Liars Kingdom

If the shoe fits…

What happens when the glass slipper fits Ell but… she was not the girl at the ball…

A closer Grimm’s Fairytale / Fantasy version of Cinderella retelling? Sign me up!… Literally! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Imagine what would happen if Cinderella wasn’t really the girl at the ball & the shoe just fit? Add some fae / fantasy & a bunch of lies and you have Liars Kingdom.

I couldn’t put this one down once I started! I needed to know how Ell’s story would unfold. I really enjoyed the characters and the magic of it all.

This was a good one! Such an original spin on the classic tale of Cinderella and it made for a really enjoyable read! The ending to this story was spectacular and made me fall in love with this book even more. Adding this to my collection of new favorite retellings for sure.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy.

Thank you Page Street for letting me read an ARC of Liar’s Kingdom! The book was utterly enchanting! The story premise is very clever and unique Cinderella Retelling in which Ell (Ellain) did not go to the ball but lies to better her situation. The fairies were a nice twist to the story, adding intrigue and danger where in the traditional story, the fairy godmother was basically angelic. There’s strong demisexual rep that aids the plot along with themes of forgiveness, love, and loss. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it!

If you are a fan of fairytale retellings check out Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Calella.

This novel gives a unique spin on the classic fairytale.

Ell lives with her evil stepmother & stepsisters - acting as their servant after her stepmother murdered her father when she was 11. Thank goodness she has her rat friends. The Prince and his right hand man are going door to door with a glass slipper to find who the runaway maiden was who stole the prince’s heart at the ball…. Funny enough, even though Ell was never at the ball….the shoe fits her petite foot. Now she must come up with an elaborate story to explain how she wound up there!

This book is ridiculous - I mean that in the kindest way possible. It’s a super quick read and it’s fun, but it just keeps getting crazier and crazier. I also wished that the romance was a bit more satisfying, but it sadly was a let down. However, there is a happy ending and some intricate storytelling that will keep you captivated. I think a younger audience would really enjoy this one!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. Catch this book when it hits shelves 1/14/25!

A new spin on Cinderella except the girl who fits in the shoe isn't actually the prince's beloved but a girl who has lied her way to the throne... and is dealing with the prince's best friend who is as handsome as he is treacherous! Ell's life has been a living nightmare ever since her stepmother killed her father, she is now forced to suffer physical abuse from her stepmother as well as being the house maid. Ell dreams about escaping, she'll do anything to free herself from this house... and when opportunity presents itself in the form of one Prince Bayard ( who has difficulty recognizing faces) showing up at her door with a glass slipper.... that coincidentally fits Ell perfectly, she's happy to pretend that she's the girl he fell in love with and danced with at the ball... even if she wasn't and his best friend Maxim just knows she is a liar. Ell soon finds herself in a complicated mess as Maxim is doing everything in his power to get her out of the palace yet there are evil fairies, revenge schemes, and a mad king to deal with. Ell's lies are bound to catch up to her but who can she rely on and who can she trust when anyone could be lying as well? This was definitely a unique spin on the classic Cinderella story! It really leans into the morally grey protagonist aspect, however for me it just didn't feel all that well fleshed out or developed. The romance just never really feels there, it kind of just appears out of nowhere. You are suppose to believe Maxim and Ell are in love but it doesn't exactly happen until like 70% into the book and I really don't believe it. The romance just doesn't really make that much sense and isn't fleshed out. Ell was a bit annoying at times and honestly I just wish she either leaned into the more morally grey survivor mode or just committed to something at least. I just didn't find myself loving anyone in this retelling and couldn't really care all that much for the overall story. In the end, while this was a unique retelling of Cinderella, it wasn't for me but I would say if you want a morally grey Cinderella retelling, give this a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did!

Release Date: January 14,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Page Street Publishing | Page Street YA for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was one of the best retellings I have read recently. I went into it completely blind other than knowing that it was a Cinderella retelling and I highly recommend that. I love that it was a retelling that truly told the story in its own way. It was not the typical Cinderella story, and yet there were still aspects of it that were kept true and sprinkled into the story throughout the book. I loved the addition of the fae. I think that it was a really cool addition that added another layer to the tale where it was not just the one fairy godmother, but instead an entire race of fae that was in the kingdom. The only thing is I wish that we had gotten more buildup between Ell and Maxim. I feel like there was some of the romance there but I would have wished for some more moments between them to solidify their connection.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Liar's Kingdom was such a fresh take on the classic Cinderella story. I loved the fact that there was a reason why the prince couldn't just remember the face of the girl he danced with, and that the MC wasn't even that girl to begin with. I loved this one, it was fun and entertaining to read. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

Liar’s Kingdom is a Cinderella retelling with a unique spin - the prince finds a girl who fits the glass slipper and takes her away to the palace to be his bride, but little does he know this particular girl was never actually at the ball. She goes along with it and finds herself involved with fairies and political plots while struggling to maintain her lies.

For the first half of the book I was prepared to give it 4 stars, but I found that it kept getting more ridiculous as it went on. Things were just happening rapidly at the end and I was trying not to skim. The romance had potential but the development just wasn’t there. However it was an okay read overall with a nice happy ending and I think a younger audience may enjoy it more.

Thank you to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this will contain spoilers.

I enjoyed that this was a spoof off of cinderella. what if everything happened and she took advantage of having small feet.

Did we ever get an understanding of what Maxim had promised to the Fairy? The stepsisters were interesting. they showed moments of feeling bad for what was happening, but it would have been interesting to see some foreshadowing of that earlier in the book.

I really liked the first half of the book. the second half moved really fast and I would have liked to see them figure things out a bit more. but over all it was a very good book that I would recommend. it shows that even when we make mistakes, we have the ability to change and do better.

I plan to share this story on my instagram on Monday, January 13th.

Overall, I enjoyed this retelling of Cinderella. I enjoyed the novel twist on the Cinderella story, and how Calella still worked in all the different elements of the classic story as we know it (even references the darker Brother;s Grimm version of the story). Ell is a classic capable FMC and I thought the stepsisters were actually more interesting as characters by the end than I would have thought. However, I thought the romance portions of the story felt forced and a bit too insta-love (even considering this is YA story).
The plot moves very quickly - eveything seems to take place over the course of about a week. While the fast pace was easy to keep up with and consistent with similar YA stories, I feel like the characters and story could have used a little more time to breathe to really make the end pack the punch it wants. Spread things out over the course of a few weeks, even a few months. It felt a bit like the story tried to do too much all at once, as enjoable as things were.

In summary, I had a good time reading and think this would have been a book my 14 year old self would have devoured.

This one was a great surprise because it is a retelling of Cinderella and the author was able to turn this classic story (the hardest to modernize in my opinion) into a great tale of an amazing character. Her strength is a role model worth rereding over and over. Also the cover is done by one of my favorite character artists.

"Liar's Kingdom" by Christine Calella offers a fresh and imaginative take on the classic Cinderella story. I've come across countless versions over the years, but this one truly stands out because of its unique and unexpected twists. Calella shakes up the traditional narrative by changing the way Ella, the peasant girl, meets the prince. There’s no fairy godmother, no magical ball, and Ella has never even crossed paths with the prince until he shows up at her home. But when the iconic glass slipper finally fits, Ella faces a life-altering choice that really tests her strength and instincts for self-preservation.

Ella is the heart of this story and definitely the highlight for me. Her internal struggle—balancing her desire for love with her resentment towards those who have wronged her—is portrayed with incredible emotional depth. She’s got a solid moral compass and a practical mindset. Ella is not just a character who grows personally; she also inspires those around her to change, whether by offering support or holding them accountable. Her complexity makes her relatable and truly captivating.

The narrative is fast-paced and engrossing, packed with rich character development and clever plot twists. If you're into morally complex heroines, sharp storytelling, and inventive takes on classic fairy tales, "Liar's Kingdom" should be on your reading list!

Thank you to Christine Calella, Page Street Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in return for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 14, 2025.

“Most people think rats are dirty, but they’re really not. ”
Here are reasons to read the YA Fantasy book:

Cinderella retelling - In this Cinderella Retelling
Prince and Slipper - we start with a prince looking for the owner to a glass slipper
Recognize - but the difference in that the Prince has difficulty recognizing faces, and therefore has no idea that Ell is not the girl he danced with at the ball
Advantage - Ell uses this to her advantage, to get out of her current situation
Advisor - One problem: The kings trusted advisor Maxim knows that she is not who she says she is

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. While it is very much in the Cinderella storyline, there is a lot that explains how things happened, like the slipper, the pumpkin coach, and her fairy godmother. But the ability for Ell to keep being an appealing character, while navigating the white lies of her identity, is really great. She loves this kingdom and deserves to be a princess, and you want to see her fight to keep it. If you like retellings, this one is for you!

Ell has a wicked stepmother and stepsisters, but she is not the Cinderella you are thinking of. When a face blind prince comes to her door with a glass slipper that only fits her, she pretends to be his mystery woman in order to escape horrific servitude under her stepfamily. Not only does she have to contend with maintaining her lie, but also the ongoing war between her kingdom and the fairy kingdom which may be more complicated than it seems....

Man, this book was so close to being a five-star read. I thought it was quite a clever take on the Cinderella story with the exception of the romance. With our romantic lead having the last name 'D'Arcy', obviously the author was going for a Pride and Prejudice influence. However, Ell was not even aware that D'Arcy was intended to be her love interest until the last 20% of the book (and she had a lot of reasons to not trust or like him that were perfectly valid). Therefore, the reciprocation of her feeling was entirely too rushed and made zero sense in the context of the story. I almost felt that the romance initially wasn't included, and the author was forced by the publisher to add it in.

Ell was by far the highlight of the book. She struggles with her desire for love and bitterness towards those that hurt her in a very realistic way. However, she does still have a strong moral compass and low tolerance for any bullshit. She is the rare main character that tries to make everyone around her better by either supporting them or calling them out on their BS.

The plot was appropriately paced with adequate twists. While the world building was not the most original, it was good enough to support the story. Calella did a decent job of exploring themes of grief and forgiveness but definitely got heavy handed with explaining said themes by the end of the book.

I still overall enjoyed my reading experience, but the book would have been improved by cutting the romance subplot. It was totally unnecessary.

Review posted on Fable on 12/18/24. Reviews going live on Goodreads and storygraph on 12/20. Tik tok review going live on 1/7 if tik tok still exists.

I absolutely loved this retelling! This book was such a unique twist on the classic Cinderella tale. I loved this story and the characters within it. This was a book I didn’t want to put down and binge read it in a day. I appreciated the references to different Cinderella adaptions throughout the book as well as having its own original twist on the tale. This book had me smiling throughout the and I can’t recommend this book enough.

Read this if you like:

📖 Cinderella retellings
📖 Fairies & fae
📖 Lies & deception

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc, I loved it!

Liar's Kingdom by Christine Calella is a unique retelling of the classic Cinderella story. There have been many retellings of the original over the years, and I’ve read several of them. This book took a unique approach to how the peasant girl is found by the prince. Ella doesn’t have a fairy Godmother, and she doesn’t attend the royal ball. Yet, when the prince comes to their house, the glass slipper fits!

Ella makes a difficult choice to save herself.

In an instant, Ella’s life is changed. She decides to pretend that she did indeed attend the ball and that it is her slipper. It’s not easy, as Ella is an honest person by nature; however, she is desperate to escape her abusive stepfamily. What follows is her journey to redeem herself, and earn the love and trust of the prince. It would have been relatively easy if the prince’s best friend and royal confidant to the king wasn’t so determined to prove her a liar.

I appreciated this new spin of the heroine’s character. She is no longer a dainty creature with perfect manners and without flaws. Ella is flawed in this story. Despite her good intentions, she continues to deceive the entire kingdom about her identity. She has secrets, and takes risks. Even if she’s not the demure princess that everyone expected, Ella is positively helping the kingdom in her own ways. YA fans will love this version of (Cinder)Ella’s happily ever after!

(Review will post to thelitbuzz.com on 01/14/25)

<i> Liar’s Kingdom </i> is an incredibly fun and entertaining Young Adult Fantasy retelling of Cinderella.

This tense retelling had me on the edge of my seat, desperate to see what would come next, what obstacle our unlikely heroine, our underdog had to face. Deception is the biggest theme in this book and the author had such a cool and unique take on this classic story.

I highly recommend for readers who enjoy a good fairytale retelling, with pieces of the story being inspired by many other retellings, it's a well-rounded and dark telling of the story that will have you hanging on every word.

*Thank you Page Street Publishing for the review copy. All opinions are my own*

This was such a clever and refreshing twist on the Cinderella story! I loved how Ell wasn’t the girl from the ball—it added so much intrigue and raised the stakes in a way I wasn’t expecting. The detail that Prince Bayard can’t recognize faces was a smart touch, making his mistaken identity believable while adding depth to his character.

Ell is such a fascinating lead—morally gray, resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to escape her miserable life. She constantly finds herself in sticky situations, but her determination and wit make her so easy to root for.

Maxim, Bayard’s best friend, was another standout for me. From the start, he knows Ell is lying, and their fiery exchanges were some of my favorite parts of the book. The tension between them was palpable, and I loved watching their dynamic evolve from antagonistic to something much more layered as the story unfolded. Maxim has his own secrets, and discovering them added another layer of complexity to the plot.

The supporting cast also shone, with redeemable stepsisters, a not-so-fairy godmother, and the looming threat of war with the fae adding richness to the world. The darker elements of the story kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was so relieved when the author hinted at a happy ending—it gave me hope through some of the tougher moments.

This retelling was a fun, fast-paced read with great character development and unique twists. If you’re a fan of morally gray heroines and fresh takes on classic fairy tales, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm so happy I got an ARC of this book because it was everything I want in a fairy tale retelling! Ell is a great character who ends up in so many bad situations, (mostly) not of her own making. Even though I love fairy tales, I am not a fan of stories involving the fae. But this was a decent representation of them - some good, some nasty, not too many fairy politics. I am a little skeptical of Ell's true love as he was portrayed as being so smirky throughout, but it still got hot at the end. I'm so glad the author promises us there will be a happy ending eventually, because there were some very sticky moments that had me worried. I appreciated the glimpse of the future to reassure myself.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. This was pretty good, if not the very best. Ell has been abused and forced to slave away for her stepfamily for six long years, ever since her father died. She would do anything to escape. And then, an opportunity presents itself. A sweet, charming prince who has trouble recognizing faces arrives at her door, bringing with him a slipper made of glass. Prince Bayard is searching for the girl he danced with at the royal ball, the one who fits the slipper. Miraculously, Ell appears to be that girl, and she jumps at the chance to leave her stepfamily behind. However, Ell wasn’t at the ball, and she has certainly never met Bayard, though she lets him believe otherwise. There’s also Bayard’s best friend, Maxim, a handsome yet highly irritating duke, who seems to know Ell’s secret.
Unease brews in the kingdom as Bayard’s father, King Alaric, prepares to wage war on all fairy kind as retaliation for the death of his wife and daughter, and Ell might have to get creative with her lies if she wants to survive life as a royal.


(SPOILERS)


The one thing I didn’t like about this is how abruptly Ell’s attitude toward Maxim changed. It seemed very rushed and sudden. One second she hates him, the next they were making out.