We Kept Her In The Seller by WR Gorman is a an ingenious rettelling of Cinderella from the viewpoint of her stepsister Eunice. When the book starts Eunice Hortens and mom Bettina, are waiting for Bettina‘s fiancé mr. Fitz William and his daughter Cinderella. Six year old Hortense couldn’t be happier she’s getting a sister and although Eunice is closer in age to Cinderella she is more reluctant but when they arrive the whole family is apprehensive because it seems Mr. Fitz Williams showed up not in a carriage but a horse drawn metal box unlike anything they’ve seen before. It seems their apprehension is valid especially when Hortense wants to greet her new sister Cinderella and the older girl tries to take a bite out of excited Hortense. This totally changes the mood of the families first encounter. This is just the beginning of the strange events that happen after beautiful Cinderella moves in. First of all they have to keep the girl behind locked doors deep in the cellar and this causes villagers to think poor innocent Cinderella is being abused and victimized and although the family knows this it is preferable to the truth getting out. I’m going to stop the review here because I don’t want to give anything away this was such a great book when I first read the summary and then started reading the book I kept thinking but what about this and what about that and how are they going to explain different things I knew about the Cinderella fairytale but let me just say it all gets explained and then some. If you like retellings and or horror stories then you will definitely enjoy this one they do have some very disgusting parts in the book and I never thought I would say this but it is so apropos to the story. There really isn’t any negative I can think of except for the whole thing with Mr. Colton and his son because I really thought they would’ve been bigger characters in the story but that’s just a personal preference and not negative towards the author or the novel. What a great read! #NetGalley, #CrookedLaneBooks,#WRGorman, #WeKeptHerInTheSellar, #FairytaleReimagining,

absolutely WHAT IN CREDENCE'S NAME DID I JUST READ magnificent

I realised pretty early on that this was going to be a 5 star read for me; I was just waiting on how the author delivers the climax & deliver she does.

So let's get into it:

1. THE PLOT
Although the synopsis describes it as a retelling of Cinderella, this is quite beyond that. Basic elements of Cinderella like the slipper, mice, ball, step family feature in this story but the entire story takes an INSANE diabolical turn. I thoroughly enjoyed this plot actually & the author did not hold back at all.

2. THE CHARACTERS
A fundamental flaw many 'YA books' tend to face is the actual likeability of the main character. Eunice nails the main character role, with me hardcore rooting for her. The writing does a good job of making you feel good or bad (let's be honest, mostly bad) for side characters as well. Mom, dad, Hortense, Lilia, Leo - I think I was invested in their arcs, they served their purpose adeptly.
Though I thought it was outrageous to name the prince Credence (I see the rationale for it though), the Prince was a pretty decent character too who I wish we got to see more of.

3. THE WRITING
It is pretty obvious that this author grew up watching movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre - man, she doesn't hold back. The amount of gore, violence, weird bloody scenes were UNHINGED to say the least. This book is not for the weak of heart and I actually loved this bold aspect to the book. The author bravely ventures into making a beloved Disney princess an absolute monster, brownie points from me for that!

"My mind shies away, not wanting to dwell on the details of our time together, and yet it’s that very togetherness that makes me the most qualified to tell our story." - what an intro

4. THE CLIMAX
Featuring good callbacks, neatly tying the story, the climax is predictable yet cool. It doesn't leave the reader unsatisfied.

5. umm also excuse me but this book is actually laugh out loud FUNNY?

"I would come to learn that Mr. Fitzwilliam was a great believer in trying to teach Cinderella about productivity and contributing to the household, although I am not sure if any of his lessons ever took." - CACKLING

5. Great prologue & epilogue - I have the entire prologue highlighted.

In conclusion, my heart goes out to poor Eunice (that ONE scene traumatised me forever). My heart goes out to all the people who'll read this for the first time - you'll never be the same. I'm extremely grateful I got to read an ARC, this is the kind of literature I want to feature on my blogs & social media. BONKERS!!

When there is a retelling of a fairy tale I have to read it. This was such a book. This book is told from the POV of one of Cinderella’s stepsisters. What we read about Cinderella is all wrong according to this book. All the same characters are in the book only Cinderella is not the sweet, nice little girl. In fact, she really is a monster. To keep the family safe, she must be hidden away in the cellar. She is not mistreated she has an extensive wardrobe, beautiful furniture and all the activities provided to keep her from becoming bored. Now there is a ball that requires all young ladies to attend but for the safety of all people; Cinderella must be kept a secret from the kingdom. This Cinderella is not having it, she takes it upon herself to create her own carriage. But this is not your normal pumpkin for a carriage and mice for horses carriage. What Cinderella creates is something straight out of a horror movie. The description of the process to procure her transportation is quite grotesque and horrifying. The rest of the book is filled with torture and death that was quite gruesome. Excellent read and I give this book 👻👻👻👻👻.

If you love horrifying retellings of cartoon classics, this book will be perfect for you! This is also perfect for fans of H.P. Lovecraft.

Like the description says, this is the darkest and most disturbing retelling of Cinderella that I have ever read and possibly the most horrific.

I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book. I thought it was going to just be a retelling with some horror elements, but I didn’t think it was going to be this intense. At first I struggled with this book being so out there and not even close to a Cinderella retelling. I kind of thought the book should have just gone with a whole new topic, but it actually worked out the longer I read the book.

I do love horror novels, so I was so excited to actually have some true creepy scenes throughout the book. I will definitely be reading more of her books!

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book officially publishes on 9/24/24!

This was a very fun retelling of a classic fairy tale story, embedded with horror and shocking elements. Even though large parts of the “core” story were changed, the author wove in fun callbacks to the traditional Cinderella story. I will note at times there are gory graphic depictions that may not be for everyone. This book is told from a single POV and is a relatively quick read. Giving this one 4 stars because I did find a few elements to be repetitive. If horror is your thing, though I would recommend giving this one a read.

Posted on Goodreads:

4.25/5⭐️

From the very beginning you learn that Cinderella is different. Eunice, her new step sister, her mother and sister have to learn to adjust to their new lives. There are rules to follow, important things to never forget and sacrifices to be made. For nearly a decade things run as smooth as you can expect until the anticipated ball happens. And then things go very awry.

I really enjoyed this new horrific take. Genuinely felt for Eunice and you’re not supposed to like the ugly step sister. And reading how alluring and beautiful Cinderella can be and then flip to monstrous was fun to read. It followed the original nicely. Not the Disney fru fru version, but the original. You know with the sacrifice the step sister does to fit her foot in the glass shoe. *shudders*

Thank you netgalley, crooked land books And w.r. Gorman for the opportunity to read this arc.

What if Cinderella wasn't the victim of cruel and wicked stepsisters? What if...things were a lot more complicated than they looked from the outside? In _We Kept Her In the Cellar_ W.R. Gorman provides us with a masterful retelling of the tale of Cinderella, one which is at its core deeply human even if in this case Cinderella is not. Told from the point of view of Eunice, the oldest of the two stepsisters, we see the story from a perspective that provides us with insight into the characters before and after Cinderella enters their lives. We understand the complex dynamics and negotiations necessary to safely integrate her into her new family. And let's be clear, Cinderella is dangerous. Most egregiously, a vast amount of responsibility is quickly situated on Eunice at age eleven and is done so by her primary caregivers. Not only is she is she responsible for Cinderella's care but for potentially saving her younger sister's life. And like all the family members she is charged with keeping Cinderella's true nature a secret. In this last point we have the crux of what Gorman's novel is about.

While it is most definitely an impressive retelling and one I enjoyed more than I expected, it is thematically a novel about family, shame, and the secrets and silences that we are meant to keep for them and the subsequent damage that they can inflict. From early on Eunice becomes known as the jealous and less attractive stepsister because of actions that she had to take to protect Cinderella's secret from being revealed. She has no friends because she fears revealing the secret and because so much time is taken up with Cinderella. Her younger sister, Hortense, resents Cinderella and lashes out at Eunice further isolating her. Many of the servants similarly believe that she abuses her stepsister given that she often takes her meals to the cellar. All of this sets the stage for how Cinderella comes to be seen as the innocent victim of a wicked stepsister jealous of her beauty. In her careful manipulation of her story, she accounts for how an outsider might hear gossip about the story of Cinderella and retell it getting the fundamental facts wrong because the truth has been guarded so assiduously by the family and later the King.

Secrets don't stay hidden indefinitely and locks don't hold forever. Telling a child to keep something secret for the sake of her family's safety is a heavy burden and not to be undertaken unless absolutely necessary. The lengths that Eunice takes to protect the secret are heartbreaking and the way that keeping the secret has drained her of life. If we read Cinderella as the metaphorical secret locked in the basement, then there is much more to be said about the impact of private sphere trauma on children. However, sticking to the more literal aspects of the story, the deep wrongness of keeping a "problem" locked away rather than addressing the issue is clear.

As with all good sci-fi and fantasy fiction, I believe that _We Kept Her In the Cellar_ is more than just an enjoyable story (and it is a well-plotted, well-written unique retelling of the Cinderella story) . I believe that it provides us with a medium to present accessible social commentary on important topics. In this case, as you read Gorman's novel ask yourself questions about what constitutes a healthy family? What kinds of secrets should we ask children to keep? For that matter, what kind of secrets should we be keeping? And why, if something is harming our family or its members would telling be considered an act of betrayal? Moreover, what does Cinderella represent? Who is the villain here? Or contrary to the narratives of Grimm & Christian Brothers is there in fact not a villain after all? I certainly intend to read this again. At the end I was left with a number of questions, most notably how to categorize Cinderella. Because in spite of my teaser line, I don't think she's a villain or necessarily a victim. Fantasy it may be but _We Kept Her In the Cellar_ is also deeply human and thus resists easy binaries and dichotomies like good/evil or villain/victim.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

I was intrigued when I read the synopsis of this book, such a different take on the classic ‘Cinderella’ fairy tale. A dark take on Cinderella where she is the villain. It reminded me a bit of the stage show ‘wicked’, where everything is flipped and you start putting the pieces together.

Very cleverly done.

This is definitely the most different take on a Cinderella remake I've read. But I like it, even if Cinderella is creepy and pretty disgusting. It really puts a twist on the old tale in an interesting way. Through the story, you can reflect on who is good and who is evil and whether the perspective changes depending on who is telling the story.

I recommend this book if you like remade fairy tales that add something new to the story concept.

We Kept Her in the Cellar by W. R. Gorman was a wonderful dark and twisted reimagining of Cinderella, told from her stepsister's POV.
Woah! What a captivating story. I flew through this book and didn’t want it to end so soon.
The writing is just compelling and the characters wow simply intriguing.

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A dark reimagining of Cinderella, this time told from her stepsister’s point of view.

I never would have thought that the fairy tale of Cinderella could be turned into such a dark tale. I really enjoyed this one from the very beginning. The suspense leads as you grow to love the main character, her plight and empathy. The connection to the well known tale is very clear, but it’s flipped upside down. My favorite part was that this truly could be the true story, as who is telling the stories? Those in charge tell what they want you to know.

“Her beauty was like that even as a child - she drew me in, made me want to get closer to her. I would be thoroughly cured of that desire over a grueling process of years.”

I was immediately drawn in by this book and it kept my attention all the way through, full of darkness and adding more danger to a story that was a part of my childhood, I loved this horror version.

One of the best twisted fairytale retellings I've ever read!

The tale of Cinderella and her evil stepmother and stepsisters is one that transcends time -- mistreated young girl who just wants the same opportunities as other young women her age, forced into manual labor by those who were supposed to love her as their own. But in this retelling, Cinderella is the evil one...

I've read quite a few fairytale retellings, and very few of them come close to W.R. Gorman's imaginative page-turner, We Kept Her in the Cellar. From the very first chapters, readers are introduced to story like no other. Gorman incorporates elements from both the traditional, original fairytale and the Disney-fied version, along with large dose of horror and the supernatural, to bring to life a new version of Cinderella. In WKHitC, Cinderella is an absolute monster, in the literal sense. There are "rules" Eunice (the stepsister) and her family must live by in order to keep Cinderella in check, and when those rules aren't followed... Well, let's just say there's blood. Lots of blood. Reimagining Cinderella as a horror story takes some serious finesse, and Gorman nailed it. Not only is the story original yet familiar, Gorman also describes each scene in a way that almost play out like a movie with all of the colorful details she includes, and the characters are all so unique with interesting backstories as compared to what we've become familiar with from the original and Disney versions of the fairytale. Horror fans will love the gore, suspense fans will love the dread of what's to come, and fantasy fans will appreciate the creativity throughout the story. I honestly hope this gets made into a movie, because I'd buy a front seat ticket!

***School Librarian Rating: I'd put this in MS library collection for my 7th and 8th graders. Lots of violence, but no more so than other horror books in the YA genre, and even some middle grade titles. There's a tinge of romance, a very brief scene where Cinderella is sans-clothing for a hot second (not intimate in nature - she's a monster who lost her clothing during a transformation), and the mention of an intimate body part (in passing, almost-clinical reference to a possible sexual encounter that never takes place), but otherwise no sexual scenes and no cursing.***

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

A horror movie retelling of the Cinderella story. Imagine if unlike in the story you know Cinderella was actually the villain all along? At times grotesque, but riveting this tale will give you the creeps throughout.

I love a retelling that goes way out of the way of the original story. This book is a strange juxtaposition of fairy tale and cosmic horror - in the best way. Highly recommend!

We Kept Her in the Cellar by WR Gorman is an eerie plunge into the darkest corners of family secrets and fairy tale horror. It’s not often I get pulled into retellings, but this one wrapped its cold, unsettling fingers around me from the start. This book wasn’t just dark—it was oppressive in the best way, like walking into a room where the air is too thick, the shadows too long, and something is watching you from the corners.

The story centers on a young girl who, after losing her father, watches her family spiral toward poverty. Salvation seems to come in the form of her mother’s new marriage to a wealthy merchant. But, as with all things too good to be true, he comes with a chilling secret: his daughter. From here, the horror unravels, and the girl's life—her once-normal world—becomes twisted in ways she could never have imagined.

What really grabbed me wasn’t just the plot, though it’s incredibly engrossing, but the way Gorman captures that creeping sense of something being terribly wrong. The atmosphere is suffocating, almost like the dread you feel when you're slowly realizing you're trapped in a nightmare. Every word feels heavy with foreboding, and it’s a slow build that pays off in moments of real terror.

As someone who prefers a fast-paced, plot-driven story, this book didn’t drag for me at all. It was very easy to read and I flew through it because I had to know how it ended. What really struck me was how the horror mirrored real-life struggles—especially the suffocating weight of toxic family dynamics. The dark, ominous setting feels like a reflection of the relentless demands and anxieties that come with dealing with a destructive family member. It’s delicious and disgusting and it gets under your skin and sticks with you long after the final page.

A Lovecraftian horror retelling of Cinderella?!? Say no more and sign me up!! 🙌

In this twist on the tale of Cinderella, we see through the eyes of her step-sister, Eunice, just how evil the fairytale princess is!! I did not put this down once, flying through it in one sitting!! Highly recommend!!! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and W.R. Gorman for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review!! ❤️

Well. This is not the Cinderella we've all come to know. Certainly not the Disney one that's for sure. This is told by her Step-sister Eunice, who by the way, is not the step sister we expect either but rather one of those trying to keep everyone safe from the Cinderella who must be locked in the basement because she's a monster. Animal lovers should know that the gore extends to them. What happens when she gets out on the night of the ball-that's not what you might remember either, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is well done horror that I'll bet will appeal to the YA crowd as well.

“We Kept Her in the Cellar,” by W. R. Gorman

I loved this book! I loved that it was in the POV of the wicked stepsister and where Cinderella was the evil sister. I loved how romance was in the book but wasn’t actually the highlight of the book. My favorite themes and different spin on the Cinderella story were the rats, cats, the sisters, the shoes, and the tasks, I loved all the elements together. Will definitely be reading any other book by W. R. Gorman that I can find. 5 out of 5 stars, perfect.

-Magic
-Cinderella Retelling

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I struggled a lot with this one. The premise is fantastic and it definitely fits the fairy tale retelling but it was very slow and I struggled a lot with the choices the main character made, I just couldn't connect with it though I found the horror elements interesting.