The story was full of unexpected twists and exciting reveals and it was a lot of fun to try to figure out what is actually going on. There are still all the bits and pieces that we are familiar with from the original tale – the fairy godmother, the stepsisters, the glass slipper, Prince Charming – but nothing is quite as you might expect. I really enjoyed how the author put her own spin on the story of Cinderella.
There are also several references to other fairy tales sprinkled throughout the book, which I really enjoyed. I loved all the fairy tale elements featured in the book: dark, creepy woods, royal balls and princess dresses, magical curses, and a fair bit of witchcraft, just to mention a few. The atmosphere in this book was so magical. The author also addresses the harsh realities of being queer in a society that condemns queerness and I really liked how this was handled in the book. I also appreciated that the book discusses the complexities of problematic relationships as well, including within queer couples. Not only does this book feature a queer female lead and a beautiful F/F romance, but it also includes queer representation in its cast of supporting characters. Their relationship was developed very well and their flirty scenes were on point! I also loved the romance between Sophia and Constance. Constance is also a real badass and I really enjoyed the spark of action she brings to the story. She was sooo swoon-worthy! I was basically in heart eyes emoji mode over her throughout the book. I also really liked Constance, our love interest. She has a big heart and is willing to go to great lengths for what she believes in and the people she cares about. Our main character Sophia is a fierce Black queer girl and as soon as I started the book, I immediately fell in love with her. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Today I have for you a non-spoilery review of Kalynn Bayron’s YA Fantasy Cinderella Is Dead, followed by an interview with the author.
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