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Cindermaid: A Tale of Cinderella
CINDERMAID–the sequel to CHARMING and the final part in the author's Cinderella re-telling–will be on sale for 99 cents for a limited time, starting Wednesday, October 16th.
Picking up where its prequel left off, the story finds Elle's household sinking rapidly into madness, and Jack learning of a possible means of breaking Molly's curse and freeing himself of its consequences forever.
To lonely Elle, the only remaining servant of the house, existence itself seems a dreary burden until an encounter with magic offers her the impossible: a glimpse of an outside world beyond her wildest dreams. Such an encounter, however, has a price; the shadow of Madame Levier threatens Elle's happiness and even her very existence as secrets from her stepmother's past slowly begin to surface.
As for Jack, time is running out. Trapped between the consequences of Molly's curse and the possibility of losing everything he now possesses, he'll do anything to escape–even if it means manipulating a magical being whose powers are meant for another.
From fairy pools and forbidden flames, to circuses and sailors' lairs, the glorious magic of a human fairy and the opulence of three grand balls paint a complex world–one in which a beautiful gown may not be enough to conquer a throne and the persuasion of magic requires more than merely a desire to control it.
Picking up where its prequel left off, the story finds Elle's household sinking rapidly into madness, and Jack learning of a possible means of breaking Molly's curse and freeing himself of its consequences forever.
To lonely Elle, the only remaining servant of the house, existence itself seems a dreary burden until an encounter with magic offers her the impossible: a glimpse of an outside world beyond her wildest dreams. Such an encounter, however, has a price; the shadow of Madame Levier threatens Elle's happiness and even her very existence as secrets from her stepmother's past slowly begin to surface.
As for Jack, time is running out. Trapped between the consequences of Molly's curse and the possibility of losing everything he now possesses, he'll do anything to escape–even if it means manipulating a magical being whose powers are meant for another.
From fairy pools and forbidden flames, to circuses and sailors' lairs, the glorious magic of a human fairy and the opulence of three grand balls paint a complex world–one in which a beautiful gown may not be enough to conquer a throne and the persuasion of magic requires more than merely a desire to control it.
- GenresFairy Tales
527 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2013
5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 16, 2014
Loved it! Such an interesting take on the old fairy tale but with unusual twists and even a dark side.
January 13, 2023
Cindermaid continues the story of Jode/Jack {Prince Charming} in Charming, but is mostly Eloise Levier's {Cinderella} part of the tale.
As with Charming, this book is also beautifully written and pretty much follows the basic plot of the classic fairy Tale Cinderella, however Hawthorne and Anders manage to put several different {and creatively darker} twists to the story. This is also the second time I've read this book, because, like Charming, I was in a hurry to find out how the story ended the first reading.
Eloise's mother dies when Eloise is very young, and her father remarries a few years later. The woman he marries is, of course, the evil stepmother and boy is she a piece of work! Applause to the authors for creating such an insanely evil character and the very satisfying consequences she brings down upon herself in the end. The two stepsisters aren't so much evil as they are controlled by their mother and her determination to marry her daughters to wealthy men - No matter what she has to put her daughters through or what sacrifices she forces them to make.
And poor Elle, going from the beloved and cherished daughter of a country squire to a servant in her own home, half-starved, unkempt, unloved and unknowing that her love is the only thing that will break the curse on Prince Charming and save him from death, for she is the plain maid.
The story takes you on a ride of grim twists and suspenseful turns with a surprising take on the fairy godmother angle - You just don't see it coming. Elle is transformed into a beautiful princess and rides to the masked balls (there are three) in a pumpkin spelled into coach. She meets and charms the Prince at each ball then looses a glass slipper at the end of the last one, but the authors write the story in such an original way that you just can't wait to find out what Elle's dresses will look like and how she and the Prince will come together at each ball. I would absolutely LOVE to see these books made into movies, although we all know how that usually ends up. This book is a wonderful conclusion to Charming, and I'm going to give Cindermaid: A Tale of Cinderella an enthusiastic 5 Star Review!
As with Charming, this book is also beautifully written and pretty much follows the basic plot of the classic fairy Tale Cinderella, however Hawthorne and Anders manage to put several different {and creatively darker} twists to the story. This is also the second time I've read this book, because, like Charming, I was in a hurry to find out how the story ended the first reading.
Eloise's mother dies when Eloise is very young, and her father remarries a few years later. The woman he marries is, of course, the evil stepmother and boy is she a piece of work! Applause to the authors for creating such an insanely evil character and the very satisfying consequences she brings down upon herself in the end. The two stepsisters aren't so much evil as they are controlled by their mother and her determination to marry her daughters to wealthy men - No matter what she has to put her daughters through or what sacrifices she forces them to make.
And poor Elle, going from the beloved and cherished daughter of a country squire to a servant in her own home, half-starved, unkempt, unloved and unknowing that her love is the only thing that will break the curse on Prince Charming and save him from death, for she is the plain maid.
The story takes you on a ride of grim twists and suspenseful turns with a surprising take on the fairy godmother angle - You just don't see it coming. Elle is transformed into a beautiful princess and rides to the masked balls (there are three) in a pumpkin spelled into coach. She meets and charms the Prince at each ball then looses a glass slipper at the end of the last one, but the authors write the story in such an original way that you just can't wait to find out what Elle's dresses will look like and how she and the Prince will come together at each ball. I would absolutely LOVE to see these books made into movies, although we all know how that usually ends up. This book is a wonderful conclusion to Charming, and I'm going to give Cindermaid: A Tale of Cinderella an enthusiastic 5 Star Review!
October 27, 2013
What a wonderful tale. I love fairytale retelling that go deeper. This story still explores Jack and his rise from Jode the ugly to the King of R....but it more thoroughly explores the lonely life of Elle as a servant and her tough life. She does get blessed by the fairy godmother, but you get a very different sense here -- three balls, she quietly goes there and returns, it's the ball itself that is the interesting part. But more so, that it is NOT that the prince is so in love with Elle, but that he sees this as an opportunity to delay his destiny/curse. There's a lot about destiny in this book, though Elle and Jack learn completely different perspectives on it.
We all know the barebones plot of Cinderella and that all bears out, but the characterization of the two and the fairy are quite strong, and the chief guard Grimwalde has become one of my favorites. YOu also feel moments of pity for Carlotta, Celeste, and Hermaine. But only a little!
The writers describe the balls and the clothes in amazing detail which makes you feel that you are there in this magical time. Magic there is, but also the understanding that destiny is either of your own making or that destiny cannot be avoided. Both themes run through the book as characters' perspectives on it differ. IN the end, we get the story we are supposed to get and so much more.
Now I want to read the Fairy's Apprentice which tells the story of the fairy in this book. YOu can read this book without reading the F's A, but don't read this book until you've read the first half -- Charming. You need to understand Jack's origins to fully appreciate this book.
We all know the barebones plot of Cinderella and that all bears out, but the characterization of the two and the fairy are quite strong, and the chief guard Grimwalde has become one of my favorites. YOu also feel moments of pity for Carlotta, Celeste, and Hermaine. But only a little!
The writers describe the balls and the clothes in amazing detail which makes you feel that you are there in this magical time. Magic there is, but also the understanding that destiny is either of your own making or that destiny cannot be avoided. Both themes run through the book as characters' perspectives on it differ. IN the end, we get the story we are supposed to get and so much more.
Now I want to read the Fairy's Apprentice which tells the story of the fairy in this book. YOu can read this book without reading the F's A, but don't read this book until you've read the first half -- Charming. You need to understand Jack's origins to fully appreciate this book.
January 3, 2015
Made Some of My Favorite Reads in 2014 as
My Favorite Fairy Tale Retold
The story told in the two books Charming and Cindermaid is the most amazing retelling of Cinderalla I have ever read. This is a gem. It falls into my Autumn of the Patriarch and Accursed category: Books that are just so different and unique they stand out as works unto themselves. Laura Briggs's writing style is distinct. If you're not fond of prose, how things are written, you might not enjoy this book. There's so much subtly and commitment in this retelling. Prince Charming's and Cinderella's story's are told with fantastic depth, and the psychology of both characters is intriguing. And it's all deliciously retold, with curses and mad houses, and... a fairy godmother whose first appearance as such is perhaps the most enchanting I've ever read.
Can you tell I l loved these books! They're long, over a 1000 pages together, I think. And you have to read them both. Because the intricate coming together of this Cinderella and Prince Charming and their happily ever after is just... Wow!
The story told in the two books Charming and Cindermaid is the most amazing retelling of Cinderalla I have ever read. This is a gem. It falls into my Autumn of the Patriarch and Accursed category: Books that are just so different and unique they stand out as works unto themselves. Laura Briggs's writing style is distinct. If you're not fond of prose, how things are written, you might not enjoy this book. There's so much subtly and commitment in this retelling. Prince Charming's and Cinderella's story's are told with fantastic depth, and the psychology of both characters is intriguing. And it's all deliciously retold, with curses and mad houses, and... a fairy godmother whose first appearance as such is perhaps the most enchanting I've ever read.
Can you tell I l loved these books! They're long, over a 1000 pages together, I think. And you have to read them both. Because the intricate coming together of this Cinderella and Prince Charming and their happily ever after is just... Wow!
November 8, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this book! It's the 2nd in a two-book series, and I loved the way it went so deeply into the details about the prince, as well as the "Cinderella" character. I had heard, years ago, that the original Cinderella story (not the Disney version) had the stepmother being far more cruel and vicious than the one we've come to know in more recent years. Cindermaid really followed that story-line much more closely.
As with the first book, there was incredible character development, great attention to detail, fantastic description! I could really visualize the story, the outfits, the scenery, etc.
These books are not for children, or even the weak-stomached. There's some fairly graphic violence throughout. I, for one, don't mind that so much; and I did feel it was an integral part of the story.
Kudos to these authors (Laura Briggs as well as S.E. Steinbrenner).
As with the first book, there was incredible character development, great attention to detail, fantastic description! I could really visualize the story, the outfits, the scenery, etc.
These books are not for children, or even the weak-stomached. There's some fairly graphic violence throughout. I, for one, don't mind that so much; and I did feel it was an integral part of the story.
Kudos to these authors (Laura Briggs as well as S.E. Steinbrenner).
September 9, 2016
This conclusion to the Prince Charming/Cinderella story didn't disappoint. Like the first one, it was clever and creative. I was kept guessing about several aspects of the story until the end. I liked how the traditional story was woven into the new story. Again, at times the details of things didn't always fully make sense to me (the way the fairy magic did and didn't work, for example), but it might be due to my fast reading to learn how the story concluded rather than paying attention to details. Also, the writing style of sentence fragments starting with "Who..." was again prevalent, but I think the strength of the story compensated for that small offense. Again, it was an enjoyable story.
November 30, 2013
I appreciated this half of the story much more than the first book. I liked that the stories of Jack and Elle wove in and out of each other. While much of it was fairly predictable, since we all know how the story would ultimately end, the telling was worth the read. Just wanting to know how it would all come together, would Madame Levier find out Elle went to the royal balls, how would Jack find Elle after she fled the final ball? A great read, and a wonderful retelling of a classic story.
October 27, 2013
....and you thought you knew Cinderella's back story did you? HA!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews