Fairytale is history in this story. Cinderella is the story of this kingdom, however others have different tales. I enjoyed that the story was also a play of the history being written by the victor, and altered to change the narrative favourably towards himself. The changes to the story were fun, and I liked that the author set up multiple sources of information rather than one which throws everything at you.

Let’s first talk about the bad guy… I’m still unsure of the why and his motivations. His plan took a LOT of effort, and we only saw his means to an end, but never saw his end game. However, I liked how he was portrayed and how he reacted throughout the book. He defintely thought out his plans and as said by Sophia he’s “a monster not a fool”. I enjoyed him as a villain overall, especially as part of the Cinderella retelling.

Another switch up from the retelling was the Fairy Godmother. Instead of being a fairy, very early on our characters realise she’s a witch and not too different to other witches. She also has a secret past but is the only way for Constance and Sophia to find out some things about the Cinderella story. I loved the storyline of meeting and beginning to understand the fairy godmother.

Our main character is a non-Cinderella character and is completely new to the tale. I thought maybe Constance or even Amina would have been a better main character though. Unfortunately, Sophia doesn’t feel like she has any link to the story… except she meets Constance at the right time. Plus, she’s not the brightest character, for example at the start of the book another character offers her an out and she ignores it and then is surprised when he acts on it. Whilst she is angry against the sytem and king, she doesn’t quite have the same stakes as Constance or Amina in the overall story.

I love Constance as a character, and I figure she actually has a much bigger story to tell. We don’t find out much about what she was doing before this book, but her family history leaves a lot to be discovered. I would love a spin off where we follow the adventures of Gabrielle and the other stepsister. Plus, finding out about how Constance has been trying to defeat the king over the years just sounds more badass.

The forest and town were the perfect fairytale backdrop. People canntot leave without the king’s permission so they can’t escape to another kingdom (this is questionable… but I’m glad they included this explaination). There’s also mention of other kingdoms and similar fairytale like stories to basically use as life guidebook. I loved the change up of the kingdom from the orginal tale, and it’s even said they changed locations for Cinderella’s house in this book to hide the real history.

In Cinderella is Dead women are to be owned and not heard. If they’re not married before they’re 20 they are forfeit and often never seen again. There’s a lot of themes in this book about women as they’re unable to speak out or act by themselves. Women are forcing other women to conform, from mothers to friends and fairy godmothers. I like that as the world starts changing for the better, men tried to get involved saying they should get an opinion and the response was that they don’t get an opinion when they were the ones participating and allowing the awful treatment to continue.

Overall, Cinderella is Dead has a great cast of characters, a fun plot line and it truly gripped me the entire time I read it. I ended up finishing the book in a day which is almost unheard of for me. I’d recommend it as a quick fantasy read,

Positives of Cinderella is Dead
Feels fairytale like still
Female empowerment
Negatives of Cinderella is Dead
Main character

I love a good fairy-tale retelling and I don't remember the last time I read a Cinderella retelling so I was excited for this one! I think Cinderella Is Dead is SUCH a clever take on Cinderella, I think this will be such a good book for teenagers to read as it completely disregards the whole marrying prince charming is the only way to be happy trope most traditional fairy-tale endings have, which is an important lesson to learn. The plot was well thought of, well developed and well paced. The twists, thankfully, weren't easy to guess so it made reading so much more interesting because I genuinely had no clue which why this story was going to go.

The world building is incredible, it's definitely dark and there are some trigger warnings for things that happen such as homophobia , abuse, sexism, these things are hard to read but Bayron dealt with them sensitively. The diversity in Cinderella is Dead is brilliant, the main character Sophia is a queer Black female in a f/f relationship and this is something we need more of in YA.

“Be a light in the dark.”

What an amazing read! This was such a unique take on Cinderella and I loved every bit of it.

I loved Sophia and her determination. She fought for what was right and what she wanted. She was such a strong character.

Constance was also a strong character and one I loved. I loved the relationship between her and Sophia too.

The story was well written, fast paced and full of action. There were twists that I didn’t see coming, and I loved every second of it!

The plot was really interesting and I found after I finished it that I wanted more. Despite this being a standalone (I think! 🤔) I would love to see what happens next.

Do you like fairytales with a dark twist? If so then this is 100% the book for you. Have you ever imagined how Cinderella really ended? This is your chance to find out in a gripping and twisted story spanning the years after Cinderella died. Find out how she died and what went wrong along the way, in a book I’m so glad to have great! Oh and did I mention, it’s sapphic! Before I get into the nitty gritty though, thank you to Bloomsbury Kids & Faye for sending an ARC and letting be on this blog tour!

“It’s risky…But sometimes that’s the only way to get things done. Take the risk, light the fuse. Onward.”
In Short: Cinderella + A Story After The Story + Gritty + LGBTQ+

“That you try to flatter me when I have a blade at your neck makes me want to slit your throat and spare the world your ignorance.”
The only main fault I had with Cinderella is Dead would be that there wasn’t enough of it. At times it felt rushed and a bit like the author was trying to quickly wrap up the story in a neat bow. Personally, I think this would have worked excellently as a duo-logy splitting at the point where you meet the fairy godmother. But I think this is mainly due to me just wanting more, because I was so engrossed in the story and the world.

“You weren’t selfish. You saw a future for yourself that she couldn’t imagine. You wanted her to believe that the two of you could find a way through all this. That’s what happens when you care about someone. And when you’re brave enough to imagine a different life.”
Apart from that, i’d describe this book as a rush of adrenaline because it never really slows down once it’s started going. I found it a really easy yet quick read it’s one of those books that with every page the intrigue and the fascination grows until you can’t wait to find out all the secrets. I’ve never really been into Cinderella that much when I was a kid but there’s just something about this whole story that’s so engrossingly sinister the more you look at it. As I ended up reading I kept thinking to myself, are all fairytales this dark and we just never noticed that as a kid? Like Cinderella the tale has so much space for it to be really creepy and unsettling and I think thats why i enjoyed it so much because Cinderella is Dead cashes in on all those could be creepy and dark moments and it works so well.

“I think sometimes we make the mistake of thinking monsters are abhorrent aberrations, lurking in the darkest recesses, when the truth is far more disturbing. The most monstrous men are those who sit in plain sight, daring you to challenge them.”
It tackles misogyny and also why feminism and equality is important in pretty stark terms. If you’re someone whose always been on the fence issues such as these please read this book. If you come out after reading this book spouting some sexist and racist bullshit then i’d be surprised. Because everything in this book is heart-wrenching like how would you feel if you were suddenly in a world where you have no rights? Where your every move is dictated by a man and anything they says goes. It’s horrible and disgusting and eye opening when you start to think some places in the world probably are a bit like this (without the whole magic/fantasy aspect of course). Though I guess that’s one of the things I like about this book and YA in general, it gives you food for thought and I bet you that you’ll be want to read this book again long after you’ve finished reading it. I’m so glad I read this book and thank you so much once again to Bloomsbury for sending an ARC!

“Look at your children, your friends, your wives, and your daughters. Don’t do what is right because they hold those titles. Do what is right because they are people.”
Overall, I know this is a pretty short review, but I guess it’s because it’s left me pretty speechless. It’s a really fun book that has a sharper and a more thoughtful side sometimes. But If you’ve even thought about reading this book, stop thinking and pick it up when you can!

I loved this book, a lot of fun and very subversive. The author successfully used the aesthetics of fairy tales and Disney that people find comfort in, while also creating a thought provoking and dark tale. I loved the character of Sophia, although I felt that the conclusion of her and Erin’s relationship was unsatisfying. Amina is a brilliant character too and the front cover to the book is wonderful.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

“The palace underestimates the resourcefulness of women forced into dark and dangerous places.”

This was a fabulous and completely unique retelling of the Cinderella fairytale. I loved Sophia and her feisty personality. There was no dithering here, whether or not to stop the patriarchy - she decided to do it and do it she did!

I flew through this book and really recommend it to anyone.

Trigger warnings for homophobia, domestic abuse and violence, sexual harassment, loss of loved ones, death of an animal on page, implied rape and abuse.

I have to be honest, I couldn't click with this book, I felt that it took me so long to read and I didn't connect with the characters to care what they were going through.

I really hoped I would love this and I'm so sad I didn't.

The story holds many hidden gem within the pages and it was an enjoyable experience overall. I would say it’s more reinvented than a retelling of the classic.
I must admit that it made me think at the Virgin Queen and her appetite for virgins blood to stay young as the King Manford lived his life. I don’t particularly like Sophia because I still see her as a teenager and very unsure about her life and future. It’s an age when you have to feel and discover the world and life’s opportunities so the gay heroine at sixteen is a bit lost on me here. The patriarchy fight has been happening for many years and will still be a long time before we can live in a better place for everyone.
The writing was great and the story overall was interesting but I wouldn’t say it’s a favourite unfortunately.

Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Cinderella is Dead is a book full of rebellion spirit.

The world-building in Cinderella is dead starts from page one, as we are introduced to the cruel patriarchy of Lille. Once I was introduced to the way life is for the female of Lille made me angry. It made me like Sophia straight away as she questions the way in which she lives.  And why she has to hide the fact that she would pick the princess rather than the prince.

The writing style of Cinderella is Dead is easy to read and engaging. I had no problem picking up the book and getting lost in the story.

There is a lot of build-up in Cinderella is Dead, that when I got to the 80% mark of the book I was worried that everything wouldn't get resolved. It did but it all happened very quickly. The book has a good pace but went supersonic in the last 20%.

One of my favourite aspects of Cinderella is Dead is the different ways that characters deal with their sexuality. As it shows how family expectation impact how you express your true self.

Another aspect I liked about Cinderella is Dead is the way in which men react to a woman holding a knife to their throat.

Cinderella is Dead is a lovely reimaging that squashes the patriarchy and gives us great LGBTQ+ Heroine.

My Rating for Cinderella is Dead is 4 out of 5.

Rating: 3.5/5

I’m a huge fan of fairytales retellings. Like many others, I have been raised on the traditional fairytales, and while I have enjoyed them as a child, they had so many issues: starting from being far to perfect (with their happily ever after, and never talking about anything that happens after) and ending the lack of representation of certain groups and sexualities, which has been particularly visible in older Disney version of fairytales. The trend in recent years with the retelling of the classical fairytales, is often to either include more varied cast or retell the story in a darker way. In many ways, Kalynn Bayron’s 'Cinderella Is Dead' is both. The premise of this book is great: gay ‘Cinderella’ overthrowing the patriarchy. What else can you want?

'Cinderella Is Dead' is a good read for the weekend, and I have enjoyed this book a lot. Narrated in the first person from the point of Sophia, a sixteen-years-old girl that has to attend the royal ball for the ceremony of choosing in the Kingdom, where women have only freedoms and rights that the husbands allow them for. The only problem? She’s too strong-headed to allow someone to control her that way, not too mention that she has feelings for her friend, Erin.

As the main character, Sophia has been an interesting and strong protagonist, although I found her sometimes too quick to jump into things without actually thinking through the current situation. But the book, generally, had a good cast of the characters. I have enjoyed the supporting characters a lot in 'Cinderella Is Dead': from scared Erin, charming Luke and of course, another strong female lead, Constance. As retellings of Cinderella go, I particularly liked the representation of varied characters in 'Cinderella Is Dead'.

It has been a good and accessible fantasy, especially for those who know the classical version of Cinderella, and enjoy new spins on well-known story. While in parts a little bit predictable, I found myself reading Kalynn Bayron’s book in less than a day, which says something! Some parts of the book felt a little rushed, and not as developed as the others, but overall I found Kalynn Bayron’s book very enjoyable.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy of the book. This review has been posted simultaneously on Goodreads, and will be posted on Amazon after the official release of the book.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Warning – mild spoilers in review.

This story takes place 200 years after the original Cinderella story or rather, what we think of as the Cinderella story. This book, however, is a reimagining rather than a retelling. In this world, young girls must attend a ball to be “chosen” by men as future wives. This ball is mandated by the crown and non-attendance is punished by death.

The main character, Sophia, is due to attend her first ball. As a young, gay, black woman, the ball holds nothing but danger for her and her girlfriend Erin. Erin is willing to submit to her fate, but Sophia is not and looks for ways to escape what her parents and society at large have planned for her. I thought the ball was an interesting story technique and although it could have been cheesy and crap a la The Selection, it actually worked.

As a character, Sophia is headstrong and more than a little fiery, but it might have been interesting to delve into some of the consequences of her actions. Some of the choices she makes are downright dangerous for those she professes to care for. Everything she does is framed as amazing and righteous and those characters who were (understandably) more who were portrayed as weak and pathetic. In a truly tyrannical society choices are not so black and white. She is a fun character, but I felt she lacked complexity.

This book also suffers from everyone’s favourite YA trope – Insta-Love. It’s always hard to swallow the “woe is me, why can’t I and my true love be together” aspect of someone’s story when they start drooling over someone else almost immediately. I know this is par for the course in YA but it is still a bit tedious to see it rearing its head over and over again.

The antagonist is also comically terrible and one dimensional. I do not need my villains to be tortured souls who are good at heart but some kind of personality is required. Unfortunately, there was none to be found here. The ending was also a complete hot mess.

The character dialogue also seemed quite banal and the place names were kinda corny – “Mersailles” *shudder*.

Despite the aspects I did not enjoy, this was overall a fun read that kept me engaged to the end. I read it on the wettest, most miserable camping trip in human history and it cheered me up so I’m happy to forgive the not so good parts, but others might not. Not going to comment in-depth on how good the LGBT and PoC representation is because I am not a member of those communities, but I liked how unapologetically gay Sophia was. There wasn’t any angst about her sexual identity despite living in a society that condemns her and there wasn’t any will she/won't she with any male characters which there often is, so that was refreshing!

Cinderella is Dead is a addictive read, it’s a book you’ll pick up and not want to put down until you’ve finished. Kalynn Bayron’s writing is intoxicating.

We follow Sophia as she has to navigate a world that only wants to put her down, to control her options, and put her in her place. But Sophia is strong-willed and brave, and very very gay – truthfully I love that for her. I found her relatable and a great narrative to follow. At the end of the day she just wants to be with the girl she loves and take down the patriarchy whilst she’s at it. Who doesn’t want to read about that or for her to succeed?

This world is not one for women to thrive in. It’s one that reshapes Cinderella’s story, uses it as a law, to lie and control. Where women are property, ready to serve and provide.

Whilst Sophia is vocal about her desire for change, others aren’t as quick to trust or follow her. This was a little sad to see, as it suggested no one else was as brave to consider the options of their futures, but it’s likely Sophia just hadn’t met them yet. Everyone feels alone when fighting for change.

Towards the start of the book Sophia is faced with an out, a path that would allow for a quiet life option for her. I got very worried that this would tame the story a little but nope, Kalynn Bayron packed a punch and a kick and gave me the story I really wanted.

Meeting Constance really sets Sophia on a new path, with new possibilites. It’s at this point the story really took off for me, that I truly knew this was going to continue to be a highly rating read for me. It’s got a few twist and turns, with some dark elements present, and fast-paced.

The only real element I wasn’t super fond of is the romance, it felt a little too like insta-love. But it wasn’t a huge issue, especially as I don’t often pick up books for the romance elements.

Throughout the story the queer and Black representation is woven into the story seemlessly, which is always a bonus. So overall I really recommend this as a book to add to your bookshelves.

This story opens with a boom and punches it’s way into your heart, once it gets hold of you it doesn’t let you go. That’s how I felt, when it was over I wanted more and was gutted it had ended. It’s powerful, moving, full of representation and strong women. It has a great story with twists and turns, beautifully written and a lead character you want to run off and go on adventures with yourself. You need to buy this book, you need it in your life. Addictive and amazing, fantastic Kalynn Bayron and more please !

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This book had so much potential with it being a Cinderella retelling of a gay black girl overthrowing the monarchy and the majority of it was actually really good and I enjoyed it but some of the most important moments seemed to be rushed, especially the ending.
Set 200 years after Cindrella found her prince, this is a story that turns the popular and widely known fairy tale on its head and gives a strong female lead to Sophia who stands against everything the King, Manford, has placed upon her home town and will do anything to change things, even daring to risk her own life.
I loved how head strong and certain of herself Sophia was in a time where you aren't allowed to be yourself and her determination to change the terrible ruling was written brilliantly.
Erin bothered me, I understand that she was terrified about doing anything wrong and ending up as a forfeit or dead but the way she treated Sophia, always putting her feelings down and saying it was wrong was cruel.
I liked Constance, she seemed to be the perfect match for Sophia, with her confidence and willingness to help her tear down the oppressive tyranny of the king.
There was a nice little twist at the end which I did not see coming at all which made things more interesting but I felt that the final battle was rushed.
Overall I enjoyed this Cinderella retelling but wish some parts were more fleshed out.

*thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

Cinderella is Dead burst into my life and found a special place in my heart. It’s just such a phenomenal book in every way and has easily found itself high up in the running for one of my favourite books of this year. Bayron’s prose just exudes such an entrancing, magical atmosphere that you can’t help but get wrapped up in.

Right from the start, Bayron is not here to mess around with an incredibly strong opening that had me hooked. The writing style just flows so well; it felt like hundreds of pages just flew by in a blink as I became completely wrapped up in Sophia’s story. She is such an incredible protagonist, who I deeply empathised with and wanted to succeed. It’s so powerful to have a story centred around a Black, LGBTQ+ protagonist, which is sadly a rare occasion. Her and Constance team up to quite literally smash the patriarchy and I was loving every second of it.

Fairy-tale retellings are something that I’ve loved for a very long time and this really felt like a fresh and original reclamation of an antiquated, age-old tale. For far too long, those types of tales have excluded and marginalised anyone who didn’t fit their perfect mould and Bayron smashes this idea to pieces. Anyone and everyone not only can be the hero of their own story, but deserves to be.

I would be remiss to not mention the gorgeous writing and vividly imagined world hidden within these pages. It felt so rich and evocative that I could easily picture myself there and the exquisite writing would easily lend itself a cinematic adaptation. Rarely have I been quite so captivated or transported by a story. Bayron has conjured up a dark, twisty and wholly original story out of the dusty ashes of the tales we grew up with.

Cinderella is Dead is an empowering, brilliantly imagined story that I couldn’t help but become obsessed with.

3*

I was really intrigued by the premise of Cinderella is Dead - set 200 years after Cinderella found her Prince Charming, and now every girl is 'invited' to the ball to be chosen by her perfect 'Prince' and live happily ever after. It has a poc protagonist who is LGBTQ+ and who is desperate to find some way to escape the life that is expected of her.

But unfortunately, what I read was lacking. I felt that the chatracters were very one dimensional, and I get this this is aimed at the YA market, but it just read very young if that makes sense. I guessed several of the big reveals pretty early on. I could not understand Sophia's infatuation with Erin, which then moved onto the next girl that she met. The story lagged, she spent dozens of pages in a cottage doing not very much, and I felt like the ending, whilst it lasted for an appropropriate amount of 'pages' it still somehow felt rushed. Conversation was stilted and not all that engaging, I think the book could have done with some more fleshing out.

It may appeal to the actual marketed age bracket, but it wasn't really for me.

Thank you Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a great set up and I love the idea for the world. It is set in the future of Cinderella's world in which her story has been twisted and worshiped to the detriment of women and anyone who deviates from what is expected. They repeatedly try to emulate the story causing girls and women to be held to impossible standards they can never replicate or compete with.

The main character, Sophia, is black and sapphic and has never prescribed to these ideals that rule her entire life and stop her from being who she wants to be and doing what she wants to do. She resents that she is forced to attend a ball in which a man would lay claim to her or face being forfeited and spending her life in service instead. She longs to run away with her girlfriend and friends, something that becomes more of a reality when she escapes the ball after everything seemed to be going even more wrong than she could have imagined.

I think this book is really clever and the writing really pulls you into the story, making you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. It definitely has the fairytale and fantasy vibe which I love and adds gives so much more with the plot to take down the patriarchy together and the diversity of the central characters. The plot was definitely well established and full of so much history of the world in which the characters were living. It feels like it was the perfect blend of being both driven by the characters and their own stories as well as by the plot and the world.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading anything else that Kalynn Bayron writes!

Cinderella is Dead is a fairytale retelling of the Cinderella story. Set two hundred years after Cinderella's death (an intriguing start to a novel, I was instantly hooked), teenage girls have to appear at an annual ball, hosted by the king, a descendant of Cinderella, where the men in their society choose wives. But if you're unlucky enough not to get chosen, you are disappeared, and no one hears from you again. Sophia doesn't want to be chosen. She would rather marry Erin than any man. So she flees, and finds herself working to take down the king.

I absolutely love fairytale retellings. I don't know what it is about them, but I can't get enough of them. Cinderella is Dead is a feminist take on the tale of Cinderella. It gave me some Handmaid's Tale vibes re: women's rights and their position in society. It also has a lesbian lead character, and a lesbian romance subplot. It's certainly a unique take on Cinderella and what happened after the end of the fairytale. It feels original, bringing something new to the table.

This is a really good YA book. It has an exciting beginning, and then things get even more exciting and dramatic as the story continues. The setting is almost dystopian, just in a fantasy world, with a tyrannical king, a curfew, propaganda and public executions. The tale of Cinderella is like their holy book, and following its teachings women are kept in their 'place' as second class citizens. The rules are also homophobic, causing problems for queer people of all genders. The magic in the Cinderella's story seems to be absent from the day to day lives of the characters, but to question its existence is illegal. The story gets more and more interesting as it progresses, as secrets and horrors are uncovered.

Sophia is a brilliant main character. She's sure of her sexuality, and is willing to fight and question everything, whilst also loving deeply, and she has her own insecurities. Whilst often in fairytales, girls are damsels in distress and the prince comes in to save them, Sophia says 'I'd like to be the one in armour, and I'd like to be the one doing the saving'. This book is a story about magic, adventure, romance, grief, sorrow and friendship. It's about two girls trying to save the world. There are plenty of soft romantic moments, and also plenty of pining. Love is complicated, and Sophia's love story is far from simple.

There's never a dull moment in this book. The story is gripping and I couldn't put it down. This book is empowering for girls, especially black and queer girls, and just all round a great story.

Cinderella is Dead is a beautiful retelling of the classic fairy-tale with an incredibly dark twist. Filled with magic, necromancy, LGBTQ+ representation which honestly ticks all the boxes for a great YA Fantasy novel.

Sophia is a head-strong and fierce character who knows that things are not right in their village and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She’s also incredibly reckless and does not think about the consequences of her actions. However, I cannot flaw her in her fight against patriarchy and her mission to destroy the world that controls young women.

I found the plot to be really intriguing and I loved the spin on the classic story of Cinderella. I loved seeing these original characters that I grew up with and loved but in a different and much darker light. I especially liked the fairy godmother’s character who quickly became my favourite character in the book.

However this book did have it’s issues. I would have liked a lot more world building and a lot more character development. Whilst I felt like Sophia was a realistic character there was no real development in who she was as a character. I also found myself confused by the speed of Sophia and Constance’s relationship. This was very much an insta-love and Sophia was very quick to forget about her feelings for Erin until the plotline needed it.

Overall this was a magical retelling that I did end up reading quite swiftly and enjoying. Whilst it had its flaws it was also a fun read that I would recommend if you love fast-paced retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Genre: YA Fantasy/ LGBTQIA
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Release Date: 6th August, 2020 (UK)

Why is it that as child when I read/watched Cinderella it was believed to be every girl's 'dream'? To meet the Prince and live happily ever after.

I never liked Cinderella.

Think about it. Rounding up all the young girls in the Kingdom so the Prince can choose a wife! Sounds obscene. Valuing a fancy dress and the perfect appearance as something to strive for. Assuming that every girl wants a PRINCE charming and every boy wants a PRINCESS.

And that's why I totally LOVED this retelling of Cinderella by Kalynn Bayron. It's fair to say that this book smashes all of that; misogyny, ridiculous beauty standards and sexism, right in the face!

The story follows Sophia, a young girl, who is living 200 years after Cinderella married the Prince. Now girls are forced to go to the annual ball, where men from across the Kingdom choose a wife. However, Sophia is in love with her friend Erin - which is forbidden.

At the beginning of the story we meet Sophia and her friends and, one thing I love is, they all have different ways of dealing with the male dominated world they live in. It makes you think; what would you do in that situation? Would you be like Sophia and want to try and escape or overthrow the system? Or would you be more like Erin and just do what's expected of you to avoid punishment and possible death? It really highlights how we are all different and all make different choices.

Throughout the story we are told small details about Sophia's Grandmother, who was killed for speaking out about the patriarchal rule. It would be so interesting to see a prequel to this book following Sophia's Grandmother and then Sophia's father. It does make you think about how Sophia's parent's and grandparent's relationships were almost 'normal' when they were brought together in such an unnatural way.

Similarly, there are other details, that leave unexplored and unanswered questions. Sophia meets Constance, who has a book from her ancestors with other [familiar] stories in it from across the 'world'. Even though this appears to be a stand alone book, I am hoping this is an opening for this 'world' to be explored further. It would be interesting to see Bayron give the same treatment to some other fairytales.

Overall, this was a really fun read. Even though it deals with some disturbing, yet important topics it still maintains a fantasy/adventure narrative with twists, turns and reveals to shock!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for allowing me to read and review this E-ARC.