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Flaming the Cinders: A Cinderella Retelling
What if Cinderella were a mage, framed by Prince Charming for theft, and forced to pose as his fiancée to help him seize a rival throne?
Estora Sommerset has a centuries-old secret that would endanger her life, if it were ever discovered. Of course, the last person she expected to figure it out was the crownless prince of her kingdom, that she's a mage with a single glance.
When Prince Axel approaches her for help, she rejects him. But the next morning, she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit and brought straight to the castle, to the prince.
Ensuring her cooperation by framing her, the prince has a nefarious overthrow a neighboring royal family and take their crown. She wants to refuse, but with her reputation in tatters, Estora has no choice but to pose as his fake fiancée and journey with him to the neighboring kingdom under the guise of strengthening their alliance.
Will Estora be able to find a way to thwart his dangerous plan or is she doomed to lose her heart as their fake engagement starts to feel all too real? Perhaps there’s more to the cocky, handsome prince despite his ruthlessness and thirst for power?
Flaming the Cinders is one of eleven novels in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these full-length novels can be enjoyed in any order!
Estora Sommerset has a centuries-old secret that would endanger her life, if it were ever discovered. Of course, the last person she expected to figure it out was the crownless prince of her kingdom, that she's a mage with a single glance.
When Prince Axel approaches her for help, she rejects him. But the next morning, she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit and brought straight to the castle, to the prince.
Ensuring her cooperation by framing her, the prince has a nefarious overthrow a neighboring royal family and take their crown. She wants to refuse, but with her reputation in tatters, Estora has no choice but to pose as his fake fiancée and journey with him to the neighboring kingdom under the guise of strengthening their alliance.
Will Estora be able to find a way to thwart his dangerous plan or is she doomed to lose her heart as their fake engagement starts to feel all too real? Perhaps there’s more to the cocky, handsome prince despite his ruthlessness and thirst for power?
Flaming the Cinders is one of eleven novels in the INTO THE ENCHANTED series—a standalone collection of no-spice fairytale retellings where magic-born heroines discover their happily ever after. Brimming with magic, mystery, twists, and swoon-worthy moments, these full-length novels can be enjoyed in any order!
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
40 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 26, 2024
I am a sucker for fairytale retellings, and swoony romances where the characters try to fight their feelings.
This is a charming Cinderella retelling with magical twists, a hidden villain, and a challenging love story between fiery characters.
I loved all the flirty banter and witty remarks between these two, it kept things lighthearted and sweet, against the darkness of the threats.
Estora had an innocent naivety to her, but she grows into her character and powers, and fights for those she loves.
Axel is charming and flirty and comes across as ruthless, but he is caring, protective and has a sweet side too.
I enjoyed that this has some of the classic events of Cinderella with the cruel step family, ball and slipper, but the overall plot was new and creative.
It had great sass, some elements of mystery and drama, and a sweet love story where you can't help but root for them.
This is a charming Cinderella retelling with magical twists, a hidden villain, and a challenging love story between fiery characters.
I loved all the flirty banter and witty remarks between these two, it kept things lighthearted and sweet, against the darkness of the threats.
Estora had an innocent naivety to her, but she grows into her character and powers, and fights for those she loves.
Axel is charming and flirty and comes across as ruthless, but he is caring, protective and has a sweet side too.
I enjoyed that this has some of the classic events of Cinderella with the cruel step family, ball and slipper, but the overall plot was new and creative.
It had great sass, some elements of mystery and drama, and a sweet love story where you can't help but root for them.
December 11, 2024
I feel like this author has potential. She's quite young and the story idea was great. The execution, on the other hand, left much to be desired. It felt like it was trying to end about a third of the way through and then the rest of the story dragged instead of making me excited to continue. There are a lot of clichés and overused tropes, as well as misused phrases and tense issues. I think this has the potential to be really great if an impartial editor and beta reader got their hands on it. Maybe there will be a revised edition in the future.
December 22, 2024
This re-telling of the fairytale Cinderella is a good story. The Cinderella storyline features loosely with a good amount of originality from the author.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and following the start of Estora and Axel's journey. It's a typical Cinderella start to the book except Estora has some sass and isn't a complete doormat. The middle is where you get the author's own flare. Without giving too much away, there is definitely a hint of magic in this fairytale and I really liked that the story is original. The ending is where I got lost, although it ends nicely and there's nothing really wrong with it, it's just my preference but I found the characters to be a little whiny and repetitive with what they were saying.
Overall though, a really good read and will definitely read more from this author
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and following the start of Estora and Axel's journey. It's a typical Cinderella start to the book except Estora has some sass and isn't a complete doormat. The middle is where you get the author's own flare. Without giving too much away, there is definitely a hint of magic in this fairytale and I really liked that the story is original. The ending is where I got lost, although it ends nicely and there's nothing really wrong with it, it's just my preference but I found the characters to be a little whiny and repetitive with what they were saying.
Overall though, a really good read and will definitely read more from this author
February 19, 2025
Truly magical story. Who knew the MFC could be a fairy and a mage?? With not just fire magic but all kinds. I love all the Cinderella vibes and different details. Axel is definitely a swoonworthy prince...especially with ocean blue eyes...😍 I definitely recommend this story! 5⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2024
3.5
Plot points, potential spoilers:
The classic story of Cinderella with a twist that she's actually a human/ fairy hybrid who is the last of a line of mages who has been kept alive for a millennium by the faeries. She possesses fire magic but has never really studied or used it bbecause her father (the mage in her bloodline that vame before her)died before he could teach her and mages in her society are something to be feared. A prince in the lands realizes she is a mage and she gets caught up in an enemies to lover/ reluctant lovers adventure full of magic and an attempt to break a thousands year old curse that has held Estora and the family that came before her hostage.
Impressions:
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I love re imagined fairy tales! But the dialogue and plot were jusr very very cheesy and cliche. Especially the dialogue between Estora and Axel, it was just, not good. This story was familiar not in a way that is comforting and engaging but is boring. The concept itself isn't bad and there are some good parts in the book, but overall it just wasn't well executed. The new concepts that would make it interesting were overshadowed by the bad flirting and constant "woe is me" inner dialogue of Estora.
Plot points, potential spoilers:
The classic story of Cinderella with a twist that she's actually a human/ fairy hybrid who is the last of a line of mages who has been kept alive for a millennium by the faeries. She possesses fire magic but has never really studied or used it bbecause her father (the mage in her bloodline that vame before her)died before he could teach her and mages in her society are something to be feared. A prince in the lands realizes she is a mage and she gets caught up in an enemies to lover/ reluctant lovers adventure full of magic and an attempt to break a thousands year old curse that has held Estora and the family that came before her hostage.
Impressions:
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I love re imagined fairy tales! But the dialogue and plot were jusr very very cheesy and cliche. Especially the dialogue between Estora and Axel, it was just, not good. This story was familiar not in a way that is comforting and engaging but is boring. The concept itself isn't bad and there are some good parts in the book, but overall it just wasn't well executed. The new concepts that would make it interesting were overshadowed by the bad flirting and constant "woe is me" inner dialogue of Estora.
December 29, 2024
This is cinderella, but instead of ashes, she has fire. Forced to pose as the prince's fiance, while facing a fate she can't get out of, she learns to unlock her potential, trust her heart and fight for what she wants. The glass slipper may not be the focus of this story, but the elements are all there, just with more flames and the dramatic ending will stick with you for a while.
I love the creativity the author put into the story, and while at times the world building wasn't quite as vivid as the story allowed for, I found the plot compelling and the unique spin very intriguing.
I love the creativity the author put into the story, and while at times the world building wasn't quite as vivid as the story allowed for, I found the plot compelling and the unique spin very intriguing.
September 3, 2025
2.5
My first read by Katelyn.
It was an interesting retelling of Cinderella. Not my favorite, but there were a lot of really cool moments. I loved the idea of Estora being a forbidden mage AND a fairy. I liked that she had fire magic and fire wasn't only used for destruction! Thank you! Finally, fire isn't all destructive.
However, both Axel & Estora were very, VERY immature and self-serving. Thank the Creator, they mostly moved past it. But things like "tickle monsters" didn't provide much confidence.
I called the antagonist after reading only 36% of the book. It was quite predictable.
Cleanish read. I wanted to finish it last night, but I didn't care enough about the battle to finish it. So, there's that.
I felt like that "Oh, oh, oh" song was the theme of this book. The astounding number of times the author used "oh!" was beyond irritating. I think I counted at least 100. We almost couldn't have a conversation without it.
Adult language- 1 word, plus 1 word used in the correct context, but still.
Light to medium kissing scenes. Nothing more.
Light gore - her hand gets sliced open & the blood is collected.
Some words were missing that a good editor would have caught.
There was a stolen kiss. But then Estora was so fickle about it. Stick to your guns, girl. No means no!
Dark magic vs light magic.
Some verbal abuse, but not psychological. Things like "the Creator made a mistake with you," or "you were a mistake, an accident." So, hurtful words from her stepfamily, per the original story.
The banter wasn't cute. But there were times that I did laugh!
Dragons, phoenixes, fairies, curse-breaking, magic diary, enchantments, true love, & sickly sweet moments that could have been implied instead of spelled out. I hated the "I said I love you." "I love you too, but you didn't believe me." There was so much of the back and forth, "Are you sure you love me?!" Ugh! Yes. Take him/her at their word!
There was a battle, but as I said, it wasn't gripping enough for me to stay up reading the last 40 minutes of the book. So, finished it this morning. After reading about how she "saved" her dress, I knew exactly how she was going to save the kingdom. No surprises.
Overall, I am NOT the intended audience for this book. I would be willing to try another book by this author. But this one was a miss for me.
My first read by Katelyn.
It was an interesting retelling of Cinderella. Not my favorite, but there were a lot of really cool moments. I loved the idea of Estora being a forbidden mage AND a fairy. I liked that she had fire magic and fire wasn't only used for destruction! Thank you! Finally, fire isn't all destructive.
However, both Axel & Estora were very, VERY immature and self-serving. Thank the Creator, they mostly moved past it. But things like "tickle monsters" didn't provide much confidence.
I called the antagonist after reading only 36% of the book. It was quite predictable.
Cleanish read. I wanted to finish it last night, but I didn't care enough about the battle to finish it. So, there's that.
I felt like that "Oh, oh, oh" song was the theme of this book. The astounding number of times the author used "oh!" was beyond irritating. I think I counted at least 100. We almost couldn't have a conversation without it.
Adult language- 1 word, plus 1 word used in the correct context, but still.
Light to medium kissing scenes. Nothing more.
Light gore - her hand gets sliced open & the blood is collected.
Some words were missing that a good editor would have caught.
There was a stolen kiss. But then Estora was so fickle about it. Stick to your guns, girl. No means no!
Dark magic vs light magic.
Some verbal abuse, but not psychological. Things like "the Creator made a mistake with you," or "you were a mistake, an accident." So, hurtful words from her stepfamily, per the original story.
The banter wasn't cute. But there were times that I did laugh!
Dragons, phoenixes, fairies, curse-breaking, magic diary, enchantments, true love, & sickly sweet moments that could have been implied instead of spelled out. I hated the "I said I love you." "I love you too, but you didn't believe me." There was so much of the back and forth, "Are you sure you love me?!" Ugh! Yes. Take him/her at their word!
There was a battle, but as I said, it wasn't gripping enough for me to stay up reading the last 40 minutes of the book. So, finished it this morning. After reading about how she "saved" her dress, I knew exactly how she was going to save the kingdom. No surprises.
Overall, I am NOT the intended audience for this book. I would be willing to try another book by this author. But this one was a miss for me.
December 8, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book and enjoyed the unique spin on this classic story. Our FMC is relatable and the magic was intriguingly fun. I think with a good edit and improvement on the dialogue and writing it would be an epic twist to Cinderella. While the overall storyline kept me entertained and enjoying the read, the MMC was irritating and I would have loved some more character development to enjoy him and their love story more.
January 19, 2025
love a fiery Cinderella
This was a really interesting fairy tale retelling of Cinderella. Lots of twists and a story where a man’s obsession is tempered and changed by his love for a fiery and brave woman who cares for people. I love the idea of a Cinderella with power over fire and could actually imagine her use of the flames. Hot hot hot!
This was a really interesting fairy tale retelling of Cinderella. Lots of twists and a story where a man’s obsession is tempered and changed by his love for a fiery and brave woman who cares for people. I love the idea of a Cinderella with power over fire and could actually imagine her use of the flames. Hot hot hot!
November 12, 2024
I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of Flaming the Cinders by Ms. Daliath and would like to start by saying this is not your traditional Cinderella tale.
The best way I can describe this novel is if you took the best parts of Cinderella and Wonder Woman, then sprinkled in some fairy dust. Our heroine, Estora, embodies all that you would expect from Cinderella and Diana Prince with just a bit more sass.
I loved how Ms. Daliath developed Estora along with Axel throughout the novel both as individuals and as a couple. You connect with them early on and can not help but cheer for them as the story progresses. Additionally, the novel was well paced and kept me engaged on every page.
The only dislike that I had was I wish there was a bit more world building. There are a lot of events mentioned that could have been fleshed out more. Also, providing more details on the backgrounds of the supporting characters would have been beneficial in understanding motives, actions, etc.
The best way I can describe this novel is if you took the best parts of Cinderella and Wonder Woman, then sprinkled in some fairy dust. Our heroine, Estora, embodies all that you would expect from Cinderella and Diana Prince with just a bit more sass.
I loved how Ms. Daliath developed Estora along with Axel throughout the novel both as individuals and as a couple. You connect with them early on and can not help but cheer for them as the story progresses. Additionally, the novel was well paced and kept me engaged on every page.
The only dislike that I had was I wish there was a bit more world building. There are a lot of events mentioned that could have been fleshed out more. Also, providing more details on the backgrounds of the supporting characters would have been beneficial in understanding motives, actions, etc.
December 27, 2024
This book is everything you want and more in a no-spice fairytale retelling. The plot twists and the BANTER!! The banter was everything!!
Estonria and Axels dynamic was done so perfectly.
She's stubborn and independent and has some wicked comebacks. Axel loves torturing her with his smirks, and making her annoyed.
The plot flowed so effortlessly and the world building was easy to follow!
"Wasn't he the wicked Axel who cared about nothing but becoming a king? Then why did he look at her as if she was everything he cared about?"
Tropes:
-Fake fiancé
-Reluctant allies to lovers
-nicknames
-slow burn
-hate that i want you
-secret powers
-cinderella retelling
Estonria and Axels dynamic was done so perfectly.
She's stubborn and independent and has some wicked comebacks. Axel loves torturing her with his smirks, and making her annoyed.
The plot flowed so effortlessly and the world building was easy to follow!
"Wasn't he the wicked Axel who cared about nothing but becoming a king? Then why did he look at her as if she was everything he cared about?"
Tropes:
-Fake fiancé
-Reluctant allies to lovers
-nicknames
-slow burn
-hate that i want you
-secret powers
-cinderella retelling
December 27, 2024
Flaming the Cinders is a Cinderella retelling with mild spice, mages, and fairies. It has a fake fiancé trope with an unexpected plot twist that had me gasping out loud (and my husband giving me a look) in chapter 12. Overall this book was so so good and I really enjoyed every minute of it!
December 27, 2024
5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
🚨TW: framed, betrayal, dark magic, using powers to control minds
Read it if you like
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Fake Engagement
🔥 Hidden Powers
🔥 Cinderella Retelling
🔥 Magic duels
🔥 Morally grey MMC
🔥 FMC with fire powers
🔥 Forbidden Love
Favourite Moments
🔥 The first time they met.
🔥 Them bickering and flirting with each other.
🔥 Them opening up to each other (read it then you will know.
🔥 Them protecting each other
🔥 She caring for him when he was injured.
🔥 Him not giving up on her though she pushes him away
🔥 Him saving her. (read and you will know)
🔥 Him throwing death glares at people who tried to hurt her.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🔥 He do whatever to keep her safe
🔥 He loves her for who she is.
🔥 He respected her and give her space
🔥 He cares for his people and also the people he loves
🔥 He shows his vulnerable side to her.
🔥 He loves to tease her.
🔥 He loves and cares for her and protect her with his life.
Synopsis:
Estora longed for freedom but her fate is to marry a fairy because she is a Sommorset and also she is being mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister. She had a secret that she is keeping away from people because if anyone knew, she will be killed. One day, she was spotted by the prince who know what she is and he needed her for help which she strongly refused. Things get interesting when she was falsefully accused of being a thief and was captured. What she needs to be his fake fiancée? She thought that she is the only one left of her kind but it seemed that there is another who is evil and trying to kill people in order to be immortal. Will the prince and her work together to safe the kingdom? Read Flaming the Cinders to find out!!!
Review:
The 4th book of the Into the Enchanted series a Fairytale retelling series. Love love this story so much. Prince Axel and Estora are just so protective of each other and willing to die for each other. They save each other and also their people who was in control by an evil mage. And their bickering and flirting are just so funny, he loves to get under her skin. Love that they encourage each other and comfort each other. Lolz…he did get jealous because she didn’t want to dance with him haha… so cuteee… Estora is just so cool and managed to soften his heart and be the best he can be and he told her the truth about the rumours (read then you will know it) They try to find ways to not have a death duel and try to break her family’s curse too to have the freedom to choose and to marry the person she love. Love her little stepsister who loves her though her stepmother and other stepsister treated her like a slave. This book made me laugh, smile, and swoon.
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @lynauthordaliath for the ARC.
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @lynauthordaliath for the ARC.
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.
Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
🚨TW: framed, betrayal, dark magic, using powers to control minds
Read it if you like
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Fake Engagement
🔥 Hidden Powers
🔥 Cinderella Retelling
🔥 Magic duels
🔥 Morally grey MMC
🔥 FMC with fire powers
🔥 Forbidden Love
Favourite Moments
🔥 The first time they met.
🔥 Them bickering and flirting with each other.
🔥 Them opening up to each other (read it then you will know.
🔥 Them protecting each other
🔥 She caring for him when he was injured.
🔥 Him not giving up on her though she pushes him away
🔥 Him saving her. (read and you will know)
🔥 Him throwing death glares at people who tried to hurt her.
(lots more)
Swoony Moments
🔥 He do whatever to keep her safe
🔥 He loves her for who she is.
🔥 He respected her and give her space
🔥 He cares for his people and also the people he loves
🔥 He shows his vulnerable side to her.
🔥 He loves to tease her.
🔥 He loves and cares for her and protect her with his life.
Synopsis:
Estora longed for freedom but her fate is to marry a fairy because she is a Sommorset and also she is being mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister. She had a secret that she is keeping away from people because if anyone knew, she will be killed. One day, she was spotted by the prince who know what she is and he needed her for help which she strongly refused. Things get interesting when she was falsefully accused of being a thief and was captured. What she needs to be his fake fiancée? She thought that she is the only one left of her kind but it seemed that there is another who is evil and trying to kill people in order to be immortal. Will the prince and her work together to safe the kingdom? Read Flaming the Cinders to find out!!!
Review:
The 4th book of the Into the Enchanted series a Fairytale retelling series. Love love this story so much. Prince Axel and Estora are just so protective of each other and willing to die for each other. They save each other and also their people who was in control by an evil mage. And their bickering and flirting are just so funny, he loves to get under her skin. Love that they encourage each other and comfort each other. Lolz…he did get jealous because she didn’t want to dance with him haha… so cuteee… Estora is just so cool and managed to soften his heart and be the best he can be and he told her the truth about the rumours (read then you will know it) They try to find ways to not have a death duel and try to break her family’s curse too to have the freedom to choose and to marry the person she love. Love her little stepsister who loves her though her stepmother and other stepsister treated her like a slave. This book made me laugh, smile, and swoon.
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @lynauthordaliath for the ARC.
I was gifted complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own Thanks to @lynauthordaliath for the ARC.
Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.
You can purchase this book on Amazon and it’s available on KU.
December 17, 2024
I’m often up for retellings. Retellings of classic novels, fairytales, that kind of thing (I really will read anything clean and good, guys!). So when I saw the chance to read a retelling of Cinderella, one of my favourite fairytales, I snatched it. And this was quite good.
Okay, brief blurb: This retelling imagines the events building up to the big ball with the glass slipper faux pas. Estora (the Cinderella character) is a mage with fire powers, and the Prince forces her to accompany him to another kingdom, where he plans to claim the throne. There are many sub-plots, as is the case of most fantasies, but this is the overarching one.
What I liked: Estora starts out as a pretty strong character, and has a spine. Yes, she suffers (mostly verbal) abuse at the hands of her step-family, but she appears to have some sass, which is a refreshing take on the mistreated orphan trope. I also liked Prince Axel. He goes through an entire character arc, really nicely too. Between Estora and Axel, it’s not quite insta-love, not quite enemies to lovers (even though it’s described as that), since even as they banter Estora can’t help internally remarking how good-looking Axel is. (It was a bit much, the number of times he’s said to be smirking, though. Too much. 🥹) It also has some funny parts. I laughed at her early reaction to his nickname for her, and how she wanted to smack him with the heaviest book she could find.
What I liked a little less: The execution definitely could’ve been better. The writing’s really simplistic, and Axel and Estora’s banter doesn’t always have a natural flow to it. There’s a good amount of rehashing. Points are made and repeated a few times. There’s also a lot of telling. For example, there’s a part where it’s mentioned that Estora stands in a room for half an hour, in awe because it’s bigger than she’s accustomed to. We don’t really get much more description than that, which is a little sad, considering she’s just staring for about thirty minutes. Fantasy’s famous for having over-the-top worldbuilding, so some more would’ve been perfect. The middle drags a little; it’s bogged down with Estora’s sad internal monologues. Not enough of the characters are two-dimensional, even the villain. Having a fun, fleshed out villain would’ve been fabulous.
The book ended really strongly though. I like how loosely it plays with the Cinderella trope, and the additional elements it includes. Descriptions also really picked up toward the end, so great! Altogether, a good read. No swearing, some kissing, sweet, fairly clean. The author has real potential, so I’m hopeful future books will be even better.
I received this ARC from Ms Daliath (thanks!) and am leaving a voluntary review.
Okay, brief blurb: This retelling imagines the events building up to the big ball with the glass slipper faux pas. Estora (the Cinderella character) is a mage with fire powers, and the Prince forces her to accompany him to another kingdom, where he plans to claim the throne. There are many sub-plots, as is the case of most fantasies, but this is the overarching one.
What I liked: Estora starts out as a pretty strong character, and has a spine. Yes, she suffers (mostly verbal) abuse at the hands of her step-family, but she appears to have some sass, which is a refreshing take on the mistreated orphan trope. I also liked Prince Axel. He goes through an entire character arc, really nicely too. Between Estora and Axel, it’s not quite insta-love, not quite enemies to lovers (even though it’s described as that), since even as they banter Estora can’t help internally remarking how good-looking Axel is. (It was a bit much, the number of times he’s said to be smirking, though. Too much. 🥹) It also has some funny parts. I laughed at her early reaction to his nickname for her, and how she wanted to smack him with the heaviest book she could find.
What I liked a little less: The execution definitely could’ve been better. The writing’s really simplistic, and Axel and Estora’s banter doesn’t always have a natural flow to it. There’s a good amount of rehashing. Points are made and repeated a few times. There’s also a lot of telling. For example, there’s a part where it’s mentioned that Estora stands in a room for half an hour, in awe because it’s bigger than she’s accustomed to. We don’t really get much more description than that, which is a little sad, considering she’s just staring for about thirty minutes. Fantasy’s famous for having over-the-top worldbuilding, so some more would’ve been perfect. The middle drags a little; it’s bogged down with Estora’s sad internal monologues. Not enough of the characters are two-dimensional, even the villain. Having a fun, fleshed out villain would’ve been fabulous.
The book ended really strongly though. I like how loosely it plays with the Cinderella trope, and the additional elements it includes. Descriptions also really picked up toward the end, so great! Altogether, a good read. No swearing, some kissing, sweet, fairly clean. The author has real potential, so I’m hopeful future books will be even better.
I received this ARC from Ms Daliath (thanks!) and am leaving a voluntary review.
December 9, 2024
Flaming the Cinders by Katelyn Daliath is a refreshing and thrilling reimagining of the Cinderella story, packed with magic, intrigue, and a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked. As part of the Into the Enchanted series, this standalone novel takes familiar fairy tale elements and turns them on their head, delivering a story that’s as clever as it is captivating.
Estora Sommerset is a fascinating heroine—a powerful mage with a secret she’s been forced to hide for centuries. Her strength, determination, and vulnerability make her a relatable and compelling character. Prince Axel, on the other hand, is a deliciously complex foil. Ruthless and ambitious, he starts off as the perfect anti-hero, but as the story unfolds, his layers are revealed, and the chemistry between him and Estora becomes undeniable.
The premise is brilliantly original. A fake engagement born out of blackmail and manipulation evolves into an emotional journey filled with tension, clever banter, and moments of vulnerability. The dynamic between Estora and Axel is a highlight of the book—their journey from adversaries to reluctant allies to something deeper is beautifully executed.
Daliath’s world-building is rich and immersive, with vivid descriptions of kingdoms on the brink of war and a magical system that feels fresh and intriguing. The stakes are high, with plenty of political intrigue and twists that keep the story moving at a steady pace. The slow unraveling of both Estora’s and Axel’s motives adds depth to their characters and keeps readers guessing.
The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is that some plot points feel a bit rushed, particularly in the climax, where the resolution comes together more quickly than expected. However, this doesn’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story.
Flaming the Cinders is a fiery and enchanting retelling that blends magic, romance, and intrigue into a truly engaging tale. It’s perfect for fans of strong heroines, morally gray heroes, and fairy tale retellings with a twist.
Estora Sommerset is a fascinating heroine—a powerful mage with a secret she’s been forced to hide for centuries. Her strength, determination, and vulnerability make her a relatable and compelling character. Prince Axel, on the other hand, is a deliciously complex foil. Ruthless and ambitious, he starts off as the perfect anti-hero, but as the story unfolds, his layers are revealed, and the chemistry between him and Estora becomes undeniable.
The premise is brilliantly original. A fake engagement born out of blackmail and manipulation evolves into an emotional journey filled with tension, clever banter, and moments of vulnerability. The dynamic between Estora and Axel is a highlight of the book—their journey from adversaries to reluctant allies to something deeper is beautifully executed.
Daliath’s world-building is rich and immersive, with vivid descriptions of kingdoms on the brink of war and a magical system that feels fresh and intriguing. The stakes are high, with plenty of political intrigue and twists that keep the story moving at a steady pace. The slow unraveling of both Estora’s and Axel’s motives adds depth to their characters and keeps readers guessing.
The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is that some plot points feel a bit rushed, particularly in the climax, where the resolution comes together more quickly than expected. However, this doesn’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story.
Flaming the Cinders is a fiery and enchanting retelling that blends magic, romance, and intrigue into a truly engaging tale. It’s perfect for fans of strong heroines, morally gray heroes, and fairy tale retellings with a twist.
December 27, 2024
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The tale Cinderella is a classic and generally pretty straight forward. I have a list of Cinderella retellings that I adore and a list that fell a little bit flat. Most retellings consist of a mistreated servant girl that falls for the prince and gets her chance at true love when the ball comes around. The end. There’s nothing wrong with that but I love when the author throws in an extra twist. Such is the case with Flaming the Cinders. The storyline felt incredibly unique. What if the prince was Cinderella’s enemy? What if she had hidden powers? And what if we add court intrigue? I was thrilled with a plot that I was most definitely not expecting.
The two main characters are so much fun. The banter was fabulous while the romance was so sweet. Estora was far from a helpless Cinderella. Yes, she’s mistreated but she exhibits a lot of strength. And she grows so much during this story. Axel is such a mess (in a good way). He’s playful and cunning and trying to solve problems to the best of his ability. The redemptive element in the story was a great addition. He’s not just morally grey. He’s trying to be better.
The storyline itself was the last thing that I was expecting. I knew that Estora was going to get arrested by Axel on false charges but the events that happen after blew me away. The villain was despicable. I loved seeing everything play out. It makes me excited to read more of the author’s works. Also, thank you to Daliath for an ARC of this sweet novel!
No-spice rating: 1.5
Language: clean
Faith elements: there are many mentions of The Creator and redemption
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
He falls first
Lots of banter
Hidden powers
Fake fiancés
Morally grey MMC
Christian themes
The tale Cinderella is a classic and generally pretty straight forward. I have a list of Cinderella retellings that I adore and a list that fell a little bit flat. Most retellings consist of a mistreated servant girl that falls for the prince and gets her chance at true love when the ball comes around. The end. There’s nothing wrong with that but I love when the author throws in an extra twist. Such is the case with Flaming the Cinders. The storyline felt incredibly unique. What if the prince was Cinderella’s enemy? What if she had hidden powers? And what if we add court intrigue? I was thrilled with a plot that I was most definitely not expecting.
The two main characters are so much fun. The banter was fabulous while the romance was so sweet. Estora was far from a helpless Cinderella. Yes, she’s mistreated but she exhibits a lot of strength. And she grows so much during this story. Axel is such a mess (in a good way). He’s playful and cunning and trying to solve problems to the best of his ability. The redemptive element in the story was a great addition. He’s not just morally grey. He’s trying to be better.
The storyline itself was the last thing that I was expecting. I knew that Estora was going to get arrested by Axel on false charges but the events that happen after blew me away. The villain was despicable. I loved seeing everything play out. It makes me excited to read more of the author’s works. Also, thank you to Daliath for an ARC of this sweet novel!
No-spice rating: 1.5
Language: clean
Faith elements: there are many mentions of The Creator and redemption
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
He falls first
Lots of banter
Hidden powers
Fake fiancés
Morally grey MMC
Christian themes
December 25, 2024
An exciting twist on Cinderella filled with magic! What an exciting story! I have never read a retelling quite like this and it was so intriguing.
Estora was a lot of fun to follow! She had a strong personality and was very guarded. She was facing so many twists and surprises and just trying to make sense of it all. I admired her dedication to grow in her magic and to use as much of her ability to help people. I was so invested in her story! She definitely was passionate and it led to some fiery interactions!
As she and Axel went to the other kingdom, they learned a lot about one another. Axel was such an interesting character! I loved getting to know him through Estora’s eyes. He was so passionate about what mattered to him and could be ruthless to get it.
I loved the magical world that was created in this world! It was so interesting to see the history that was revealed. The story definitely picked up in the second half and I was not sure how things would work out! It was a very exciting and emotional story. This is a no-spice fantasy inspired by Cinderella. It has some fantasy violence and I would recommend it to teens and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Estora was a lot of fun to follow! She had a strong personality and was very guarded. She was facing so many twists and surprises and just trying to make sense of it all. I admired her dedication to grow in her magic and to use as much of her ability to help people. I was so invested in her story! She definitely was passionate and it led to some fiery interactions!
As she and Axel went to the other kingdom, they learned a lot about one another. Axel was such an interesting character! I loved getting to know him through Estora’s eyes. He was so passionate about what mattered to him and could be ruthless to get it.
I loved the magical world that was created in this world! It was so interesting to see the history that was revealed. The story definitely picked up in the second half and I was not sure how things would work out! It was a very exciting and emotional story. This is a no-spice fantasy inspired by Cinderella. It has some fantasy violence and I would recommend it to teens and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
December 21, 2024
Flaming the Cinders by Katelyn Daliath is a very loosely retelling of Cinderella. Estora is treated like a servant by her stepmother and stepsisters, but she has a secret no one knows about, until she catches the eye of Prince Axel.
This book was such a joy to read. I had a great time reading it. Estora I just loved. She is a great character, finds humour in a lot of things and does not let anyone show how she truly feels. When Prince Axel tricks her into helping him, they get off to an uneasy relationship and their interactions and banter made me smile a lot.
The plot and story-line mixed with a mythology about the disappearance of mages and an enchanted town, made that I almost could not stop reading. The world-building I enjoyed very much, and thanks to the flowing writing style the hours flew by while I read this lovely YA fantasy book.
If you want to read a lovely magical fantasy tale, with a great FMC, banter, danger, romance, an evil mage, great world-building, a flowing writing style, then this is a book I can recommend. I can’t wait to read more books by Katelyn Daliath!
This book was such a joy to read. I had a great time reading it. Estora I just loved. She is a great character, finds humour in a lot of things and does not let anyone show how she truly feels. When Prince Axel tricks her into helping him, they get off to an uneasy relationship and their interactions and banter made me smile a lot.
The plot and story-line mixed with a mythology about the disappearance of mages and an enchanted town, made that I almost could not stop reading. The world-building I enjoyed very much, and thanks to the flowing writing style the hours flew by while I read this lovely YA fantasy book.
If you want to read a lovely magical fantasy tale, with a great FMC, banter, danger, romance, an evil mage, great world-building, a flowing writing style, then this is a book I can recommend. I can’t wait to read more books by Katelyn Daliath!
November 30, 2024
This retelling of Cinderella was really good. i loved the story and the characters! this was my first time reading a retelling of Cinderella and i really enjoyed it, i loved how she put Estora with magic and that she was also part fairy as well. Prince Alex and Estora together are really funny and that he was the only one that could tell that she was a mage just by the color of her eyes and that is what draws him to her and ask for her help and when she says no he has her arrested and that really upsets her. i love how she doesn't take any crap from him either and tells him how she feels and just what she thinks about him, until she gets to know him and she realizes that she wrong . I love the ending of the book and hope that maybe there will be another book to continue their story. One of my favorite parts in the book is where she sets his food on fire and it wont go out until its in ashes or she tells it to stop. i don't want to give to much away so you guys will defiantly to read this book!
January 6, 2025
🔥Flaming the Cinders by Katelyn Daliath is a fiery Cinderella Retelling like you've never read before! Estora isn't sleeping in the ashes, she's rising from them with the power of the flames in her hands! Katelyn kept a lot of details charmingly close to the original tale, but spun plenty of unique differences into the story to make it something all her own! If you love strong, sweet & sassy FMC’s then you'll love reading Estora’s story! Her relationship with Axel was my favorite part of this book! Everything from their witty banter, swoony romantic moments, and the way they fiercely fought for each other, was just perfection!!! And, I was delighted to find there were several moments in this book that will make you laugh out loud!
❤️I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves clean fairytale romances that really bring the heat!! Thank you Katelyn for the honor of reading your book as an arc!
✨🔥❤️🔥✨
❤️I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves clean fairytale romances that really bring the heat!! Thank you Katelyn for the honor of reading your book as an arc!
✨🔥❤️🔥✨
December 31, 2024
This is my first book from this author but it certainly will not be my last! While I found that in the first 4 chapters the banter fell flat for me and the pacing struggled, this story found it’s stride in chapter 5 and I couldn’t put it down. It had many nods to the original story, but with imaginative and fantasy twists I really enjoyed!
The MMC is overprotective and morally grey but with a great heart, the FMC is a no non-sense firecracker, and it gives off “he falls first” vibes. I really like the way the author tied the story together at the end and it felt very satisfying for all characters involved getting the ending they deserved.
Also, this gorgeous cover! Icing on the cake for this fabulous book.
It’s a closed door romance with religious overtones but it’s not super overt.
Many thanks to the author for the complementary ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The MMC is overprotective and morally grey but with a great heart, the FMC is a no non-sense firecracker, and it gives off “he falls first” vibes. I really like the way the author tied the story together at the end and it felt very satisfying for all characters involved getting the ending they deserved.
Also, this gorgeous cover! Icing on the cake for this fabulous book.
It’s a closed door romance with religious overtones but it’s not super overt.
Many thanks to the author for the complementary ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 2, 2025
DNF at 11%. Barely enough to get into this book and I was over it so much. This book is badly in need of an editor and it feels like it's written by a teenager because everyone in it acts like they're about 12.
The shitty prince who decides to frame her so her can get her fake arrested for a fake crime so she can be his fake fiancée while he cackles at his own evil plan like a movie villain? That doesn't happen in real life.
The stepmother and sisters squawking at each other like demented chickens while the guard just waits patiently to arrest her? That doesn't happen in real life.
The overly theatrical reaction to every little thing? That doesn't happen in real life. It's exhausting. I don't want to read another thing about this character.
I added one star for the author clearly being a teenager going for her dreams but whew... please find an editor and interact with more adults.
The shitty prince who decides to frame her so her can get her fake arrested for a fake crime so she can be his fake fiancée while he cackles at his own evil plan like a movie villain? That doesn't happen in real life.
The stepmother and sisters squawking at each other like demented chickens while the guard just waits patiently to arrest her? That doesn't happen in real life.
The overly theatrical reaction to every little thing? That doesn't happen in real life. It's exhausting. I don't want to read another thing about this character.
I added one star for the author clearly being a teenager going for her dreams but whew... please find an editor and interact with more adults.
December 12, 2024
This was a sweet romantasy, fairy tale retelling, and my first from this author. In this retelling of Cinderella, the heroine meets the Prince and has adventures before the ball. This is a novel that takes us on quite the journey. With an enemies to sweethearts trope, there is plenty of banter between our characters. This novel was heavy on words and dialogue. Sometimes I felt myself upset at the Prince and the situation and not sure if I even wanted them together. The end of the book was definitely the best. This Christian novella had a mage, fairy, suspense, and faith. There was a lot pushed into this novel and I’d try another by this author.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 14, 2024
Flaming the Cinders by Katelyn Daliath
What I enjoyed about this book:
🟠 A Mage Cinderella
🟠 Secrets
🟠 A prince without a crown
🟠 He needs her help
🟠 Sweet and swoony romance, just kisses
My second read of the Into the Enchanted series! This one is a Cinderella retelling with extra magic! It has lots of orignal elements so much so that in the middle I was wondering what happened to the Cinderella part! But it all comes together in the end. I did find the main characters a bit overly dramatic at times and didn't care for their first kiss, but otherwise I enjoyed this book.
Favorite scene: Estora helping Linette
Favorite character: Estora (our main female character)
I read an ARC of the book and it will be published Dec 27
What I enjoyed about this book:
🟠 A Mage Cinderella
🟠 Secrets
🟠 A prince without a crown
🟠 He needs her help
🟠 Sweet and swoony romance, just kisses
My second read of the Into the Enchanted series! This one is a Cinderella retelling with extra magic! It has lots of orignal elements so much so that in the middle I was wondering what happened to the Cinderella part! But it all comes together in the end. I did find the main characters a bit overly dramatic at times and didn't care for their first kiss, but otherwise I enjoyed this book.
Favorite scene: Estora helping Linette
Favorite character: Estora (our main female character)
I read an ARC of the book and it will be published Dec 27
December 27, 2024
Flaming the Cinders was one of the best retellings of Cinderella I have read this year! The plot was creative and took a whole new spin to the tale. There were so many twists and turns that had me glued to the pages! I loved the enemies to lovers, morally gray MMC, slow burn, and redemptive arcs throughout the book. This book was full of my favorite kind of banter, snarky and sassy. Axel and Estora had the best chemistry and comebacks to each other. Axel was a fantastic morally gray MMC. He had good intentions, even though he executed in the wrong way. I loved his character grow throughout the story! Estora was a great FMC. She was tough and stood her ground. The romance was closer door and never went past a few passionate kisses. If you love unique Cinderella retellings, highly recommend this book!
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.
December 27, 2024
ARC Review ✨️
☆Estora & Prince Axel♡
Most definitely not your average Cinderella retelling, and I loved it! The twists the author added to the original Cinderella story were amazing! I was sucked into this world so easily. The main characters were so easy to love, and there's so much character growth throughout the pages! They really grew together as a whole and individually.
Estora was such a unique character, and she was so feisty/sassy 🔥 The banter between Prince Axel and her was so funny and swoonworthy! This author really has a knack for writing some unforgettable retelling's!
Tropes:
🖤Mystery
🖤So many swoonworthy moments
🖤Magical
🖤Fairytale retelling of Cinderella
Huge thankyou to the author for the ARC!
☆Estora & Prince Axel♡
Most definitely not your average Cinderella retelling, and I loved it! The twists the author added to the original Cinderella story were amazing! I was sucked into this world so easily. The main characters were so easy to love, and there's so much character growth throughout the pages! They really grew together as a whole and individually.
Estora was such a unique character, and she was so feisty/sassy 🔥 The banter between Prince Axel and her was so funny and swoonworthy! This author really has a knack for writing some unforgettable retelling's!
Tropes:
🖤Mystery
🖤So many swoonworthy moments
🖤Magical
🖤Fairytale retelling of Cinderella
Huge thankyou to the author for the ARC!
February 9, 2025
I just LOVED this book. Overall I'm not a Cinderella fan nor do I like any real religious themes in fairytale retellings, but this was done so subtly it actually made sense.
Axel might be my new favorite prince with a --touch her and die attitude. They have witty banter back and forth which helps the enemies to lovers feel real. The MC's are so relatable and every page I devoured.
Estoria is my favorite type of heroine who can take care of herself but her prince is always around to step in when needed.
This is my first book by this author and I plan on reading more. If you appreciate a slightly darker but clean romance (think Kate Straddling Brine and Bone or The Heir and the Spare) then this is a must read.
Axel might be my new favorite prince with a --touch her and die attitude. They have witty banter back and forth which helps the enemies to lovers feel real. The MC's are so relatable and every page I devoured.
Estoria is my favorite type of heroine who can take care of herself but her prince is always around to step in when needed.
This is my first book by this author and I plan on reading more. If you appreciate a slightly darker but clean romance (think Kate Straddling Brine and Bone or The Heir and the Spare) then this is a must read.
March 17, 2025
Cinderella Retelling, Fake Engagement, Banter, Enemies to Lovers, Magic, Plot Twists, and more.
I've always been someone who passed over the fairytale retellings because they never interested me, until I read a review on this book and I just had to read it. I'm glad I did because it was nothing I had imagined it would be...it was much better!
Estora, is not your average doe-eyed princess. She really isn't a princess per say. She's a fierce, never backing down commoner who gets mixed up with the mischievous Prince Axel. She has two choices commit to a crime she didn't commit or fake an engagement to the crownless Prince Axel. Secrets, lies, betrayal, are just a few more things to add to the list on what Flaming the Cinders brings.
I've always been someone who passed over the fairytale retellings because they never interested me, until I read a review on this book and I just had to read it. I'm glad I did because it was nothing I had imagined it would be...it was much better!
Estora, is not your average doe-eyed princess. She really isn't a princess per say. She's a fierce, never backing down commoner who gets mixed up with the mischievous Prince Axel. She has two choices commit to a crime she didn't commit or fake an engagement to the crownless Prince Axel. Secrets, lies, betrayal, are just a few more things to add to the list on what Flaming the Cinders brings.
November 14, 2024
This book was epic! I think I melted and swooned too many times to count. Axel and Estora are the perfect match, hands down. Their romance was beautiful and amusing, despite all odds thrown at them. I mean, what's better than an enemies-to-lovers trope?
I loved the descriptions of the magic system in this story. And I like how even though it was a Cinderella retelling, it was very unique, and the Cinderella wasn't a totally helpless damsel in distress.
My only wish was that the fairy godmother and pumpkin chariots thing should have been inferred in a way. Still, the story was amazing.
I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are mine.
I loved the descriptions of the magic system in this story. And I like how even though it was a Cinderella retelling, it was very unique, and the Cinderella wasn't a totally helpless damsel in distress.
My only wish was that the fairy godmother and pumpkin chariots thing should have been inferred in a way. Still, the story was amazing.
I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are mine.
December 28, 2024
As someone who's loved Cinderella since childhood, this felt like a nostalgic journey wrapped in fresh magic. Katelyn Daliath's simple yet evocative writing style brings new life to this enchanting retelling. Her words flow effortlessly, making the story engaging while capturing the emotional depth and charm of the classic fairytale.
The unique twists she has given to the story make this book truly stand out. Prince Axel, the heart and soul of this book, swept me away with his swoon-worthy aura and irresistible charm. While Estora is the epitome of courage and fierceness. If you love fairytales and clean romance books, this is a must-read.
The unique twists she has given to the story make this book truly stand out. Prince Axel, the heart and soul of this book, swept me away with his swoon-worthy aura and irresistible charm. While Estora is the epitome of courage and fierceness. If you love fairytales and clean romance books, this is a must-read.
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