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Romance a Medieval Fairytale #2
Dance: Cinderella Retold
A dutiful daughter. A prince forced to find a bride. If the shoe fits...
Once upon a time...
When the Emperor's army comes recruiting, Mai signs up, seeing it as the perfect escape from her stepmother and a lifetime of drudgery.
Armed with her mother's armour and a pair of magic shoes, Mai marches off to war...only to find herself sharing a tent with the General's arrogant nephew, Prince Yi.
The best swordsman in the Empire, Prince Yi wants to make war, not love, but the Emperor insists this will be Yi's last campaign before he must marry. Prince Yi has never met his match...until now.
Can one woman win the war and the prince's heart?
Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:
Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:
(#1) Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
(#2) Dance: Cinderella Retold
(#3) Fly: Goose Girl Retold
(#4) Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold
(#5) Silence: Little Mermaid Retold
(#6) Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold
(#7) Embellish: Brave Little Tailor Retold
(#8) Appease: Princess and the Pea Retold
(#9) Blow: Three Little Pigs Retold
(#10) Return: Hansel and Gretel Retold
(#11) Wish: Aladdin Retold
(#12) Melt: Snow Queen Retold
(#13) Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold
(#14) Kiss: Frog Prince Retold
(#15) Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold
(#16) Reflect: Snow White Retold
(#17) Roar: Goldilocks Retold
Once upon a time...
When the Emperor's army comes recruiting, Mai signs up, seeing it as the perfect escape from her stepmother and a lifetime of drudgery.
Armed with her mother's armour and a pair of magic shoes, Mai marches off to war...only to find herself sharing a tent with the General's arrogant nephew, Prince Yi.
The best swordsman in the Empire, Prince Yi wants to make war, not love, but the Emperor insists this will be Yi's last campaign before he must marry. Prince Yi has never met his match...until now.
Can one woman win the war and the prince's heart?
Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:
Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:
(#1) Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold
(#2) Dance: Cinderella Retold
(#3) Fly: Goose Girl Retold
(#4) Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold
(#5) Silence: Little Mermaid Retold
(#6) Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold
(#7) Embellish: Brave Little Tailor Retold
(#8) Appease: Princess and the Pea Retold
(#9) Blow: Three Little Pigs Retold
(#10) Return: Hansel and Gretel Retold
(#11) Wish: Aladdin Retold
(#12) Melt: Snow Queen Retold
(#13) Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold
(#14) Kiss: Frog Prince Retold
(#15) Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold
(#16) Reflect: Snow White Retold
(#17) Roar: Goldilocks Retold
232 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2017
667 people are currently reading
1533 people want to read
About the author
Demelza Carlton
935 books3,881 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
December 13, 2017
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Is this not one of the most stunning covers you have seen in a while? Sheesh! Glorious artwork will save the most tedious book from losing a star. That's what happened here. Partly. This book was NOT tedious. Only...
It started out at a gallop and ended limping to the finish.
Dance is an amazing book with wonderful historical details and nuances. The author is wonderfully creative in retelling the story of Cinderella set in medieval China. The atmosphere kicked butt. The heroine, Mai, kicked more butt. She was amazing and never bitter about the hardships she faced, though she shifted into being a martyr at times. I could forgive that. She didn't quite pull out the hair shirt or anything but her willingness to die at the drop of a hat was disheartening and demeaning to such a proud warrior spirit.
What I didn't enjoy was the H (Prince Yi) as much. I could not understand what she saw in this guy outside physical attraction and camaraderie. She should have looked around more. Except the author made all the men from court soft and useless. *rolls eyes* I bet to make the H more palatable which still failed.
The ending was a total bust despite its disarming creativity. Once the girl gets the prince, I stopped caring about what happened to them. Not good. An author should leave you hungry for an epilogue and raving over the HEA. I just wanted to skim through the marriage and love scenes. Maybe she should have truly made Mai a guy? There would have been more chemistry since as friends and war partners they both rocked.
Is this not one of the most stunning covers you have seen in a while? Sheesh! Glorious artwork will save the most tedious book from losing a star. That's what happened here. Partly. This book was NOT tedious. Only...
It started out at a gallop and ended limping to the finish.
Dance is an amazing book with wonderful historical details and nuances. The author is wonderfully creative in retelling the story of Cinderella set in medieval China. The atmosphere kicked butt. The heroine, Mai, kicked more butt. She was amazing and never bitter about the hardships she faced, though she shifted into being a martyr at times. I could forgive that. She didn't quite pull out the hair shirt or anything but her willingness to die at the drop of a hat was disheartening and demeaning to such a proud warrior spirit.
What I didn't enjoy was the H (Prince Yi) as much. I could not understand what she saw in this guy outside physical attraction and camaraderie. She should have looked around more. Except the author made all the men from court soft and useless. *rolls eyes* I bet to make the H more palatable which still failed.
The ending was a total bust despite its disarming creativity. Once the girl gets the prince, I stopped caring about what happened to them. Not good. An author should leave you hungry for an epilogue and raving over the HEA. I just wanted to skim through the marriage and love scenes. Maybe she should have truly made Mai a guy? There would have been more chemistry since as friends and war partners they both rocked.
March 8, 2017
~3.5 stars~
This was a decent fairytale retelling. I did enjoy the fact that the heroine was skilled in battle. I guess my main complaint is that this was a quick read and didn't have much character or story depth. It was still an ok read though and was thankfully offered as a kindleunlimited.
This was a decent fairytale retelling. I did enjoy the fact that the heroine was skilled in battle. I guess my main complaint is that this was a quick read and didn't have much character or story depth. It was still an ok read though and was thankfully offered as a kindleunlimited.
February 28, 2017
As with the first two additions to this series this book was cute. I don't really have any complaints about what I read as I really enjoyed this take on the Cinderella fairy tale. I wasn't too sure on what to expect with this one since the other two stories were pretty imaginative, but once again I was nicely surprised.
Some might think that it would be about dresses, balls, and well shoes ... but it was about something a bit more different. I really enjoyed it being set in China and the heroine being a swordswoman. The bit about the step-mother was the same as in you didn't like her, but she gave her half-sisters instead of step-sisters. No complaints there really since I don't think the author could've talked about the whole feet binding thing with girls mostly grown. There wasn't a full on Wikipedia entry regarding the practice but just enough for you to catch on that ... it was horrible.
The “in thing” of the time was to have tiny feet, regardless of how it was done. I liked Rooster’s comment about the court girls being like dancing pigs on their back feet and the incessant giggling they did. It was almost like how a hero wants a real woman instead of the women who altered themselves to fit society. (I mean like those that lack any curves at all or alter how God made them to fit the day’s standards for beauty.)
There was a few moments where you thought “oh noes!” when he thought to marry a sister because they would be daughters of a man whom he admired, but thankfully it all turned out good.
As with the other stories you got enough history to set the scene and weren’t inundated with facts so it all seemed to be mostly genuine. I’m not an expert in Chinese history, but it seemed that way for me. I did like how the heroine from the first story made a cameo in this story. (At least I’m sure she did without reading the first book again anyway.)
Err; anyway I really liked this book. It was a nice, cute and sweet diversion for a bit..
Some might think that it would be about dresses, balls, and well shoes ... but it was about something a bit more different. I really enjoyed it being set in China and the heroine being a swordswoman. The bit about the step-mother was the same as in you didn't like her, but she gave her half-sisters instead of step-sisters. No complaints there really since I don't think the author could've talked about the whole feet binding thing with girls mostly grown. There wasn't a full on Wikipedia entry regarding the practice but just enough for you to catch on that ... it was horrible.
The “in thing” of the time was to have tiny feet, regardless of how it was done. I liked Rooster’s comment about the court girls being like dancing pigs on their back feet and the incessant giggling they did. It was almost like how a hero wants a real woman instead of the women who altered themselves to fit society. (I mean like those that lack any curves at all or alter how God made them to fit the day’s standards for beauty.)
There was a few moments where you thought “oh noes!” when he thought to marry a sister because they would be daughters of a man whom he admired, but thankfully it all turned out good.
As with the other stories you got enough history to set the scene and weren’t inundated with facts so it all seemed to be mostly genuine. I’m not an expert in Chinese history, but it seemed that way for me. I did like how the heroine from the first story made a cameo in this story. (At least I’m sure she did without reading the first book again anyway.)
Err; anyway I really liked this book. It was a nice, cute and sweet diversion for a bit..
October 2, 2017
Couldn't resist re reading this again, so wonderfully written and such a unique story. Definitely one of my favourite Cinderella retellings
January 6, 2020
3,5 stars
This story turned out to be a mix of Mulan and Cinderella, and it was actually quite good. The couple's dynamic was cute and they had some fun banter. The writing was a bit too simplistic and awkward, especially in the beginning and in the very last chapter. But it was a rather enjoyable retelling in the end.
This story turned out to be a mix of Mulan and Cinderella, and it was actually quite good. The couple's dynamic was cute and they had some fun banter. The writing was a bit too simplistic and awkward, especially in the beginning and in the very last chapter. But it was a rather enjoyable retelling in the end.
Want to read
September 2, 2020Get a copy of the ebook at: https://demelzacarlton.com/fairytale/#Dance
Start listening to the audiobook at: https://demelzacarlton.com/danceaudio
Start listening to the audiobook at: https://demelzacarlton.com/danceaudio
February 19, 2017
Lovely new version of Cinderella – a Chinese female warrior – in the vein of the myths and comic books. And a TV series I watched many years ago about the margins and the Wuxia warriors – equivalent to our Robin Hood who fight against tyranny.
[]
The female warriors were as fierce and skilled as the men and here we see Yeoung Mai being even more skilled.
People have commented when watching us (that was when I did it) in a park how much like a dance it was – smooth and lyrical especially when done to music – and yet it is a martial art. Wkipedia quotes T‘ai-chi training as involving five elements: taolu (solo hand and weapons outines/forms; neigong and qigong (breathing, movement and awareness exercises and meditation); tuishou (response drills); and sanshou (self defence techniques).
So YM’s morning ‘dancing’ was her weapons and defence training – and her small stature would have been to her advantage as I was told when I practiced judo – easy to get under your opponent’s centre of balance to tip them up. Which was why I loved it - about the only sport where being small helped you win!
So this story had many elements that resonated with me and the concept of a girl going to war and no-one knowing about her gender has been often repeated in real life.
A well told story which captivates.
[]
The female warriors were as fierce and skilled as the men and here we see Yeoung Mai being even more skilled.
People have commented when watching us (that was when I did it) in a park how much like a dance it was – smooth and lyrical especially when done to music – and yet it is a martial art. Wkipedia quotes T‘ai-chi training as involving five elements: taolu (solo hand and weapons outines/forms; neigong and qigong (breathing, movement and awareness exercises and meditation); tuishou (response drills); and sanshou (self defence techniques).
So YM’s morning ‘dancing’ was her weapons and defence training – and her small stature would have been to her advantage as I was told when I practiced judo – easy to get under your opponent’s centre of balance to tip them up. Which was why I loved it - about the only sport where being small helped you win!
So this story had many elements that resonated with me and the concept of a girl going to war and no-one knowing about her gender has been often repeated in real life.
A well told story which captivates.
April 9, 2017
4/5 Stars
So her re-tellings are intriguing. Not always the best, but not horrible. This one is a mix of Cinderella and Mulan. Mai takes her fathers place in battle and her stepmother casts an illusion on her to make her seem like a man.
The characters are actually rather original even though it is a re-telling. I was pleasantly surprised that the stepmother isn't completely horrible. Plus, the love story isn't all "love at first sight". I like the slower love stories that allow the characters to get to know each other.
So her re-tellings are intriguing. Not always the best, but not horrible. This one is a mix of Cinderella and Mulan. Mai takes her fathers place in battle and her stepmother casts an illusion on her to make her seem like a man.
The characters are actually rather original even though it is a re-telling. I was pleasantly surprised that the stepmother isn't completely horrible. Plus, the love story isn't all "love at first sight". I like the slower love stories that allow the characters to get to know each other.
May 12, 2017
Very beautiful and romantic story! What a clever twist to set Cinderella's fairytale not in Europe, but in China. Mulan is one of my favorite Disney princesses, but there aren't many retellings of her story. So, it was a delight to read about her story in such a unique way.
The Chinese culture was described in a lovely, intriguing style, combined with magic spells and illusions. A great mix that pulls the reader immediately into the story.
I liked the secondary characters. Mai's father is wise and brave and I wish we could see more of him. The step-mother and the half-sisters actually come out as quite sympathetic. They are rather victims of their time that dictated their way of walking, dressing, talking and behaving. Heng, the prince's servant, is also a great friend and often comic relief. The fairy godmother (Zuleika, the heroine of the first book) was so lovely and sassy. She is a young girl and not an old woman like the Disney animation, so she could even be best friends with Mai! I wish we also saw more of her.
I absolutely loved Mai and Yi. They were so good together, so brave, courageous, honorable, funny and with a sizzling chemistry, even when they were only fighting as good friends and Yi didn't know Mai's real identity. After the happy ending and their wedding, their first night together is even hotter!
Just a personal preference of mine:
I totally recommend this romantic fairytale for everyone who wants a light, easy, romantic read, twisting and magical.
The Chinese culture was described in a lovely, intriguing style, combined with magic spells and illusions. A great mix that pulls the reader immediately into the story.
I liked the secondary characters. Mai's father is wise and brave and I wish we could see more of him. The step-mother and the half-sisters actually come out as quite sympathetic. They are rather victims of their time that dictated their way of walking, dressing, talking and behaving. Heng, the prince's servant, is also a great friend and often comic relief. The fairy godmother (Zuleika, the heroine of the first book) was so lovely and sassy. She is a young girl and not an old woman like the Disney animation, so she could even be best friends with Mai! I wish we also saw more of her.
I absolutely loved Mai and Yi. They were so good together, so brave, courageous, honorable, funny and with a sizzling chemistry, even when they were only fighting as good friends and Yi didn't know Mai's real identity. After the happy ending and their wedding, their first night together is even hotter!
Just a personal preference of mine:
I totally recommend this romantic fairytale for everyone who wants a light, easy, romantic read, twisting and magical.
June 12, 2018
I know it says Cinderella retold, and it is to a certain extent, but it is also so much more. Don' t be fooled by that. You will miss out on a wonderful book if you do.
As I was reading this book I kept thinking about the Disney movie Mulan. I was charmed and captivated by this book. I loved every minute and am going to read the other books by this author. I have always been a fan of fairy tales, and yes I know that to love them is somehow betraying the modern woman. But I am a romantic at heart.
You have to read this book. You will love it
As I was reading this book I kept thinking about the Disney movie Mulan. I was charmed and captivated by this book. I loved every minute and am going to read the other books by this author. I have always been a fan of fairy tales, and yes I know that to love them is somehow betraying the modern woman. But I am a romantic at heart.
You have to read this book. You will love it
October 22, 2018
.
This very delightful tale was a prize indeed . . .The narrator, Mary Sarah, did an excellent job relaying this version combining 'Mulan' and 'Cinderella' with a magical twist and a visit from the heroine from the first installment of the series. I enjoyed listening to this calming and entertaining, audible book, accessed through Hoopla, very much!
It was clean until the final scene. The scene did not benefit by being described in such detail. It was able to stand on its own, which is a positive attribute. Finally, the conclusion delivers an H.E.A.
This very delightful tale was a prize indeed . . .The narrator, Mary Sarah, did an excellent job relaying this version combining 'Mulan' and 'Cinderella' with a magical twist and a visit from the heroine from the first installment of the series. I enjoyed listening to this calming and entertaining, audible book, accessed through Hoopla, very much!
It was clean until the final scene. The scene did not benefit by being described in such detail. It was able to stand on its own, which is a positive attribute. Finally, the conclusion delivers an H.E.A.
Read
December 10, 2017I loved it! So cute!!! Maybe I'll write a review.
February 26, 2021
This book was a lot of fun. It starts off as a Mulan retelling with some minor differences. The MC is six and has talked her father into starting her training in the dance of War. Her father leaves for a trip one day and comes back with a very pregnant new wife. Years later, when war comes; the MC dresses as a boy and leaves to fight in her father's stead. In the end the story becomes a Cinderella retelling. Who knew you could mix the two fairy tales with the same MC! I enjoyed the whole thing.
July 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
January 7, 2023
This story was more Mulan than Cinderella. But no matter what you call it, it was dull and disappointing.
December 8, 2017
IT WAS OK because I am already partially biased (just so you know, I only read this book because the hero's name is Yi - makes sense to me).
Actually, if I were to be honest, this book did not satisfy me. I've read better ones (in terms of writing and plot), however as I also tried to justify the angles, I think what happened just made sense, enough for me to not call it lousily-thought of.
All in all, it was OK and a good thing I didn't expect much of it. I enjoyed reading it but also disappointed at how it forces its way to be in the "romance" genre. I mean, I'm disappointed in that I think it would be a hit (to readers like me) if it focused on the plot that it somehow tried to build-up but didn't go all the way through, and the action - that would be more fitting for a book that is considered a Mulan re-make. I'm also not a fan of how it is more Cinderella-like than Mulan (I didn't like the magic part, as I said, I'd be more excited if everything happened without any magic at all-I BET THAT'D BE AMAZING) because well it just didn't seem to fit, with the setting and all, but as it IS "Cinderella Retold," I guess that's just how it is? But don't get me wrong, I enjoy romance just as much, I just think it did not suit the plot, with all the teen & YA romance vibes this book gave off, it felt unsatisfying and a waste of good story.
Edit: I forgot to mention the characters-they actually aren't as solid in character as I'd like them to be. Like, all the duty and stoic-ness melted in some later chapter, just because it makes sense. No. You don't make them like that, you make them stay as what they claim to be or what you make them to be until it's time for them to change for the better, not because it's convenient and more amusing the other way.
Actually, if I were to be honest, this book did not satisfy me. I've read better ones (in terms of writing and plot), however as I also tried to justify the angles, I think what happened just made sense, enough for me to not call it lousily-thought of.
All in all, it was OK and a good thing I didn't expect much of it. I enjoyed reading it but also disappointed at how it forces its way to be in the "romance" genre. I mean, I'm disappointed in that I think it would be a hit (to readers like me) if it focused on the plot that it somehow tried to build-up but didn't go all the way through, and the action - that would be more fitting for a book that is considered a Mulan re-make. I'm also not a fan of how it is more Cinderella-like than Mulan (I didn't like the magic part, as I said, I'd be more excited if everything happened without any magic at all-I BET THAT'D BE AMAZING) because well it just didn't seem to fit, with the setting and all, but as it IS "Cinderella Retold," I guess that's just how it is? But don't get me wrong, I enjoy romance just as much, I just think it did not suit the plot, with all the teen & YA romance vibes this book gave off, it felt unsatisfying and a waste of good story.
Edit: I forgot to mention the characters-they actually aren't as solid in character as I'd like them to be. Like, all the duty and stoic-ness melted in some later chapter, just because it makes sense. No. You don't make them like that, you make them stay as what they claim to be or what you make them to be until it's time for them to change for the better, not because it's convenient and more amusing the other way.
February 18, 2019
Mulan with shades of Cinderella
I love fairy talks the story started out in China but great drama. Eldest daughter strives to save her family. Yes, it has her magical shoes. Not what I was expecting but enjoyed it.
I love fairy talks the story started out in China but great drama. Eldest daughter strives to save her family. Yes, it has her magical shoes. Not what I was expecting but enjoyed it.
December 30, 2017
Interesting retelling of Cinderella mashup with Mulan. I enjoyed this very fast read.
July 8, 2019
This story held my interest even though I knew how it would end. The characters were well developed and believable.
December 14, 2020
True to form. Fairytale with no full ending. The prince gets the girl. The story here was in the way things happened. The unique telling of these timeless stories. There was a combination of tales in this story. The beauty was the way that this story came to be a combination of two beloved Disney tales with a spin unique to this particular story. The dance was more than what was passed down to the next generation. It turned in to so much more than an outsider looking in and finding a bonding moment between father and daughter. This time around the wicked step-mother was something more. The step-sisters were a different kind of cumbersome.
Narrator Mary Sarah has a very beautiful voice that transcends the fairytale realm. She has the ethereal quality of fantasy. I do warn those that choose to listen that my views of this audio my be skewed by the fact that I do not listen under normal speed, too slow. I do speed up my audio and find that the speed can match that of the story being told and lend a different light to the immersion in to the story.
Caution lots of blood, spell, gender switch . . .
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Demelza Carlton. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Narrator Mary Sarah has a very beautiful voice that transcends the fairytale realm. She has the ethereal quality of fantasy. I do warn those that choose to listen that my views of this audio my be skewed by the fact that I do not listen under normal speed, too slow. I do speed up my audio and find that the speed can match that of the story being told and lend a different light to the immersion in to the story.
Caution lots of blood, spell, gender switch . . .
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Demelza Carlton. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
October 28, 2021
"Dance" erinnert mich mehr an Mulan als an Cinderella, aber es gibt gerade am Anfang und gegen Ende durchaus Elemente der Aschenputtel-Geschichte und die Kombination hat mir gut gefallen.
Read
April 29, 2022Fun take on Cinderella. Light reading, great for winding down at night.
January 17, 2023
Loved the Cinderella and Mulan twists. It was very unique. There is a page of content you have to skip at the end tho. :p
February 7, 2018
I am a sucker for fairy tales.
This is not something new. And Cinderella stories? Well, you can ask my mother about how many times she had to play Prince Charming as I lost my shoe running away when I was 4. She'll be thrilled to tell you all about it, preferably in a way to maximize my embarrassment.
Anyway, what I'm saying is that I am there for any Cinderella retelling you want to offer me. Which is how this book ended up in my to read pile. Since I don't have a lot of extra time right now, the short length moved it to the top.
Since I started with no expectations beyond the title, it was an interesting read. I often think of medieval as referring to European settings, but in this case the book was set during a roughly similar time period in China. I don't have the background to judge how authentic the history was or how accurately the culture was represented, so I want to be really clear about that. (This review is giving the benefit of the doubt that it is at least reasonable. If new information comes to hand I reserve the right to change my opinion.)
In true Cinderella fashion, Mai lives with her father and stepmother. Her father is a retired general and country lord, shunning the courtly life and mourning the loss of his true love, Mai's mother. Mai's stepmother has two daughters and is raising them to fit in at court, something Mai has no interest in. Mai prefers to dance the martial dances with her father and looks on in horror as her stepmother breaks her daughters' feet to bind them.
Over time, Mai becomes proficient at martial arts. When an envoy comes requesting her father go and serve in the emperor's siege, he refuses. Wanting to keep her father from dishonor and being told by her stepmother that she will never marry well because her feet are too large, Mai agrees to impersonate a man through a small enchantment cast on her by her stepmother and goes off to take her father's place. There, her skill with the sword earns her a place on the battlefield — and a bunk in the prince's tent.
I liked the way this story took on and tweaked the standard Cinderella tropes to set itself apart. I'll admit that my brain kept trying to add in Mulan references (unsurprisingly if you're a Disney fan). The hero and heroine are reasonably well developed, given the length of the book. Although it's billed as a standalone book, there are a few characters that definitely give off the vibe of "recurring character where questions are answered in another book."
All in all, it was a fun and quick read. I don't think it's made it into the category of "would reread" but it hit all the notes that I look for in a Cinderella story, so if that's your cup of tea, I'd recommend giving this one a look.
This is not something new. And Cinderella stories? Well, you can ask my mother about how many times she had to play Prince Charming as I lost my shoe running away when I was 4. She'll be thrilled to tell you all about it, preferably in a way to maximize my embarrassment.
Anyway, what I'm saying is that I am there for any Cinderella retelling you want to offer me. Which is how this book ended up in my to read pile. Since I don't have a lot of extra time right now, the short length moved it to the top.
Since I started with no expectations beyond the title, it was an interesting read. I often think of medieval as referring to European settings, but in this case the book was set during a roughly similar time period in China. I don't have the background to judge how authentic the history was or how accurately the culture was represented, so I want to be really clear about that. (This review is giving the benefit of the doubt that it is at least reasonable. If new information comes to hand I reserve the right to change my opinion.)
In true Cinderella fashion, Mai lives with her father and stepmother. Her father is a retired general and country lord, shunning the courtly life and mourning the loss of his true love, Mai's mother. Mai's stepmother has two daughters and is raising them to fit in at court, something Mai has no interest in. Mai prefers to dance the martial dances with her father and looks on in horror as her stepmother breaks her daughters' feet to bind them.
Over time, Mai becomes proficient at martial arts. When an envoy comes requesting her father go and serve in the emperor's siege, he refuses. Wanting to keep her father from dishonor and being told by her stepmother that she will never marry well because her feet are too large, Mai agrees to impersonate a man through a small enchantment cast on her by her stepmother and goes off to take her father's place. There, her skill with the sword earns her a place on the battlefield — and a bunk in the prince's tent.
I liked the way this story took on and tweaked the standard Cinderella tropes to set itself apart. I'll admit that my brain kept trying to add in Mulan references (unsurprisingly if you're a Disney fan). The hero and heroine are reasonably well developed, given the length of the book. Although it's billed as a standalone book, there are a few characters that definitely give off the vibe of "recurring character where questions are answered in another book."
All in all, it was a fun and quick read. I don't think it's made it into the category of "would reread" but it hit all the notes that I look for in a Cinderella story, so if that's your cup of tea, I'd recommend giving this one a look.
July 19, 2017
A dutiful daughter. A prince forced to find a bride. If the shoe fits...
Once upon a time... Fu raised his daughter teaching her the art of the swordsman's dance. So when the Emperor's army comes recruiting, Mai sneaks out, seeing it as the perfect escape from her degrading stepmother and as way to save face for her Father with the Emperor. Armed with her mother's armour and (unknowingly) a pair of magic shoes, Mai marches off to war...only to find herself (now known as Mao) sharing a tent with the General's arrogant nephew, Prince Yi. The best swordsman in the Empire, Prince Yi wants to make war, not love, but the Emperor insists this will be Yi's last campaign before he must marry. Prince Yi has never met his match...until now...and the Dance begins.
The first half of this book was a Mulan remake - the last part a Cinderella, of sorts. It seemed to be written a bit choppy, as if trying to have an Oriental sound to it. Some of the terminology/phrasing didn't quite fit the medieval time period (was "arse" actually a word then? and phrases like "What the...?") but overall it was an light, interesting, twisted tale. The cover is beautiful - I was hoping for a bit more depth. It was mostly a clean read with innuendo sprinkled in, but it lost its clean/romance status in the last chapter: a bit too graphic to remain "clean". So much for kid's fairy tales.
Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:
Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:
Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold (#1)
Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold (#2)
Dance: Cinderella Retold (#3)
Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold (#4)
Silence: Little Mermaid Retold (#5) (less)
Once upon a time... Fu raised his daughter teaching her the art of the swordsman's dance. So when the Emperor's army comes recruiting, Mai sneaks out, seeing it as the perfect escape from her degrading stepmother and as way to save face for her Father with the Emperor. Armed with her mother's armour and (unknowingly) a pair of magic shoes, Mai marches off to war...only to find herself (now known as Mao) sharing a tent with the General's arrogant nephew, Prince Yi. The best swordsman in the Empire, Prince Yi wants to make war, not love, but the Emperor insists this will be Yi's last campaign before he must marry. Prince Yi has never met his match...until now...and the Dance begins.
The first half of this book was a Mulan remake - the last part a Cinderella, of sorts. It seemed to be written a bit choppy, as if trying to have an Oriental sound to it. Some of the terminology/phrasing didn't quite fit the medieval time period (was "arse" actually a word then? and phrases like "What the...?") but overall it was an light, interesting, twisted tale. The cover is beautiful - I was hoping for a bit more depth. It was mostly a clean read with innuendo sprinkled in, but it lost its clean/romance status in the last chapter: a bit too graphic to remain "clean". So much for kid's fairy tales.
Romance a Medieval Fairytale series:
Each book is a standalone, so they can be read in any order:
Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold (#1)
Awaken: Sleeping Beauty Retold (#2)
Dance: Cinderella Retold (#3)
Revel: Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold (#4)
Silence: Little Mermaid Retold (#5) (less)
January 13, 2018
I read this book because I needed to read a fairytale retelling for a reading challenge. I should have researched the book better because I really didn't like it from page one and by the end, I hated it. I should have stopped at page one because it only got worse for me the farther it went. I don't like crass talk about women which there was a great deal of in here and it ended in a sex scene wedding consumation. Ick. Like I want to be a peeping tom for that. Not only that, but too much of the story felt stilted. I kind of felt like it was written by or for a 5th grader except the content is far too mature for that. I was trying to accept the context of the story and go with it even though I cringed through the entire book. It was talking about medieval practices and her step mother is a witch, dad isn't willing to go die for the emperor but is willing to send his son if he only had one. Witch mom places a spell on the daughter to make her look like a man and she goes off to win the battle. And then suddenly there is a fairy godmother and it just didn't seem like the same story. I felt like the fairy godmother character should have been some kind of sorcerer or witch/wizard but the term fairy godmother didn't work for me at all. I know others have given this higher ratings but really nothing in this book worked for me. I think the only thing I liked about the book was that the female character is strong. Sorry but this goes on my most-hated shelf.
February 15, 2017
Mai goes to war as boy (even though she is a woman) in order to avoid disgrace for her father's household and her witch stepmother. All she has with her are the armour she is wearing and her mother's red shoes. Prince Yi is the best swordsman in the land and has no interest in marriage, however his father demands he look for a wife after the current war is complete. Mai needs to both win the war and Yi's heart if she is to have happiness in the future.
This was a great story and retelling of Cinderella. It might be book 3 in a series BUT it can be read stand alone. It was well written and far enough away from the original that it kept interest and had surprises in the plot even though we all knew what the very end would be. It was very well written and I could definitely feel the emotions felt by the characters in the story.
This was a great story and retelling of Cinderella. It might be book 3 in a series BUT it can be read stand alone. It was well written and far enough away from the original that it kept interest and had surprises in the plot even though we all knew what the very end would be. It was very well written and I could definitely feel the emotions felt by the characters in the story.
May 26, 2017
🏯 not🏰
I read the reviews on this book and agree that this is a part Cinderella/part Mulan retelling. Heavier on the Mulan side and I enjoyed seeing that story fleshed out more. Not sure why the author called it a Cinderella retelling as other than some magical shoes and an extremely brief appearance by a fairy godmother (no beautiful ballgown, sniff!), this is definitely an awesome ending for Mulan. Really liked the characters and enjoyed the interplay between the H/h as they sparred and fell in love.
I read the reviews on this book and agree that this is a part Cinderella/part Mulan retelling. Heavier on the Mulan side and I enjoyed seeing that story fleshed out more. Not sure why the author called it a Cinderella retelling as other than some magical shoes and an extremely brief appearance by a fairy godmother (no beautiful ballgown, sniff!), this is definitely an awesome ending for Mulan. Really liked the characters and enjoyed the interplay between the H/h as they sparred and fell in love.
May 31, 2017
Sweet shades of Mulan
If you enjoyed Disney's Mulan, then you'll like this. The Chinese backdrop adds an exotic flavor to the familiar Cinderella story. The author employs lyrical language and even pacing to keep the story rolling. Clean editing--no grammatical errors that I noticed--adds one more thing to appreciate about this book. Nicely crafted and highly recommended. Suitable for most ages.
If you enjoyed Disney's Mulan, then you'll like this. The Chinese backdrop adds an exotic flavor to the familiar Cinderella story. The author employs lyrical language and even pacing to keep the story rolling. Clean editing--no grammatical errors that I noticed--adds one more thing to appreciate about this book. Nicely crafted and highly recommended. Suitable for most ages.
February 12, 2017
I thought this was a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. The story is imaginative and beautifully told. I didn't want to put the book down. I really enjoyed this book! I look forward to reading of this author's work.
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