This is not your Disney's Cinderella! What a spin on the Cinderella story this was. Now, we all know the original fairy tales were written to scare children, but this takes it to another level! It is both creative and terrifying at the same time and keeps the reader fully engaged. Well done!

This is a shockingly gruesome, eldritch version of the Cinderella fairy tale. The story we know is flipped in Gorman's book, with the step-family being the heroes, and Cinderella an eldritch demon of some kind that must be looked after for the better of all.

As the story unfolds, bad things happen one after the other. It makes for a tense, suspenseful read, especially after a particularly surprising death and the fact that Gorman isn't afraid to let bad things happen to kids, even. This is an indiscriminate evil (who itself is young at one point as well, which was interesting). It really gets going pretty early though and by the second half you won't want to take a break because you'll just have to know what happens. The momentum is great, as is the horror!

Gorman writes the horror both evocatively and plainly, painting the picture of an unbelievable, unknowable horror, and how that horror becomes the mundane for the main character, Eunice. But while it becomes mundane, Eunice rarely lets herself become complacent, which lets the horror continue growing for the reader still.

We Kept Her In the Cellar is a very well done, and well written and effective horror novel. I love there's a little bit at the end to tease a potential sequel, which I would definitely read with where Gorman hints it could go.

As for the audiobook, I found myself a bit annoyed with the narrator early on because she reads so clinically. As the book goes on though, that clinical reading starts breaking places (the death for one, before Eunice gets down to the work of stopping Cinderella and returns to form). It's interesting and by the end I don't hate how the narrator went about the reading of the book but I think I still would've preferred something more... magical, I guess. It would have been interesting to have it read as a normal fairy tale at the start, until things get weird and then we get different. I also didn't feel as much differentiation between the character voices as I'd have liked to make some scenes less confusing if you're not listening at 100% - and I don't mean doing different voices for the characters, but different tones, inflections, personality basically. Everyone in this audiobook seems to have just taken a benadryl or something lol But like I said, I didn't hate it and was more than able to listen through to the end.

I think this is one of my favorites for 2024, easily. What a wonderfully creepy surprise just in time for the spooky season!

Horrifying, spine-tingling, heartbreaking, grotesque, imaginative, dark, beautiful, gory... This may be my absolute favorite Cinderella retelling of all time. W.R. Gorman was an absolute wordsmith with this book, I was hooked on each paragraph and unable to stop.

This book was about 300 pages – and when I tell you that I would have easily read 300 more, I MEAN that wholeheartedly.

My only complaint is that I need MORE. I'm so intrigued and horrified by the story and the bond between Cinderella and her stepsister Eunice, I wouldn't complain at all if I heard there's a planned sequel.👀

Thank you a million times over to Netgalley and RB Media for the audiobook, this is definitely one of my favorites.

This dark reimagining of Cinderella is told from her stepsister Eunice's perspective. Eunice is tasked with caring for Cinderella, who possesses dark and terrifying powers. When Eunice secures an invitation to the ball, she sees her chance to break free from Cinderella's grasp. However, when Cinderella escapes and wreaks havoc at the ball, Eunice must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to stop her. This unsettling and macabre horror story will captivate fans of T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik.

This is a whole new take on the beloved Cinderella story. It is dark, gruesome, and twisted in a way that will keep you hooked from start to finish. As someone who typically avoids scary movies, I found myself surprisingly drawn to this gory book just in time for the Halloween season. I must admit, I am impressed with myself for stepping out of my comfort zone, and I truly enjoyed this listen.

The narrator did an excellent job of keeping me on edge and unable to hit pause. I'll be honest, there was one particularly gory moment that caught me off guard while I was making breakfast. This audiobook was so captivating that I found it hard to stop listening. It's hard to delve into more details without giving away spoilers, but I can assure you that this story is not what it seems - and that's what makes it even better.

The vivid descriptions of the environment and events in the story added depth and an eerie atmosphere that is perfect for the upcoming season. As you delve into the story, you will find yourself questioning Cinderella's powers and true identity, leaving you captivated until the very end. This unforgettable read is a must for fans of dark fairytale retellings.

Thank you, HighBridge Audio for audiobook ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a wild twist to a classic! Cinderella as an eldritch horror … masterfully executed. I was not sure what to expect but I loved the flip on who is the big evil on this story. It was dark, horrifically graphic, violent, and so much fun. This is the first book in a long time that was so disturbingly graphic at one point that I had to set it aside and come back when I was more emotionally fortified. But like, in the best way. 😆

i went in blind to this book and I'm glad I did. I was a cinderella retelling from the stepsisters pov and if cinderella was a monster. It was very descriptive. Yes it was longer than I wanted but it was well written. Id read more from this author.

I read this a while back and I was in love with this sad story. It was just wonderful! At the time I was wanting a chance to give it a listen. I was so excited to be given this audiobook. Thank you!
I loved this even more than the book! The narration is wonderful! It is a whole experience. This is not a happy or pleasant book. It is an enjoyable listen. It is so creepy.

Thank you to Highbridge Audio and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook of WE KEPT HER IN THE CELLAR by W.R. Gorman.

WE KEPT HER IN THE CELLAR is a YA horror Cinderella retelling with a very big twist. The story is written from Cinderella's step-sister Eunice's POV and Cinderella is not the mistreated young woman from the story we all know. In this case, Cinderella is some sort of eldritch creature who must be locked away. Exposure to Cinderella, particularly in the hours right after midnight, leave people under her thrall, willing to do anything for her. It is only her family who has any control over her and Eunice is put in the position of her sister's keeper.

I love a good, creative retelling and this one accomplishes exactly that! It really puts a lot of the concepts of the Cinderella stories we all know and flips them on their head. It is dark and bloody and gory and I had a fantastic time with it! The author did a fantastic job of pulling in recognizable moments and giving them a disturbing and gruesome twist. Do go in forewarned!

This was the author's debut and I would certainly pick up more from them in the future. I really enjoyed consuming this one on audio as well! This was a random pick that caught my eye on Netgalley and I am so glad I picked it up!

This is a fantastic retelling of Cinderella but a much darker vibe. It was creepy, a little disturbing and now t for the squeamish. But I feel like this was almost a missed opportunity though if it were take. Out of the YA perspective. It could have pushed the horror element a little more.

Initially, I was totally enthralled with this story. A horror-filled, gory, retelling of Cinderella-- what's not to love? I will say about 2/3rd of the way in, I was kind of done with the plot. It seemed to play out a little longer than necessary. Overall though, a solid read! Of note, I did listen via audio and I HIGHLY recommend this way of reading this novel. The narrator was FAN-FREAKING-tastic!

Thank you to NetGalley & RBMedia for an auto-EARC of this novel for my unbiased opinion. T'was fun!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed the plot of this book but found the characters to be insufferable. I know that is likely on purpose, but it had me constantly questioning if I wanted to continue reading the book. The gore was fantastic and definitely would question reading this if you don't like horror/gore.

5⭐️

I had such a great time with this retelling of Cinderella! The incorporation of Brothers Grimm Easter eggs added a unique twist. While some scenes were quite grotesque, they were described so vividly that I found them perfect despite the initial shock.

I really hope this author creates more retellings like this one. I love stories that reveal the darker side of fairy tales. I’d eagerly read any retelling or cosmic horror they write it was such an enjoyable experience!

I also enjoyed the narration of this book. The narrator brought the characters to life and made it an enjoyable experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this advanced listener copy. This review is voluntarily my own.

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!

Cinderella meets Lovecraft. In the best way possible. The whole book is told from Eunice's POV where Cinderella is a 'creature from the stars' in the body of a beautiful girl. It was so interesting seeing the Cinderella story from the step sisters point of view, with the added elements of blood curdling, gut churning horror.

The only things that I had a really big issue with were the narrators voice volume, which was not balanced and I had to turn my volume up all the way at some parts, and the lack of real sympathy I felt when some horrible things happened to the sisters. I felt like certain major moments were kind of glossed over which kind of left me scratching my head.

✦ Horror
✦ Paranormal
✦ Creature feature

⚠️ - Yes - lots
👥 - 2/5
🌎 - 2/5
🗡️ - 4/5
💀 - 5/5


Thank you #netgalley and #highbridgeaudio for the ARC of this book and giving me the chance to read and review it with my own thoughts and opinions

Thank you, Netgalley, W R Gorman, and Highbridge Audio for the audiobook. A great listen narrated by E J Lavery. This Cinderella tale is not quite how you remember. This Cinderella will keep you up at night and have you checking if you locked the doors! Read at your own risk!!

*absolute chef's kiss*

You will never look at Cinderella the same way again after reading this. This is very much a gruesome, and twisted book that's out of my usual horror comfort zone but I absolutely LOVED it. The writing was excellent, the characters were all great and the plot was just *chef's kiss*. It will not be for everyone, I'm being so serious when I say this book is dark and beyond messed up in some parts but if you can stomach this kind of horror, I recommend it 5000x over.

Pure perfection of a horror honestly, I loved it so much! Can't wait to read more from this author!

audiobook was a 10/10

This is my absolute new favorite retelling of Cinderella!!! To be fair Cinderella was never really one of my favorite stories but this book made me love it! We Kept Her in The Cellar is a dark and twisted horror in which Cinderella is not how you’ve ever known her to be.
Eunice is still a girl when her new stepfather and stepsister arrive to their estate. She quickly realizes something strange is going on with her stepsister Cinderella. Cinderella is not the innocent girl she appears to be and Eunice is tasked with trying to keep her in line.
Full of gore, tentacles, and betrayal this story was gripping from start to finish. A definite must read for horror fans.
Thank you to NetGalley and high ridge audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc for my honest review.

W.R. Gorman’s We Kept Her in the Cellar has to be the most unique retelling of Cinderella ever. This story completely flips the script on the classic fairy tale and is told from the perspective of Eunice, one of the stepsisters. However in this retelling the stepsisters are not mean and overbearing, taking advantage of poor Cinderella. No, in this story the stepsisters are sweet and caring, and Cinderella…well Cinderella is an eldritch horror! Yes, Cinderella is a creature straight out of a Lovecraft nightmare. As with Gremlins, there are three rules for dealing with her: 1) Always refer to Cinderella as family, 2) never let Cinderella get near rats or mice, and 3) never look upon Cinderella between the hours of midnight and 3 am.

Gorman crafted an absolutely stunning story. The introduction to Cinderella, her first appearance and interaction with her future stepsisters, the first time we witness Cinderella eat the apple, all chilling and compelling. And from there the intensity only builds. This is a masterful and delightfully gore-filled twisted tale. And while there have been countless retellings and reworking of the Cinderella story is is without question one of the most unique and one of my favorites. EJ Lavery does an excellent job with the narration. Her soft voice a wonderful stark contrast to the gore-filled horror of the narrative. I’d like to thank HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audio version of W.R. Gorman’s brilliant We Kept Her in the Cellar.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1YW7U2HEVSWA4/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Title: We Kept Her In The Cellar
Author: W. R. Gorman
Page Count: 304
Time Length: 8H 38M
Dates Read: 9/25-9/26
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summary: This was an Arc given by Netgalley for exchange for an honest review.
What if Cinderella was not the sweet girl we all thought she was?

Review: 👏👏👏👏👏 Yes, Yes, Yes. I loved this dark, twisted tale. Medium paced, but it really draws you in. I found myself loving the sisters that we were always told to hate. The dark details fully bring the story to life. I will recommend this to everyone looking for a dark, twisted tale. I will buy this book one day, and I will do a reread! The ending was exactly what it should of been.

A delightful and horrific Cinderella retelling was not something I expected in my life.

But here we are, and I'm tickled that I clicked "request" on my NetGalley page.

In this retelling there are just a few rules one must follow while being the caretaker for Cinderella:
One, always refer to Cinderella as family.
Two, never let Cinderella gain access to rats or mice.
Three, never look upon Cinderella between the hours of twelve and three a.m.

Eunice, her stepsister is the FMC and the lead caretaker. But when she has the opportunity to go to a ball, she shrugs off her responsibilities to another... and all fairytale hell breaks loose.

This is just one fun, twisted ride. If you are a fairytale fan, but would like a spooky twist (and don't mind some gore) give this a chance. It was just released on September 24th- just in time for the fall-halloween- season! I listened to the audio version and the narration was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge audio for the opportunity to listen and review in exchange for my honest opinion.