A Spark in the Cinders

by Jenny Elder Moke

Holly Black's The Cruel Prince meets Jennifer Donnelly's Stepsister in this fairy-tale reimagining featuring a kingdom on the brink of ruin, and one wicked stepsister's journey to become the heroine of her own quest. Aralyn has lost everything—the coveted glass slipper, the prince's hand in marriage, and her only chance to save her mother and sister from destitution. Now she spends her days sweeping the cinders and washing dresses as her stepsister, Ellarose, once did, plotting her revenge against the girl who robbed her of her future. But when Ellarose, now the princess, comes to beg her help in saving the kingdom from ruin, Aralyn seizes the opportunity to get everything she's ever wanted. She discovers a prophecy, an ancient blade from the original fairy godfather of the kingdom of Novador that could restore the kingdom to its former prosperity. She's determined to find the missing pieces of the blade and use its power for her own gain, even if it means dragging her bumbling fairy godmother and an annoying lady knight along with her. But as Aralyn has to put her trust in others to survive the challenges of retrieving each lost piece of the blade, she begins to question everything her mother has taught her about survival and success. Maybe the prince was never the key to her future, and maybe she'll have to fight to find her own happily-ever-after.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Lesbian

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2023

About the author

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children's and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way. CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES, a mystery rom-com mash-up, available January 20, 2026.

Reviews

[Brend · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
Fun. Charming. Sapphic.

Sadly, I spent a big part of it wishing it had been an Adult novel simply because maybe that way it would have been... more... emm...developed?.
Yeah.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 We Can Choose Who We Want to Be Stars.

After Cinderella goes off to marry the prince Aralyn is left as the daughter to take her place. Chores still need to get done and someone has to do them. As she is relegated to a servant in her home a new fairy godmother shows up to help her. How do you get out from under the thumb of your mother? You go on a quest to save the country, that's how.

With her newly found fairy godmother and an unconventional knight in shining armor she sets off to find a legendary blade cut in three pieces by the fae that is supposed to protect the wielder. There will be many dangers and she will learn just who she is without her evil mother to push her.

This was a cute redemption story as Aralyn learns what rue family and friends will do for you. It is cute and the quest was fun. If you are looking for a saphic (F/F) romance with some fairytale vibes, this could be a win for you. it is very YA and so the quest was more of a focus than the romance but I did enjoy it overall.

[Cindee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I love both a good redemption story and a fairy tale retelling it also has a great romance and adventure loved every moment of the story from start to finish. The characters were amazing I loved Aralyn, Vee ,Lyra and Ellarose the first two had both a great romance that was not overstated and a great adventure that was riveting all the way through. I loved Lyra the fairy godmother for even if she doesn't do all things right she is very entertaining from the start I also liked the expansion of Ellarose or Cinderella it makes her a more realized character. The story was really interesting it starts with Aralyn getting treated like Cinderella was after a while Ellarose goes to her for help she then meets Vee whom she does not get along with a first she then gets her own fairy godmother if a bit different one so the three of them goes a quest to save the kingdom they fall in love along the way things are found out and a kingdom is saved there is a wonderful happy ever after.

[Jenny Moke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Spark in the Cinders is the perfect book for readers who want:

* A Cinderella retelling
* A (formerly) wicked stepsister looking for her own redemption happily ever after
* Wonderfully complex characters learning to grow beyond their upbringing
* A heavy dose of adventure
* A touch of romance
* A hilarious fairy godmother just trying her best okay???

[Leah (Jane Speare)]

DNF 43%

This is NOT a bad book at all. I think just reads a little younger YA than I prefer and the pacing was kind of slow as I reached the middle, so I realized it wasn’t quite for me. Yay for sapphic love and a fun ‘villain’ redemption journey! Please check it out if either of those traits appeal to you.

[Rowena]

The twist in roles in A Spark in the Cinders was really exciting. Not only that but Lady Vee gives off strong Brienne of Tarth vibes... I loved the dynamic between Vee and Aralyn as they go on their quest to find the Protector Blade. It put an original spin on the prospect of what happens after "happily ever after" and how the characters are affected after the fairytale has ended.

I really enjoyed the language and attention to detail that Elder Moke went into when describing scenes and the emotions the characters were feeling. It was a compelling narrative and fully enjoyable read.

[Riley R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cinderella story with lesbians, monsters, and cool magical blades. What more could one want?

[Gillian Wiseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, with some good introspective moments and character growth. Nice but very mild romantic hints.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when we get to see the perspective of the “villain”. It gives us the opportunity to see why they are the way they are and this story doesn’t disappoint! I think this is a must read for anyone who likes Disney or retellings or an action packed adventure!

[akayak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Spark in the Cinders is a solid fantasy novel with a fun collection of enticing elements. For one, there is a compelling "villain" redemption arc and significant character growth. Starting this novel, I was not expecting the story to follow Aralyn, one of Cinderella's stepsisters. My surprise was followed by a deep appreciation for the care and work put into this story.

A second enjoyable element is the range of relationships that grow in believable and charming ways. I found the family ties engaging and the romance to be an extremely heartful addition to the story.

Third, the plot is structured in a quintessential fantasy format but adds exciting worldbuilding to the classic Cinderella story. Although the target audience may be a hair younger, there were plenty of fun elements that made this a worthwhile and enjoyable read. I thoroughly enjoyed this standalone book and would highly recommend it!

[Erin Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wonder what happened with Cinderella and her kingdom after she marries the Prince? Here's your chance to find out.
In A Spark in the Cinder's, Ellarose's stepmother has not given up on her evil machinations. But do her daughters have to follow in her evil footsteps?
Filled with epic quests through mountains, seas, and forests, this is an adventurous read for any fairy tale lover out there.
There is wonderful character development and growing friendships too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for an early copy for review.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cinderella retelling from the point of view of one of her stepsisters in a super magical realm on the break of war.

Cinderella has married her prince, but there is no happily ever after in her future. There's a kingdom on the break of war, a coup within her own palace AND meddling fairies. To combat the ruin of her kingdom, Ella Rose (Cinderella) enlists the aide of one of her stepsisters Aralyn. Aralyn is not surprised that Ella Rose is in over her head, but she had no idea things were so bleak and when her own fairy godmother shows up to aide her on a quest only she can complete to save the kingdom, Aralyn can't back down. So Aralyn finds herself on a quest to find pieces of a protector's blade to save everyone against her mother's wishes and teamed up with a charming knight Vee and her quirky godmother Lyra. Can Aralyn defy fate and magic and unite the blade? Read on to find out.

What I loved: hints at romance, but totally more focused on friendship and helping others, evil to good arc, evil to more evil arc, quirky characters who really don't know what they are doing, but try their best, Cinderella stays true to her nature in the face of destruction: kind and compassionate, totally female centered plot, a lady knight.

[Pattricia Mesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a fresh take on the classic Cinderella story? Look no further, this retelling from the point of view of a (formerly) wicked stepsister ready to redeem herself and find her own happy ending where she can be the prince is ready to captivate the audience.

Set in a magical realm, the story follows Cinderella after the glass slippers help her gain her happily ever after and she discovers the challenges of ruining a kingdom that is falling into the hands of a treacherous traitor, and plots. Overwhelmed with her lack of solutions for her new role as the princess of a failing kingdom, she turns to her evil stepsister, Aralyn, who received training on how to rule for help. Against every judgment she has been taught by her mother, Aralyn decided to help Ellarose (Cinderella) avoid the plans to overthrow the throne and goes on a quest to retrieve a long-lost blade that will not only save the Novador from its misery but stop the neighborhood kingdom, Valley Banomel, from invading it.

One of the highlights of this audiobook is the narration by Caitlin Davies, who does an excellent job of bringing the story to life. I recently got another audiobook from Netgalley and I had to request the ebook because the AI narrator was horrible. Ms. Davies did a wonderful job, she made voices for every character and made the emphasis, and everything through her voice was in vivid colors. I truly loved her narration.

In addition to the engaging storytelling, the book also tackles important themes like abuse and the struggle to break free from toxic family dynamics. Aralyn is a strong character whose biggest weakness is her desire to please her mother, and her mother being the wicked stepmother that she is, is not afraid of manipulating her own daughter to fulfill her desire to escalate. Vee's father is the other treacherous villain that is trying to overtake Novador, but his villainy also extends to the torturing of his daughter whose only wish is to become the best guard captain; because of this, Vee expends her entire career trying to prove to her father that he doesn't need to marry her off and that she can fulfill her wish without ridiculing her family.
Through their journey, those two girls whose idea of selfless love and happiness is nonexistent, discover their inner strength, the importance of breaking free from the cycle of abuse imposed by their parents, self-love and learn that true happiness sometimes can be found in the most unexcited place/person.

Free ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lila Mancha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

I would’ve liked this book more if the plot was more mature and if they literally didn’t defeat the villain with the power of friendship. I’m not joking.

Also wished there was more of the relationship between Aralyn and Vee?? Like bro… they get one kiss and then nothing. It felt very anticlimactic when Aralyn had a lot of unresolved trauma from her mom and Vee from her dad that they could have worked through a little more/ bonded? But whatever.

The plot was a little basic but the characters interactions were good, that’s what kept this book above a three. I did not like Lyra tho.

Overall just wish it was more mature, but that was probably my mistake for expecting more out of this.

[Anneloes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn't like the last book of her I read, so i was pleasantly surprised by this one.

[K.J. Haakenson]

DNF’d because it wasn’t *really* a Cinderella retelling and I have other books I’d rather read rn.

[sevarenii · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

Had a fun time with this book. The story was pretty simple and straightforward, but what's not to like about a magical quest and the power of female friendships?

[Sabrina Iraggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique fairytale imagining of the unknown side character you’ll come to love. It’s full of adventure and hilarious moments with a new godmother to love. I had fun with this!

[Elizabeth Byerly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tasty popcorn.

[Annie Deo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fell flat for me with two-dimensional characters and underwhelming romance. Did appreciate the arc about overcoming toxic family relationships

[Tara Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Cinderella is your favorite Disney princess, you should definitely check out A Spark in the Cinders. But this isn't just a Cinderella retelling—it's a stepsister-centric story of love and redemption and choosing who your family is.

A Spark in the Cinders by Jenny Elder Moke tells what happened after "happily ever after" for Ellarose—or "Cinderella," as her stepsister Aralyn always called her. After Ellarose marries the prince, things aren't quite so happy for her stepsister. Deemed a failure by her mother, Aralyn spends her days sweeping and cleaning as Ellarose once did, dreaming of revenge. But then Ellarose asks Aralyn for help saving the kingdom from ruin, and Aralyn spies a chance at achieving everything she's ever wanted. With an ancient prophecy guiding her, and a lady knight and scatter-brained fairy godmother at her side, Aralyn sets off on a quest to find a powerful weapon that might save the kingdom. As they search, she begins to realize that perhaps her mother was wrong about how to survive and succeed, and maybe power isn't the only important thing in the world.

No matter what you think you know about the story of Cinderella, this one is different. In Moke's version, fairy godmothers aren't simply magic wielders who can create dresses and turn mice into footmen. Instead, the fey are intricate beings whose power is intricately tied to humans, with courts, rules, and laws of their own. And just like with humans, not all of them are good. Each new detail about the fey is intriguing and unique, elevating this book from a typical retelling into practically a whole new world of its own. There were times I would have liked a bit more explanation, but it didn't bother me enough to ruin my reading experience.

And the characters! It's hard to feel pity for Aralyn at the beginning of the story, knowing how horribly she treated Ellarose, but she quickly becomes a character you can root for. You can see her struggle to become a better person and understand the effort it takes her. Vee, the knight she travels with, challenges her in a way no one else ever had. Not only does she point out the errors in Aralyn's ways, but she also forces her to empathize and understand her own beliefs as well.

I rate A Spark in the Cinders by Jenny Elder Moke 5/5 stars. Any Cinderella fan—or fantasy fan, for that matter—will enjoy this book.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aralyn’s life is not what she planned. She has disgraced her mother by not securing the prince as her husband and now she is left destitute & alone. When she learns that the kingdom is on the brink of disaster, she goes to Princess Ellarose - better known as Cinderella to her - and presents her with evidence. The girls come up with a plan to save the kingdom & Aralyn - with the princess’s knight Vee at her side - heads out on a quest to find & retrieve the Protector’s Blade - a fairy weapon said to be powerful enough to protect the kingdom from all foes. Will the girls be able to discover all 3 parts of the blade before the kingdom falls?

• • •

This was such a great spin on the fairytale of Cinderella and what happens after the “happily ever after.” Aralyn is a strong female lead & her growth throughout the story is wonderful to see. She is faced with adversity after adversity and she learns from it and grows as a person. Her relationships with both Vee and Ellarose help her break through the psychological abuse she has lived with her entire life and finally see her own value.

The action is intense throughout the story and nothing slows it down. The girls are placed in intense, life-threatening situations and have to use their skills & wits - of course a bit of fairy godmother magic - to survive.

I will definitely be purchasing this one for my library!

• • •

💜🧚🐴🗻🏴‍☠️🌊🗡️🌳💜

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#NetGalley #2023reads #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #ASparkintheCinders #YAfantasy #YAromance #lgbtq 🏳️‍🌈

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of reinvented/reimagined fairy tales in any form, especially when we get perspective from a secondary character and also see what happens after “Happily Ever After”. In A Spark in the Cinders, we see Aralyn, one of Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters, in the aftermath of the prince finding Cinderella. She’s bitter and defeated. The absolute best thing about this book was the character development of Aralyn. Seeing her let go of her anger, entitlement and the emotional abuse and neglect her mother inflicted upon her was such a beautiful story. And of course, her journey with the lady knight, Vee, who had similar familial trauma to work through. The enemies to lovers story was slow burning and simmering from the get go and I really enjoyed that. They took the time to get comfortable with each other and also trust one another. I also loved how the fairy godmothers/godfathers came into play, that was very interesting. I will admit, some of the fairy lore was a little confusing so I took those parts a little slower so I didn’t misunderstand anything. The story did feel slower in a few parts, but never enough to make me lose interest. There was action, intrigue, redemption and great moments of friendship. I think this is a great addition to anyone who enjoys the story of Cinderella and also for those who enjoy villains becoming heroes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kit Moonstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming Cinderella retelling. I’ve read several over the years that focused on the stepsisters, but most of them haven’t really worked for me. I think it takes a careful balance when writing a redemption arc, and this book nailed it. Aralyn is a complex flawed character that you can’t help but like. She’s definitely realized that her mother’s way of thinking was flawed and the way she was raised harmed her, and she’s started to realize both the damage she’s done by following her mother’s teachings and that she doesn’t have to be the person that her mother wanted her to be. All of the relationships between Aralyn and the other women in the book are great. Her enemies to lovers relationship with Vee the lady knight is my favorite, but her growing sisterhood with Ellarose and her relationship with her fairy godmother Lyra are also wonderful. There are so great plot twists to this story as well.

This was a really effective retelling that had several layers to it. I’ve read a lot of retellings of Cinderella at this point and finding ones that do something new in a way that works for me is rare these days. This one may have some things in common with other books that focus on the evil stepsisters, but this is the first version of that that has worked for me which is nice as I’ve always thought it was an interesting idea to explore. I would definitely recommend this to any fairytale retelling fans. Four out of five stars.

[Bryanna Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE a good villain redemption arc and I am a SUCKER for a fairy tale retelling. This Cinderella retelling was a delight.

The book opens with one of the evil stepsisters forced to take Cinderella's place as maid because she was unable to catch the prince's eye. After a period of time eating humble pie, Aralyn is approached by Princess Ellarose to help save the kingdom, Planning to use the opportunity to change her fortunes, Aralyn sets out on a quest with Ellarose's personal guard, the lady-knight Vee, and her bumbling fairy godmother Lyra, to retrieve an artifact that will change everyone's fate.

This is a typical hero's journey story with just enough fantasy to feel "different". There's an ample amount of humor and the story moves quickly.

I listened to this as an audiobook and found it entertaining. The narrator did a nice job of differentiating voices and I was able to listen to the book on my preferred 1.25x speed with no problems.

I don't know if I would put this into a curriculum (it's not that deep) but there is a lot of character growth and characters (especially Aralyn) have to deal with parent-related trauma. I would get it for a classroom library or my school library.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f” + British swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Cinderella has married the prince, making her step-sister Aralyn a failure in the eyes of her mother. Aralyn’s hatred for Cinderella grows as Aralyn is forced to sleep on her pallet and do her chores while Mother focuses on Divya, Aralyn’s younger sister. Then Cinderella asks for Aralyn’s help, and Aralyn sees it as the opportunity she needs to regain her mother’s favor and finally best Cinderella.
Moke gives Cinderella’s stepsisters more depth than the traditional story, and I enjoyed reading from a more understanding perspective—understanding their motivations and struggles. The story follows a fairly predictable questing plotline, turning weaknesses into strengths and teenage girls into heroes, but the book isn’t tedious. Rocky alliances, inner demons, and fey curses are around every corner, keeping the action interesting for readers that follow Aralyn into life-and-death situations.
Aralyn and Vee are depicted as White on the cover. The mature content rating is for kissing, and the violence rating is for mild fantasy battle scenes.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her stepsister, EllaRose, won over the prince, Aralyn lost everything, including her family’s chance at getting out of destitution. Since Ella’s departure, Aralyn’s mother has turned her abusive behavior on her. When diplomatic relations become strained, EllaRose enlists Aralyn’s help to find an ancient fey weapon that is the kingdom’s last hope of survival. While EllaRose enlists her help to find the weapon, Aralyn’s mother and sister are brewing some trouble of their own. Can Aralyn live up to her stepsister’s trust in her and save the kingdom? Will she find a way to stop her family from destroying everything?

A fractured fairy tale of Cinderella, the plot is well-developed and enchanting. The characters are easy to relate to and bring the world to life. The world building is engaging and well-done. Fans of fairytale retellings, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

Please Note: A copy of this review was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No other compensation was received.

[Nicholas (was Allison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars
Notes: I personally really enjoyed reading this book. It is a Cinderella retelling told from the point of view of one of her stepsisters (Aralyn). In this story, Cinderella is named Ellarose, so she isn’t called Cinderella all the time. I thought that the writing style was so descriptive, that I finished this book in around a day because I couldn’t stop reading it.

I really liked that there was a slow-burn enemies to lovers lgbt+ romance in this story that actually seemed like something that could happen between the two characters. I also enjoyed seeing that the fictional world was so built up and it had so many layers and conflicts to it, I was just amazed at its complexity.

The lady knight character of Vee was my favorite character in this book because of how strong she was. Her backstory just seemed so complete that I was glad that the author took so much time to write it out like that. It was also a bonus reading about multiple species existing in this world, so there were fae among humans and others as well. I would recommend this story to anyone interested in it from the description or anyone who just really likes Cinderella.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique and fun way to continue the Cinderella story. This is such a different take on what may have happened after Cinderella left for her happily ever after that I am living for it. There are two sides to every story. Yes, Cinderella still has found her prince and is living in the castle but what of the step sisters. Those who were left behind. Their story continues. This was such a beautiful way to show Aralyn’s journey on finding herself. Acknowledging who she is outside of her mother’s influence, what she truly wants, and who she truly is. Each different task helps her become more of herself and I think it is such a beautiful transition. Readers are going to be swept up in this new world. One where even the worst of enemies can learn how to rely on those they least expect to. Also, I adore her fairy godmother. Overall, I think that readers are truly going to enjoy this new journey into the world of Cinderella.
Thank you to Disney Worldwide Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.