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Damsels of Distress #2
Cinder X Bella: A Clean Romantasy LitRPG Adventure
Daughter defiant to the last. A prince with ambitions of inferno. Oh me, oh my.Isabella Vigatori, known as Bella, dreams of perfecting the system-granted ability she inherited from her late Minor Creature Control. Her magic may only impact small creatures like mice and birds, making them loyal companions through song, but Bella is determined to achieve greatness. Yet her father, bitter from losing his wife to a beast she tamed, condemns her ambition as reckless.
When Bella refuses to abandon her dreams, her father remarries a shrewd widow, Matringa, who quickly restores the family’s fortunes. But Matringa ensures Bella is relegated to servant status, vanishing her from public view until she forsakes her ‘commoner's ambition’. Even so, Bella quietly defies her family, nurturing her forbidden magic in secret.
Upon uncovering a dark secret behind Matringa’s sudden success, Bella realizes the kingdom itself is in peril. With her wits, loyal creatures, and a desperate plan to gain the ear of Prince Cinder at a royal masquerade, Bella must act fast. If this competent underdog cannot convince the prince to take action, there might not be anyone left in the kingdom for him to rule.
A single mouse is prey; but even a Witch fears mischief.
When Bella refuses to abandon her dreams, her father remarries a shrewd widow, Matringa, who quickly restores the family’s fortunes. But Matringa ensures Bella is relegated to servant status, vanishing her from public view until she forsakes her ‘commoner's ambition’. Even so, Bella quietly defies her family, nurturing her forbidden magic in secret.
Upon uncovering a dark secret behind Matringa’s sudden success, Bella realizes the kingdom itself is in peril. With her wits, loyal creatures, and a desperate plan to gain the ear of Prince Cinder at a royal masquerade, Bella must act fast. If this competent underdog cannot convince the prince to take action, there might not be anyone left in the kingdom for him to rule.
A single mouse is prey; but even a Witch fears mischief.
392 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
54 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Dakota Krout
76 books2,876 followersAuthor of the best-selling Divine Dungeon, Completionist Chronicles, and Full Murderhobo series, Dakota Krout was chosen as Audible's top 5 fantasy pick of 2017, has been a top 5 bestseller on Amazon, and a top 6 bestseller on Audible.
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 30, 2025
Romance:
May 26, 2025
weaker than the first
While Dakota krout is a strong writer and their skill still shows in this story I think that the overall plot of this book was much weaker than the first.
It was nice to see some more aspects of this magic system and the ending was appropriately climatic it didn’t fit the rest of the plot.
I think a substantial part of the problem for this book is that the Cinderella plot is just weaker than the little red riding hood plot. Look forward to the next installment.
While Dakota krout is a strong writer and their skill still shows in this story I think that the overall plot of this book was much weaker than the first.
It was nice to see some more aspects of this magic system and the ending was appropriately climatic it didn’t fit the rest of the plot.
I think a substantial part of the problem for this book is that the Cinderella plot is just weaker than the little red riding hood plot. Look forward to the next installment.
December 17, 2025
Cinder X Bella
When tragedy strikes the caravan and Bella’s mother is killed, it turns her father against the beasts that struck her down. This is even more difficult sine Bella inherited her mother’s class as a Beast Singer. This class gives her a certain amount of control over small animals, but her father considers it to be far from ladylike and he will not tolerate any beasts after what happened to his wife. In order to help him raise such a spirited daughter, he decides to go get married to a widow with two other daughters.
I have really been enjoying these standalone litrpg fairy tales! It’s the classic story of Cinderella with the litrpg elements. Things make more sense when you know their class abilities as to why the birds and mice are helping her. Dakota did an excellent job, because I absolutely hated the stepmother! While each title is standalone, there were other fairy tale characters mentioned. I’m glad I picked up a few more in the last sale! Emily Woo Zeller did a fantastic job with the narration!
Content warning: one scene might be tough for those with claustrophobia.
When tragedy strikes the caravan and Bella’s mother is killed, it turns her father against the beasts that struck her down. This is even more difficult sine Bella inherited her mother’s class as a Beast Singer. This class gives her a certain amount of control over small animals, but her father considers it to be far from ladylike and he will not tolerate any beasts after what happened to his wife. In order to help him raise such a spirited daughter, he decides to go get married to a widow with two other daughters.
I have really been enjoying these standalone litrpg fairy tales! It’s the classic story of Cinderella with the litrpg elements. Things make more sense when you know their class abilities as to why the birds and mice are helping her. Dakota did an excellent job, because I absolutely hated the stepmother! While each title is standalone, there were other fairy tale characters mentioned. I’m glad I picked up a few more in the last sale! Emily Woo Zeller did a fantastic job with the narration!
Content warning: one scene might be tough for those with claustrophobia.
June 2, 2025
Review: Red X was a fine novel that wandered and interesting land. Cinder X spends way too much time bearing a hard life along with Bella. It drags under the same circumstances of "poor me" that you no longer sympathize with her plight.
I get that re-written fairy tales need to follow a similar story line, yet this takes that original story and pounds it into the dirt with castles, princes and glass slippers. The magic is interesting as always as is the writers skill. This should have diverged greatly where dumba...er, Bella is driven out and earns her mettle amongst the animals and finds godmother as a forest nymph.
2.1/5
I get that re-written fairy tales need to follow a similar story line, yet this takes that original story and pounds it into the dirt with castles, princes and glass slippers. The magic is interesting as always as is the writers skill. This should have diverged greatly where dumba...er, Bella is driven out and earns her mettle amongst the animals and finds godmother as a forest nymph.
2.1/5
May 24, 2025
book 2 is just as fun and sadly fast read.
I went on vacation and finished this book in two flights. A fun spin on a traditional fables. Found one spelling error where fairy had become ferry, but otherwise good, clean fun is right. You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one, but I suspect having read them all will eventually pay off as the world develops. Thanks Dakota for another fun tale.
I went on vacation and finished this book in two flights. A fun spin on a traditional fables. Found one spelling error where fairy had become ferry, but otherwise good, clean fun is right. You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one, but I suspect having read them all will eventually pay off as the world develops. Thanks Dakota for another fun tale.
August 28, 2025
Creative
Not as good as red x wolf. I liked the puns and hidden messages of that one where this was more of a straightforward Cinderella version... And it made me realize I dont particularly care for that fairytale much... But it still is a 5 star rating because DK makes things different and exciting enough for me to thoroughly enjoy it.
Not as good as red x wolf. I liked the puns and hidden messages of that one where this was more of a straightforward Cinderella version... And it made me realize I dont particularly care for that fairytale much... But it still is a 5 star rating because DK makes things different and exciting enough for me to thoroughly enjoy it.
June 4, 2025
Cinderella but not.
I’m not sure this series is for me - I enjoyed the first book, as it was mostly adventure. This one was much more the suffering of a girl under your classic wicked stepmother. And the eventual insertion of the Cinderella storyline.
I’m not sure this series is for me - I enjoyed the first book, as it was mostly adventure. This one was much more the suffering of a girl under your classic wicked stepmother. And the eventual insertion of the Cinderella storyline.
June 9, 2025
A fun litrpg retelling of Cinderella where Cinderella might be under the thumb of an evil stepmother, but finds ways to fight back on her own. I found all references to the original story to be well thought out and the twist on them to be refreshing.
June 16, 2025
what an imagination
This author has quite the imagination and has managed to create new out of the tedious boredom of remakes
This is a must read as is all the rest of the collection
This author has quite the imagination and has managed to create new out of the tedious boredom of remakes
This is a must read as is all the rest of the collection
September 5, 2025
Everything I hoped.
I started this series after reading a review for the first. As a long time reader of the author, I was interested to see this turn in genre and found it quite fun to read by the unique twist to a classic story.
I started this series after reading a review for the first. As a long time reader of the author, I was interested to see this turn in genre and found it quite fun to read by the unique twist to a classic story.
September 28, 2025
It is too similar to the original work, so it is rather boring. The ending is good, but it comes far too late. By that point, you are already checked out. The real villain of the whole book is the useless father. He is the worst character i have read about in some time.
May 25, 2025
Just loved it
I loved Bella’s personality and her abilities. I love Prince Cinder, and the whole LitRPG elements! The narrative was complex and fun! Can’t wait until the next book in the series comes out!
I loved Bella’s personality and her abilities. I love Prince Cinder, and the whole LitRPG elements! The narrative was complex and fun! Can’t wait until the next book in the series comes out!
May 26, 2025
Should have been called "Cartoonish Assholes X Fecking Idiots"
August 1, 2025
so good!!
Wicked fun litrpg retelling of Cinderella - had some nice twists, definitely a fresh take. Can’t wait to read the next book!
Wicked fun litrpg retelling of Cinderella - had some nice twists, definitely a fresh take. Can’t wait to read the next book!
September 7, 2025
a fun spin on a cherished tale
October 6, 2025
DNF at 50%. As a Dakota Krout fan who enjoyed aspects of Red X Wolf, I was disappointed by how slowly Cinder X Bella develops. The first half lacks the RPG mechanics and romantic elements that should drive a LitRPG romantasy, resulting in a sluggish reading experience that never found its rhythm."
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews