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Fairy Tales
Moonlight And Ashes
The story of Cinderella as you've never heard it before ...
A girl whose fortunes have plummeted from wealthy aristocrat to servant-girl. A magic hazel twig. A prince. A desperate escape from danger.
This is not the story of a girl whose fairy godmother arranges her future for her. This is the story of Selena, who will take charge of her own destiny, and learn that her magic is not to be feared but celebrated.
Pure fairytale - with all the romance, magic and adventure that goes along with it.
A girl whose fortunes have plummeted from wealthy aristocrat to servant-girl. A magic hazel twig. A prince. A desperate escape from danger.
This is not the story of a girl whose fairy godmother arranges her future for her. This is the story of Selena, who will take charge of her own destiny, and learn that her magic is not to be feared but celebrated.
Pure fairytale - with all the romance, magic and adventure that goes along with it.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
16 people are currently reading
1408 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Masson
130 books146 followersBorn in Indonesia of French parents, Sophie Masson was sent to live with her paternal grandmother in Toulouse, France, when she was just a baby and lived there till she was nearly five, when her parents came back from Indonesia and took her to Australia. All the rest of her childhood, the family stayed in Australia, with frequent trips back to France, and this dual heritage underpins a good deal of Sophie's work.
Sophie's first book appeared in 1990 and since then she has published more than seventy books, for children, young adults and adults. Her books have been published in Australia, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. She has also had many short stories and articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online journals.
Sophie holds a BA and M.Litt in French and English literature, and a PhD in Creative Practice. A former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, she is the current Chair (2021) of the New England Writers' Centre and of the Small Press Network. She is also the President committee of the New England and North West sub-branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW branch.
Sophie has received several awards for her creative work, including the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and the YA category of the Aurealis Awards. In 2019 she received an AM in the Order of Australia for her significant service to literature as an author, a publisher, and through service to literary organisations.
Sophie's website is at www.sophiemassonauthor.com
She has a writing blog at www.firebirdfeathers.com
Her You Tube channel, with trailers to many of her books, is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLa...
She is also a regular contributor to the popular authorship blog Writer Unboxed, www.writerunboxed.com
Sophie's first book appeared in 1990 and since then she has published more than seventy books, for children, young adults and adults. Her books have been published in Australia, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. She has also had many short stories and articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online journals.
Sophie holds a BA and M.Litt in French and English literature, and a PhD in Creative Practice. A former Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, she is the current Chair (2021) of the New England Writers' Centre and of the Small Press Network. She is also the President committee of the New England and North West sub-branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW branch.
Sophie has received several awards for her creative work, including the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and the YA category of the Aurealis Awards. In 2019 she received an AM in the Order of Australia for her significant service to literature as an author, a publisher, and through service to literary organisations.
Sophie's website is at www.sophiemassonauthor.com
She has a writing blog at www.firebirdfeathers.com
Her You Tube channel, with trailers to many of her books, is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLa...
She is also a regular contributor to the popular authorship blog Writer Unboxed, www.writerunboxed.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
June 22, 2012
This is a reversioning of the Cinderella story. Selena’s father is a wealthy nobleman who lives in a provincial city called Ashberg. When his wife dies and he remarries, his new wife persuades him to annul his marriage and so Selena is banished below stairs because she is now not a legally recognised daughter. (pg 2.)
In this story magic is banned in this land and there is a group of people called The Mancers who are very sinister and powerful and who seek out any magic.
Selena is a Moon-sister, one of a secret race of magical people, who have been hunted out of existence, and she has to keep her magic secret.
She dreams regularly and her mother gives her advice in these dreams. In one dream she is told to ask her father for the Hazel twig he has collected from her mother’s grave as a birthday present.
This twig is of course magical and its leaves provide all the things Selena needs to get to the ball where she meets Prince Leopold, who turns out to be obnoxious and very self-centered. She does however strike up a friendship with his best friend Max, and when she and Max find themselves locked away in a Mancer prison with a werewolf their adventure begins.
Fabulous, I loved it, couldn’t out it down. Fesity main character who does a lot more for herself than normal. Great interpretation of what magic actually is.
In this story magic is banned in this land and there is a group of people called The Mancers who are very sinister and powerful and who seek out any magic.
Selena is a Moon-sister, one of a secret race of magical people, who have been hunted out of existence, and she has to keep her magic secret.
She dreams regularly and her mother gives her advice in these dreams. In one dream she is told to ask her father for the Hazel twig he has collected from her mother’s grave as a birthday present.
This twig is of course magical and its leaves provide all the things Selena needs to get to the ball where she meets Prince Leopold, who turns out to be obnoxious and very self-centered. She does however strike up a friendship with his best friend Max, and when she and Max find themselves locked away in a Mancer prison with a werewolf their adventure begins.
Fabulous, I loved it, couldn’t out it down. Fesity main character who does a lot more for herself than normal. Great interpretation of what magic actually is.
December 11, 2014
I think this book had a lot of potential to be a really good Cinderella adaptation. The first half of the book was promising, but as the story progressed the plot became more convoluted and unrealistic. Half of the time I wasn't sure what was happening. A major plot development is when Selena realises she has to kill the crown prince. You would she would spend a little time, I don't know, finding out how to kill the price without getting caught. But instead, she goes shopping. I kid you not. I don't even know where or how she even got the money. The ending was very rushed, confusing and unrealistic. Sigh. And here I was hoping for a realistic romance without the stupid heroine and believable attraction between hero and heroine. I mean, suddenly, out of the blue, she gushes out all her past and then they BAM! this must mean they're in love! Honestly, they have done nothing that merits love. Their romance is unrealistic and I had a hard time believing it.
July 7, 2012
This is the second book I have read by Sophie Mason in the last couple of months. I love her work. This one is a fairytale and is based on the story of Cinderella without the fairy godmother and an interesting take on magic.
Selena is told by her dying mother that she is a Moon Sister, but needs to keep this fact a secret as Moon Sisters practised magic and magic has been banned in her country. Selena does not know any other Moon Sisters as most of the women have been killed by the Mancers, a powerful and very sinister group of men who seek out any woman who can perform any form of magic. On her sixteenth birthday, she is advised by her mother in a dream, to ask her father for a hazel twig which he gathered from the mother's grave. This of course is magical and from here, we have the ball where she meets the Prince and his best friend Max, we see her thrown into prison with a werewolf, the desperate escape from danger and then there is the failed rebellion of the Moonsisters and the role Selena must play in righting the wrong done to the Moon sisters after the rebellion. The story is an adventure story as much as it is a love story. It is the story we love - that of a girl who who will take charge of her own destiny.
I couldn’t put it down. I loved the main character who is feisty and independent. Even when she is in the role of servant, she never loses her strength of character and compassion. And as the plot develops and she is asked to right the wrong done to the Moon Sisters, you know that she will be capable of this. Her intelligence, her defiance in the face of adversity and her great tenderness will ensure that she succeeds.
The love story between the Max and Selena is tender and realistic and there is a twist at the end that is so unexpected and exciting. A real page turner. My only criticism is that the characters of Olga and Andel are not developed well enough. Their part in the story is secondary yet they are such interesting characters. Along with the love interest and adventure, there is political intrigue, there is corruption and there is magic. A great book for middle school, especially for girls. Highly recommended.
Selena is told by her dying mother that she is a Moon Sister, but needs to keep this fact a secret as Moon Sisters practised magic and magic has been banned in her country. Selena does not know any other Moon Sisters as most of the women have been killed by the Mancers, a powerful and very sinister group of men who seek out any woman who can perform any form of magic. On her sixteenth birthday, she is advised by her mother in a dream, to ask her father for a hazel twig which he gathered from the mother's grave. This of course is magical and from here, we have the ball where she meets the Prince and his best friend Max, we see her thrown into prison with a werewolf, the desperate escape from danger and then there is the failed rebellion of the Moonsisters and the role Selena must play in righting the wrong done to the Moon sisters after the rebellion. The story is an adventure story as much as it is a love story. It is the story we love - that of a girl who who will take charge of her own destiny.
I couldn’t put it down. I loved the main character who is feisty and independent. Even when she is in the role of servant, she never loses her strength of character and compassion. And as the plot develops and she is asked to right the wrong done to the Moon Sisters, you know that she will be capable of this. Her intelligence, her defiance in the face of adversity and her great tenderness will ensure that she succeeds.
The love story between the Max and Selena is tender and realistic and there is a twist at the end that is so unexpected and exciting. A real page turner. My only criticism is that the characters of Olga and Andel are not developed well enough. Their part in the story is secondary yet they are such interesting characters. Along with the love interest and adventure, there is political intrigue, there is corruption and there is magic. A great book for middle school, especially for girls. Highly recommended.
September 3, 2012
I really loved this new book by Sophie Masson. I think it's her best boook yet, and I'm a long-time fan of her work. 'Moonlight & Ashes' is a retelling of the Aschenputtel fairy tale, the German Cinderella. It is set in alternative Prague, and is full of adventure, magic and romance. It has the most beautiful, dreamy cover too - loved it!
February 9, 2019
“Accepting the way the magic worked was like starting to tell a story aloud when you didn't know the ending.”
Although Moonlight and Ashes is based on Cinderella, there is no iconic glass slipper and it gets expanded to what makes up a good 75% of the book. I read this one after the author's Scarlet in the Snow and, while they stand alone, I think it would have been better to read them in order as there are some character cameos and world-building tidbits that had less of an impact on me than they would have done if read in the correct order.
I find that Moonlight and Ashes and Scarlet in the Snow share the same strengths and weaknesses, though I definitely think her take on Cinderella was the better of the two. Here we have Selena, who, unlike most Cinderella-characters I've come across, feels a lot more real in that she holds a grudge against her stepmother and sisters. Honestly, after such treatment, who could really remain so serene over it all? Selena's narration was also a lot less judgemental than Scarlet in the Snow's Natasha.
Another thing that worked out better was the romance, albeit it is still a weak point of the author's. Unlike Natasha's story, Selena has time to get to know her love interest and there's certainly chemistry between them. Unfortunately, the author breaks that well-developed basis by skipping the I-think-I-like-you and diving straight into I-would-die-for-my-true-love. The author also loves to include a lot of pet names, I've never met any real person who calls their significant other 'my dear' or 'my love' after every line spoken - too much of this can really kill the believability of a fictional couple.
Luckily, Romance wasn't the only theme of this book! There's a good deal of mystery going on with Selena and friends on the run from the Empire. It makes for a good page-turner with more than just one plot twist. I kind of guessed one of the main plot twists along the way, but it was by no means a bad thing - once my suspicions were confirmed, it had more of a satisfactory 'Hah! I knew it!' effect on me, rather than finding it boring.
What really makes this book stand out, though, is the world building. Already in Scarlet in the Snow, I loved the setting and the lore of the different countries featured - which all appear to be based on real countries. For Moonlight and Ashes, based on terminology used, my guess would be that Faustinian empire is either based on Germany or Austria. In any case, it was absolutely well done and I was right to think that I would love to see more of this world! I also love how the author blends a fairy-tale-like setting with things from later centuries such as trains, guns and magazines. I believe this would have irked me in other works, but it is so well developed here that I can't help but like it - I also can't help be reminded of the world from Howl's Moving Castle, and that's about one of the best praises a book receive from me!
Another bit of a downside, though, was how Selena and her companions seem perfectly ok with child abduction and murder. Sure, in those moments, it was a question of life and death, but I do feel as though they could have shown a little more scruple about it. I don't know, it just hurt their likeability for me.
In any case, this is a unique and interesting take on Cinderella and worth a shot for those that love fairy tales - especially if you enjoy rich and well-developed worlds! Just be prepared for a romance that is only so-so, and this ought to be an enjoyable read!
May 30, 2013
This book was sloppily written and sloppily edited.
I love a good fairytale adaptation as much as the next person, like Hale's 'The Goose Girl', or Marillier's 'Wildwood Dancing', but this one was just so unpolished, and unconvincing. It constantly slips into contemporary language and phrases, which absolutely should have been picked up in the editing process. Her love interest calls the protagonist a 'spitfire' before they were even invented, a child is desperate to get a toy into his 'hot little hands', and Selena says that without her interference, her friend would be 'pretty much a zombie by now'. This is extremely frustrating to read.
There are also lines of direct thought that aren't italicised, typos, and two chapters finish on exclamation marks, which stick out awkwardly in any book pitched at children older than eight.
I was very excited for this book, as it has a beautiful cover, a strong premise and an enticing blurb, but I'm afraid it turned out to belong to the scrapheap of YA fiction.
I love a good fairytale adaptation as much as the next person, like Hale's 'The Goose Girl', or Marillier's 'Wildwood Dancing', but this one was just so unpolished, and unconvincing. It constantly slips into contemporary language and phrases, which absolutely should have been picked up in the editing process. Her love interest calls the protagonist a 'spitfire' before they were even invented, a child is desperate to get a toy into his 'hot little hands', and Selena says that without her interference, her friend would be 'pretty much a zombie by now'. This is extremely frustrating to read.
There are also lines of direct thought that aren't italicised, typos, and two chapters finish on exclamation marks, which stick out awkwardly in any book pitched at children older than eight.
I was very excited for this book, as it has a beautiful cover, a strong premise and an enticing blurb, but I'm afraid it turned out to belong to the scrapheap of YA fiction.
April 18, 2015
Ah, that's better. After a couple of bad books in a row, I can always count on Sophie Masson to come to the table. As always, her books are light and airy and just the ticket for a pick me up. This one was full of political intrigue and seemed to pass by in a blur, and I still wasn't entirely sure what happened in the end, but I still enjoyed it regardless. Sophie has the skill of taking a reader into whatever world she wishes, building just enough around it to keep you intrigued without answering all your questions. Her fairy tale retellings are probably the best I've ever read. Somehow she transforms a story I have never particularly enjoyed anyway (Cinderella) and makes it fresh and fun.
Four stars, and if you haven't checked out this author yet, then you should!
Four stars, and if you haven't checked out this author yet, then you should!
February 16, 2016
I read Scarlet in the Snow first (by the same author) then this book. I enjoyed this much more as I found the connection between the characters much more genuine. Again another fairy tale retelling - this time the story of Cinderella but after setting the scene the story quickly goes off into another exciting tangent.
Selena has discovered she comes from a long line of moon-sisters - those who practice magic in secret. as magic in their land has been banned by the powerful Mancers who seek out any magic.
On her 16th birthday she receives a hazel twig from her father which has come from her mother's grave. The hazel twig is magical and with its leaves allows Selena to escape her home and attend the ball where she meets Prince Leopold and his best friend Max.
From there the adventures begin as she is thrown into prison with Max and a female werewolf called Olga. They escape from prison and so begins the journey the leads Selena to discover her magical heritage and take charge of her own destiny.
Selena has discovered she comes from a long line of moon-sisters - those who practice magic in secret. as magic in their land has been banned by the powerful Mancers who seek out any magic.
On her 16th birthday she receives a hazel twig from her father which has come from her mother's grave. The hazel twig is magical and with its leaves allows Selena to escape her home and attend the ball where she meets Prince Leopold and his best friend Max.
From there the adventures begin as she is thrown into prison with Max and a female werewolf called Olga. They escape from prison and so begins the journey the leads Selena to discover her magical heritage and take charge of her own destiny.
August 15, 2012
Moonlight and Ashes is a different take on Cinderella. Selena has become the servant of her stepmother and stepsisters. Her father is too weak minded or doesn't care enough to do anything about it. So when Selena gets a chance to go to the ball and meet the prince she takes it but things don't turn out quite the way they do in fairytales...
I was enjoying the first half of the novel, with a few exceptions but the second half I was less then impressed with. I'm not sure what the author was trying to say about ...well any of it. It seemed to have many mixed messages and no real coherence. I was disappointed.
I was enjoying the first half of the novel, with a few exceptions but the second half I was less then impressed with. I'm not sure what the author was trying to say about ...well any of it. It seemed to have many mixed messages and no real coherence. I was disappointed.
September 28, 2012
This story is a take on the Cinderella fairy tale. I really enjoyed the set up with the main character, and the development of the society she lives in, with the control of magic, and her being a forbidden moon sister. However halfway through, it suddenly feels as if the author needed to quickly finish the book, and everything is rushed, with barely any explanation. I would have enjoyed the story more, if the second half could have been as well developed as the first.
August 31, 2013
this book at the start sounds just like any other Cinderella story but that is where your mind is wrong! it may start out like that but main character doesn't stay and just take what is being thrown at her so she sets off on a journey with a young man! it is a great book about standing up for yourself and finding your own way in life because not everyone has a fairy godmother! this classic tale has a different twist and it is perfect!
- AG x
- AG x
July 18, 2012
Enchanting! I only put it down when I had to go to work and don't think I didn't resent it!
December 1, 2021
Parts of this are very good. Selena is an amazing character that's full of depth and very three dimensional. The journey is one that not only adds new layers to the Cinderella story but is intriguing to read. I love the addition of the moon sisters and how they fit into the world.
The characters in addition to Selena are also written well and are vibrant and unique. I wish the villain had more page time because I wanted to see more of him.
I think the ending was a bit neat in the sense that I doubt everything transitioned as seamlessly as it appeared. People don't just change generations of prejudice and mistrust as easily as it appeared. Old rules faded. etc. I will say I did like that we got to hear what happened to everyone in a way that a lot of endings don't always wrap up. In that aspect I liked the tidy ending.
Where the book really fell flat for me(and I was sooooo grateful to read the reviews on all 4 books in this series to see that it's not just me!!!) was the awful AWFUL: romance. Fortunately Selena spends some portions of the story alone and it doesn't dominate the entire story. But where it is in there is painful.
For one thing I remember reading at one point and Selena is gushing about how he's the love of her life and she'd do anything for him. And I was like wait... did I doze off at some point? Did I miss something? I actually went back to see if I'd missed the part where they'd fallen in love. But no... it really did just happen out of nowhere.
They meet at a dance and there's nothing romantic. Then they wind up in jail together where they break out together. Also nothing crazy. But that same night they escape they end up on a boat and fall asleep. When they wake up there is love. Like.... barring the brief moments at a ball they've known each other for maybe 12 hours at that point and most of it was spent sleeping or in separate cells.... sleeping.
But that morning on the boat the sweet nothings start and it's all downhill from there. Not only is the romance so sudden but any time they speak to each other it's wince worthy. My love this and that sooooo much more than is realistic. Talk of dying for him even though it makes no sense how they fell in love.
So despite all the good points of this book, I did see that this issue continues in the series and feel like a romance/fairy tale with a poorly written romance is a big enough flaw for me to stop at this point.
The characters in addition to Selena are also written well and are vibrant and unique. I wish the villain had more page time because I wanted to see more of him.
I think the ending was a bit neat in the sense that I doubt everything transitioned as seamlessly as it appeared. People don't just change generations of prejudice and mistrust as easily as it appeared. Old rules faded. etc. I will say I did like that we got to hear what happened to everyone in a way that a lot of endings don't always wrap up. In that aspect I liked the tidy ending.
Where the book really fell flat for me(and I was sooooo grateful to read the reviews on all 4 books in this series to see that it's not just me!!!) was the awful AWFUL: romance. Fortunately Selena spends some portions of the story alone and it doesn't dominate the entire story. But where it is in there is painful.
For one thing I remember reading at one point and Selena is gushing about how he's the love of her life and she'd do anything for him. And I was like wait... did I doze off at some point? Did I miss something? I actually went back to see if I'd missed the part where they'd fallen in love. But no... it really did just happen out of nowhere.
They meet at a dance and there's nothing romantic. Then they wind up in jail together where they break out together. Also nothing crazy. But that same night they escape they end up on a boat and fall asleep. When they wake up there is love. Like.... barring the brief moments at a ball they've known each other for maybe 12 hours at that point and most of it was spent sleeping or in separate cells.... sleeping.
But that morning on the boat the sweet nothings start and it's all downhill from there. Not only is the romance so sudden but any time they speak to each other it's wince worthy. My love this and that sooooo much more than is realistic. Talk of dying for him even though it makes no sense how they fell in love.
So despite all the good points of this book, I did see that this issue continues in the series and feel like a romance/fairy tale with a poorly written romance is a big enough flaw for me to stop at this point.
March 9, 2020
Gosh, a Cinderella retelling where she's an active agent in her own bid for freedom albeit with the help of magic of course. Because Cinderella is a tale of magic yet as per that last sentence in the book, "magic" is not the be all and end all.
We all know the story which makes Cinderella and this tale, it is the same. Selena aka Ashes, however, learnt a secret at her mother's deathbed which could prove to be her own doom if it was ever found out. She has also promised her mother that she will stay with her father though these days it is proving harder and harder. Her destiny calls, however, and she has to attend The Ball and dance with the Prince. From there, the story veered off into a quest for justice. Not for herself but for the Empire.
I loved that Selena is such a strong-willed character in this novel. She's also intelligent, resourceful, and generous. The one with the pure heart, however, is not her... (I won't say who but I just love this twist!) I also enjoyed the friendships she's formed and the dynamics of that group. I'm left with a question though so not going to give this a full 5 stars but it was a lovely read. Plus, I learnt a new word today:
appurtenance: an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living
We all know the story which makes Cinderella and this tale, it is the same. Selena aka Ashes, however, learnt a secret at her mother's deathbed which could prove to be her own doom if it was ever found out. She has also promised her mother that she will stay with her father though these days it is proving harder and harder. Her destiny calls, however, and she has to attend The Ball and dance with the Prince. From there, the story veered off into a quest for justice. Not for herself but for the Empire.
I loved that Selena is such a strong-willed character in this novel. She's also intelligent, resourceful, and generous. The one with the pure heart, however, is not her... (I won't say who but I just love this twist!) I also enjoyed the friendships she's formed and the dynamics of that group. I'm left with a question though so not going to give this a full 5 stars but it was a lovely read. Plus, I learnt a new word today:
appurtenance: an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living
February 9, 2018
I absolutely loved this book!!!! I don't really read many books but I am starting to slowly read more and this was a good start!! I loved how it had the basic story line of cinderella but changed it to it's own twist. It was a quick read only really took me 1-2 days to finish as it got me really hooked onto the story!!
Now the first half the the book was absolutely amazing and I loved the different outlook on the story of cinderella but as it got into the next phase of the story things took a different turn and not quite for the better.... It got really confusing and the setting and timeline of events weren't quite clear.... the relationship building between the two protagonist was rushed and more could have been added to demonstrate and show their budding romance.
Even with this said the ending and twist plot got me suprised and I was baffled with the change of story line and that heightened the quailty if the story. The story showed great potential but the ending was a little rushed even though it ended beautifully. Overall it was a great story and I am looking forward to reading more of this authors work!!
Now the first half the the book was absolutely amazing and I loved the different outlook on the story of cinderella but as it got into the next phase of the story things took a different turn and not quite for the better.... It got really confusing and the setting and timeline of events weren't quite clear.... the relationship building between the two protagonist was rushed and more could have been added to demonstrate and show their budding romance.
Even with this said the ending and twist plot got me suprised and I was baffled with the change of story line and that heightened the quailty if the story. The story showed great potential but the ending was a little rushed even though it ended beautifully. Overall it was a great story and I am looking forward to reading more of this authors work!!
June 30, 2022
I just re-read this book as I could remember how much I loved it when I was younger. I went into this read not remembering much about the book or what happened.
Sadly upon reading it recently I didn't have the same feeling as before and felt as though the ending was slightly rushed by the author. Granted this is a smaller book but feel as though more could have been added on to the ending for more suspense and detail.
It's sad because this book has so many great qualities that I would love to see what it would have been if the book had more in it.
This book is definitely a good option as a young adult read or for someone who is getting into reading fantasy stories, but I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is looking for something a bit longer or with more details.
Sadly upon reading it recently I didn't have the same feeling as before and felt as though the ending was slightly rushed by the author. Granted this is a smaller book but feel as though more could have been added on to the ending for more suspense and detail.
It's sad because this book has so many great qualities that I would love to see what it would have been if the book had more in it.
This book is definitely a good option as a young adult read or for someone who is getting into reading fantasy stories, but I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is looking for something a bit longer or with more details.
December 18, 2023
this is my second time reading this book, the first being when i was like 9 or 10. and when i read it back then i LOVED it and thought it was one of the best books ever, so when i found this book a couple months ago i bought it so quick cos i remembered how much i loved it ykkk. but ig my age and book taste have changed so much that i didnt really enjoy this book as much. the start was pretty good, but towards the end it got it a bit meh. (i mainly finished it off to help with my reading goal)
March 10, 2022
A lot of plot twists yet I enjoyed this version of Cinderella because it felt new to me. I've actually waited for years to get this book because I didn't know about online shopping before. I can say it is worth the wait.
I thought the book would be more on the romantic side than action, but there's a good balance to it. Would love to read more books from Masson!
I thought the book would be more on the romantic side than action, but there's a good balance to it. Would love to read more books from Masson!
June 1, 2020
This is a solid 2.5 stars for me. Never have I wished for half stars on Goodreads more than now.
Also my world was just shaken finding out that Masson is also Isabelle Merlin, one of my favorite authors as a teen. Wild.
Also my world was just shaken finding out that Masson is also Isabelle Merlin, one of my favorite authors as a teen. Wild.
March 9, 2025
This book was really good totally recommend!!
I absolutely loved the ending and plot twist I got a bit restless through the series of events but eventually I started to understand and loved the book!
💓
I absolutely loved the ending and plot twist I got a bit restless through the series of events but eventually I started to understand and loved the book!
💓
May 26, 2017
Loved the combination of fantasy, romance and adventure.
June 29, 2017
The insta-love and the writing just threw me off. The character development was sloppy too.
August 3, 2017
Beautiful and amusing Cinderella re-telling, with a whole new perspective on what makes a handsome prince. Love the magic and moonlight.
August 30, 2018
Loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2019
Unique spin on cinderella story with new characters.
August 7, 2019
This was a great take on Cinderella. I love fairytales, so this was a nice twist for me!
February 15, 2020
CW: Grief, abuse/neglect
January 28, 2021
So sweet
January 30, 2023
Stunning. Intend to read again.
September 27, 2014
Full review at http://bronzelock619.blogspot.com/2013/09/moonlight-and-ashes-sophie-masson.html.
I love the cover very much. It had become one of my favourites. The hopeful and dreamy look on the girl was amazing. She fit right into the story. Even though the girl in the picture is obviously not a real person, she looks so life-like. The colour of her dress is really beautiful. The sparkles around the picture gave the cover a nice touch.
It can be a bit confusing, with Selena's stepmother named Grizelda. For me, it sounded a lot like a stepsister name, especially since one of the stepsisters in Disney's animation film Cinderella is named Drizella, sounding a lot like Grizelda. Also, the name Odette sounded so beautiful, it does not seem to fit the role of an evil stepsister. For me, Odette will always be the princess of Swan Lake. It was a waste of such beautiful names.
Contrary to other Cinderella stories, Selena's father is still very much alive. He just did not care for Selena any longer, and his cowardice prevent him from voicing out when his new wife used Selena as a servant. His new wife even managed to convince him to annul his marriage to Selena's mother, making Selena no longer his legally-recognized daughter. I could not really see the logic in it. Why denounce his own biological daughter and shower his stepdaughters with riches. I could only say he was too obedient to his new wife.
Other than that, the direction of the story went down a completely different road after the ball. Selena went to the ball, but she did not fall in love with the prince (technically, she did, but that would be revealing too much). Instead, she found him to be an arrogant jerk. She danced a few dances with him, she found the food there more interesting, and therefore hid in a small abandoned side room to enjoy those food. That was when she met Maximillan, Max for short, the son of Count Otto, and best friend of the prince. He also hid from the ball because he found books more interesting. That was when her life changed. All Selena's mother wanted was for her to change her life and have a chance at happiness. But unknown to her, Selena was destined for so much more, and it turned out to be a great adventure.
As fairy-tale retellings went, this is the most creative I have ever read. The ball is not her the start of her happily ever after, but a start to her great adventure. From there, the story went in totally unexpected directions. I had a shock when the story moved from (spoiler:) being on the run to an assassination attempt. With so much happening, the plot moved at a really fast pace. Perhaps a little too fast when building up to the climax. There is not much time for you to absorb what was happening before something else happened. This usually occurs with fairy-tale retelling books, as they cram the whole story into one book. The characters were nicely developed though, even though you just get small glimpses into their characters other than Selena since everything moves so fast.
But on the whole, it is a Cinderella story that was nicely written. I especially love how Selena managed to find forgiveness in her heart for her father, stepmother and stepsisters after she became the Crown Princess. Even when she was being used as someone less of a scullery maid in her own household, there was not much hate in her than I would have expected. I think it is one of the less obvious messages that the readers can take home from this book.
I love the cover very much. It had become one of my favourites. The hopeful and dreamy look on the girl was amazing. She fit right into the story. Even though the girl in the picture is obviously not a real person, she looks so life-like. The colour of her dress is really beautiful. The sparkles around the picture gave the cover a nice touch.
It can be a bit confusing, with Selena's stepmother named Grizelda. For me, it sounded a lot like a stepsister name, especially since one of the stepsisters in Disney's animation film Cinderella is named Drizella, sounding a lot like Grizelda. Also, the name Odette sounded so beautiful, it does not seem to fit the role of an evil stepsister. For me, Odette will always be the princess of Swan Lake. It was a waste of such beautiful names.
Contrary to other Cinderella stories, Selena's father is still very much alive. He just did not care for Selena any longer, and his cowardice prevent him from voicing out when his new wife used Selena as a servant. His new wife even managed to convince him to annul his marriage to Selena's mother, making Selena no longer his legally-recognized daughter. I could not really see the logic in it. Why denounce his own biological daughter and shower his stepdaughters with riches. I could only say he was too obedient to his new wife.
Other than that, the direction of the story went down a completely different road after the ball. Selena went to the ball, but she did not fall in love with the prince (technically, she did, but that would be revealing too much). Instead, she found him to be an arrogant jerk. She danced a few dances with him, she found the food there more interesting, and therefore hid in a small abandoned side room to enjoy those food. That was when she met Maximillan, Max for short, the son of Count Otto, and best friend of the prince. He also hid from the ball because he found books more interesting. That was when her life changed. All Selena's mother wanted was for her to change her life and have a chance at happiness. But unknown to her, Selena was destined for so much more, and it turned out to be a great adventure.
As fairy-tale retellings went, this is the most creative I have ever read. The ball is not her the start of her happily ever after, but a start to her great adventure. From there, the story went in totally unexpected directions. I had a shock when the story moved from (spoiler:) being on the run to an assassination attempt. With so much happening, the plot moved at a really fast pace. Perhaps a little too fast when building up to the climax. There is not much time for you to absorb what was happening before something else happened. This usually occurs with fairy-tale retelling books, as they cram the whole story into one book. The characters were nicely developed though, even though you just get small glimpses into their characters other than Selena since everything moves so fast.
But on the whole, it is a Cinderella story that was nicely written. I especially love how Selena managed to find forgiveness in her heart for her father, stepmother and stepsisters after she became the Crown Princess. Even when she was being used as someone less of a scullery maid in her own household, there was not much hate in her than I would have expected. I think it is one of the less obvious messages that the readers can take home from this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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