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Once Upon a Twist #1
Ever After High: Once Upon a Twist: When the Clock Strikes Cupid
Things have gone topsy-turvy at Ever After High! After Faybelle casts a spell on the midterm hexams, the students unhexpectedly find themselves inside the wrong storybooks!
Cupid thinks it's fairy fableous to be Cinderella-even if it's just for the day! But when she notices her wicked stepsisters secretly sneaking out of the Prince's Royal Ball, Cupid decides to investigate with the help of her friends, Hopper Croakington III and Madeline Hatter. Together, they discover that the stepsisters might not be as wicked as they seem... Can Cupid flip this story on its crown and make it a Happily Ever After for everyone?
© 2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.
Cupid thinks it's fairy fableous to be Cinderella-even if it's just for the day! But when she notices her wicked stepsisters secretly sneaking out of the Prince's Royal Ball, Cupid decides to investigate with the help of her friends, Hopper Croakington III and Madeline Hatter. Together, they discover that the stepsisters might not be as wicked as they seem... Can Cupid flip this story on its crown and make it a Happily Ever After for everyone?
© 2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2017
About the author
Lisa Shea
12 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 24, 2018
It's been months - MONTHS, since I've read any books. This book was short, but it got me back into reading books again.
This version of the EAH series is clearly written for a younger audience - there's not much plot or even the same depth to the characters as Shannon Hale's series. But a seven year old would love this book!
This version of the EAH series is clearly written for a younger audience - there's not much plot or even the same depth to the characters as Shannon Hale's series. But a seven year old would love this book!
August 22, 2017
As a huge fan of Ever After High- I loved this book. It is written in the style for younger children, so it was easy to read and follow this short story.
I liked the way author re-wrote fairy tale of Cinderella in Ever After High style. Fun, cute and Happy End.
I liked the way author re-wrote fairy tale of Cinderella in Ever After High style. Fun, cute and Happy End.
July 29, 2017
This book was cute and definitely different than the rest of the Ever After High series. Cupid, Maddie, and Hopper get stuck in Cinderella's story and have to reach the end to pass their hexam and get back to Ever After High, but of course they add their own twist to the story. It was definitely interesting but there were some parts that were a little choppy. Really I think the book needed to be a little longer to really make it the best it could be but I still enjoyed reading it and can't wait to read the next in the series.
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May 21, 2026Once Upon A Twist: When The Clock Strikes Cupid
Faybelle unlike the other EAH students isn’t taking midterms seriously. She just wants to have a little fun, and everyone else is being boring. So, she gets the idea to switch everyone’s stories. She starts with Cupid.
Cupid is surprised to find out she’s not on Mount Olympus. Inside, she’s inside the kitchen of a little hous and there’s stew on the stove. It’s not long before a lady and two young women storm into the kitchen demanding to know why dinner isn’t ready. Cupid discovers the girls names are Prudence and Charlotte. When they leave, she notices her raggedy dress and apron and realizes this is Ashlynn’s story. Cupid actually is excited. She needs a break from match-making, and she doesn’t mind cooking. She’ll get to practice her dad’s Angel Food Cake.
Cupid makes heart-shaped strips of bacon, pancakes, waffles, scrambled ggs, and fresh fruit the next moring. Her step-mother is surprised (but pleased) but this and ask why the change. She usually just makes porridge. Cupid says she just felt like switching things up. There’s a ball coming up, so that night Cupid is asked to hem two dresses for her sisters. Prudence has a beautiful, lavender, gown that fits her to the tee. Cupid compliments her and tells her the prince will definitely as her to dance. Prudence’s mood changes and she can’t get out of the dress quick enough.
Charlotte’s gown is yellow and just as gorgeous. Only Charlotte requests she wants the gown extra long to hide her shoes. Her mother thinks she’s being silly. Her dhoes are golden slippers, but Charlotte makes it clear she doesn’t want to wear them. Cupid wonders what’s up with her sisters and vows to find out what will make them happy. That night, she goes to drop off Prudence’s dress and hears music through her door. She looks through the door and sees her trying to dance with a mop, but she’s clumsy. Prudence accuses her of spying and sends her away. Charlotte also sends her away after she catches her doing sit ups.
The night of the ball, Cupid is told she’s not allowed to go. Her sister keeps coming up with things that clearly show they’re stalling. After they leave to go to the ball, right on schedule fairy godmother shows up. Only it’s Maddie. Maddie tells Cupid that it was Faybelle that mixed up all the stories. Cupid asks Maddie if she can help her. Maddie transforms a teapot into a carriage and Cupid’s rags into a stunning gown. Then she turns some doves into horse.
At the ball, Cupid notices Charlotte keeps looking at the time, and Prudence watching and tapping her food to the music. She also notices Hopper-whose the prince of this tale. She speaks with him and he tells her he’s too nervous to ask anyon to dance with him. Cupid points out that all the girls are there because of him, and she makes him agree to atleast *try* to ask a girl to dance. So, he finds a girl that looks like Briar and asks her. But while they’re dancing she compliments him on what a good dancer he is and he gets tongue tied. So, he just leaves her there and excuses himself. Cupid looks for the sisters again, but on her way out she finds a red sneaker on the steps and gives it to Hopper.
Cupid and Stepmother end up in the kitchen that not because they can’t sleep and have time. Stepmother apologizes for not letting Cupid go to the ball and confesses that she doesn’t think her daughters like her. Cupid asks why she thinks that, and she says all she ever wanted was for them to be happy, but neither seem to enjoy balls. Cupid says she forgives her.
The next day, Cupid goes to Prudence and asks her for a favor. The favor she asks is if she’ll practice dancing with her. This does it! Prudence whole mood changes. She says she loves to dance, but she does her own kind of dance that’s unlike anyone at the ball. Cupid says this ia good thing and she shouldn’t have to dance like anyone else. Just then out the window, Cupid sees Charlotte sneaking out. She asks Prudence if she knows where she’s going, but she says they really aren’t that close anymore. So, Cupid follows Charlotte to a field. There are a group of boys there playing bookball waiting for her. She apologizes for being late and looks in her book bag for something. Now Cupid knows what Charlotte is looking for. She calls Hopper.
Hopper shows up with the shoe. Stepmother is all excited thinking he’s going to marry one of them. Charlotte revels that the shoe belongs to her, but she doesn’t want to marry the prince. Which is good because he doesn’t want to marry whoever the shoe belonged to. Stepmother accepts that Charlotte would rather be playing football. And at the end of the book, the next time there’s a ball, she’s outside cheering Charlotte on in a game that she’s playing. Prudence asks Hopper to dance, but he turns into a frog. She dances with him anyone in the middle of the living room. At the next ball, she’s confident enough to show off her moves and everyone else joins in.
Cupid, Maddie, and Hopper are transported back to Ever After High. They tell everyone their story. Cupid says she didn’t help anyone find love, but Maddie says she did. She helped the stepsisters love themselves.
Rating: 7 My favorite part was the all-heart shaped breakfast and the fact that the stepsisters had other things going for themselves than wanting to find a prince. Now *that* was the best ending of all. Not that they just learned to love themselves.
Faybelle unlike the other EAH students isn’t taking midterms seriously. She just wants to have a little fun, and everyone else is being boring. So, she gets the idea to switch everyone’s stories. She starts with Cupid.
Cupid is surprised to find out she’s not on Mount Olympus. Inside, she’s inside the kitchen of a little hous and there’s stew on the stove. It’s not long before a lady and two young women storm into the kitchen demanding to know why dinner isn’t ready. Cupid discovers the girls names are Prudence and Charlotte. When they leave, she notices her raggedy dress and apron and realizes this is Ashlynn’s story. Cupid actually is excited. She needs a break from match-making, and she doesn’t mind cooking. She’ll get to practice her dad’s Angel Food Cake.
Cupid makes heart-shaped strips of bacon, pancakes, waffles, scrambled ggs, and fresh fruit the next moring. Her step-mother is surprised (but pleased) but this and ask why the change. She usually just makes porridge. Cupid says she just felt like switching things up. There’s a ball coming up, so that night Cupid is asked to hem two dresses for her sisters. Prudence has a beautiful, lavender, gown that fits her to the tee. Cupid compliments her and tells her the prince will definitely as her to dance. Prudence’s mood changes and she can’t get out of the dress quick enough.
Charlotte’s gown is yellow and just as gorgeous. Only Charlotte requests she wants the gown extra long to hide her shoes. Her mother thinks she’s being silly. Her dhoes are golden slippers, but Charlotte makes it clear she doesn’t want to wear them. Cupid wonders what’s up with her sisters and vows to find out what will make them happy. That night, she goes to drop off Prudence’s dress and hears music through her door. She looks through the door and sees her trying to dance with a mop, but she’s clumsy. Prudence accuses her of spying and sends her away. Charlotte also sends her away after she catches her doing sit ups.
The night of the ball, Cupid is told she’s not allowed to go. Her sister keeps coming up with things that clearly show they’re stalling. After they leave to go to the ball, right on schedule fairy godmother shows up. Only it’s Maddie. Maddie tells Cupid that it was Faybelle that mixed up all the stories. Cupid asks Maddie if she can help her. Maddie transforms a teapot into a carriage and Cupid’s rags into a stunning gown. Then she turns some doves into horse.
At the ball, Cupid notices Charlotte keeps looking at the time, and Prudence watching and tapping her food to the music. She also notices Hopper-whose the prince of this tale. She speaks with him and he tells her he’s too nervous to ask anyon to dance with him. Cupid points out that all the girls are there because of him, and she makes him agree to atleast *try* to ask a girl to dance. So, he finds a girl that looks like Briar and asks her. But while they’re dancing she compliments him on what a good dancer he is and he gets tongue tied. So, he just leaves her there and excuses himself. Cupid looks for the sisters again, but on her way out she finds a red sneaker on the steps and gives it to Hopper.
Cupid and Stepmother end up in the kitchen that not because they can’t sleep and have time. Stepmother apologizes for not letting Cupid go to the ball and confesses that she doesn’t think her daughters like her. Cupid asks why she thinks that, and she says all she ever wanted was for them to be happy, but neither seem to enjoy balls. Cupid says she forgives her.
The next day, Cupid goes to Prudence and asks her for a favor. The favor she asks is if she’ll practice dancing with her. This does it! Prudence whole mood changes. She says she loves to dance, but she does her own kind of dance that’s unlike anyone at the ball. Cupid says this ia good thing and she shouldn’t have to dance like anyone else. Just then out the window, Cupid sees Charlotte sneaking out. She asks Prudence if she knows where she’s going, but she says they really aren’t that close anymore. So, Cupid follows Charlotte to a field. There are a group of boys there playing bookball waiting for her. She apologizes for being late and looks in her book bag for something. Now Cupid knows what Charlotte is looking for. She calls Hopper.
Hopper shows up with the shoe. Stepmother is all excited thinking he’s going to marry one of them. Charlotte revels that the shoe belongs to her, but she doesn’t want to marry the prince. Which is good because he doesn’t want to marry whoever the shoe belonged to. Stepmother accepts that Charlotte would rather be playing football. And at the end of the book, the next time there’s a ball, she’s outside cheering Charlotte on in a game that she’s playing. Prudence asks Hopper to dance, but he turns into a frog. She dances with him anyone in the middle of the living room. At the next ball, she’s confident enough to show off her moves and everyone else joins in.
Cupid, Maddie, and Hopper are transported back to Ever After High. They tell everyone their story. Cupid says she didn’t help anyone find love, but Maddie says she did. She helped the stepsisters love themselves.
Rating: 7 My favorite part was the all-heart shaped breakfast and the fact that the stepsisters had other things going for themselves than wanting to find a prince. Now *that* was the best ending of all. Not that they just learned to love themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2020
* Thank you Big Bad Wolf official store @Tokopedia! *
* Ps: review in Bahasa Indonesia *
Sesuai judulnya, seri ini bercerita tentang kisah-kisah dongeng yang di-twist. Saya pernah membaca beberapa buku retelling kisah dongeng dan kurang terlalu cocok, mungkin karena saya merasa buku-buku jenis ini mengacaukan kenangan masa kecil saya. Sayangnya, pas beli buku ini, saya lupa buat googling buku ini bercerita tentang apa; pokoknya buku cerita anak, cover-nya menarik, judulnya eye-catching: masukin ke keranjang. Dan... sama seperti buku sejenisnya, saya kurang cocok sama series ini juga.
Buku iniyang konon buku pertama berisi tentang retelling kisah Cinderella, bedanya yang jadi tokoh utama adalah Cupid dengan cerita yang bueda jauh. Kalau Ella membuat sedih dengan siksaan dari keluarga tirinya, Cupid justru bersemangat menjalani semua permintaan dari keluarga tirinya sampai bikin sarapan yang bentuknya serba hati, cape dech. Keluarga tirinya juga disulap jadi: sebenarnya baik hati tapi terlihat jahat dan licik. Kalau di dongeng asli ada sepatu kaca yang tertinggal, di sini sneaker merah yang tertinggal. Sampe ada Pangeran Katak segala di buku ini. Goal-nya pun beda, yang mbikin "hidup bahagia selamanya" di buku ini bukan Ella menikah sama Pangeran. Tapi membuat keluarga tirinya Ella bahagia.
Mungkin karena perbedaan2 itulah, saya jadi kurang menikmati kisahnya. Malah berasa: apa sich, gado-gado banget. Sampe2 saya ngerasa si Cupid lebay pas nyiapin sarapan dengan bentuk serba hati.
Yah... seenggaknya bisa buat saya belajar bahasa Inggris dan cover-nya manis juga (salah satu alasan saya beli yah ini, hahahaha)
* Ps: review in Bahasa Indonesia *
Sesuai judulnya, seri ini bercerita tentang kisah-kisah dongeng yang di-twist. Saya pernah membaca beberapa buku retelling kisah dongeng dan kurang terlalu cocok, mungkin karena saya merasa buku-buku jenis ini mengacaukan kenangan masa kecil saya. Sayangnya, pas beli buku ini, saya lupa buat googling buku ini bercerita tentang apa; pokoknya buku cerita anak, cover-nya menarik, judulnya eye-catching: masukin ke keranjang. Dan... sama seperti buku sejenisnya, saya kurang cocok sama series ini juga.
Buku ini
Mungkin karena perbedaan2 itulah, saya jadi kurang menikmati kisahnya. Malah berasa: apa sich, gado-gado banget. Sampe2 saya ngerasa si Cupid lebay pas nyiapin sarapan dengan bentuk serba hati.
Yah... seenggaknya bisa buat saya belajar bahasa Inggris dan cover-nya manis juga (salah satu alasan saya beli yah ini, hahahaha)
March 10, 2017
Cute.
I liked that it was a sort of continuity nod to the Thronecoming events where Cupid takes the role of the Cinderella but you only see the midnight flee from the ball, here you get the whole story with a twist as the title suggests.
Oh my, I also like retellings where the stepsisters aren't as mean as they are supposed to be. (Not that it makes such a Cinderella retelling automatically better but there are very few of Ella inspired stories that show the stepsisters sympathetic or kinda sympathetic.) And even the stepmom is likeable here. She wants the best for her daughters but isn't so manic as the Evil queen which makes her surprisingly one of the most reasonable EAH parents. Only a few like Rapunzel or the Wolf-Hoods top her. (And she gets the funniest moment at the climax.)
The were puns but it wasn't overly over the top.
Maddie makes a good fairy godmother. The tea pot carriage must have looked lovely. On the other side there only doves to help Cupid with the chores. Nice nod to the traditional story and it ties nicely with Cupid being the goddess.
I liked that it was a sort of continuity nod to the Thronecoming events where Cupid takes the role of the Cinderella but you only see the midnight flee from the ball, here you get the whole story with a twist as the title suggests.
Oh my, I also like retellings where the stepsisters aren't as mean as they are supposed to be. (Not that it makes such a Cinderella retelling automatically better but there are very few of Ella inspired stories that show the stepsisters sympathetic or kinda sympathetic.) And even the stepmom is likeable here. She wants the best for her daughters but isn't so manic as the Evil queen which makes her surprisingly one of the most reasonable EAH parents. Only a few like Rapunzel or the Wolf-Hoods top her. (And she gets the funniest moment at the climax.)
The were puns but it wasn't overly over the top.
Maddie makes a good fairy godmother. The tea pot carriage must have looked lovely. On the other side there only doves to help Cupid with the chores. Nice nod to the traditional story and it ties nicely with Cupid being the goddess.
July 15, 2023
It was a very nice book. It has important flaws, such as suddenly rushing certain parts, in addition to the fact that the way in which the conflict begins is accelerated, it almost falls into the forced. Also is a predictable story. I think it needed to explain the context better, however this story feels quite genuine, without falling into absurd pretensions. It narrates a curious adventure of several characters in the wrong story. Each one maintained its essence and Cupid was a most adorable protagonist. It is a good retelling, light and entertaining to read. Another negative point is how fast the ending happens, which is also semi-unfinished. Perhaps this is the best of the trilogy. Overall, it's a welcome breath of fresh air, from the same recurring main characters from Ever After High.
July 2, 2018
This has to be my current favorite series my kid is into. Cute twisted fairy tales where the girls in the books have to find a way to achieve a "Happily Ever After" in a story not their own. In this one Cupid plays the part of "Cinderella" but her empathetic nature leads her to help teach her "wicked" step-sisters how to love themselves allowing for a ending that makes every one happy. The boy who is in the role of Prince Charming was a delightful choice though I wont spoil just who it is here.
Anyway the fairy tale aspect combined with capable girls solving their own problems makes it so I can easily recommend this series to parents with young girls. Even more so than the other Ever After High books for older readers.
Anyway the fairy tale aspect combined with capable girls solving their own problems makes it so I can easily recommend this series to parents with young girls. Even more so than the other Ever After High books for older readers.
December 23, 2025
This is the last book in my reading challenge for this year.
I knew about Ever After High from a music video on YouTube. Even though I love everything fairy tale and with new twists, this one didn’t feel like something I enjoy. Yes, the twist is there and the fairy tale but something about the storytelling didn’t amuse me. I will give it another chance.
I knew about Ever After High from a music video on YouTube. Even though I love everything fairy tale and with new twists, this one didn’t feel like something I enjoy. Yes, the twist is there and the fairy tale but something about the storytelling didn’t amuse me. I will give it another chance.
May 23, 2020
Some words are difficult for me. But story was good. I think this book using some original words for Ever After High World. Plz teach me about these... I’m not native, so I didn’t understand some words like a “hexam”.
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July 30, 2025this was cute, I loved this take on Cinderella's evil stepsisters!
PS: after years of pining after the 4th and 5th in the series, I just found out, that they were never published... What do you mean, I have to live without reading a real gay story about my girls Duchess and Darling (!!) ?
PS: after years of pining after the 4th and 5th in the series, I just found out, that they were never published... What do you mean, I have to live without reading a real gay story about my girls Duchess and Darling (!!) ?
June 8, 2017
Loved it
June 20, 2017
This book was very cute!
January 23, 2018
another great mixed up fairy tale, this time Cupid is Cinderella, but in the end everyone got the happily ever after they wanted
February 28, 2018
An interesting twist (blending?) on familiar fairytales with the students of "Ever After High" that takes an unexpected path to its conclusion.
August 1, 2018
So far the best but I think they should have showed Maddie about more
September 7, 2021
It was enjoyble
May 27, 2023
My Childhood
August 24, 2023
I loved this retelling !! Cupid was a great cinderella and i loved the twist of the story !!!
December 9, 2023
The book is absolutely amazing, I’m so loving the twist in this story!
August 2, 2025
Ever after high was my childhood. It's genuinely the comfort read I'll run to when I'm feeling down or need to get out of a reading slump! 100% recommend!!
May 11, 2026
short and sweet, a kind of a palate cleanser :)
May 12, 2026
so far this is one of my favorite short(er) stories for EAH. it turns the Cinderella story into a more positive outlook, it's fairy cute.
April 23, 2023
Love to bring this book I would reread it again I would love to have it in my collection I like to collect these books a lot a lot really really really really really really really love it love it 💕❤️💕❤️💕
August 11, 2019
loved it!!!:)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews