i love when i am reading something! i cared deeply about the characters and their story and it made it easy to binge

enjoyment
- 5/5 this was so fucking good i had an amazing time reading this, the romance is genuinely one of the best i’ve ever read and for that reason alone i am making this a 5 star read for me

Wow is all I can say. Loved how this takes the classic Cinderella story with its own twists. The world building was great and the tension between two main characters had me wanting more! Elora is such a strong character and I love Finn.

This had everything a romantasy needs- enemies to lovers, slow burn and spice!

Definitely recommend!!!

WOW. Okay, so I typically am not a huge fan of fairytale retellings, but this book was exceptional. It took a bit for me to get into it at first. However, that’s common for many fantasy books because you have to get through a lot of details, background, and world building. From 10%-70% I was fully captivated. Then, it hit somewhat of a lull for me until 90%. From there, I was on the edge of my seat! I’ve gone back and forth on whether this was 4 or 5 stars. I have to settle on 5 stars. I loved this book and am beyond eager to read more about Elora’s story in the future! Thank you so much for the ARC, NetGalley! What a treasure!