Liar's Kingdom is a grand adventure that takes the story of Cinderella and throws it on its head. Ell is sick and tired of being the abused drudge of her stepmother. When her foot unexpectedly fits the glass slipper, she lies and says she is the missing girl that Prince Bayard fell in love with at the ball. Once at the castle, pragmatic Ell realizes that there are big troubles in the kingdom and she sets out to make things right. There are fairies, evil machinations behind the royal scenes and unexpected romance waiting. This is a happily ever after book appropriate for all ages.

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

In Liar’s Kingdom, Christine Calella presents the scenario of Cinderella lying about being the girl at the ball. After all, a noble girl abused by her family and forced into the role of a servant…a prince who’s obviously not able to recognize the girl he danced with…if she fit into his “magical” shoe, why wouldn’t she lie to escape? And perpetuate the lie by building a huge fairy tale to cover her tracks?

This retelling of Cinderella has a great premise, made more real by the prince having prosopagnosia or an inability to recognize faces. It also has great, dynamic characters including a morally gray Cinderella, potentially redeemable stepsisters, an evil not-godmother, and a maybe-treacherous heir to the throne. It’s a really fun story.

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.