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Regency Fairy Tales #2
Her Princess at Midnight
What if Cinderella fell for the handsome prince’s… sister? Cynthia lives a life of drudgery, toiling for her stepmother and stepsisters without receiving gratitude or pay. Every day is the same… until a royal retinue sweeps into town, inviting every unwed maiden to vie for the hand of the visiting prince.
The moment she lays eyes on the prince’s beautiful sister, Cynthia is smitten. She’s never been to a ball, and she’s determined not to miss this one. But when her family refuses to allow her to attend—not that Cynthia even has a gown to wear—it will take a miracle to escape the attic and catch the eye of the princess who holds the key to her heart!
The moment she lays eyes on the prince’s beautiful sister, Cynthia is smitten. She’s never been to a ball, and she’s determined not to miss this one. But when her family refuses to allow her to attend—not that Cynthia even has a gown to wear—it will take a miracle to escape the attic and catch the eye of the princess who holds the key to her heart!
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2023
15 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Erica Ridley
130 books2,200 followersGet freebies and 99¢ deals at: https://ridley.vip
Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels, including THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?
In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found eating couscous in Morocco, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels, including THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?
In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found eating couscous in Morocco, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 7, 2024
I usually like Erica Ridley's historical romances, but this novella was... not it.
Her Princess at Midnight is a sapphic retelling of Cinderella, which is SUCH a cute idea (and one I haven't personally read before), but it falls short in a few ways. I recognize that it's extremely difficult to make short stories and novella's feel impactful, but still.
There is SO much insta-love, and combine that with erratic characterizations of the size characters and main characters, and you don't get much emotional substance to the story. It was light and cute, sure, but it was also wholly unmemorable.
I know Erica Ridley can do better.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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Her Princess at Midnight is a sapphic retelling of Cinderella, which is SUCH a cute idea (and one I haven't personally read before), but it falls short in a few ways. I recognize that it's extremely difficult to make short stories and novella's feel impactful, but still.
There is SO much insta-love, and combine that with erratic characterizations of the size characters and main characters, and you don't get much emotional substance to the story. It was light and cute, sure, but it was also wholly unmemorable.
I know Erica Ridley can do better.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
*~*Follow me on instagram for more reviews, book talk, and deals posts*~*
October 23, 2023
I think I loved the concept here more than the execution, but this was still a cute and fun read. Her Princess at Midnight is a regency romance novella with a sapphic take on Cinderella where Cynthia falls for the prince's sister instead. It's pretty short and so elements of the relationship felt really rushed to me, but I still had a good time with it and would recommend for a fun, quick read! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
December 4, 2023
There’s more than one sapphic take on Cinderella and this one is probably the closest I’ve read to the original fairy tale. Since her father died, Cynthia Talbott has become her stepmother and stepsister’s maid. The only maid left, too, since Lady Tremaine and her daughters Dorothea and Stasia have spent all the money Cynthia’s dad left. The Prince of Parmenza comes to England to marry the prettiest girl, and both stepsisters are convinced they’ll be the chosen one, while Cynthia wants to go to the ball to see the prince’s sister, Princess Ammalia, who caught her eye during the Royal Parade.
I’m not sure the story is supposed to make much sense, so just let yourself enjoy it. Ammalia showing up at Cynthia’s house with a beautiful ball gown and making the others wait on their stepsister for once is delightful. The tension between the MCs is thick and while the ending feels a bit too convenient, who cares. Her Princess at Midnight—first published as part of the Pride Not Prejudice anthology minus the epilogue (which you can read on the author’s website with the password “gimmehea”)—is a playful novella, a fun romp that doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
November 6, 2023
I would have really liked more of this story. It felt entirely too short and very rushed even for a novella. It didn't feel like we ever got to know the characters. It was such an amazing premise, so it's too bad that the story and characters didn't seem to be clear or defined.
The glimpse we got of the romance was sweet and steamy. Cynthia was a lovely, and I couldn't help but root for the stepsisters a little bit.
I completely adore Erica Ridley's writing and was so excited to see that this was a sapphic novella. That made it all the more disappointing that I didn't love it.
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The glimpse we got of the romance was sweet and steamy. Cynthia was a lovely, and I couldn't help but root for the stepsisters a little bit.
I completely adore Erica Ridley's writing and was so excited to see that this was a sapphic novella. That made it all the more disappointing that I didn't love it.
Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2023
Unfortunately, this is one I just didn’t enjoy. But the main reason is on me as I didn’t realize going in that this is a novella.
This a sapphic regency era re-telling of Cinderella. Ridley doesn’t seem to stray too far off from the Disney movie, however, there are a few changes.
Cynthia has become the maid to her stepmother and stepsisters after the passing of her father. She lives to do their bidding and little else. Then one day the Prince and Princess of Parmenza come to town looking for a wife for the prince. However, Princess Ammalia and Cynthia make eye contact during the royal parade and have an instant connection.
This was a case of instalove in very high gear. I’m not sure the two have an actual conversation before they’re a couple.
I needed this to be fleshed out and not so rushed. This is just over 100 pages so there wasn’t a whole lot of time for much of anything to happen, especially when so much was going on.
While I didn’t connect with this, I really enjoyed The Perks of Loving a Wallflower and will look for more sapphic stories from Ridley in the future.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This a sapphic regency era re-telling of Cinderella. Ridley doesn’t seem to stray too far off from the Disney movie, however, there are a few changes.
Cynthia has become the maid to her stepmother and stepsisters after the passing of her father. She lives to do their bidding and little else. Then one day the Prince and Princess of Parmenza come to town looking for a wife for the prince. However, Princess Ammalia and Cynthia make eye contact during the royal parade and have an instant connection.
This was a case of instalove in very high gear. I’m not sure the two have an actual conversation before they’re a couple.
I needed this to be fleshed out and not so rushed. This is just over 100 pages so there wasn’t a whole lot of time for much of anything to happen, especially when so much was going on.
While I didn’t connect with this, I really enjoyed The Perks of Loving a Wallflower and will look for more sapphic stories from Ridley in the future.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2023
2.5 stars. Eh. I mean, I don't expect a whole lot out of novellas, but I do expect a bit more than this? It's a historical f/f Cinderella retelling, and because it's so short, I anticipated that it would be insta-love, and that the side characters wouldn't be particularly robust, and that the romance wouldn't exactly be epic. But even then, I wanted a little more than this. Very flat, kinda bland, Cynthia doesn't have much of a personality, and the step-sisters are walking caricatures. Even though it's a novella, I wanted it to bring something new to the table, other than it being sapphic. And I guess I was also disappointed because I really liked the author's other sapphic book so much. This had no charm, and was just kinda cheesy?
But I mean, don't get me wrong. There was nothing bad about it, so if you're interested, I'd still give it a shot.
But I mean, don't get me wrong. There was nothing bad about it, so if you're interested, I'd still give it a shot.
November 9, 2023
Cynthia lives a life of drudgery, toiling for her stepmother and two stepsisters without receiving gratitude or pay. Every day is the same until a royal retinue sweeps into town, inviting every unwed maiden to vie for the hand of the visiting prince. The moment she lays eyes on the prince’s beautiful sister Ammalia, Cynthia is smitten. She’s never been to a ball, and she’s determined not to miss this one.
A retelling of the famous fairy tale but with a difference, Cynthia falls for the princess not the prince & her feelings are reciprocated. A short, quick read, which I thoroughly enjoyed & I liked the resolution for the prince!
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A retelling of the famous fairy tale but with a difference, Cynthia falls for the princess not the prince & her feelings are reciprocated. A short, quick read, which I thoroughly enjoyed & I liked the resolution for the prince!
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
October 13, 2023
Who knew a lesbian retelling of Cinderella was what my life was missing?? Erica Ridley, that's who!! Her books are pure magic and this one lived up to that joy! The only thing I didn't like was how short it was, I wanted more of Cynthia and more of Ammalia!!! Such a wonderful story, I will be rereading this again and again!
January 22, 2024
Her Princess at Midnight offers a delightful twist on the classic Cinderella tale, reimagined as a Regency-era sapphic romance. As this is a novella, its brevity unfortunately makes certain aspects of Cynthia’s blossoming romance with the prince's sister feel somewhat hurried.
However, the novel's inventive concept and engaging narrative more than make up for this rapid progression. It’s a charming, light-hearted read that provides a fresh perspective on a familiar story. For anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable escape into a world of regal romance with a sapphic flair, this novella is definitely worth a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and WebMotion for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
However, the novel's inventive concept and engaging narrative more than make up for this rapid progression. It’s a charming, light-hearted read that provides a fresh perspective on a familiar story. For anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable escape into a world of regal romance with a sapphic flair, this novella is definitely worth a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and WebMotion for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2023
Not shitting on this book and I know it's a retelling, but this has barely any creativity.
I think this book/novella was just a bit too short. Not well developed. I got the concept and the story.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I think this book/novella was just a bit too short. Not well developed. I got the concept and the story.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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November 18, 2023
This is a unique take on the classic Cinderella story. Cynthia, instead of falling for the prince, fell in love with the princess instead. I like the idea but the execution, not so much. I feel like the interaction between Cynthia and the princess is too 'safe'. I didn't feel their chemistry. I wish there was more romantic interactions between them that would make a reader really fall in love with the story.
🌸 Recieved a copy from Netgalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own
🌸 Recieved a copy from Netgalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own
October 23, 2023
3.25/5. Releases 11/10/2023.
Vibes: ~it's a Cinderella story~, light sapphic love, actual? royalty? in fairy tales? a la Ever After, and instalove
Cynthia suffers through drudgery, doing whatever her stepmother and stepsisters demand. Then an Italian prince sweeps into town, ready to search through all unwed maidens in his quest for a suitable wife. But Cynthia doesn't care about the prince; she cares about Princess Ammalia, his charismatic sister. And after they meet, nothing, including her stepmother and stepsisters, is going to stop Cynthia from finding the princess at the ball.
This one is a short book (basically a novella) and those are hard to balance; I always have to give people credit for swinging at a believable love story in such a short amount of page time. And in many ways, it works here. It's charming, the lovers are sweet. I would definitely recommend this to people looking for a quick, happy sapphic fairy tale read. For me... I kind of wanted a little more, and maybe unrealistically so (I missed this being around 100-150 pages when I requested it, which is on me). But overall, I'd say it's pretty solid, even if it doesn't go quite as hard as I prefer.
Quick Takes:
--I actually really liked that this was set in a solidly real world. It reminded me of Ever After, and honestly? The prince and princess being Italian made sense--they could be royals without quite as many implications and responsibilities as a member of the British royal family would have had at the time. Something about that just added to it for me; and I think it was especially useful for the novella format, as you don't need quite as much worldbuilding when it's set in... well, our world.
--Ammalia and Cynthia do kind of fall in love pretty quickly. While instalove often doesn't work for me, I'm not inherently against it; it can be done well, and indeed, it's kind of hard to avoid in a book this short (though it can be avoided). And shit, if you can have instalove in a million different m/f books, I'm certainly not going to knock a sapphic Cinderella retelling for having it. Cynthia and Ammalia have a cute chemistry, and honestly, I was down. Is this the deepest romance I've ever read? No. But were you looking for that from a quick, easy fairy tale retelling? I wasn't.
--I think where I struggled a little was that Erica Ridley's voice is very relaxing and nice, but it's not super distinct. I wonder a little what someone like Tessa Dare would've done with this concept--simply because she does have a very strong authorial voice, and I think that's really helpful when you're writing something a little shorter. Tessa's voice naturally does a lot of tonal work that I found somewhat missing here.
The Sex:
It's quick, brief, and pretty innocent--not quite closed door, but for all intents and purposes, closed door.
While I wouldn't say this novel thrilled me, I did find it pleasant. I would definitely recommend Olivia Waite readers try it out, especially if you're in the mood for a soft place to land.
Thanks to Netgalley and WebMotion for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Vibes: ~it's a Cinderella story~, light sapphic love, actual? royalty? in fairy tales? a la Ever After, and instalove
Cynthia suffers through drudgery, doing whatever her stepmother and stepsisters demand. Then an Italian prince sweeps into town, ready to search through all unwed maidens in his quest for a suitable wife. But Cynthia doesn't care about the prince; she cares about Princess Ammalia, his charismatic sister. And after they meet, nothing, including her stepmother and stepsisters, is going to stop Cynthia from finding the princess at the ball.
This one is a short book (basically a novella) and those are hard to balance; I always have to give people credit for swinging at a believable love story in such a short amount of page time. And in many ways, it works here. It's charming, the lovers are sweet. I would definitely recommend this to people looking for a quick, happy sapphic fairy tale read. For me... I kind of wanted a little more, and maybe unrealistically so (I missed this being around 100-150 pages when I requested it, which is on me). But overall, I'd say it's pretty solid, even if it doesn't go quite as hard as I prefer.
Quick Takes:
--I actually really liked that this was set in a solidly real world. It reminded me of Ever After, and honestly? The prince and princess being Italian made sense--they could be royals without quite as many implications and responsibilities as a member of the British royal family would have had at the time. Something about that just added to it for me; and I think it was especially useful for the novella format, as you don't need quite as much worldbuilding when it's set in... well, our world.
--Ammalia and Cynthia do kind of fall in love pretty quickly. While instalove often doesn't work for me, I'm not inherently against it; it can be done well, and indeed, it's kind of hard to avoid in a book this short (though it can be avoided). And shit, if you can have instalove in a million different m/f books, I'm certainly not going to knock a sapphic Cinderella retelling for having it. Cynthia and Ammalia have a cute chemistry, and honestly, I was down. Is this the deepest romance I've ever read? No. But were you looking for that from a quick, easy fairy tale retelling? I wasn't.
--I think where I struggled a little was that Erica Ridley's voice is very relaxing and nice, but it's not super distinct. I wonder a little what someone like Tessa Dare would've done with this concept--simply because she does have a very strong authorial voice, and I think that's really helpful when you're writing something a little shorter. Tessa's voice naturally does a lot of tonal work that I found somewhat missing here.
The Sex:
It's quick, brief, and pretty innocent--not quite closed door, but for all intents and purposes, closed door.
While I wouldn't say this novel thrilled me, I did find it pleasant. I would definitely recommend Olivia Waite readers try it out, especially if you're in the mood for a soft place to land.
Thanks to Netgalley and WebMotion for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 7, 2023
Cindirella retelling where Cindirella falls in love with the princess instead of the prince!
We have Prince Azzurro, an italian prince, coming to England to find a princess for himself while making the relations between their kingdom and England better by having a wife from the best England has to offer. But the problem is, one that catches Cynthia’s eyes is Princess Ammalia.
This is a cute sapphic retelling of the classic Cindirella story. It was an attraction at first sight between Cynthia and the Princess Ammalia. Their dynamic was cute, it’s a short retelling so we don’t get much angst.
Would I love it to be longer and maybe have more complicated plot? yeah sure. But I think this book is perfect as it is. It is fun, sweet and smooth read. There wasn’t much angst or unnecessary stuff that would hinder the experience. You can read it in one sitting and enjoy every second of it.
If you enjoy reading retellings definitely give this book a chance, I know you won’t regret it.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review!
We have Prince Azzurro, an italian prince, coming to England to find a princess for himself while making the relations between their kingdom and England better by having a wife from the best England has to offer. But the problem is, one that catches Cynthia’s eyes is Princess Ammalia.
This is a cute sapphic retelling of the classic Cindirella story. It was an attraction at first sight between Cynthia and the Princess Ammalia. Their dynamic was cute, it’s a short retelling so we don’t get much angst.
Would I love it to be longer and maybe have more complicated plot? yeah sure. But I think this book is perfect as it is. It is fun, sweet and smooth read. There wasn’t much angst or unnecessary stuff that would hinder the experience. You can read it in one sitting and enjoy every second of it.
If you enjoy reading retellings definitely give this book a chance, I know you won’t regret it.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review!
October 31, 2023
3.5/5 stars
I absolutely love Erica Ridley’s historical romance stories, so I was thrilled to see she had another sapphic novella. This was a fast but fun take on the Cinderella story, with Cinderella falling in love with the prince’s sister instead! I thought that the ending was a particularly witty and fun take on the story, much better than stepsisters cutting their toes off at least!
The romance was steamy and intimate, I loved the glimpse at the characters we were given and now I’m just holding out for more sapphic tales from Ridley in the future!
Thank you for netgalley for the chance to review this book
I absolutely love Erica Ridley’s historical romance stories, so I was thrilled to see she had another sapphic novella. This was a fast but fun take on the Cinderella story, with Cinderella falling in love with the prince’s sister instead! I thought that the ending was a particularly witty and fun take on the story, much better than stepsisters cutting their toes off at least!
The romance was steamy and intimate, I loved the glimpse at the characters we were given and now I’m just holding out for more sapphic tales from Ridley in the future!
Thank you for netgalley for the chance to review this book
December 31, 2023
This was an interesting sapphic twist on the Cinderella fairy tale. The evil stepmother and stepsisters were definitely front and center and were as annoying and as mean as possible. The prince (from Italy) was shopping for a wife (in England) - I don’t remember these specific details from the original tale, but the nuances of this novella were what made it so interesting and fun. This story followed the original (with some liberties taken for the gender swap) quite well and even included an epilogue of what happened to Cynthia and the princess after the “happily ever after.”
This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2023
This is my first story in this genre and so I liked the Cinderella story. Cynthia found her love with the young Ammalia. This world wind romance is loving story of two ladies who really wanted each other. Yes the story is a short one, but it’s the entertainment from the characters that makes the book so easy to read. I really enjoyed the characters. The three steps sisters I have to think about. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!
November 1, 2023
I honestly really enjoyed reading this, I just wanted so much more from it.
The main characters were lovely, but lacked any real depth. They were sweet and wholesome and deserved each other entirely, but there was very little backstory, very little about them outside of their insta-love connection.
This also meant their romance, while sweet, left me wanting more too. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love but this kinda took things to the next level. I KNOW it’s a Cinderella retelling, so it’s going to lean into that trope, but I just wanted more lead-up, more depth, more…everything.
Which I think says a lot about how much potential is already in this story. It’s just that, sitting at around 100 pages, it’s not nearly long enough for me to be truly invested, which is a shame because it has so much potential as a starting point.
Still, if you’re looking for a quick, sweet sapphic regency romance, I do recommend picking this one up.
The main characters were lovely, but lacked any real depth. They were sweet and wholesome and deserved each other entirely, but there was very little backstory, very little about them outside of their insta-love connection.
This also meant their romance, while sweet, left me wanting more too. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love but this kinda took things to the next level. I KNOW it’s a Cinderella retelling, so it’s going to lean into that trope, but I just wanted more lead-up, more depth, more…everything.
Which I think says a lot about how much potential is already in this story. It’s just that, sitting at around 100 pages, it’s not nearly long enough for me to be truly invested, which is a shame because it has so much potential as a starting point.
Still, if you’re looking for a quick, sweet sapphic regency romance, I do recommend picking this one up.
November 30, 2023
This definitely read like Cinderella fanfiction, rather than a nicely edited novel... but I'm not complaining lol! It was cute but by far not the best Erica Ridley book I’ve read. Also… the sex scene was so abrupt and I was not feeling it. But I liked the love interest a lot!
🌈 Queer rep: FF main couple
🌈 Queer rep: FF main couple
March 1, 2025
A quick sapphic Cinderella retelling that leans into the historical fiction genre. I think I would have liked this one more if it was a little longer. I felt like some of the side characters had the potential to be a bit more, but we just didn't have the time.
A decent read if you're into historical fiction or Cinderella.
A decent read if you're into historical fiction or Cinderella.
November 20, 2023
As someone who forgets to read the book blurb before diving into a book, I had forgotten that this was a sapphic Cinderella retelling, and one I got to that reveal, I was giddy again with excitement!
Her Princess at Midnight starts very similar to any Cinderella tale, and I was worried that this was going to be one of your standard run-of-the-mill bland retellings- but lo and behold, this retelling, has our Cinderella falling for not the prince, but his sister, the princess, thus adding so much to this classic tale!
I had so much fun seeing how Erica Ridley stayed true to the original ideas and vibes of the story, but gave them her own touch.
I’ve had a bunch of Cinderella retellings, and this is one of my favourites! It has everything you want in a Cinderella story, but with a modern spin on the tale!
Thanks to author, Erica Ridley for the ebook review copy. Opinions on my own.
Her Princess at Midnight starts very similar to any Cinderella tale, and I was worried that this was going to be one of your standard run-of-the-mill bland retellings- but lo and behold, this retelling, has our Cinderella falling for not the prince, but his sister, the princess, thus adding so much to this classic tale!
I had so much fun seeing how Erica Ridley stayed true to the original ideas and vibes of the story, but gave them her own touch.
I’ve had a bunch of Cinderella retellings, and this is one of my favourites! It has everything you want in a Cinderella story, but with a modern spin on the tale!
Thanks to author, Erica Ridley for the ebook review copy. Opinions on my own.
February 9, 2024
Her Princess at Midnight was a cute sapphic take on the Cinderella story. I loved the twist they took of Cynthia, who is Cinderella in this story, falling in love with the Italian prince’s sister.
They were so cute and smitten with one another, and only had eyes for each other. Also, I loved the twist that Ridley did with the glass slipper and who the prince ends up with.
They were so cute and smitten with one another, and only had eyes for each other. Also, I loved the twist that Ridley did with the glass slipper and who the prince ends up with.
November 13, 2023
3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Her Princess at Midnight is a fun sapphic Regency-set fairy tale, putting a unique spin on Cinderella. Given I have a lot of opinions on the various levels of obliviousness and arrogance of various incarnations of Cinderella’s Prince (from the Disney film to Benedict Bridgerton to even the mostly solid Prince Henry from Ever After), I love that this book kind of leaned into him being not worth the Cinderella figure’s time, and having his sister be her true soul mate. Most of the references here are Disney-inspired, but it’s fun regardless of what version is your favorite.
Cynthia is fairly standard for a Cinderella figure, and not much to write home about…she’s fairly sympathetic, but not revolutionary, given the billion retellings out there. But I loved Ammalia immediately…I loved her take-charge nature, and how she simultaneously is the love interest and a Fairy Godmother-esque wingwoman, putting the stepmother and stepsisters in their place, helping Cynthia to get ready for the ball, while also pining for Cynthia herself.
The plot is fairly simplistic, but that’s to be expected both for the short length and the fact that it leans toward the anachronistic, thanks to the fairytale feel (not to mention it being previously published in a LGBTQ+ charity anthology, so it makes sense to avoid the heavier period-accurate themes). However, I fully expected there to be more at stake, and more opposition to them being together, especially with Ammalia literally being royalty, but because she’s more or less an afterthought, there’s pretty much no issue with her marrying a woman. Even the question of who the brother marries isn’t an issue, as they’re basically like, “just marry one of the stepsisters and take the other as your mistress!” and no one bats an eye! It all felt very convenient and anticlimactic.
While it’s not the most complex read, I can forgive it for trying something different and executing it fairly well for the most part. If you’re looking for a fun, short read, especially if you’ve ever wanted a queer take on Cinderella, I’d recommend checking this out!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Her Princess at Midnight is a fun sapphic Regency-set fairy tale, putting a unique spin on Cinderella. Given I have a lot of opinions on the various levels of obliviousness and arrogance of various incarnations of Cinderella’s Prince (from the Disney film to Benedict Bridgerton to even the mostly solid Prince Henry from Ever After), I love that this book kind of leaned into him being not worth the Cinderella figure’s time, and having his sister be her true soul mate. Most of the references here are Disney-inspired, but it’s fun regardless of what version is your favorite.
Cynthia is fairly standard for a Cinderella figure, and not much to write home about…she’s fairly sympathetic, but not revolutionary, given the billion retellings out there. But I loved Ammalia immediately…I loved her take-charge nature, and how she simultaneously is the love interest and a Fairy Godmother-esque wingwoman, putting the stepmother and stepsisters in their place, helping Cynthia to get ready for the ball, while also pining for Cynthia herself.
The plot is fairly simplistic, but that’s to be expected both for the short length and the fact that it leans toward the anachronistic, thanks to the fairytale feel (not to mention it being previously published in a LGBTQ+ charity anthology, so it makes sense to avoid the heavier period-accurate themes). However, I fully expected there to be more at stake, and more opposition to them being together, especially with Ammalia literally being royalty, but because she’s more or less an afterthought, there’s pretty much no issue with her marrying a woman. Even the question of who the brother marries isn’t an issue, as they’re basically like, “just marry one of the stepsisters and take the other as your mistress!” and no one bats an eye! It all felt very convenient and anticlimactic.
While it’s not the most complex read, I can forgive it for trying something different and executing it fairly well for the most part. If you’re looking for a fun, short read, especially if you’ve ever wanted a queer take on Cinderella, I’d recommend checking this out!
July 26, 2025
I don’t know if there’s a ton to say about this one—if you want a cute little F/F version of Cinderella, that’s exactly what this novella will give you, without much by way of surprises. It’s definitely taking inspiration from the Disney version—our Cinderella has birds named Jack and Gus and her stepmother, Lady Tremaine, has a horrible cat whose name is also a nickname for the devil—and offers a pretty similar level of ‘happily ever after.’
Our protagonists are Cynthia Talbot, the Cinderella, and Princess Ammalia, who will be fulfilling the role of the fairy godmother as well as being the sister of Prince Charming (called Prince Azzurro here, because he’s the prince of the pseudo-Italian Parmenza). It’s love at first sight for our Cinderella and our princess, but in the long tradition of romance novels, a misunderstanding keeps them apart—Ammalia thinks that Cynthia wants to attend the ball to attract the attention of her bride-hunting brother, and Cynthia’s so used to being, well, Cinderella, that it doesn’t really even occur to her that the princess could be into her, sexy bathing scene aside. But of course, this misunderstanding is cleared up, and our heroines run off to Italy to live fulfilling lives.
Not a lot here, but it was a fun little read. Azzurro is kind of a shallow dullard but not a bad guy, our heroines are appropriate levels of fairy tale spunky with some briefly applied hobbies and interests to suggest depth that there’s really no space to develop, and everyone lives happily ever after. It certainly didn’t take much time to get through, so if you’re looking for a fast, fun read, if the idea of lesbian fairy tale adaptations appeals to you, and if you don’t object to the clear Disney influence on the version of Cinderella being told, this could be fun to read on a plane ride or something.
Our protagonists are Cynthia Talbot, the Cinderella, and Princess Ammalia, who will be fulfilling the role of the fairy godmother as well as being the sister of Prince Charming (called Prince Azzurro here, because he’s the prince of the pseudo-Italian Parmenza). It’s love at first sight for our Cinderella and our princess, but in the long tradition of romance novels, a misunderstanding keeps them apart—Ammalia thinks that Cynthia wants to attend the ball to attract the attention of her bride-hunting brother, and Cynthia’s so used to being, well, Cinderella, that it doesn’t really even occur to her that the princess could be into her, sexy bathing scene aside. But of course, this misunderstanding is cleared up, and our heroines run off to Italy to live fulfilling lives.
Not a lot here, but it was a fun little read. Azzurro is kind of a shallow dullard but not a bad guy, our heroines are appropriate levels of fairy tale spunky with some briefly applied hobbies and interests to suggest depth that there’s really no space to develop, and everyone lives happily ever after. It certainly didn’t take much time to get through, so if you’re looking for a fast, fun read, if the idea of lesbian fairy tale adaptations appeals to you, and if you don’t object to the clear Disney influence on the version of Cinderella being told, this could be fun to read on a plane ride or something.
October 30, 2023
Releases 10th November 2023
Her Princess at Midnight a cute, fun, and endearing little read that I enjoyed so much more than I thought I would. It’s a whirlwind romance so be prepared to be swept up and transported into Cynthia and Ammalia’s sapphic regency fairytale romance!
It’s only short, definitely more of a novella, but I genuinely loved every moment of it.
With a romance this short there is bound to be an element of instant love and we do see that here so be prepared but don’t let it overly deter you! Cynthia and Ammalia definitely have an instant connection but I loved seeing them tentatively explore this here and watch their chemistry build as they tried to navigate their attraction to each other and gauge the other’s intentions. I really, really loved their chemistry. I was actually really impressed with how much romantic tension and chemistry was built so quickly here - I’ve read other books 5x the length where there hasn’t even been half of this romantic spark!
If you’re looking for a short and sweet read with genuinely likable main characters, a familiar and comforting plot line with a twist and some sapphic tension then this is the one for you!
My one and only criticism is that I loved Cynthia and Ammalia so much and I just wanted more of them
Thank you NetGalley and Webmotion for the chance to read Her Princess at Midnight in exchange for an honest review.
Her Princess at Midnight a cute, fun, and endearing little read that I enjoyed so much more than I thought I would. It’s a whirlwind romance so be prepared to be swept up and transported into Cynthia and Ammalia’s sapphic regency fairytale romance!
It’s only short, definitely more of a novella, but I genuinely loved every moment of it.
With a romance this short there is bound to be an element of instant love and we do see that here so be prepared but don’t let it overly deter you! Cynthia and Ammalia definitely have an instant connection but I loved seeing them tentatively explore this here and watch their chemistry build as they tried to navigate their attraction to each other and gauge the other’s intentions. I really, really loved their chemistry. I was actually really impressed with how much romantic tension and chemistry was built so quickly here - I’ve read other books 5x the length where there hasn’t even been half of this romantic spark!
If you’re looking for a short and sweet read with genuinely likable main characters, a familiar and comforting plot line with a twist and some sapphic tension then this is the one for you!
My one and only criticism is that I loved Cynthia and Ammalia so much and I just wanted more of them
Thank you NetGalley and Webmotion for the chance to read Her Princess at Midnight in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2023
Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley is a queer Regency-era Cinderella retelling. The novella shifts point of view between our two main characters.
This was a cute and quick read! If you're a fan of queer historical romance, or Cinderella retellings in general, you should check this out.
The execution wasn't as on point as I'd hoped. The pacing was a bit off to me, and I think it could have worked better if it was a full-length novel. It was a bit too breakneck as a novella, and I would have appreciated more depth to our main characters.
It's very insta-love, which is typically not a trope that I care for, but if I think back on Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, which I LOVE, there's even a song about how they fell in love "ten minutes ago."
This was my first read by the author, as novellas are a great way to dip my toes into a body of work. I'll still be checking out other things they've written, including the first in this Regency Fairy Tales series: Bianca & the Huntsman (a Snow White retelling).
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, Bluesky, Facebook or Twitter.
This was a cute and quick read! If you're a fan of queer historical romance, or Cinderella retellings in general, you should check this out.
The execution wasn't as on point as I'd hoped. The pacing was a bit off to me, and I think it could have worked better if it was a full-length novel. It was a bit too breakneck as a novella, and I would have appreciated more depth to our main characters.
It's very insta-love, which is typically not a trope that I care for, but if I think back on Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, which I LOVE, there's even a song about how they fell in love "ten minutes ago."
This was my first read by the author, as novellas are a great way to dip my toes into a body of work. I'll still be checking out other things they've written, including the first in this Regency Fairy Tales series: Bianca & the Huntsman (a Snow White retelling).
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, Bluesky, Facebook or Twitter.
November 2, 2023
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc of Her Princess at Midnight
2 /5 stars
I wanted to like this novella, but unfortunately, my heart broke like a glass slipper when it came to this Cinderella retelling. Erica Ridley's understanding of the Cinderella story appears to only come from the 1950 Disney film, which leads the story to read as a copy-paste rather than something original. Instead of mice, Cynthia has magpies named Gus and Jack, as well as a cat named Morning Star. This could have been a clever way to reference the Disney film, but because this is a novella, every word has to count, and there is not enough time to create little jokes with the reader.
The romance between Cynthia and Ammalia was boring. There is no conflict for the two to come over, nor is there much chemistry. The two of them get together and live happily ever after without the glass slipper or fear of the stepmother coming into play. I wish there were something that made me root for them, but instead, the one thing that could be called a conflict, the prince, is quickly swept aside by a time skip in the last few pages.
If you are looking for a sapphic Cinderella retelling pickup, Ash or Cinderella is Dead.
2 /5 stars
I wanted to like this novella, but unfortunately, my heart broke like a glass slipper when it came to this Cinderella retelling. Erica Ridley's understanding of the Cinderella story appears to only come from the 1950 Disney film, which leads the story to read as a copy-paste rather than something original. Instead of mice, Cynthia has magpies named Gus and Jack, as well as a cat named Morning Star. This could have been a clever way to reference the Disney film, but because this is a novella, every word has to count, and there is not enough time to create little jokes with the reader.
The romance between Cynthia and Ammalia was boring. There is no conflict for the two to come over, nor is there much chemistry. The two of them get together and live happily ever after without the glass slipper or fear of the stepmother coming into play. I wish there were something that made me root for them, but instead, the one thing that could be called a conflict, the prince, is quickly swept aside by a time skip in the last few pages.
If you are looking for a sapphic Cinderella retelling pickup, Ash or Cinderella is Dead.
November 15, 2023
Possibly a missed opportunity. What I'd hoped for in this retelling was something with more depth and less light-heartedness. The whole concept of forced servitude could have been highlighted with a much more serious and precise lens.
But that was not the focus of this book; instead, what we get is a light-hearted and fun retelling of the Cinderella tale. I enjoyed the scenes in and around the ball the most, and the chemistry between the leads was interesting given the nature of the dichotomy of status of the two characters. Again, that could also have had more depth.
If this was something that the author was giving to readers on her mailing list perhaps, I would have no gripe because what's here is fun. Sometimes you do not know what you're getting and you have preconceived hopes. That's not necessarily the author's fault--if at all. And perhaps the tone of the blurb does imply the tone and story style.. So, if you're looking for a fun, light-hearted sapphic retelling of this classic fable, this novella will suit you nicely, and on that basis this is a solid 4 stars :).
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
But that was not the focus of this book; instead, what we get is a light-hearted and fun retelling of the Cinderella tale. I enjoyed the scenes in and around the ball the most, and the chemistry between the leads was interesting given the nature of the dichotomy of status of the two characters. Again, that could also have had more depth.
If this was something that the author was giving to readers on her mailing list perhaps, I would have no gripe because what's here is fun. Sometimes you do not know what you're getting and you have preconceived hopes. That's not necessarily the author's fault--if at all. And perhaps the tone of the blurb does imply the tone and story style.. So, if you're looking for a fun, light-hearted sapphic retelling of this classic fable, this novella will suit you nicely, and on that basis this is a solid 4 stars :).
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
November 19, 2023
Sapphic Cinderella retelling!
I love fairy-tale retellings that add their own twist while keeping close to well known versions, and this book did just that.
Cynthia is forced to do all the housework for her step-family, having to put her step-sisters' needs before her own. One day a Prince comes into town on a search for a wife, which has her step-sisters all excited with opportunity. Cynthia isn't so sure there's anything to be excited about... until she locks eyes with the Prince's sister.
The storyline has a LOT of elements from the Disney film of Cinderella, and I thought the references worked really well.
While there is a definite element of insta-lust, I really appreciated that the two women grew to like each other more for their personality. I still very much enjoyed the steamy scenes - the tension with the bath tub!
I would have loved this book to be longer, to give more time to explore the relationship. But still very much enjoyed it as it was.
Definitely check this out if you like queer retellings of classic fairy-tales.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free digital review copy. All thoughts are my own.
I love fairy-tale retellings that add their own twist while keeping close to well known versions, and this book did just that.
Cynthia is forced to do all the housework for her step-family, having to put her step-sisters' needs before her own. One day a Prince comes into town on a search for a wife, which has her step-sisters all excited with opportunity. Cynthia isn't so sure there's anything to be excited about... until she locks eyes with the Prince's sister.
The storyline has a LOT of elements from the Disney film of Cinderella, and I thought the references worked really well.
While there is a definite element of insta-lust, I really appreciated that the two women grew to like each other more for their personality. I still very much enjoyed the steamy scenes - the tension with the bath tub!
I would have loved this book to be longer, to give more time to explore the relationship. But still very much enjoyed it as it was.
Definitely check this out if you like queer retellings of classic fairy-tales.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free digital review copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 13, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 or 4 stars, I really can't decide.
The writing was not good, the prose was very simplistic, and the third person narration occasionally switched POVs in the middle of the chapter without warning. That being said, I rather enjoyed this!
The premise of this book sticks closely to that of the original fairytale, but with the largest difference being that Cinderella, or Cynthia in this case, falls for the prince's sister instead. The plot could be kind of absurd at times, like the characters end up in certain scenarios that (I feel) are just implausible. The romance seems to mainly consist of the characters finding each other extremely attractive, which, like, that's valid, except within the first chapter they make eye contact across a distance and maintain that eye contact for like at least a few minutes.
There's a lot that I can nitpick about this book, but I really just enjoyed this. Some of the dialogue was genuinely funny and the characters are rather charming. Overall, this was a lighthearted and fun read.
3 or 4 stars, I really can't decide.
The writing was not good, the prose was very simplistic, and the third person narration occasionally switched POVs in the middle of the chapter without warning. That being said, I rather enjoyed this!
The premise of this book sticks closely to that of the original fairytale, but with the largest difference being that Cinderella, or Cynthia in this case, falls for the prince's sister instead. The plot could be kind of absurd at times, like the characters end up in certain scenarios that (I feel) are just implausible. The romance seems to mainly consist of the characters finding each other extremely attractive, which, like, that's valid, except within the first chapter they make eye contact across a distance and maintain that eye contact for like at least a few minutes.
There's a lot that I can nitpick about this book, but I really just enjoyed this. Some of the dialogue was genuinely funny and the characters are rather charming. Overall, this was a lighthearted and fun read.
November 7, 2023
Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley
Regency Fairy Tales #2
Short sapphic retelling of a favorite fairy tale that I believe would appeal to Young Adults and be a great read for them. Since the storyline is so well known, a lot of detail is probably not needed though if a person did NOT know the Cinderella tale, more might have helped and given more depth.
I liked Princess Ammalia the best in the story and enjoyed the way she put the stepsisters and their mother in place while tending to Cynthia/Cinderella. The prince had potential while dancing with Cynthia but returned to his truer nature when he found out what his father’s plans for him for the future would be.
All in all, this was a quick easy read of a well-known tale that had a few twists and two women who found their happily ever after. It is not my favorite of this author’s books, but still a nice way to spend the evening.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Regency Fairy Tales #2
Short sapphic retelling of a favorite fairy tale that I believe would appeal to Young Adults and be a great read for them. Since the storyline is so well known, a lot of detail is probably not needed though if a person did NOT know the Cinderella tale, more might have helped and given more depth.
I liked Princess Ammalia the best in the story and enjoyed the way she put the stepsisters and their mother in place while tending to Cynthia/Cinderella. The prince had potential while dancing with Cynthia but returned to his truer nature when he found out what his father’s plans for him for the future would be.
All in all, this was a quick easy read of a well-known tale that had a few twists and two women who found their happily ever after. It is not my favorite of this author’s books, but still a nice way to spend the evening.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
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