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booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of the ugly stepsisters and I loved every single second of it. It finally tells a story that makes sense to me, about why they are mean to Ella. I wanted more around the abuse that their mother was obviously putting them through, but other than that, it was glorious.
Isabelle is fierce and wonderful, but also bitter and angry. Tavi actually spoke to me more, as she is seriously into her maths (yay maths nerds! 💙) and doesn’t understand why she should ditch that for a husband. Girl, I hear that! Hehe. But Isabelle is a great lead, and I loved her interactions with Fate, Chance and the fairy queen. Her ending was perfect.
I also loved the play between Fate and Chance, they were so fun. Fate definitely comes across as the “bad guy” but I would have liked it to show a little more that she thinks she’s doing her job, so to speak. Though I liked her ending too. And we do see that a little, but I don’t like how she goes about it. Chance’s free wheeling, happier attitude is great, but actually in contrast to how he ended up in the situation. I liked him realising that actions have consequences and sort of want a whole book on him dealing with that more.
It’s a fun, easy read and one of the best Cinderella retelling I’ve seen. I also love that it starts almost at the end of Ella’s story, so it’s easier for it to work without tripping over reader expectations. Brilliantly done.
This is the story of the ugly stepsisters and I loved every single second of it. It finally tells a story that makes sense to me, about why they are mean to Ella. I wanted more around the abuse that their mother was obviously putting them through, but other than that, it was glorious.
Isabelle is fierce and wonderful, but also bitter and angry. Tavi actually spoke to me more, as she is seriously into her maths (yay maths nerds! 💙) and doesn’t understand why she should ditch that for a husband. Girl, I hear that! Hehe. But Isabelle is a great lead, and I loved her interactions with Fate, Chance and the fairy queen. Her ending was perfect.
I also loved the play between Fate and Chance, they were so fun. Fate definitely comes across as the “bad guy” but I would have liked it to show a little more that she thinks she’s doing her job, so to speak. Though I liked her ending too. And we do see that a little, but I don’t like how she goes about it. Chance’s free wheeling, happier attitude is great, but actually in contrast to how he ended up in the situation. I liked him realising that actions have consequences and sort of want a whole book on him dealing with that more.
It’s a fun, easy read and one of the best Cinderella retelling I’ve seen. I also love that it starts almost at the end of Ella’s story, so it’s easier for it to work without tripping over reader expectations. Brilliantly done.
shaxx's review
5.0
Mám ráda retellingy, zvlášť ty temnější, nebo z pohledu těch ,,záporáků". A tenhle retelling byl fakt fajn. Autorka si moc dobře umí pohrát s emocemi čtenáře. I přesto, že příběh sleduje příběh jedné z těch ,,zlých a ošklivých" sester, nezbyde vám nic jiného, než jí držet palce a Ella ať se jde vycpat. Ono je to jednoduchý, když máte hezkou tvářičku a stačí vám párkrát mávnout řasama, ale když máte tuctovej obličej, prořízlou pusu a místo vybírání látky na šaty se raději budete věnovat algebře nebo vojenským strategiím, budete to mít v době v době, kdy neexistuje něco jako ženská práva, rovnoprávnost a ženský maj přesně stanovený, k čemu tu jsou, docela těžký.
Knížka obsahuje pár pěkných myšlenek a hezky nese poselství o ženské síle a o tom, že pokud někdo může změnit váš osud, jste to hlavně vy. Nenechat se vláčet tím, co chce někdo jiný, zvlášť pokud vláčí vámi, nenechat se definovat někým, kdo neví, kdo jste vy.
Díky krátkým kapitolám se dobře čte, aneb za pár hodin přečteno :) Jsem spokojená.
Knížka obsahuje pár pěkných myšlenek a hezky nese poselství o ženské síle a o tom, že pokud někdo může změnit váš osud, jste to hlavně vy. Nenechat se vláčet tím, co chce někdo jiný, zvlášť pokud vláčí vámi, nenechat se definovat někým, kdo neví, kdo jste vy.
Díky krátkým kapitolám se dobře čte, aneb za pár hodin přečteno :) Jsem spokojená.
degenderates's review against another edition
2.0
Oh, how dark! How feminist!
Not really.
This story was dark in all the predictable ways and feminist in a very typical way. Although I did love that Isabelle was obsessed with history and wars and generals, I didn't truly feel that she was making the decisions on her own, rather that Fate and Chance were trying to do things for her. In the end, she did start to make her own path, however, most of the story was bland, dull, and overdone. I loved the Waterfire Saga by Jennifer Donnely, but I read that series a few years ago when I was a lot younger. Perhaps her writing style isn't for me anymore.
Another thing: the writing was pretty much for the younger side of YA, however, the content was pretty dark for younger readers--which created a discontinuity. And worldbuilding? We don't know her.
Anyway, not my cup of tea. You may love it, but I didn't think the story, characters, or worldbuilding was well-crafted.
Not really.
This story was dark in all the predictable ways and feminist in a very typical way. Although I did love that Isabelle was obsessed with history and wars and generals, I didn't truly feel that she was making the decisions on her own, rather that Fate and Chance were trying to do things for her. In the end, she did start to make her own path, however, most of the story was bland, dull, and overdone. I loved the Waterfire Saga by Jennifer Donnely, but I read that series a few years ago when I was a lot younger. Perhaps her writing style isn't for me anymore.
Another thing: the writing was pretty much for the younger side of YA, however, the content was pretty dark for younger readers--which created a discontinuity. And worldbuilding? We don't know her.
Anyway, not my cup of tea. You may love it, but I didn't think the story, characters, or worldbuilding was well-crafted.
honeybee_reads_'s review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition
4.0
“Who set us against each other, Ella? she wondered. Was it those men? Was it Maman? Or was it the whole heartless world?”
Jennifer Donnelly's retelling of Cinderella has been a joy to read. The chapters are fairly short and keep you moving along, although I did find it a little slower in the first half I loved the second half of the book.
Leaning on the original Grimm's tale, we start off in the story when the sisters are maiming their feet to fit in the slipper. We meet The Fates who have mapped out Isabelle's (one of the sisters) life, and Chance who seeks to change her fate. An enemy is scouring the land with his army - a path that Chance accidentally set - and by changing Isabelle's fate, he hopes to stop what he set into motion.
Ella doesn’t feature much in the book - we follow the story from a couple of viewpoints but predominantly Isabelle's. In this tale, they weren't always the mean stepsisters but turned towards it in their childhood. Isabelle and Octavia, the other sister, are both strong willed and do not fit into the box that a girl is expected to by the world around them - they're described as not making good wives.
The fairy queen is nothing like the Disney version (I haven't read Grimm's version, I just know odd details). She's dangerous and has a penchant for live rabbits. Without saying too much, she also has a hand, along with Chance, in helping Isabelle find her place in the world and accept who she is - rather than trying to conform and shut out everything that she is. This story is all about realising that beauty isn't skin deep - it's so much more - and that you shouldn’t change yourself because of what others say and perceive you should be.
“Go now, girl. Remake the world.”
I absolutely adored the story so much from when Isabelle starts putting it all together. I didn’t find the world was all too fleshed out, but considering its set in (I'd guestimate) 1600/1700s France I suppose it doesn’t need to be - there's already an image you build up based on that knowledge and what you know Cinderella to be. It feels like there's a second tale interwoven throughout between Chance and The Fates, its dark, and its enticing. I'd definitely recommend this book to others.
Thank you to Hot Key Books and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jennifer Donnelly's retelling of Cinderella has been a joy to read. The chapters are fairly short and keep you moving along, although I did find it a little slower in the first half I loved the second half of the book.
Leaning on the original Grimm's tale, we start off in the story when the sisters are maiming their feet to fit in the slipper. We meet The Fates who have mapped out Isabelle's (one of the sisters) life, and Chance who seeks to change her fate. An enemy is scouring the land with his army - a path that Chance accidentally set - and by changing Isabelle's fate, he hopes to stop what he set into motion.
Ella doesn’t feature much in the book - we follow the story from a couple of viewpoints but predominantly Isabelle's. In this tale, they weren't always the mean stepsisters but turned towards it in their childhood. Isabelle and Octavia, the other sister, are both strong willed and do not fit into the box that a girl is expected to by the world around them - they're described as not making good wives.
The fairy queen is nothing like the Disney version (I haven't read Grimm's version, I just know odd details). She's dangerous and has a penchant for live rabbits. Without saying too much, she also has a hand, along with Chance, in helping Isabelle find her place in the world and accept who she is - rather than trying to conform and shut out everything that she is. This story is all about realising that beauty isn't skin deep - it's so much more - and that you shouldn’t change yourself because of what others say and perceive you should be.
“Go now, girl. Remake the world.”
I absolutely adored the story so much from when Isabelle starts putting it all together. I didn’t find the world was all too fleshed out, but considering its set in (I'd guestimate) 1600/1700s France I suppose it doesn’t need to be - there's already an image you build up based on that knowledge and what you know Cinderella to be. It feels like there's a second tale interwoven throughout between Chance and The Fates, its dark, and its enticing. I'd definitely recommend this book to others.
Thank you to Hot Key Books and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
sarahd7276's review against another edition
5.0
I’m so freaking in love with this book!! I identify with Isabelle de la Paume in ways only “ugly girls” can. It’s rich and layered and sweeping and haunting. It’s perfection.
furkastle's review against another edition
5.0
Teachers, if you need an amazing book with an equally awesome heroine that learns life lessons, get this book! Read it first before you put it on your shelf!
jolietjane's review against another edition
4.0
I'm apparently on a roll with good YA. This was SO good.
Overview:
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