First off, amazing, striking cover (both of them). Fantastic, attention-grabbing title. And I loved the overarching story. But just because a tale is more diverse and queer doesn't mean I can forgive it when the execution isn't quite right ...

The story goes ... Cinderella met her prince charming and lived happily ever after. Until she died in seclusion and her legacy went on in the form of an annual ball, where the women of Lille were paraded around in front of the men, before being picked and married off into uncertainty. Some women were raped, some were abused and a small number were happy. And so it went for the two hundred years since Cinderella's death. Her fairytale, the one we know well today, is now doctrine for how women should behave. The borders are closed. And cruel King rules over everything.

I've read quite a few fairytale retellings - some are a little clumsy and some really work. And in theory, this one should have worked. Stories like Cinderella have been held up for centuries as examples of how women should behave - polite, meek and kind to a fault. That it is then used as rule and regulation by the Palace in this story isn't impossible. It gives men the right to choose, the right to own and the right to make the rules. It's a little heavy-handed, but it works in this setting.

Likewise, the super-important question of what happens if a woman doesn't feel attracted to men in that kind of society. What choice does she have? (In essence, none). However, does that rule then apply to men? (In this case - apparently so? Despite their rights to do everything, here a queer man is, in effect, a girl - something that I'm not sure really holds).

But, and this is touched on a little, surely there are then organisations and mobilisations. It's clear not everyone is happy with this extreme status quo. So it's time for some patriarchy smashing. But where is everyone? Where is the underground resistance? For most of this novel, it's basically made up of two characters.

The main character, Sophia, is regularly criticising men and the monarchy out loud. She is often warned to be quiet, as she doesn't know who is listening. But she is so outspoken that she must have been heard by now - where is her punishment? Or, since she hasn't been punished, where are the like-minded people? The secret meetings? The story ends up nearly falling into the trap of the protagonist being the only one to see the flaws in this broken society.

After Sophia escapes from the ball, which apparently no one else has ever done, the King sends troops out to capture her. I'm not convinced he ever really saw her during the ball, though. Yet by the end of the novel, he is obsessed with possessing Sophia. (A lot like the king in Girls of Paper and Fire). And likewise, she becomes obsessed with ending him - (again, a lot like GoPaF) even though Sophia might not be the best qualified for this ...

Another issue I had was the YA insta-romance. Sophia has always been in love with Erin, but her head is immediately turned when someone new arrives on the scene. Fair enough that Sophia is attracted to her, but if it was written as girl sees attractive boy and forgets about her old love whilst obsessing over him, that wouldn't stand. So I don't see why we need that approach in queer relationships either.

Finally, the ending. Although it was the required result, it's all wrapped up too neatly. Especially the Epilogue. There would be a lot more repercussions for those actions ...

I really enjoyed reading this, though. It was quick, and snappy, and presented interesting issues in a terrifying way. This book definitely doesn't pull its punches. And the fairy godmother character was excellent - she was definitely well thought-through and added to an excellent twist. I also loved how the Cinderella story, from this book, had been corrupted and essentially turned into a religious text - that was a lot of fun to explore and meant that we were dealing with a post-Cinderella world, rather than just another retelling.

Really, 3.5 stars.

In a world where the Cinderella story is told and recited by all women and the most important aspect for girls is to be chosen by a man Sophia knows that is not the future she wants but can she change things? And what will it cost her?
Sophia was a really engaging character and I liked how she knew things weren't right even though she had been taught to just do as she was told. Her parents really frustrated me as did Erin who I think was my least favourite character in the whole book. I did enjoy the overall theme of fighting against the patriarchy though perhaps some of the plot twists were a little predictable.
I would recommend reading this as I had a lot of fun and it was very well written.
I gave this book 3.75 out of 5 stars.

A new favourite Cinderella retelling!!😍 a beautifully written story and the plot was so intriguing, compelling & incredible.

I just fell in love with this book from page one, it was so easy to get into and I managed to get 60% into this in just a couple of hours, I didn't want to put it down!

It was gripping and wholesome, the ending was well rounded and overall so so so good!!

Cinderella is my least favourite fairy story/Disney film, mainly because the perfectly able MC lets herself be pushed around and literally sits in a pile of dirt moping about how unfair life is without actually doing anything to change her situation, before relying on first a fairy godmother and then a dude to pluck her from obscurity, all the while being judged purely in terms of her looks as opposed to her personality or intellect.

Imaging my interest, therefore, when I read that this would be a vamped-up, feminist retelling of Cinderella with diverse characters. That’s more like it, I thought.

It wasn’t the five star read I was hoping for.

I loved the diverse characters. The MC, Sophia, was headstrong and stubborn and really didn’t want to marry a guy (what with being gay). She rushed into things without thinking at all, which was super frustrating. She was in love with her childhood best friend, until she she gets dumped and meets Constance, who she falls in instalove with. Like, literally one day after meeting her she’s all enraptured and has all but forgotten her previous love.

The twist on the fairy godmother trope was really cool and the plot twist was unexpected.

The biggest problem I had was that there wasn’t enough world building. I had no idea what was going on, beyond ‘It’s 200 years since Cinderella died and dudes pick wives depending onto posh their dress is’. I got the whole Men Are Evil Now thing, but the toxic masculinity was possibly the most heavy handed depiction I have ever read. The male characters completely lacked nuance, they were just pantomime baddies. And every single man, with the exception of maybe two of them, were outright horrors. Like, all they did was use, abuse and discard women, but no reason for the systemic abuse was given.

This was a fairly good read, but for me the diversity was the best thing about it. There could have been swathes of narrative taken out and replaced with some world building or layering of the baddies and this would have been an easy five stars.

One of my absolute favourite types of books is fairytale retellings, and I found that 'Cinderella is Dead' definitely did not disappoint. Set 200 years after the story of Cinderella, we follow Sophia, our lesbian protagonist, who is unwilling to accept the roles the patriarchal society she lives in has set out for her.
I will say, that this book has a very clear message of female empowerment. The main cast of characters is almost entirely female, and at points the message does seem to be hitting you over the head a bit. However, with a book like this, that was to be expected, in my opinion, and I did enjoy watching Sophia as she raged against all of the sleazy men she came into contact with.
I also loved the amount of diversity within this book, not only with the multiple lgbtq+ characters, but also through the racially diverse cast. Our main character is black, and it was nice to see that this didn't really effect her arc or her story too heavily, as we often see within fantasy.
Plot wise I did find it to be a bit all over the place - the beginning and end were really good, but I found the middle to be a bit slow. But, my enjoyment was kept up by the relationship between Sophia and Constance, which is featured prominently from the middle onwards.
Overall, I thought this book was an interesting take on a classic fairytale, which had enough new elements to add that it's definitely worth a read.

I was intially incredibly excited about the premise of this novel.
A young adult, magic-filled novel based on the fairytale of Cinderella but made completely its own, with a country ruled by a tyran king and a faith based on one night, one princess and a fairy godmother.

And then there is the fact that the main character is a queer black girl - but this isnt the focus. It is just a fact.

And I do think that one of the exceptional areas of this book is the representation of Sophia.
There is never any question of her sexuality, nor any need for her to come out on page.
She is who she is and loves who she loves.
I also greatly appriciated that though Sophia’s parents want to protect her it is clear in the writing that them trying to hide a part of her is wrong, and just as bad as them forcing her into a role she does not want to fill.

However, I do feel like the relationships in this book are fleeting.
We follow a girl who get pushed into hardship and circumstance but we do not get to follow her process of these things. We do not get to feel the connections between the characters as much as we are shown them.
Over all I also found the pacing lacking with no clear build up as much as a continued action from the first initial impact. I also found certain plot points were convinient for the progression of the story - and less realistic to the actual character..

So while I enjoyed this story and its messages of fighting back, and finding strenght in one self, I had wanted more from it. More depth, and more punch.

I will however say that I loved Sophia as a protagonist, and the humor of this book was wonderful

The story you know is lie, there isn’t a happily ever after. Generations of women have been at the mercy of the mythology of Cinderella’s tale and the abuses of power are getting worse. The magical fantasy is being used to manipulate and enslave generations to a lifetime of servitude at the whims of brutal leaders. But Sophia is ready to rebel, she doesn’t want the dashing Prince, and she certainly doesn’t want to see the brutality continue. But the cost of rising up from the crowd is hard to bear.

The re-imagining of fairy tales is becoming a crammed genre in our bookshops but this rousing novel clearly stands out in a sea of lacklustre wannabes. It has a vital spark to it that will grab readers immediately and holds them, even after the end. Representation matters and Sophia is a role model that will entice and entertain while inspiring readers to stay true to their ideals and goals. I really enjoyed this story and found the characters of Sophia and Constance to be remarkable. I loved their determination and defiance. They are everything you want in swashbuckling heroes stamping down the patriarchy.

Do not be silent.
Raise your voice.
Be a light in the dark.


Cinderella is Dead is a dark fairytale retelling of the classic Cinderella, featuring a lot of diverse characters. Sophia, the heroine doesn’t plan to just save herself but the entire kingdom. This story was about overthrowing the patriarchy, but also accepting that not everyone can be saved. It highlights the suppression and double standards that the women of Lille are subjected to.

Sophia is a woman who knows what she wants and is determined to fight against what her society has normalised. She is one of my favourite protagonists. She is stubborn, headstrong, and unapologetic. She is not going to kneel and obey. She is going to fight for what is right, for what they deserve.

Constance is exceptionally driven, and a good match for Sophia. They support each other and are very similar in their views. She has a clear character arc. You can see exactly what Constance is fighting for.

Amina was an interesting character; I was fascinated where it was going to go. I didn’t expect her to be entirely truthful and while the plot twist may have been a little predictable. I like the development that the character had and the conflict that they faced.

The main criticism that I have was that I wanted more world-building. To see the ins and outs of this society interwoven in the text. However, I do recognise that this is a very plot-driven narrative and it moves at a quick pace.

Bayron has created a magical world interwoven with important societal themes. I loved how Baylon took a well-loved story and twisted it into a dystopic version of it. The story is really well-written, perfectly paced, and had me hooked from the first chapter.

⭐️Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron ⁣
mini review ⭐️⁣
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this was a very interesting take on the original tale of cinderella by 200 years after the events of what happened with cinderella and Prince charming. it was a very much turned on its head in this novel and followed Sophia a lesbian MC who is trying to break the chain of events that the Prince has set in place and trying to take him down to make the world a much better place. ⁣
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it was a very cool concept for this book and makes you actually think is cinderella really a great fairytale at all and liked the twistedness (if that's a word) of this whole world and how corrupt it is. ⁣
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it was quite a good novel, but when I finished I thought It was gonna be a bit better than it was. but overall I did enjoy it just felt some things were lacking for me. but I would say if you don't read fantasy and want to try fantasy out I would definitely try this book.⁣
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This sounded like a book I would love but unfortunately I didn't love it like I thought I would. The story took a long time to really start but I had lost interest by then but I hoped that the second half would be better.

The story was really straight forward and although we were told of the awful way women were treated and oppressed i never actually felt the stakes or tension. And every time something happened it was neatly fixed almost immediately which made the story feel flat. I also wasn't a fan of the romance, it felt very forced as the MC was in love with Erin before meeting Constance and instantly fell in love with her? I just wished there had been more of a foundation for them which built their romance.

I think the idea of this story was really great but i just felt the execution wasn't there. But i hope others do enjoy this story more than i did.

Sidebar - I haven't seen any handmaid's tale comparisons yet (admittedly I haven't seen many reviews for this at this stage) but it's worth acknowledging that Handmaid's tale is not diverse either in terms of race or sexual identity - so I'd probably recommend this book to a young person wanting to explore these issues before I recommended Handmaid's tale. 

I adored Sophia. She is a YA heroine who I love now and I know I would have loved as a teenager. It may just be a product of what I've read, but I haven't seen many books where a YA protagonist is sure of her sexuality. In most LGBTQIA+ YA that I have read (usually contemporary) the main character's plot comes out of their...coming out. I'm not suggesting that is a bad thing - it's just nice to see a different narrative play out here. Seeing someone sure of their sexuality is as powerful a thing as seeing someone coming to terms with it. While Sophia can't be out - due to the way this world works - she nonetheless knows who she is and what she wants. 

I don't think I need to speak too much on the power of having a young Black female protagonist in a YA fantasy novel - the cover alone is inspiring and wonderful. I thought that alongside the more obvious moments there were some really interesting subtle references within the story (many of which I will doubtless not have picked up on). One that stuck out for me was that in preparation for the ball there is discussion of straightening Sophia's natural hair because the King prefers it that way. The way that shifts as the book goes on is quite powerful (I won't spoil things for you). The fact that this story is so intersectional is what makes it extra-wonderful in my eyes. 

The plot isn't too new - especially if you've read a lot of YA fantasy, but the representation is so wonderful it feels like a new book to me, and I think it's an important addition to YA shelves. I have been remarkably burned out on YA the last few months and I enjoyed this a lot so either it refreshed my YA tastebuds or it's doing something different (or both!). 

This is definitely one to read, especially if you're someone looking for more intersectional books - I'd highly recommend you pick this one up. 

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own. 

Cinderella is Dead is out August 6th!

I think we sometimes make the mistake of thinking monsters are abhorrent aberrations, lurking in the darkest recesses, when the truth is far more disturbing. The most monstrous of men are those who sit in plain sight, daring you to challenge them.

Finishing this book, I'm almost overwhelmed with disappointment. Everything about the premise - fairytales, black Cinderella, ballgowns, curses, witches and queer girls tearing apart the patriarchy - is literally everything I want in a book. I was thinking about books like Girls With Sharp Sticks, and We Set The Dark On Fire.
This is- not that. And it is. Everything on that list is in this book, which is great, but the story just doesn't hold them together well enough.
We open in a dystopian kingdom. Like Cinderella, every girl must attend a ball to be 'chosen' by an eligible man. If she doesn't get chosen three years in a row, she is 'forfeit' and vanishes off to go work in factories somewhere. Sophia is staring down the barrel of her first ball and, having fallen in love with her very female best friend, is realising that being chosen by a handsome prince is the opposite of what she wants.
And for me, it was already starting to fall apart there. Sophia was very much a completely modern girl in this situation. She recklessly just shouts about hating the King and the ball in the middle of a crowded marketplace, she is entirely unsympathetic towards her friends who buy into the system in the hopes that it will work out. There is no trace whatsoever in her of someone who has been raised in a society like this. And honestly, that was the most disappointing thing. I wanted to see her wake up. I wanted to see the process of disenchantment and growth.
From there the story races through the plot with barely a second to breathe. Things escalate fast; characters are introduced, conversations happen and there's not a single word wasted. I wanted more. So often I wanted more time, more explanation, more questions. Sophia goes with the flow so we'll I'm extremely jealous, but it also feels disingenuous at times. She gets new information, says 'okay, makes sense' and keeps going, irregardless of whether or not her entire world view has just been challenged.
As it is, it's still a very good read with some seriously excellent moments and reflections on male power. Its well written and we always need more diverse books like this to be promoted and hyped to within an inch of their lives. It's the kind of book that I'd give to any teenage girl in a heartbeat. Just maybe not quite what I was looking for.

AMAZING! I love it so much. Powerful, brave, kind, magical, and the cover is amazing!! It's perfect!

"Do not be silent.
Raise your voice.
Be a light in the dark."

It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. 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. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

This is a dark fairy tale retelling featuring plenty of diverse characters.

The heroine not only saves herself, but the entire kingdom by quite literally overthrowing the patriarchy. I also feel like the author tried to show that you can't always save everyone - especially if they don't want to be saved, and there's a bitter sweet realisation to that towards the end of the book.

This story was not subtle in highlighting suppression and the double standards women are subjected to. It has been summed up as "queer black girls overthrowing patriarchy" and it is just that! The message is loud and clear and had me rooting for Sophia from the first few pages!

This is more of a character driven storyline and I wish the world building was a little more fleshed out, but other than that this was a thought provoking and fun fairy tale retelling to read!

There were hints at other fairy tales in the story and I'd definitely read more retellings from this author - if that's the plan.

Thank you to to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with an E-arc for an honest review.

This review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram and Amazon (when published).

I don’t read classics retelling much but this one I was really interested in. Basically, the story is of a queer woman of color living in the time period after Cinderella is dead for 200 years where the place is full of homophobia and misogyny. The story overall felt a bit bland as in there wasn’t much of a tension built. Also, The protagonist is in love with her best friend but then she instantly falls in love with another one right after she meets her - a big no for me!

Although the idea overall was clever where the women who are in love fights to end the patriarchy, I was not really a fan of the whole story. I like to believe Cinderella lived happily every after. And also, I didn’t like how the antagonists in Cinderella’s story are the ‘heroes’ in this story and vice-versa.

So, overall I am quite disappointed in this story because I just didn’t like to believe Cinderella didn’t have a happy ending. But if you like re-tellings especially the ones representing queer romance with feminist take, fighting against the patriarchy, then you could enjoy the book.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bloomsbury plc for the e-arc.

Do not be silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.

A fierce feminist black queer main character? Blood and guts? A Cinderella retelling? What more could I ask for! This book managed to keep me gripped from start to finish which I didn't expect and I really loved it. The Sapphic romance was perfect and I have a lot of quotes highlighted! Looking forward to reading more from the author!

200 years after the death of Cinderella, King Manford has taken the throne and rules over the women of Lille with an iron fist.
At 16 every girl must attend the annual ball to be claimed by a man. After 3 attempts they become forfeit and exiled... or do they?

What i love about this book is how expertly Bayron has created a magical, fantasy retelling and woven such important societal themes throughout. The story is enthralling and a wonderfully unique twist on a familiar tale with some fantastic surprises in store.
The magic and mystery balances with important themes to make CiD a call to action that doesn't push an agenda so hard as to detract from the enjoyment of reading.

CID carefully handles homophobia and Erin's refusal of her sexuality very, very well. It was heartaching to read Sophia's fear of rejection and punishment for being a lesbian, knowing this must be how so many live their lives right now in 2020. Whilst I often read books with LGBTQ characters, this is the first I've read with a first person perspective on the range of reactions; acceptance, ignorance, pity, denial, celebration. All and more are encountered by Sophia providing a stark reminder that no matter how progressive we think we've become, these attitudes are still common today.

Bayron also takes on domestic violence, imprisonment, human trafficking with an unflinching honesty and wraps it up in a story of female empowerment and heroism from a POC main character and an ending we'd expect from a fairytale.
A story full of hardship with just enough affection and human decency to uplift its audience whilst maintaining lessons in morality.

The writing keeps a perfect pace and gifts us beautiful world building on our journey with Sophia and Constance to smash the patriarchy.

As a huge fan of fairytale retellings, I was really looking forward to reading 'Cinderella is Dead'.

The book tells the story of Sophia, a 16 year old, who has been raised to aspire to be just like Cinderella and be chosen to be a man's wife at the annual ball. However, as a lesbian who is in love with her best friend, Sophia struggles to confirm the rules and regulations of patriarchy.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers. It was great to see diverse characters and an interesting twist on the original tale of Cinderella, but I felt the book's lack of world-building and depth of characters let it down slightly.

“You can keep your girls from harm. And more important, they can be allowed to keep themselves from harm [...] Look at your children, your friends, your wives, your daughters. Don't do what is right because they hold those titles. Do what is right because they are people. Make a choice to change things.”

Sophia is dreading the night of the royal ball. The night where the men of the town choose a girl, those who are not chosen are forfeited and Sophia doesn't want that, she also doesn't want the girl she loves to be chosen either. Unfortunately for them, their love is forbidden but Sophia wants to change that, she wants to bring a world where people can love whoever they want. Erin, Sophia’s best friend and love, does not want to upset her parents and she doesn't want to run away like Sophia does and upsets Sophia when she tells her she doesn’t want to continue their relationship as she wants to be chosen, like all girls should want. After the ball goes horribly wrong for Sophia, she ends up running for her life. Can she escape and save the one she loves?

This is a retelling like I have never seen. I wasn't sure what to expect as you know straight away that Cinderella is dead, so how can you have a Cinderella retelling without her? Well, Kalynn does it and does it perfectly. A wonderfully exciting story with a strong, queer, black character is just what is needed. Some brilliant new characters brought to the story and a fresh take on the Fairy Godmother, I fell in love with this book so very easily.
I felt the story was especially strong in the area of the characters. They are bright, they are strong and they have a lot of spunkiness about them. Constance is definitely one of my favourite characters and to see her take back her own was amazing. I was captivated with the relationship between Sophia and Constance. It felt so new and exciting like you were a part of it and feeling how they were feeling.
This has to be one of my favourite retellings of a fairy tale and its one that needs to be read by every young girl.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“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. Make a choice to change things,”
Cinderella died 200 years ago and now girls across the land are forced to tend a ball to be married off. Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen; she wants to run away with Erin, the best friend she is in love with. On the night of the ball, something goes wrong and Sophia ends up running for her life.

This book is so much fun! A sapphic reimagining of the Cinderella fairy-tale with a black MC, a witch, necromancy, and the dismantling of a patriarchal society. The plot was enjoyable, well-paced and sometimes funny. Many fantasy worlds are often rampant with misogyny and homophobia but I haven’t read many that tries to actively challenge it in such a way like Cinderella is Dead.

Some aspects of the book I was a little disappointed with. The worldbuilding felt a little shallow and nothing about the world stands out. The villain lacked any depth and was just evil for the sake of being ‘the big bad’ of the story.

Overall, I loved the concept and I found the book very entertaining but I wasn’t completely enamoured by the execution. However, I think a book like this is so important and I can see it bringing joy to so many readers.


*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.