A Modern Retelling of Cinderella that becomes it's own!
346519
Cinder, the main character, is a half human half robot due to an accident that happened when she was very little.  Cinder doesnt remember anything from her childhood only the part where she is adopted and her adopted father has passed away.  Cinders adopted mother doesnt want much to do with her besides making her go to work and support the family.  Cinder is a mechanic who works at the town center to make money.  The prince seeks out Cinder to help fix a machine and she accepts the job.  Cinder then gets pulled into a much larger world then she ever knew.  The other large issue that is facing the world is that there is a disease going around that is killing a large portion of the people and is highly contagious.

I loved Cinder as the main character.  The entire story is told through the eyes of Cinder and I felt like as a listener I really got a complete picture of what was going on.  The author has such great details I could imagine what the world she created looked like.  Also, I felt like I could visualize what all of the characters looked like.  Cinder was just a normal girl it seemed in the beginning who was thrown a tough life of being a step child to an evil stepmother, but this story is so much more than that.  Cinder really grows throughout the whole book she is given a lot of information and works on processing it as fast as she can.

I think the author did a great job making Cinder a realistic character.  Some of the decisions that Cinder made I was like ohh no, but honestly they match what I feel a younger main character would choice.  I cant wait to see where the story goes next.  I did have very mixed feelings about the doctor.  I feel like he was trying to help Cinder, but by not giving her all the information up front I felt like was aiding in her making bad decisions.  Since the doctor was giving Cinder pieces of information one at a time it really helped the story move along and kept my attention.

Another aspect of the book that I loved was all of the background information that the author included.  I enjoyed hearing about how the world that she created came to be.  I also liked to see the past and the present reconnecting by the author.  I felt completely connected with the world the author created and could understand what was going on and the potential for another disaster on the horizon.

I am not sure if there was anything in the book that I would change.  I loved how the author incorporated the Cinderella story in the background, but also created a whole different world and story.  The author did a great job separating her story into something different from Cinderella.

I highly recommend the audio version of this book.  I would listen to this while I was getting ready to sleep for the night and it was the perfect distraction from the day.  It also helped me get through cleaning the house one Saturday.  I just couldn't stop listening and wanted to know what was going to happen at the end of the book and how everyone was connected together.  I cannot wait to listen to the next book in this series.
4646237
Told from the perspective of the witch that created havoc in Beastly,
this story starts out by telling us about Kendra's witchly origins.
Dating back to 1665. She touches briefly on each unlucky person to
whom she has helped, setting straight the story of the little mermaid
& the Titanic..a brilliant pairing ! Who knew that the king of France
 wooed but did not win a princess of the the princess & the pea fame?
<epic imagination!>
  The main story is a take on Cinderella, but  trades off back
 & forth with it the other stories. Flinn adds the usual modern elements
that are in vogue: of females being at their best when they are helping
themselves and not allowing themselves to give into victimization.
 Happily, the  feminism istc elements aren't overpowering, and cudos
for the author for having the story flesh out how there is a lesson for
everyone in the story to learn, not just the main character. The ending
is tidy & happy, with a slight twist that hits just the right note of perfection.
  What I could have done without : some of the elements that make it aimed toward it's target reader: teenage making out, some descriptions went a bit too far in getting the idea across.
3470177
I love any kind of fairy tale retellings, especially Cinderella retellings and right off the bat this one caught my attention. It was everything I wanted and more. It was magical, wonderful, fun, and it followed along closely to the original fairy tale. As a matter of fact, I almost prefer this ending as opposed to the original because it was more realistic.

The beginning started off with Nicholette, or as her Steps liked to call her, Nick. She was an orphan and now servant to her Stepmother and two daughters. Her mother died of a Faerie disease that was known to kill many people. Her father passed away from the faerie war shortly after he remarried. On her sixteenth birthday, she magically received a letter from her mother to open a hidden door. Behind the door is where her mother used to make mechanical objects. Nick has a knack for making little things too like a knitting machine, so this gave her an idea to make things and sell them at the market. That way she can make enough money to finally leave on her own. Along her journey she made two friends, one of which is a very handsome man. Will she follow her heart, or follow her dream to sell her own inventions?

I really liked Nick from the start because she was a very independent, strong thinker. She knew she wanted to leave her Steps house, yet she couldn't because she wanted to be able to afford living on her own with out the help of anyone else. Though she grew up with some horrible people, Nick was still a very polite person. She was also very good at getting out of sticky situations. She was a smart and fast thinker. I also liked that she wasn't a gullible person. She did not trust everyone at will, and she did not let anyone persuade her to change her way of thinking.

My other favorite part were the friendships she made. The first day Nick goes to sell her inventions, she meets two people, Caro and Fin. From the start they have an instant connection. Nick is a bit apprehensive at first, but they quickly form a special bond to an amazing friendship. I like how Caro is so free and open minded to just welcome a complete stranger. It just goes to show that not all people are evil. Fin was friendly too, but Nick had a bit of a crush on him. They connected in other ways others couldn't. My most favorite person though, or rather horse was Jules! He was her mechanical horse that her mother made, and her first friend. He was their to listen to her through all her troubles. I loved him! He was like a cuddly pet that you couldn't get enough of. He was her companion.

Overall, I loved this story and really hope it continues. There are so many things that I would love explained or to read more about. I want to know more about the Faeries and if they're really bad. I want to know more about these mysterious ashes that Nick's mother kept. I also want to know more about Nick and her friends' journey. Their stories are certainly not over and I NEED to know what happens next. If you enjoy reading fairy tale retellings then I highly recommend this one. It was with out a doubt one of favorites.
2927586
Our lovely heroine is a Cinderella of sorts yearning for her Prince (who is not so charming)! She is unfortunately the poor victim of a curse!  Her family, of course,  ignores her and wishes her far away.  Though ignored and reviled, she is always kind and patient as a good Cinderella should be, putting everyone else's needs ahead of her own.
There is humor and passion and even attempted murder! This story is just so much fun to read you might feel like a kid again with a flashlight reading under the covers!
2283022
Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty - the three princess heroines of The Stepsister Scheme are back in this much (for me) anticipated sequel!  What happens after the fairy tale ends?  That's the essential question that Hines's series attempts to answer.  The first book tells us the fates of Cinderella (Danielle) after she's married her prince, of Sleeping Beauty (Talia) after she's awakened from her long sleep, and of Snow White (Snow), after she's escaped the murderous intentions of her stepmother.  Hines takes the darker versions of these tales, and twists them into something highly original and new.  The three familiar princesses now serve Danielle's mother-in-law, Queen Beatrice of Lorindar, going on secret missions to aid diplomacy, stop wars, save princes, and protect the kingdom, where Danielle is now Princess.

I've been waiting for The Mermaid's Madness literally since I finished the last page of The Stepsister Scheme.  It was the sort of book that made you want to keep reading, that made you want to stay in the world and find out what happens next.  The title alone, but virtue of the fairy tale roots of this series, lets us know right where we're starting off.  With the tragic tale of the little mermaid.  But with Hines at the helm, the tragedy of the story is twisted into something much more complex.

We begin with Princess Danielle on a mission of diplomacy with Queen Beatrice, their yearly tithe and renewal of peace with the merfolk, who prefer to be called undine.  Since the undine are usually a matriarchal culture, it makes sense for the Princess and Queen to take the lead.  Unfortunately, things go very wrong, very quickly.  For instead of the King they are expecting, they are greeted by his mad daughter, Lirea, wronged by her human lover and looking for vengeance against all humans.  In the ensuing conflict, Queen Beatrice is grievously injured.  This leaves Danielle and her friends Talia and Snow to find both a cure for her ailment, and to find a way to stop Lirea from making war against their kingdom - and all of humanity.

Of course, it's much more complicated than that, as the girls quickly discover.

Once again, Hines gives us excellent world building and characterization.  We get to see a bit more of Danielle's Prince Armand in this one, which I appreciated quite a bit.  We feel so much of her love for him in the last book, but in this one we actually get to see them interact as a couple. New characters are introduced, as well - the mad Lirea and her sister, Lannadae, and a new Prince of a neighboring kingdom, who I'm guessing just may return for future books.  But the heart of the series is the relationships between our three princesses, and Hines does an excellent job portraying the myriad ups and downs of the bonds of love and friendship so important between a woman and her best friends.  The girls argue, fight together and for each other, and hold each other up when needed. We find out a few more details from each of their stories, though most particularly Talia's and Snow's. Hines does a particularly good job of this.  I love reading the little details of how Snow's mother raised her, or how Talia escaped from her homeland.  These are the details that make the books come alive.

There are some bittersweet moments in this one.  I won't spoil them for you, but suffice it to say, things are not all happily ever after for everyone in the kingdom of Lorindar.

In the end, I was sad to come to the last page for a second time.  I stayed up late to finish reading, because I could not wait to find out how it all turned out in the end, and then I was sad to be finished.  What will the girls do next?  With a title like Red Hood's Revenge, I can only imagine!
4475882
"Cinderella never had to deal with this crap"

Welcome to a modern day Cinderella story.

Meet Jane, over worked and under appreciated. Jane meet Brock, the billionaire playboy that gets to be auctioned off for charity. A fairy godmother comes just in time to "help" get these two together. But is Brock really Jane's modern day prince or is he just some work-aholic billionaire looking to let off some steam?

Rachel has this ability to wrap funny, witt and romance into one story. She does it seamlessly too, the story just flows so well.
Look, I enjoy modern Cinderella stories, I really do. For this one, I had a really hard time connecting to the characters for some reason. The heroine really wasn't a heroine, but looking back at Cinderella's in the past I guess they really weren't either. Maybe I want a modern day Cinderella story with a independent kick ass heroine and a average Joe, not some prince (or billionaire). We are all searching for our happily ever after, for our own prince.

FMR Reviewer
480249
An awesome, modern take on Cinderella.  The plot line was so good-- full of twists and turns that keep you wondering what's next for "Ella". She's a true heroine you can relate to and root for (with a handsome "prince" on her side as well of course).  I can't wait for the next book to be released!
2443131
It's always fun to read a fairy tale retelling.  I have to admit that the Twelve Dancing Princesses is probably my least favorite fairy tale and it's been re-done SO many times, I was worried going into this that I might not like it.  BUT.

I love how Sarah Boucher changed this into a real life story instead of a fairy tale with magic.  The story is told through the eyes of Jonas, a groundskeeper, which is also different.  The story fit so much better for me.  Everything felt new and different and I liked it!  The twisty twists were just what I needed to connect on a better level with this story.

There are a lot of characters in this book- we really only get a glimpse of most of the sisters- not enough to really know them at all.  They were just there in a fuzzy sort of way.  The story really only involved a handful of people on a personal level which was fine by me.

Overall I thought this was a cute story.  It's one that can be enjoyed by all ages- preteen to adult.

Content:  Clean- no swearing or sexual situations.

- I received a copy of this book from the author.  A favorable was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
2221154
In my review of Malinda Lo's Ash, I suggested some readalikes for that Cinderella re-telling, namely Wildwood Dancing and this offering by Jessica Day George. Like Wildwood, this is a re-imagining of the Brothers Grimms' "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." In fact, that is what originally drew me to this title.

Galen is a likable protagonist (although really, it's hard not to root for a hero who knits!), and I enjoyed getting the story from his perspective as well as Rose's. As a re-telling it was quite good, retaining most of the original details while fleshing out the setting and characters with interesting details. If the portal in Wildwood Dancing led to the glittering, enchanting realm of fae reminiscent of the Seelie court, the princesses in this version are definitely compelled (cursed, really) to visit the cruel Unseelie court night after night.

I thought this book was much better written than George's Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. The characters were better developed, the world was much more believable, and I couldn't wait to see how/if Galen would solve the mystery of the worn out dancing slippers!

[...]
1972095
4.5 Stars 

A Modern Day Fairytale take on the Cinderella Story. I am such a sucker for sweet books and Im glad I one clicked on this one. This book wasn't as long as I thought it would be, its actually a very quick fun read. With a sweet, spunky heroine and a sweet, sexy Prince Charming.

This is like every girls dream that Author Krista Lakes put on paper. We all dream about meeting our handsome Prince Charming, who will sweep us off our feet. This book is exactly that. Ella falls in love with Jace, a handsome billionaire who just want a real girl. Someone who isn't after him for his money, but is after him as a man, as a person. This Cinderella story had made my heart jump for joy throughout the whole book. It truly is one of the sweetest book Ive read this holiday season. Loved it.
4428570
I usually am not a fan of Cinderella retellings, but this book had all the things I didn't know I was missing!  I love how the prince and Cinderella actually spend  a lot of time together.  Cinderella's backstory and who she became make for a fun read.  One of the reviewers mentioned that the fairy godmother uses expletives and I just wanted to point out that there's no swearing in this book.  Unless you think words that are like "hogwash" or "fiddlesticks" are swear words...which is just fiddle-faddle ;) I highly recommend reading all of Finley Aaron's books.
4410930
Modern day Cinderella! Truly one of my favorite Disney princesses then and now. Aria lost her father whom she truly adored and is left with a "wicked step mother of course who is only looking out for herself. Aria moved up in her career as a Senator's aid but goes into work to find out that she has been fired, which are the doing's of her evil stepmother.

After leaving her lost job she is walking around the Washington Monument and runs into a handsome business man/rugby player named Henry. Little does she know Henry is a royal, a prince who is line for the throne. This book will leave you wanting more.

Certainly a modern day Cinderella and another must ready by Krista Lakes. Loved this book!!
2625449
Five Glass Slippers is a diverse collection of Cinderella retellings.  The classic rags-to-riches tale is examined in fresh ways.  Villains may not be as evil as first appears, and Cinderella might have more pluck than we thought.  I loved how each story turned the original fairy tale on its head, creating fresh perspectives that force the reader to view the story in a different light.  Each author has a wonderful voice, and the different genres presented guarantees that there is a tale for everyone in this collection.  Below are my ratings and opinions of each story.

1.  What Eyes can See, by Elisabeth Brown.  What if Cinderella never wanted to attend the ball? What happens when a desperate prince and a loving stepsister work together? A charming retelling that is very refreshing as it addresses an issue of the original tale that has always bothered me.  I also loved the fact that the characters are so authentic.  No "good" or "bad" characters in this retelling.  The twist ending is very satisfying.  Rating 5 out of 5 stars.
2.  Broken Glass, by Emma Clifton.  What happens when the glass slipper fits the wrong girl? Can a scheme of throne usurping be stopped? This steam-punk version of Cinderella is funny and suspenseful.  I enjoyed Rosalind, (the main heroine's), fiery personality.  She and Marius, the crown prince, engage in hilareous banter.  However, for me, the appeal of this story was the secondary characters.  I loved the clever ending to this tale and the possible hint of more stories to come.  Rating: 4 stars.
3.  The Windy Side of Care, by Rachel Heffington.  What if Cinderella was the rightful ruler of a kingdom? What if she determined to take her throne by force? I enjoyed the main heroine of this tale.  She is feisty yet vulnerable.  My favorite character, though, was Prince Algust.  His humor and humility were endearing.  Romantic Regency fiction is not my favorite genre, but the author has an engaging voice.  Rating: 3 stars.
4.  A Cinder's Tale, by Stephanie Ricker.  What if Cinderella works as a miner upon a perilous planet? This tale is rich with world building, and all the characters are engaging.  The plot is action-packed, and subtle references to classic versions of Cinderella are skillfully woven throughout.  I would love to read more works from this author.  Rating: 5 stars.
5.  The Moon Master's Ball, by Clara Diane Thompson.  Wow! This retelling was my absolute favorite of the bunch.  When a shy housemaid is sent to deliver a message to a mysterious man, she is thrust into a perilous adventure.  A tale of enchantment and mystery, this version of Cinderella is a beautiful tale of sacrifice and love.  The glass slippers motif was handled particularly well in this retelling, and small details such as a fairy circus, enchanted slaves and Dewdrop Punch transport the reader on an addicting journey.  Rating: 5 stars.

Five Glass Slippers is an engaging book from start to finish.  The audio version is read superbly by Becky Doughty.  The narrator's British accent is perfect for the stories, and her voice has a melodic quality that draws you into the tales.  The use of voices is distinct and not grating.  I did feel that, occasionally, the pacing was hurried or inflection was placed upon the wrong words.  However, these instances were very slight and did not detract from the listening experience.

Please give this riveting collection a chance.  You will not be disappointed.  Indulge in a feast of diverse delights.  Rooglewood Press is expected to release a book of Beauty and the Beast retellings in 2015.  If this first collection is any indication of things to come, then readers will be in for a marvelous treat.  God bless you all.
4487386
After reading Hontas, I had to backtrack and read this one. I'm so glad that I did.
I'm a huge fan of these reimagining tales and this is one of the best I have come across.
It takes a lot of imagination to shake up a beloved fairy tale. Most of the time, just some characters are shifted around of a few twists are added.
Cinders does more than shake things up, it rewrites the whole story. This harkens back to what a fable used to be, before they were sanitized. This is a hard life, with hard characters and it is amazing.
You have never imagined a Cinderella anything like this.
This shortened format lends itself so well to this story. This is a tale that needs to be in your face and shocking, and to be a novel length would draw out the punch too far.
798677
I loved this retelling of Cinderella for many different reasons.  The point of view is from the perspective of the Stepsister.  And she isn't evilin this story her actions and those of her sister become more understandable. Even the stepmother, while not a very likeable control-freak, seems a little more human.

Throw in a little romance, an evil plot, a young girl learning to understand and value herself, and stand up for what is important, and you have a fun novel that is worth spending your time reading!

As an added bonus, the language and tone of the book are appropriate for any age to enjoy.
969486
"Ella Enchanted" caught my attention from the moment it came out, and it's had a special place on my bookshelf ever since. I've always been interested in Cinderella stories, so when I saw "Ella Enchated" in the store, I knew I had to buy it. And buy it I did. I read through it in a matter of hours.

"Ella Enchanted" is a re-telling of the Cinderalla story set in a fantasy world of trolls and ogres and fairies that can do magic (but usually they don't). It follows the basic plot line of Cinderella: a girl is forced to do what her stepmother and stepsisters say until she can marry her prince. But from there out, Levine takes the story into her own world and puts her own spin on things.

If you've seen the move but haven't read this book, be warned: the scriptwriters for the movie drastically changed things. They kept the same basic principle, but changed the story almost entirely, and made the movie much more frivolous than the book. I encourage you to read this book, but don't start it expecting it to mirror the movie, or vice-versa.
4504064
So, if you are a long-time follower, you know that I'm not a huge YA contemporary reader.  But, when I saw there was a dachshund in this one, and that it was a fairy tale retelling, AND had to do with a comic-con type of event, I was instantly intrigued.  As you can tell by my 5 star rating, I also was not disappointed!

This is a Cinderella story/retelling, so it reminded me a bit of my 2015 NaNoWriMo project, which was also a Cinderella retelling, modern YA contemporary style, and like mine, this one even included a country club.  However, this book did such a great job at really hitting all the little story details that fit in with the fairy tale.  And we got both sides of the story, both our Cinderella - Elle, and our Prince Charming - actor Darien Freeman who plays Prince Carmidor in the new movie based on Elle's favorite sci-fi series.  That makes the story unique in itself, although my project also did both sides.  Again, not quite as good as this one though!  Elle's father died a few years ago, but not before remarrying a woman who is the perfect evil stepmother, and not only that, she has twin step-sisters who are definitely also evil, for the most part, one of them might actually have some redeeming qualities.

The big convention for the space show, Starfield, was actually started years ago by Elle's father and mother.  But she hasn't been without her father.  This year she wants to go, after all kinds of things make her interested.  She has made a new friend, the girl that works with her in the food truck called "the Magic Pumpkin", more Cinderella details.  The friend is kind of a fairy godmother too in that she is able to help Elle get her "outfit" ready for the comic-con.  There is also the little dachshund, the one that lives next door, that Elle rescues from being chained outside and neglected.  You gotta love him.

And then of course there is Darien, who not only has to fill in one of the biggest roles ever, he doesn't want to mess it up, because he is also a big fan of the show.  And due to his "teen hunk" status, many people, especially bloggers, are sure he will fail, and are posting it all over the internet.  Darien's life isn't as sweet as you'd think.  He has to deal with his rabid fans, a dad that has become more into making his son a successful movie star, but not worried about his son's happiness, and friends from the past, who were only out to sell stories about him.

Darien and Elle will meet at the convention, Elle not really impressed with him, as she is one of those bloggers predicting his failure.  Yet Darien will be intrigued with her right away, until he finds out she is one of those bloggers.  The two of them will have lots to overcome, including a moment of being separated, and Prince Charming, excuse me, Prince Carmidor, searching for Cinderella, I mean Elle.