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Smoke and Glass Slippers: A Dystopian, Gender-Flipped Cinderella Retelling
She's the heir to a corrupt empire.
He's the man coming to burn it all down.
I know my place. I’m a Quartz. Meant to serve. For thirty years, I’ve slaved in the mines, stripping magic to fuel the empire’s precious Capital.
But I refuse to die in the dark.
The emperor’s competition for his daughter's hand is my one chance. If I can win a place among the nobles, I’ll get close enough to stop the tyranny once and for all.
There’s just one problem: Princess Ysabelle is nothing like I expected. And as the Betrothal Games become real, I’ll have to make a choice.
A choice that could change the world.
Dive into the dystopian fairytale world of Smoke and Glass Slippers, a land of lies and deceit where the lines between heroism and villainy blur and nothing is as it seems. High-stakes fantasy adventure combined with swoony romance await in this clean, enemies to lovers romantasy!
Perfect for fans of The Selection and Red Rising.
He's the man coming to burn it all down.
I know my place. I’m a Quartz. Meant to serve. For thirty years, I’ve slaved in the mines, stripping magic to fuel the empire’s precious Capital.
But I refuse to die in the dark.
The emperor’s competition for his daughter's hand is my one chance. If I can win a place among the nobles, I’ll get close enough to stop the tyranny once and for all.
There’s just one problem: Princess Ysabelle is nothing like I expected. And as the Betrothal Games become real, I’ll have to make a choice.
A choice that could change the world.
Dive into the dystopian fairytale world of Smoke and Glass Slippers, a land of lies and deceit where the lines between heroism and villainy blur and nothing is as it seems. High-stakes fantasy adventure combined with swoony romance await in this clean, enemies to lovers romantasy!
Perfect for fans of The Selection and Red Rising.
ebook
Published July 28, 2025
About the author
Ashley Willingham
11 books690 followersAshley Willingham is a Christian, wife, mother of two, and an author of clean books. She enjoys writing high-stakes plots, swoony romances, and stories free from explicit content. When she's not busy writing, she can be found in the kitchen pursing her second passion—baking. She currently lives in Arkansas with her family and one very fluffy dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 2, 2026
yall I read this in a day. Great characters, interesting world and twist on the classic fairytale. this might be my new favorite Cinderella retelling??
January 25, 2026
What to expect: Adult fantasy romance, Christian worldview, dystopian fairytale, MCs in their 30s, high-stakes, corrupt empire, Betrothal games, hidden identity
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Ashley Willingham, and it definitely won’t be the last. 🤩 Certain elements of the setting remind me of The Selection, The Hunger Games, and The Lunar Chronicles (except this novel is adult not YA). I think the magic concept is pretty cool and unique. The gender-flipped Cinderella retelling part is loose and didn’t feel like a repetitive story to me at all. I appreciate that, since it’s a dystopian setting, it has political themes that could be paralleled with real life, and that there is moral ambiguity among people on both sides of the conflict, showing you can’t defeat your enemies with more hate. Because dystopian is not just an aesthetic, people (anyway, short rant over). I loved following along with the growth journey of the MMC and was also invested in the romance part. 👀 It is so heartfelt and what romance should be, which is right up my alley. I would have binge-read this book if I hadn’t been so busy, and I am excited to read the other standalones in this series.
The only downside for me personally was that I thought the ending and epilogue could have been expanded on more. It mentions what happens next, but I would have liked more detail for what happens to the country, considering how invested I was in the political plot and that it’s a standalone.
📚 content courtesies 📚
-kissing only
-no profanity
-There is nothing graphic, mostly references to the abuse and oppression that happens to children and adult citizens in the caste system, on-page death.
-Faith is not central to the plot, but it is mentioned that the MMC and his caste have faith in the Maker, which sounds akin to Christianity. This is not a full-on Christian book, but you can tell Christian values are there.
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Ashley Willingham, and it definitely won’t be the last. 🤩 Certain elements of the setting remind me of The Selection, The Hunger Games, and The Lunar Chronicles (except this novel is adult not YA). I think the magic concept is pretty cool and unique. The gender-flipped Cinderella retelling part is loose and didn’t feel like a repetitive story to me at all. I appreciate that, since it’s a dystopian setting, it has political themes that could be paralleled with real life, and that there is moral ambiguity among people on both sides of the conflict, showing you can’t defeat your enemies with more hate. Because dystopian is not just an aesthetic, people (anyway, short rant over). I loved following along with the growth journey of the MMC and was also invested in the romance part. 👀 It is so heartfelt and what romance should be, which is right up my alley. I would have binge-read this book if I hadn’t been so busy, and I am excited to read the other standalones in this series.
The only downside for me personally was that I thought the ending and epilogue could have been expanded on more. It mentions what happens next, but I would have liked more detail for what happens to the country, considering how invested I was in the political plot and that it’s a standalone.
📚 content courtesies 📚
-kissing only
-no profanity
-There is nothing graphic, mostly references to the abuse and oppression that happens to children and adult citizens in the caste system, on-page death.
-Faith is not central to the plot, but it is mentioned that the MMC and his caste have faith in the Maker, which sounds akin to Christianity. This is not a full-on Christian book, but you can tell Christian values are there.
September 27, 2025
✨ Spoiler-Free Review ✨
Smoke and Glass Slippers by Ashley Willingham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my very first fairytale retelling, and I had such a fun time with it! I loved seeing how Ashley Willingham wove in familiar elements like the glass slippers, the pumpkin coach, the clock striking midnight, and even the mice, while giving them such a creative twist within a dystopian setting. It felt fresh, unique, and imaginative! 🤍
The story follows Cedric, whose world is completely transformed by a healer who changes his entire being from a low-class nobody, to one of the highest ranked in society. He is sent to enter a set of high-stakes games
that determine who will marry the future empress - and to kill her father. 😅
The games were such a fun mix of humor, action, and tension. Alongside that, the story weaves in rebellion, secrets, and complicated loyalties - all while building out a unique dystopian world.⚔️
Personally, dystopian isn’t my go-to genre, so at times I found it a little harder to picture the characters and fully connect. But that’s completely a personal preference, not a reflection on the writing itself. Ashley’s pacing, creativity, and plotting kept me engaged the whole way through.
Overall, while it may not be an all-time favorite for me, I think this is a really fun, worthwhile read - especially if you enjoy fairytale retellings or dystopian adventures. I’m so glad I picked it up and I’ll definitely keep supporting this talented Christian indie author!! 🥰
⚠️Trigger Warnings (NONE of these are detailed or GRAPHIC):
- Death of parents
- Near-death from whipping
- Suggestive sexual harassment (not on page, but you can kind of tell what happened)
- Hinted at suggestive sexual comments from the evil character
- explosions, battles, death, etc.
Smoke and Glass Slippers by Ashley Willingham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my very first fairytale retelling, and I had such a fun time with it! I loved seeing how Ashley Willingham wove in familiar elements like the glass slippers, the pumpkin coach, the clock striking midnight, and even the mice, while giving them such a creative twist within a dystopian setting. It felt fresh, unique, and imaginative! 🤍
The story follows Cedric, whose world is completely transformed by a healer who changes his entire being from a low-class nobody, to one of the highest ranked in society. He is sent to enter a set of high-stakes games
that determine who will marry the future empress - and to kill her father. 😅
The games were such a fun mix of humor, action, and tension. Alongside that, the story weaves in rebellion, secrets, and complicated loyalties - all while building out a unique dystopian world.⚔️
Personally, dystopian isn’t my go-to genre, so at times I found it a little harder to picture the characters and fully connect. But that’s completely a personal preference, not a reflection on the writing itself. Ashley’s pacing, creativity, and plotting kept me engaged the whole way through.
Overall, while it may not be an all-time favorite for me, I think this is a really fun, worthwhile read - especially if you enjoy fairytale retellings or dystopian adventures. I’m so glad I picked it up and I’ll definitely keep supporting this talented Christian indie author!! 🥰
⚠️Trigger Warnings (NONE of these are detailed or GRAPHIC):
- Death of parents
- Near-death from whipping
- Suggestive sexual harassment (not on page, but you can kind of tell what happened)
- Hinted at suggestive sexual comments from the evil character
- explosions, battles, death, etc.
October 13, 2025
So it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t my type of book.
Language:
Clean other then made up words like dusting.
Romance:
Some kisses, one that was a bit too much for me.
Mentions of a certain group of people being used for pleasure.
Mentions a someone being forced.
Violence:
There is death, beatings, and fighting. I don’t remember how descriptive it was tho.
To me, the romance was more infatuation and felt more like a surface level relationship rather than one that goes really well with the whole book.
I wasn’t a fan of the main characters, the guy kept going back and force with the loyalty. The girl was kinda bratty.
I did like the idea of the games and I loved the castes with the different gems. Such a cool idea!
My favorite character was Benji and I wish there was more of him.
This was supposed to be faith filled, but other than a couple mentions of the Maker, nothing really and I was disappointed.
I like the glass slippers and how that was incorporated.
All in all, it was bad but not a book for me.
Language:
Clean other then made up words like dusting.
Romance:
Some kisses, one that was a bit too much for me.
Mentions of a certain group of people being used for pleasure.
Mentions a someone being forced.
Violence:
There is death, beatings, and fighting. I don’t remember how descriptive it was tho.
To me, the romance was more infatuation and felt more like a surface level relationship rather than one that goes really well with the whole book.
I wasn’t a fan of the main characters, the guy kept going back and force with the loyalty. The girl was kinda bratty.
I did like the idea of the games and I loved the castes with the different gems. Such a cool idea!
My favorite character was Benji and I wish there was more of him.
This was supposed to be faith filled, but other than a couple mentions of the Maker, nothing really and I was disappointed.
I like the glass slippers and how that was incorporated.
All in all, it was bad but not a book for me.
November 10, 2025
Red Rising and Hunger Games meets enemies to lovers plot.
This book had potential, but it felt like the first half ripped so much from Red Rising that it was maddening. That, and the voice of the main character just never sounded right. It just read very feminine, which would have been easier to ignore if there had been chapters from another character’s perspective (since not every author has a good strong voice for their make lead), but the entire book being from his perspective just didn’t flow.
I finished the book out of sheer determination, but I was really struggling.
This book had potential, but it felt like the first half ripped so much from Red Rising that it was maddening. That, and the voice of the main character just never sounded right. It just read very feminine, which would have been easier to ignore if there had been chapters from another character’s perspective (since not every author has a good strong voice for their make lead), but the entire book being from his perspective just didn’t flow.
I finished the book out of sheer determination, but I was really struggling.
February 27, 2026
This was the hunger games rewritten like the selection but make it more fantasy. Was a bit disappointed in how similar it was to the other stories - even some characters with the same names.
January 6, 2026
Smoke and Glass Slippers by Ashley Willingham is a “gender-flipped, dystopian Cinderella re-telling”. Cedric Carr is doomed to live the life of a Quartz toiling away in the magic mines to harvest energy to fund the precious lifestyles of the Diamonds in the Capital. When he is forced to compete in the Betrothal Games to bring down the crooked and self-consumed Emperor of Jyosia, can he resist falling in love with the heart and soul of Her Imperial Highness, Ysabelle?
Theme(s): Ashley Willingham weaved an intricate story full of surprising adventures that encourages the heart of the reader to seek justice, love mercy, and extend forgiveness.
Author background: The author has a commitment to Jesus Christ and promises her books will have no swearing, no spice (sexual content), and no graphic violence.
Violent content: While the book does have high stakes battles, altercations, and abuse at the hands of a manager (whipping), they are described without gory details.
Language content: No cursing is in the book, although some alternative language is used in place of swear words.
Romantic/sexual content: The romance scenes in the book have recorded kissing in close quarters with one occasion of the male character pulling the female character into his lap. However, the book never leads the reader to believe these romantic experiences lead to anything further - with one scene even describing the characters refusal to share a bedroom before marriage.
Theology/Spiritual content: The book references “the Maker” in multiple spots. One reference at the end of the book details how “creatures” helped “the Maker” shape the world. While Ashley is a Christian, she does not claim that this book is Christian fantasy. She clearly states this in her author’s note at the end of the book.
In a reading world full of sexualized romantasies, I am thankful for Ashley Willingham’s dedication to leaving spice out of her books and still producing an intriguing plot that keeps the reader turning the page! Ashley has brought to life genuine characters with real conflicts and deposited them into a fairy-tale story with a believable conclusion. If princess fairy-tales with a blend of breaking societal caste systems interests you, I would recommend this book for any reader high school age and up!
Theme(s): Ashley Willingham weaved an intricate story full of surprising adventures that encourages the heart of the reader to seek justice, love mercy, and extend forgiveness.
Author background: The author has a commitment to Jesus Christ and promises her books will have no swearing, no spice (sexual content), and no graphic violence.
Violent content: While the book does have high stakes battles, altercations, and abuse at the hands of a manager (whipping), they are described without gory details.
Language content: No cursing is in the book, although some alternative language is used in place of swear words.
Romantic/sexual content: The romance scenes in the book have recorded kissing in close quarters with one occasion of the male character pulling the female character into his lap. However, the book never leads the reader to believe these romantic experiences lead to anything further - with one scene even describing the characters refusal to share a bedroom before marriage.
Theology/Spiritual content: The book references “the Maker” in multiple spots. One reference at the end of the book details how “creatures” helped “the Maker” shape the world. While Ashley is a Christian, she does not claim that this book is Christian fantasy. She clearly states this in her author’s note at the end of the book.
In a reading world full of sexualized romantasies, I am thankful for Ashley Willingham’s dedication to leaving spice out of her books and still producing an intriguing plot that keeps the reader turning the page! Ashley has brought to life genuine characters with real conflicts and deposited them into a fairy-tale story with a believable conclusion. If princess fairy-tales with a blend of breaking societal caste systems interests you, I would recommend this book for any reader high school age and up!
April 5, 2026
"It seems it was always you, Cedric. You were the man I loved-the man who dared to dream with me."
"I love you. All of you," I vowed. "Mistakes and all. I love you because of your faults, Ysabelle, not in spite of them."
"You're clearly just like all the others-a pompous peacock who thinks I'm merely a prize to be won."
This is no ordinary retelling of Cinderella. We follow Cedric and Ysabelle two completely different characters with the same dream.
Cedric is a Quartz unfortunately they are among the lowest castes of the Jyosia empire. He has good reasons for not liking the emperor Baret. This book is told from his POV. It’s extremely well done. This book is very much giving me Hunger Games and bachelorette vibes.
Ysabelle is a Diamond the top of the castes and her father is holding the betrothal games. At first she seems like a spoiled princess, but you soon find out there’s more to her then meets the eye.
Once the games start this book will start getting more and more interesting by the chapter. Not going to lie though i really don’t like one of the other competitors (for major releases).Ysabelle and Cedric are both standing together! Fighting for a better future for Jyosia.
Sometimes you have to stand up for what’s right and fight for your dreams even though you may stand alone. Ashley has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is very easy to follow and you get lost in the story.
"I love you. All of you," I vowed. "Mistakes and all. I love you because of your faults, Ysabelle, not in spite of them."
"You're clearly just like all the others-a pompous peacock who thinks I'm merely a prize to be won."
This is no ordinary retelling of Cinderella. We follow Cedric and Ysabelle two completely different characters with the same dream.
Cedric is a Quartz unfortunately they are among the lowest castes of the Jyosia empire. He has good reasons for not liking the emperor Baret. This book is told from his POV. It’s extremely well done. This book is very much giving me Hunger Games and bachelorette vibes.
Ysabelle is a Diamond the top of the castes and her father is holding the betrothal games. At first she seems like a spoiled princess, but you soon find out there’s more to her then meets the eye.
Once the games start this book will start getting more and more interesting by the chapter. Not going to lie though i really don’t like one of the other competitors (for major releases).Ysabelle and Cedric are both standing together! Fighting for a better future for Jyosia.
Sometimes you have to stand up for what’s right and fight for your dreams even though you may stand alone. Ashley has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is very easy to follow and you get lost in the story.
March 26, 2026
I haven’t read many, or maybe any as of yet, fairytale retellings, but this was amazing! I absolutely love the authors voice in writing and how easy it is to read her work. Everything continues to flow and you want to jump into the next chapter. I loved Cedric and seeing him fight against his inner turmoil and serve his godfather or his heart. And Ysabelle was fun to watch her transformation as a princess to seeing how her people truly lived. This is a great combo of The Selection, Hunger Games, and Cinderella. Also, I loved the mentions of Cinderella with the pumpkin carriage and two characters named Jack and Gus. Well done! 👏 fun, easy, fast read! Would highly recommend!
February 23, 2026
This was written entirely from the perspective of the MMC which was super interesting. Also refreshing: the main characters are actual grown ups and not teenagers 🙌🏻 makes the decision making and leadership abilities way more believable 🤭 also so many of the supporting characters were a DELIGHT 💕
July 13, 2025
Another book hit out of the ballpark by Ashley. When I read that this was a gender flipped fairy tale, I was a bit skeptical. But man was I glad to be wrong. The twists and turns in this book, on top of the very unique dystopian fantasy society, *Chefs kiss*.
The book is fast paced but gives just the right amount of attention to the romance between Cedric and Ysabelle.
If you are wanting a sweet clean romance, with a unique spin on Cinderella, you must give this book a try!
The book is fast paced but gives just the right amount of attention to the romance between Cedric and Ysabelle.
If you are wanting a sweet clean romance, with a unique spin on Cinderella, you must give this book a try!
March 27, 2026
I enjoyed this story but I feel like it was too long. Every time I thought it was going to end, it kept going lol. I also do not understand how this story is a Cinderella retelling. The only thing that was similar to Cinderella was the glass slipper necklace. Otherwise, what did I miss?
That being said, the author's writing is easy to follow and I appreciate that in a fantasy novel because it's easy to follow along with the story. Overall, I enjoyed the story and will read more from this author!
That being said, the author's writing is easy to follow and I appreciate that in a fantasy novel because it's easy to follow along with the story. Overall, I enjoyed the story and will read more from this author!
February 27, 2026
This book showcases an author with clear talent, creativity, and a gift for richly descriptive storytelling. Her writing is vivid and she weaves together a wide range of elements. There were moments where the atmosphere and world-building really stood out to me.
Going into the book, I was especially excited for the romance and the faith components. For me personally, those were the two areas that didn’t land quite the way I had hoped. The romance progressed in a way that made me wish for more gradual development and emotional depth to make the connection feel fully earned and organic.
Similarly, as someone who reads Christian fiction specifically for a strong and overt faith thread, I was expecting the spiritual themes to be more directly explored. Faith was present, but in a more subtle way than I anticipated or typically prefer when I seek out books by Christian authors.
Overall, I truly believe there are many readers who will love this story, especially those who enjoy imaginative storytelling and a creative blend of genres. While it wasn’t exactly my personal cup of tea, I can absolutely appreciate the author’s skill and the heart behind the work. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
Going into the book, I was especially excited for the romance and the faith components. For me personally, those were the two areas that didn’t land quite the way I had hoped. The romance progressed in a way that made me wish for more gradual development and emotional depth to make the connection feel fully earned and organic.
Similarly, as someone who reads Christian fiction specifically for a strong and overt faith thread, I was expecting the spiritual themes to be more directly explored. Faith was present, but in a more subtle way than I anticipated or typically prefer when I seek out books by Christian authors.
Overall, I truly believe there are many readers who will love this story, especially those who enjoy imaginative storytelling and a creative blend of genres. While it wasn’t exactly my personal cup of tea, I can absolutely appreciate the author’s skill and the heart behind the work. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
May 25, 2026
I disagree with the comparisons to Cinderella… I don’t get it.
So there’s a miner, the slippers, a pumpkin carriage, and some similar names.. that’s all you got. I thought it was more similar to the hunger games than anything.
The story without comparison is brilliant on its own. It took me awhile to understand the world and get engaged but once I was hooked it was hard to put down.
So there’s a miner, the slippers, a pumpkin carriage, and some similar names.. that’s all you got. I thought it was more similar to the hunger games than anything.
The story without comparison is brilliant on its own. It took me awhile to understand the world and get engaged but once I was hooked it was hard to put down.
May 20, 2026
Exactly hunger games. Capitol, sector, numbers for names, a character named Gale, whipped for being subordinate. It is interesting but because it directly copies everything that makes Hunger games interesting.
June 9, 2026
Despite Smoke & Glass Slipperst being the 1st book in the Clean Fairytale for Adults series by Ashley Willingham, I read this last out of the three. Don't ask me why, I'm just strange and contrary like that!
While this book was still an excellent read, I do have to say it was my least favorite of the three. I LOVE Ashley Willingham's writing, so it pains me to say this, but I really did find this too similar to Hunger Games in multiple parts of the book. It had a completely unique set of characters and circumstances, but it just mirrored certain aspects too closely. But, I do love the Hunger Games trilogy and Dystopian, so I didn't hate it either.
I loved the storyline and romance between Cedric and Ysabelle immensely...the hidden identity trope was 🤌🏼 chef's kiss. Cedric's underlying plan for entering the Betrothal Games is dark, really dark, but I'm glad he did see through the plot and turn things around. Having to betray everything you love and act as someone you hate must be incredibly difficult, and I liked how Cedric moved through that situation.
While this is a gender-flipped fairytale retelling of Cinderella, it has light similarities to the orginal fairytale, and definitely reads more Dystopian/Fantasy than it does fairytale retelling. There are subtle nods throughout the book to the fairytale, but that's not the main focus.
There was some allegorical faith woven throughout, but I wouldn't say it was as strong and impactful in faith as the subsequent two books were. There is a form of "magic" in this story for anyone who avoids that, but it's described as either an electrical energy or a gift given to this specific group of people by The Maker for healing. As with any kind of magic or power, society distorts it and uses it for evil purposes, and we did see that abuse mildly in the story.
What I enjoyed:
🩵 Great MMC & FMC
🩵 Hunger Games-esque setting & Dytyopian vibes
🩵 Hidden Identity
🩵 Allies to lovers
🩵 The gemstone Caste System
⚠️Content Warnings:
-Death of parents & characters
- Brutal whipping as punishment
- Sexual harassment (comments & past situations)
-Fighting (battles), explosives
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.3 Stars
Writing: 5 stars
Characters & Plot: 4.5 stars
Faith & Content: 4.0 stars
Enjoyability: 4.0 stars
Overall, if you like Dystopian books and don't mind some similar elements to Hunger Games, this is a good read. My recommendation is to start with this book first, because I think they get better as they progress through the series in both writing, storytelling, and faith!
While this book was still an excellent read, I do have to say it was my least favorite of the three. I LOVE Ashley Willingham's writing, so it pains me to say this, but I really did find this too similar to Hunger Games in multiple parts of the book. It had a completely unique set of characters and circumstances, but it just mirrored certain aspects too closely. But, I do love the Hunger Games trilogy and Dystopian, so I didn't hate it either.
I loved the storyline and romance between Cedric and Ysabelle immensely...the hidden identity trope was 🤌🏼 chef's kiss. Cedric's underlying plan for entering the Betrothal Games is dark, really dark, but I'm glad he did see through the plot and turn things around. Having to betray everything you love and act as someone you hate must be incredibly difficult, and I liked how Cedric moved through that situation.
While this is a gender-flipped fairytale retelling of Cinderella, it has light similarities to the orginal fairytale, and definitely reads more Dystopian/Fantasy than it does fairytale retelling. There are subtle nods throughout the book to the fairytale, but that's not the main focus.
There was some allegorical faith woven throughout, but I wouldn't say it was as strong and impactful in faith as the subsequent two books were. There is a form of "magic" in this story for anyone who avoids that, but it's described as either an electrical energy or a gift given to this specific group of people by The Maker for healing. As with any kind of magic or power, society distorts it and uses it for evil purposes, and we did see that abuse mildly in the story.
What I enjoyed:
🩵 Great MMC & FMC
🩵 Hunger Games-esque setting & Dytyopian vibes
🩵 Hidden Identity
🩵 Allies to lovers
🩵 The gemstone Caste System
⚠️Content Warnings:
-Death of parents & characters
- Brutal whipping as punishment
- Sexual harassment (comments & past situations)
-Fighting (battles), explosives
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.3 Stars
Writing: 5 stars
Characters & Plot: 4.5 stars
Faith & Content: 4.0 stars
Enjoyability: 4.0 stars
Overall, if you like Dystopian books and don't mind some similar elements to Hunger Games, this is a good read. My recommendation is to start with this book first, because I think they get better as they progress through the series in both writing, storytelling, and faith!
August 15, 2026
A Fable bookclub read 🩵 and an author I've been wanting to try out! I'm a huge Cinderella fan and love a good fairytale & fantasy retelling... Especially with Christian themes. Yup, I'm hooked! There were times I didn't like this story so much, but by the end I was literally happy crying 🥲 hehe We follow Cedric who is the lowest class in this dystopian world. He's been through things, he's seen a lot, and he experiences unfair treatment every day of his life. Without giving anything away, I'll say that with many dystopian worlds there is a empire who profits off the lower castes. It's the same in Jyosia but you'll love the world building the author invented for it... Gem castes. Diamonds are the exalted ones, whilst Ced is a Quartz, the enslaved ones. He works the mines of his district harvesting arcane magic for the empire. Long story short, Ced finds himself working for the resistance to infiltrate the palace and bring down the empire. How? By entering the betrothal games taking place for the princesses hand, and to become the future queen's consort. We follow his journey being placed in a world of the upper caste, fighting with ill intent to gain an audience with the king, and struggling with an undeniable attraction to the princess he thought he hated, Ysabelle. There are darker and deeper threads of evil he must uncover, as well as truths and better ways he never saw come to light. It's definitely not your usual Cinderella 🩵 I really enjoyed the world building and the plot. The Cinderella connections were so well done and exciting to find. The author paints beautiful imagery and knows how to express emotions deeply from our character. There is a small thread of Christian themes throughout, and it is a unique take on the classic dystopian vibes we know. I adored Cedric's friend Benji and his companion Eloise. It's a story with surprises and high stakes which I loved. The last quarter of the book was addictive and closes things out spectacularly. What I didn't really like... The double mindedness of our main characters, especially Cedric. That it was one POV. The melodramatic and woefully obsessive inner monologue Ced has involving his love hate relationship with Ysabelle. Exalting her as his savior repeatedly threw me, especially since this is meant to be a Christian book. But those themes were minimal and it really felt more like a YA Dystopian with little to no concrete faith elements. You had to really look for it and make it more. Balance of his mind and heart was found later but I really just wanted less of his lovesick angst and for him to see what the reader was seeing sooner as far as important plot points go 🩵 but that's just a personal preference! Overall it was a darker read but glad I read it and enjoyed experiencing it with my bookclub friends! The ending redeemed a lot of my issues with Ced and truly the main plot never lacked so I never felt the desire to stop reading. Just wanted more from Ced at times in terms of emotional balance and self awareness. Definitely a fun read though 🥰 the ending stole my heart ✨ looking forward to trying other of her works.
August 8, 2025
📖 Blurb:
Division reigns in Jyosia. The people are separated into casts, and the lowest among them, the Quartzes, are forced into a life of extreme servitude, and are even killed if they dare to stand up to their Diamond oppressors. Cedric Carr dreams of a different life, a gentler, more equal life. When an unfortunate incident forces him to become that what he most detests, Cedric finds himself thrown into a political plot that has him facing some hard questions about what he thinks he knows. A pawn in a game to win the future empress's heart, Cedric is confronted with the knowledge that a path forward may not require the bloodshed his godfather is pushing. He was sent to kill the emperor. He never meant to fall in love with the crown princess. Can their love move the nation into a time of peace and restoration? Or with the truth destroy them all?
My 💭:
From the very first page, you are drawn into to this intricate plot! This gender flipped, dystopian Cinderella retelling is sure to intrigue you and keep you guessing. I love how Cedric was written; he is selfless, brave, and true to himself in a world where he's supposed to fit into a mold. Ysabelle wants to change the world, and she is a fierce warrior. The side characters are lovable and eccentric. The world building/magic system is easy to understand and enjoyable to delve into. I'd love to have more written about the world! This was my first book by this author but will not be my last!
What to expect:
👩❤️💋👨 Swoony romance; kisses only.
🪄Only Diamonds have/can use magic, but magic has been harnessed into technology.
⚔️Action/war time violence. Explosions and wounds abound, but nothing graphic or gratuitous
👱🏻♂️Single POV from Cedric
Division reigns in Jyosia. The people are separated into casts, and the lowest among them, the Quartzes, are forced into a life of extreme servitude, and are even killed if they dare to stand up to their Diamond oppressors. Cedric Carr dreams of a different life, a gentler, more equal life. When an unfortunate incident forces him to become that what he most detests, Cedric finds himself thrown into a political plot that has him facing some hard questions about what he thinks he knows. A pawn in a game to win the future empress's heart, Cedric is confronted with the knowledge that a path forward may not require the bloodshed his godfather is pushing. He was sent to kill the emperor. He never meant to fall in love with the crown princess. Can their love move the nation into a time of peace and restoration? Or with the truth destroy them all?
My 💭:
From the very first page, you are drawn into to this intricate plot! This gender flipped, dystopian Cinderella retelling is sure to intrigue you and keep you guessing. I love how Cedric was written; he is selfless, brave, and true to himself in a world where he's supposed to fit into a mold. Ysabelle wants to change the world, and she is a fierce warrior. The side characters are lovable and eccentric. The world building/magic system is easy to understand and enjoyable to delve into. I'd love to have more written about the world! This was my first book by this author but will not be my last!
What to expect:
👩❤️💋👨 Swoony romance; kisses only.
🪄Only Diamonds have/can use magic, but magic has been harnessed into technology.
⚔️Action/war time violence. Explosions and wounds abound, but nothing graphic or gratuitous
👱🏻♂️Single POV from Cedric
June 20, 2026
“Without so much as glancing my way, she flung the piece of jewelry at me. It struck my chest—light as a whisper, cruel as a dagger—and fell to the marble below.” 🩰
I can’t sing this books praises enough. There was something so unique and beautifully lyrical to it. The writing was amazing, the world was fantastical, and the characters were superb.
I have had an up and down relationship with fantasy as a genre. I love it-but there are so many out there that I can’t bring myself to read for some reason. This book-and this author-have reignited my hope.
There was something so alluring about the world and caste system Willingham created in this book, and I would love to read a companion novella or something to see more of it! It’s dystopian and flawed and exactly the thing I loved about some of my top-tier books. My only complaint is that there isn’t more 😭
I feel as though if it had been two books, we may have been able to flesh out the war and resistance more. We might have had more time with these characters struggles, maybe expanding on their time in the later events of the book. But it was still very well paced and fleshed out as it is 💙
Books by Christian authors by far do not get nearly enough credit or recognition. This is not just “good for a Christian book”, this book is fantastic in every way-and puts forth a story of light overcoming darkness. Well done Ashley Willingham!
Please read, you will not regret it 🦋
Content:
💋: kisses only
⚔️: war violence, magic violence, death, torture and beating (not super graphic), intense pain
⚠️: violence, caste-ism? (Is that a thing? lol), death of parents, parental disappointment/abandonment, death and grief
*ignore the reading dates I started it and then picked it back up 😭
I can’t sing this books praises enough. There was something so unique and beautifully lyrical to it. The writing was amazing, the world was fantastical, and the characters were superb.
I have had an up and down relationship with fantasy as a genre. I love it-but there are so many out there that I can’t bring myself to read for some reason. This book-and this author-have reignited my hope.
There was something so alluring about the world and caste system Willingham created in this book, and I would love to read a companion novella or something to see more of it! It’s dystopian and flawed and exactly the thing I loved about some of my top-tier books. My only complaint is that there isn’t more 😭
I feel as though if it had been two books, we may have been able to flesh out the war and resistance more. We might have had more time with these characters struggles, maybe expanding on their time in the later events of the book. But it was still very well paced and fleshed out as it is 💙
Books by Christian authors by far do not get nearly enough credit or recognition. This is not just “good for a Christian book”, this book is fantastic in every way-and puts forth a story of light overcoming darkness. Well done Ashley Willingham!
Please read, you will not regret it 🦋
Content:
💋: kisses only
⚔️: war violence, magic violence, death, torture and beating (not super graphic), intense pain
⚠️: violence, caste-ism? (Is that a thing? lol), death of parents, parental disappointment/abandonment, death and grief
*ignore the reading dates I started it and then picked it back up 😭
August 3, 2026
This book had an interesting concept, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.
*Spoiler Warning! If you don't want spoilers, don't read past the content warning!*
*Content Warning!*
Language - None! In world curses only.
Spice - None!
Violence - Nothing graphic, PG-13.
Other - Nothing that I can think of!
************************************************
What I liked:
I enjoyed the concept. A gender-bent Cinderella story is so interesting! I also enjoyed the different castes of Diamonds, Quartzes, Emeralds, etc.
I enjoyed the concept of a group of men competing for the hand of the princess, as with every other story like this, it's also been the women competing for the man, so that was refreshing!
The ending was sweet and enjoyable as well! I enjoyed the epilogue a lot.
I enjoyed the side characters more than the main characters 😅 I really liked Ludo, Eloise, and Benji.
As always, I do love when authors thank their readers. Thank you, Ashley, for writing these books!
What I didn't like:
I couldn't get attached to the characters, sadly. I liked Benji a lot. I think he would have made a better Cinderalla character than Cedric did. He was too bitter and hateful for me to get attached, this went on for most of the book (at least in my opinion).
The characters also felt very inconsistent to me, but I can understand how our feelings can make us act out of character.
One thing that annoyed me a lot was how childish these characters acted, specifically Ced and Ysabelle. They behaved more like teens rather than characters in their thirties.
Overall, I enjoyed this mainly because I love discussing books with my bookclub (which is where I read it) and the plot was intriguing. I'm not saying this is a bad book, it just wasn't for me all that much 🤷♀️
*Spoiler Warning! If you don't want spoilers, don't read past the content warning!*
*Content Warning!*
Language - None! In world curses only.
Spice - None!
Violence - Nothing graphic, PG-13.
Other - Nothing that I can think of!
************************************************
What I liked:
I enjoyed the concept. A gender-bent Cinderella story is so interesting! I also enjoyed the different castes of Diamonds, Quartzes, Emeralds, etc.
I enjoyed the concept of a group of men competing for the hand of the princess, as with every other story like this, it's also been the women competing for the man, so that was refreshing!
The ending was sweet and enjoyable as well! I enjoyed the epilogue a lot.
I enjoyed the side characters more than the main characters 😅 I really liked Ludo, Eloise, and Benji.
As always, I do love when authors thank their readers. Thank you, Ashley, for writing these books!
What I didn't like:
I couldn't get attached to the characters, sadly. I liked Benji a lot. I think he would have made a better Cinderalla character than Cedric did. He was too bitter and hateful for me to get attached, this went on for most of the book (at least in my opinion).
The characters also felt very inconsistent to me, but I can understand how our feelings can make us act out of character.
One thing that annoyed me a lot was how childish these characters acted, specifically Ced and Ysabelle. They behaved more like teens rather than characters in their thirties.
Overall, I enjoyed this mainly because I love discussing books with my bookclub (which is where I read it) and the plot was intriguing. I'm not saying this is a bad book, it just wasn't for me all that much 🤷♀️
June 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smoke and Glass Slippers by Ashley Willingham completely captivated me from the very first page. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see where the story would go.
This is a unique and beautifully crafted retelling of Cinderella—but don’t expect a traditional fairy tale. Ashley Willingham takes familiar elements and transforms them into something fresh, surprising, and deeply meaningful.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the depth of the two protagonists. Their journeys of growth and transformation felt authentic and compelling, making it easy to become invested in their lives and the choices they faced. Watching them confront their pasts, challenge their assumptions, and become stronger versions of themselves was incredibly satisfying.
The themes of justice and forgiveness are woven throughout the story with remarkable care. Rather than offering easy answers, the novel explores both themes with nuance and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impression long after I turned the final page.
If you enjoy fairy tale retellings with rich character development, unexpected twists, and powerful themes, I highly recommend Smoke and Glass Slippers. This was a memorable and moving read that I won’t soon forget.
July 29, 2025
First off I have to applaud Ashley Willingham in hitting another homerun, but not just book wise, but for being a fantasy writer that is clean and isnt solely based on the sex attraction of the characters. She creates characters that can show their love,their compassion, their protectiveness all without taking it to the bedroom. I have been facinated with her writing from the very first book I read of hers, each one is a masterpiece on their own. The world building, the problems they face, the obstacles that are sat in ther path, all these are intricultly laid out in her books, whether its a fast paced one such as this one or a little slower paced one. I loved that it was gender flipped, I wasnt sure if it was gonna hit for me, but I am very happy to say I was very wrong. If you cant fall in love with Cedric and Ysabelle and the way she describes them,than I have to admit there is no hope lol. I thoroughly recommend this book and this author to absolutely everyone!
March 17, 2026
Fierce and Bright
Smoke and Glass Slippers was captivating from beginning to end. Its full of mysteries, plots, clean romance, intense bachelor games/trials, secrets, dreams, and more. I appreciated how the dystopian setting was just dark enough to add extra depth to the plot, but generally stayed fairly light, generally more suspenseful than heavy with lots of more playful or comic moments. This book was clean overall with only a few made up swears, PG level violence, and clean no spice romance. The world building was incredible and the characters were rich and multi-dimensional with many memorable side characters. There were great thoughts on how to bring lasting peace after so much pain and an epic love story to unite it all together. I am so glad I read this book after hearing other readers recommended it.
Smoke and Glass Slippers was captivating from beginning to end. Its full of mysteries, plots, clean romance, intense bachelor games/trials, secrets, dreams, and more. I appreciated how the dystopian setting was just dark enough to add extra depth to the plot, but generally stayed fairly light, generally more suspenseful than heavy with lots of more playful or comic moments. This book was clean overall with only a few made up swears, PG level violence, and clean no spice romance. The world building was incredible and the characters were rich and multi-dimensional with many memorable side characters. There were great thoughts on how to bring lasting peace after so much pain and an epic love story to unite it all together. I am so glad I read this book after hearing other readers recommended it.
July 29, 2025
Smoke & Glass Slippers is a gender flipped dystopian Cinderella retelling. In this first person (MMC) single POV we follow along with Cedric on his journey to end the tyranny that has taken over his world.
This was such a unique story that was beautiful, heartwarming, and overflowing with action. At first glance you may think you're just looking at a fantasy version of the Bachelorette, but there is so much more to this fantastic tale. Also, as you can see, the cover art is gorgeous (as is the chapter header art).
This is my 3rd book by Ashley Willingham and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite, must read authors. I absolutely love her vivid details and world building. This one is far from your typical fairytale retelling. The writing is wonderfully done and the characters are all so intriguing and polished (Ludo was my favorite side character!)
In this book you'll find heartbreak, but also forgiveness, redemption, those acknowledging when they're wrong while being willing to make things right, and characters showing kindness even in the face of hate.
I LOVED Smoke & Glass Slippers and definitely recommend to all fans of fantasy and beautifully written retellings.
I received an advanced review copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and thoughts
This was such a unique story that was beautiful, heartwarming, and overflowing with action. At first glance you may think you're just looking at a fantasy version of the Bachelorette, but there is so much more to this fantastic tale. Also, as you can see, the cover art is gorgeous (as is the chapter header art).
This is my 3rd book by Ashley Willingham and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite, must read authors. I absolutely love her vivid details and world building. This one is far from your typical fairytale retelling. The writing is wonderfully done and the characters are all so intriguing and polished (Ludo was my favorite side character!)
In this book you'll find heartbreak, but also forgiveness, redemption, those acknowledging when they're wrong while being willing to make things right, and characters showing kindness even in the face of hate.
I LOVED Smoke & Glass Slippers and definitely recommend to all fans of fantasy and beautifully written retellings.
I received an advanced review copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and thoughts
July 29, 2025
This book was phenomenal. From holding true to the important aspects of the Cinderella fairytale while holding its own to the wonderfully immersive world that Willingham created, I'm super excited to see what the rest of her fairytale retelling will bring.
Cedric slaves away with his fellow Quartz to mine magic for the rest of the empire when his true dream is to be free to create with glass. So when he is put into the position to advance his rank and infiltrate the palace to kill the emperor, he agrees to it, only to fall for the emperor's daughter.
Full of plenty of twists and exploring some wonderful themes without being gratuitous about it, I highly recommend Smoke & Glass Slippers.
Cedric slaves away with his fellow Quartz to mine magic for the rest of the empire when his true dream is to be free to create with glass. So when he is put into the position to advance his rank and infiltrate the palace to kill the emperor, he agrees to it, only to fall for the emperor's daughter.
Full of plenty of twists and exploring some wonderful themes without being gratuitous about it, I highly recommend Smoke & Glass Slippers.
November 1, 2025
The romantasy I didn’t know I needed!!
This book was absolutely amazing!!! I was here for the whole adventure from beginning to end because who has EVER heard of a “dystopian gender filled Cinderella retelling?” Not me and I had no idea how all this was going to come together but Ashley DID THAT 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I while there were no scriptures in this book the message of forgiveness, redemption, and love never fails was so evident. The book was well paced and the love story was full of swoon and yearning without the feeling of lust. Also the BEST part, it was a completely MALE POINT OF VIEW!!! So many swoony moment being in his brain and experiencing from his perspective only. At this point, what are waiting for, read the book!!
This book was absolutely amazing!!! I was here for the whole adventure from beginning to end because who has EVER heard of a “dystopian gender filled Cinderella retelling?” Not me and I had no idea how all this was going to come together but Ashley DID THAT 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I while there were no scriptures in this book the message of forgiveness, redemption, and love never fails was so evident. The book was well paced and the love story was full of swoon and yearning without the feeling of lust. Also the BEST part, it was a completely MALE POINT OF VIEW!!! So many swoony moment being in his brain and experiencing from his perspective only. At this point, what are waiting for, read the book!!
February 27, 2026
Very creative retelling of Cinderella
I really liked the story. The way the caste system was categorized was very unique (from being a quartzs to a diamond). Very creative story, clean, and with noble goals longing for freedom.
Unfortunately, I could not enjoy the relationship between the male and female lead. I truly enjoy emotional depth in relationships and when they take at least some time to build something instead of rushing. The love he has for her feels a bit excessive in my opinion. Not mature love but infatuation. I feel like her feelings for him developed just as quickly. Is as if it was fated love but I could not see it that way honestly. Cedric is very nice and loyal but felt a bit cringey at time.
I really liked the story. The way the caste system was categorized was very unique (from being a quartzs to a diamond). Very creative story, clean, and with noble goals longing for freedom.
Unfortunately, I could not enjoy the relationship between the male and female lead. I truly enjoy emotional depth in relationships and when they take at least some time to build something instead of rushing. The love he has for her feels a bit excessive in my opinion. Not mature love but infatuation. I feel like her feelings for him developed just as quickly. Is as if it was fated love but I could not see it that way honestly. Cedric is very nice and loyal but felt a bit cringey at time.
August 11, 2025
One gripe I have is that the MC has to go through a literal full-body change a la Kylie Jenner to fit in with the people he’s trying to infiltrate. It’s giving “plastic surgery is the only way″ which I’m sure the author didn’t intend, but at a time where surgery is so much more acceptable and accepted, especially by teens and younger people, it’s disappointing to read about.
If you like retellings that aren’t straightforward, slow burn romance where the most physical intimacy is kissing, and especially if you like dystopian novels that are still striving to lead us back to utopia, you’ll enjoy this book.
If you like retellings that aren’t straightforward, slow burn romance where the most physical intimacy is kissing, and especially if you like dystopian novels that are still striving to lead us back to utopia, you’ll enjoy this book.
July 22, 2025
A gender-bent, clean fairytale retelling of Cinderella, set in a dystopian society on another planet where the inhabitants are segregated by a unique caste system.
Creative and uncommonly told from the perspective of a male main character in his 30’s, where the love interest and friends are also in their 30’s or older.
This story felt like a fairytale while also feeling like a dystopian fantasy, all without compromising the author’s personal convictions against gratuitous violence, vulgar language, and explicit sexual content.
Creative and uncommonly told from the perspective of a male main character in his 30’s, where the love interest and friends are also in their 30’s or older.
This story felt like a fairytale while also feeling like a dystopian fantasy, all without compromising the author’s personal convictions against gratuitous violence, vulgar language, and explicit sexual content.
February 9, 2026
I rounded up from 3.5 stars. This definitely had a Hunger Games feel in the beginning and I enjoyed the swapped Cinderella elements. That said, I struggled to really see the chemistry between Cedric and the princess. It's like she hated him, then - all the sudden - she didn't. I struggle with instalove situations and this kind of felt instlove(ish). I also didn't like how Cedric called the priness "my woman." Very caveman of him lol. Otherwise though, a good story. I'll read more by this author 🙂
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