Member Reviews
This is a really fun mash up. I enjoyed how each story had a mix of familiar and new elements on its own in addition to the new elements caused by the character swap. Having these changes added to the overall flow of the story and I enjoyed the little surprises of seeing a character pop up in an unexpected way. I also really enjoyed the main characters especially Ella she had a great balance of being more proactive in her story while still keeping the sweet nature you would expect from a Cinderella character. Belle felt like a more subtle change but still more proactive then the traditional tale. Both characters were delightful as where the secondary characters. The plot was well paced and had some nice little twists and a very satisfying ending as the two stories fully came together. Overall this is a really fun read for fans of fairy tales and I am very much looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Random House Books for Young Readers, and Kim Bussing for the opportunity to read Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper), the first installment in The Princess Swap series, in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy middle grade novels every once in a while. I like Disney. Beauty and the Beast (original Disney animation) is one of my favorites. But how would the story be portrayed if it was actually Cinderella who encountered the beast?
This story is told in alternating third-person perspective chapters between Ella and Belle. Ella wants nothing more than to go on an adventure, but after her father died, she is left with a cruel step-mother and step-sisters who make her do all the household chores. Belle fondly works with her father on magical trinkets. When his business plummets, Belle thinks she can enter the Revel of Miravale and help his business regain its success. With the help of a magical item, she finds herself in the cellar of Simone's home and is treated as a service girl. Ella. on the other hand, finds herself at a beast's castle, hoping she can quickly escape.
Prince Amir looks for his disappeared friend, Ella, as well as his missing sister. When he encounters Belle, the duo team up to gain what they have lost (in this case, Simone, the step-mother, has taken Belle's special locket and has a controlling cuff over her). Ella may want to return home, adventure not being all it's cracked up to be, but then she see's the beast has a different side, she thinks she might be able to help them break the curse.
Both girls are twelve, making this a middle grade novel. There isn't a sense of romance or becoming a princess here. Rather, the story focuses on strong character development and forms a world around familiar tales, with creative twists. The swaps aren't exactly like the tales readers would be familiar with, but are rather a more unique take on could-be scenarios.
I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple twists woven into the beast's tale, the friendship Ella already has with Prince Amir, and the way the glass slippers ended up being incorporated. Heck, I even kind of started to like Marie, too! This middle grade novel is a well-written adventure geared more toward a female audience, but that any Disney lover will contemplate and devour.
Was not what I was expecting based on the quick synopsis I read. I was anticipating more of separate stories with a twist. I do think these will be popular with kids who like fairy tales, but maybe not die hard Disney fans. It didn't feel true enough to the original stories for me.
This was a really fun fairytale retelling! I would definitely recommend this to middle grade readers who are looking for fantasy and fairytales. Really looking forward to the next installments in the series.
This is such a clever and entertaining book! I loved that it wasn't just a mash-up of two different fairy tales and actually a new take on each as well. If you go in expecting the Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast stories you grew up with I hope you will be pleasantly surprised by the changes here. Ella and Belle are interesting and complex characters and good role models for young readers. The story moves along at the perfect pace so readers should not feel bored at any point. And I was always so interested to know what was going on in both stories so I never got annoyed when it switched from one to the other. I also liked that the author brings up the idea that maybe the villains of the tale do not necessarily think of themselves as the bad guys and there are other factors that lead to their bad behavior - another take on the "we are all the heroes of our own stories" idea. My only complaint is the romance factor in each story because the characters are only 12/13 years old which is just too young for a happily ever after love/romance. Other than that, this is pretty much a perfect book!
Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) was a cute fairytale mix up. Ella and Belle, who are twelve and thirteen, make a wish at the exact same time and poof! they magically switch places. Belle finds herself forced to serve Cinderella's step-family and Ella travels with Belle's father into the woods to the Beast's castle. This story does not rely on a prince to save the day. Instead, the girls find inner strength and help from their friends to change their situations. It is a squeaky clean book with a happily ever after ending filled with possibilities.
I received this as an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I adore fairytale spin offs. Belle has always been my favorite princess, so I was thrilled to sit down and read this book. In fact, once I got started I couldn't put the book down. I was invested in Ella and Belle escaping their fates and finding their own versions of happily ever after.
Imagine Ella and Belle accidentally swapped places. Ella is now trapped with the Beast and Belle is trapped as a maid. I loved the strong female characters, the relationships they build with the characters around them, and inventive way that Kim Bussing ties the story all together. Loved the unique solutions and the magical elements that helped the girls. Highly recommend this middle grade fantasy novel to all fairytale fans.
This was a good read! I'm not sure the ages are believable, but that might be because I am 25 and feel as though I wouldn't have been able to do these things at that age. Belle especially seemed a lot more mature than 13...
Another thing is that Citrine seemed to disappear after the two girls and Stanley were trying to figure out how to break this curse, and then she came back at the very end. Otherwise, I think young kids will love this story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this ARC!
While these books weren’t what I thought I was getting into, the stories were still really well written. The story swap didn’t hold enough of the original story for me to really imagine that this was a story swap and not just a whole new tale itself. I do think that this will appeal to children who love Disney and have creative minds to think about ways those stories can be reimagined and still have that powerful HEA we all know and love.
Firstly, I'd like to extend a huge thank you to the author, Kim Bussing, the publisher, Random House Children's, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book, Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper). This remix of two classic fairy tales for middle school-aged children/young teenage readers blends the stories of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast in a fun, new, interesting way. This story was a great blend of heart, funny moments, and action told in dual perspectives. The cover is exceptional, with bright colors and well-designed characters with a fresh look. The elements in the background of the cover that are pulled from each of their stories adds a level of detail that I appreciate!
I liked both stories, but thought Belle was a really great character with lots of depth and dynamic abilities. There is a little bit of flirtiness between Belle and her friend, Prince Amir, and I think middle-grade readers will enjoy the light romance. The stories balance each other out, providing much needed breaks in tension. This story is well-paced and engaging if you enjoy character growth. If you love fairy tales with a fun twist, you'll love this one.
I really liked this book. It was unique and fun to read.
The characters were well developed and likable.
I thought it was fun how the author mixed the two fairy tales to create a new spin on both fairy tales.
This is a book that I also had my daughter read and she loved it.
It was sweet and wholesome. There was not a ton of romance but the story was really fun to read. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I loved this, it was fast paced and so much fun. I loved the idea of a princess swap and this executed it so well.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper) by Kim Bussing is a third person dual-POV Middle Grade fantasy mash-up of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. When Belle and Ella accidentally switch places, they end up as the heroine in each other’s fairy tale and in a more tightly intertwined larger plot than either could have known.
I rarely comment on covers, but I love, love, love this cover. I love the little details from their fairy tales spilling behind both girls to form a circle so the other’s fairy tale is in front of them and their original one is behind them. I love the shades of yellow and blue used; eye-catching and on brand without clashing. Even if you didn’t tell me which princesses they were, there are enough clues where I would be able to guess.
Of the two POVs, I think Belle was my favorite. Belle is intelligent and a bit calculating, making careful decisions when she talks to Ella’s stepmother and relying on her previous knowledge to help her get out of difficult situations. The most interesting part of her backstory is that she has spent time with pirates, which is borrowing from the original fairy tale’s father losing product on the high seas (sometimes due to storms and sometimes due to pirates).
Like most current Middle Grades, the focus here isn’t romance but I didn’t find myself missing it despite being a romance lover. The twisting of the fairy tales, playing with expectations, and giving different dimensions to known characters (such as making the beast a girl and Ella and the prince childhood friends) provides enough interesting character dynamics to really steal the show. My favorite dynamic was the friendship between Belle and Prince Amir due to their teasing. There is a budding romance between them, but it’s a very slowburn and doesn’t play a large part in the grand scheme of things.
I would recommend this to elementary school fans of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, readers who love twisted versions of fairy tales, and those looking for princess books that are less romance focused
This was so fun and smart! I loved it. Fun to see what would have been bad the two princesses been in each others shoes. Perfect for teenagers/YA. Thank you for the arc!
4.2 ☆
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What if Cinderella and Belle swapped places? This is what this story is all about! It's a cute and delightful spin on the classic Disney retelling of Beauty and the Beast, mashed up with Cinderella. A great retelling for upper elementary and middle school children. Even from an adult perspective, I enjoyed this story.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•Princess Swap
•Magic
•Middle Age | Young Adult
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Jan.7, 2025
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Random House for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.
Fun twisted fairytales for teens/preteens depending on reading level. Absolutely creatively genius. Nothing like I've read before. My niece and I really enjoyed the twists and turns of these stories and seeing some long time favorite princesses in a whole different light.
The is a fun new take on the classic fairy tales. Cinderella and the Beast, Beauty and the Wicked Stepmother — this was perfectly written to make it almost seem like this was the original story. If you or your grade school children are a fan of princesses, fairytales, and fun twists, this is the book for you and them. I enjoyed it with my 8 year old and we had fun reading it together.
This is a great fairytale twist. I loved the characters and storyline. Fun interactions and mix ups. Will be a hit with kids. These are my two favorite stories mixed together. I loved the way it turned out.
The is a fun whirlwind of a fairy tale. Cinderella and the Beast, Beauty and the Wicked Stepmother — it’s cleverly put together with all the right touches to make it feel like it came out of a children’s book. The tin horses, the glass leg, the magic mirror and the felt mouse who loves cheese. I think fans of magic and castles, princesses and twists will enjoy this book -- at lesat, I hope they do.
The writing is slick and polished, the pace is lightning fast and it’s just an overall good time with some subtle subversions and a good book for a slightly younger YA audience while still being entertaining for adults. Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC.
(3.5 rounded up to 4.)