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Andari Chronicles #1
Traitor's Masque
She has one job—attend a masqued ball and dance with a handsome prince.
What could possibly go wrong?
Everything, that’s what.
After years of submitting to her stepmother’s unreasonable demands, Trystan finally has a chance to be free. The promise of a new life, in exchange for her help. Simple, right? After all, the old woman has only asked for one night. One night, one beautiful gown, one dance… and one message to be delivered to a mysterious recipient.
It should be easy. Maybe even fun. Especially when she can slip away into the night after the dance, leaving no clue as to her identity.
But before she can escape the ball, Trystan makes a shocking discovery that leaves all her hopes in ruins. She will be forced to confront two very different princes—and choose whether to betray her kingdom… or her heart.
If she’s lucky, maybe she’ll even survive to tell about it later.
A thrilling, suspenseful retelling of Cinderella, Traitor’s Masque is the first book of the Andari Chronicles, a series of interconnected but stand-alone fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, romance, mystery, and deeply satisfying happily ever afters.
What could possibly go wrong?
Everything, that’s what.
After years of submitting to her stepmother’s unreasonable demands, Trystan finally has a chance to be free. The promise of a new life, in exchange for her help. Simple, right? After all, the old woman has only asked for one night. One night, one beautiful gown, one dance… and one message to be delivered to a mysterious recipient.
It should be easy. Maybe even fun. Especially when she can slip away into the night after the dance, leaving no clue as to her identity.
But before she can escape the ball, Trystan makes a shocking discovery that leaves all her hopes in ruins. She will be forced to confront two very different princes—and choose whether to betray her kingdom… or her heart.
If she’s lucky, maybe she’ll even survive to tell about it later.
A thrilling, suspenseful retelling of Cinderella, Traitor’s Masque is the first book of the Andari Chronicles, a series of interconnected but stand-alone fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, romance, mystery, and deeply satisfying happily ever afters.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2015
1422 people are currently reading
4457 people want to read
About the author
Kenley Davidson
35 books938 followersKenley Davidson is a romantic fantasy author and unrepentant caffeine addict who believes in the power of storytelling and loves nothing more than a good book hangover. Her books include romantasy, urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and sci fi, but no matter the genre, she writes stories of hope and redemption with characters you can root for, heart-pounding romance without the spice, and happy endings that might just make you cry.
Her favorite things (besides books) are coffee, k-dramas, cats, and playing cozy video games. And also scones.
Kenley currently lives in Oklahoma, where she cares for a menagerie of misfit house plants while waiting for her adult children to occasionally pop in for laundry and a home-cooked meal.
Find out more about Kenley’s books at her website: kenleydavidson.com
Her favorite things (besides books) are coffee, k-dramas, cats, and playing cozy video games. And also scones.
Kenley currently lives in Oklahoma, where she cares for a menagerie of misfit house plants while waiting for her adult children to occasionally pop in for laundry and a home-cooked meal.
Find out more about Kenley’s books at her website: kenleydavidson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 362 reviews
February 3, 2018
Not a Romance and Not a Fantasy
Aaaahhh! I really struggled with what to rate this book. On the one-hand it is well written with a good plot, good character developments, etc…On the other hand it didn’t live up to my expectations at all. It is advertised as a “Romantic Fantasy” when it is really neither.
I knew going in that it would be clean, but this is so PG it puts Disney to shame. They don’t so much as kiss until the last sentence! Yeah, I'm gonna need more than that. It is hard to sell a romance in today’s market with no physical connection. The characters barely spend any time together. In fact, after the first 25% they spend no time together, when the Prince didn’t think she was someone else and was not interested in her romantically, until the end of the last chapter. NOT EVEN AT THE BALL!!!
This is the signal most important moment of a Cinderella story and Davidson gives me nothing but political drama with ZERO romance. Even if the Prince is too dim to realize it’s the girl he is “falling in love with” Davidson could have given me some romance from Trystan’s perspective. Something about how it felt to be in the Prince’s arms and how dashing he looked in his court attire and she couldn’t stop watching him. SOMETHING! I’m clearly still mad about it and I read this book over a month ago! This just might be the 1 love story that is a worse love story than Twilight!
It also isn’t much of a fantasy. Besides taking place in a fictional setting with fictional characters there is nothing about it that couldn’t have happened in Medieval Europe. There is no magic, no fantasy creatures, there is nothing at all unique about this world Davidson has “created.” While I thought the story worked without magic (like Ever After) it makes it a weak fantasy.
The plot while interesting was a bit too convoluted, another reviewer likened it to “the kitchen sink” and they were spot on. It was too long for my taste and began to drag by the end. Some situations seemed a little too contrived. Also, as another reviewer said there were a few too many “ridiculously inflated word choices.” It felt a little like every other sentence Davidson pulled out her thesaurus for no reason.
I wanted to rate it a 2 since it didn’t at all meet my expectations, but expectations aside it is pretty well written. I enjoyed the backstory Davidson created around the flat characters of the original story to give them more depth. She beefed up the plot nicely. I thought the character development was strong.
In summary, the lack of romance (especially at The Ball), overly convoluted plot, length, and forced plot points are what kept this book from being 4-5stars. Creativity, character development, and overall writing skills are what kept it from being 2-stars.
Aaaahhh! I really struggled with what to rate this book. On the one-hand it is well written with a good plot, good character developments, etc…On the other hand it didn’t live up to my expectations at all. It is advertised as a “Romantic Fantasy” when it is really neither.
I knew going in that it would be clean, but this is so PG it puts Disney to shame. They don’t so much as kiss until the last sentence! Yeah, I'm gonna need more than that. It is hard to sell a romance in today’s market with no physical connection. The characters barely spend any time together. In fact, after the first 25% they spend no time together, when the Prince didn’t think she was someone else and was not interested in her romantically, until the end of the last chapter. NOT EVEN AT THE BALL!!!
This is the signal most important moment of a Cinderella story and Davidson gives me nothing but political drama with ZERO romance. Even if the Prince is too dim to realize it’s the girl he is “falling in love with” Davidson could have given me some romance from Trystan’s perspective. Something about how it felt to be in the Prince’s arms and how dashing he looked in his court attire and she couldn’t stop watching him. SOMETHING! I’m clearly still mad about it and I read this book over a month ago! This just might be the 1 love story that is a worse love story than Twilight!
It also isn’t much of a fantasy. Besides taking place in a fictional setting with fictional characters there is nothing about it that couldn’t have happened in Medieval Europe. There is no magic, no fantasy creatures, there is nothing at all unique about this world Davidson has “created.” While I thought the story worked without magic (like Ever After) it makes it a weak fantasy.
The plot while interesting was a bit too convoluted, another reviewer likened it to “the kitchen sink” and they were spot on. It was too long for my taste and began to drag by the end. Some situations seemed a little too contrived. Also, as another reviewer said there were a few too many “ridiculously inflated word choices.” It felt a little like every other sentence Davidson pulled out her thesaurus for no reason.
I wanted to rate it a 2 since it didn’t at all meet my expectations, but expectations aside it is pretty well written. I enjoyed the backstory Davidson created around the flat characters of the original story to give them more depth. She beefed up the plot nicely. I thought the character development was strong.
In summary, the lack of romance (especially at The Ball), overly convoluted plot, length, and forced plot points are what kept this book from being 4-5stars. Creativity, character development, and overall writing skills are what kept it from being 2-stars.
March 7, 2017
Sigh. By now, I'm sure you all know what a sucker I am for fairytales. And when I saw a review mentioning that this book is similar to the movie Ever After (my favorite), I had to read it.
This was such a beautiful book. Not super intense, or suspenseful, but just enough to keep me hooked. The pacing was not extremely fast, but it wasn't so slow it was dull, either. It was more like climbing a staircase--steady, but relentless. The plot itself was great--it stuck with more of the traditional feel of fairytales while still being fresh. There was no Prince Charmings , no magical fairy godmothers , and no pumpkin coaches. But it still was very much a Cinderella story. If you've seen Ever After (if you haven't, you must--right now), you will understand what I mean.
The main characters were not perfect, but flawed. They were relatable and understandable. They were real. They would make a decision and I would think "Yes! That's exactly what you should do in this situation." Then I would see how that would turn out and be like "Oh. I didn't expect that to happen. Should have thought things through." Can't fault them too much for making bad decisions--I probably would have done the same things. I also loved their sense of humor, and the brilliant, witty banter that went on back and forth. The characters were definitely the best part of this book.
Another thing about this book that amazed me was the incredible vocabulary the author possesses. I came across words such as wastrel, supposition, pungency, and insouciance (the last one was a bit over-used in the first part of the book.) It is rare for me to find a book containing words I am not already familiar with, but this one did the trick. Now, to find a way to incorporate insouciance into everyday language...
Some minor quibbles: I took one star off for the combination of the following: first of all, the setting--while being very traditional--could be improved. I'm a big fan of amazing world-building (think Nadine Brandes' Out of Time trilogy), so I would have liked to see more in Traitor's Masque. Another thing: the stepmother and stepsisters could use some rounding out, and something to make them a little more sympathetic. They felt flatly villainous. And last of all, it had a good bit of profanity. Not a fan. Other than that, I'm satisfied.
Wrap-up: Traitor's Masque is a perfect retelling of Cinderella. It is traditional without feeling dull, and features characters that could be easily transplanted to the real world (as long as it was back in the 17th or 18th century). You also might wish to keep a dictionary on hand while reading.
Rating: 4 stars
Recommended: 13 and up (mostly due to language concerns and one violent scene)
Content guide (may contain minor spoilers):
Language: 6/10 (profanity used fairly regularly)
Violence: 6/10 (violent death of a character, a bit gruesome. characters incurs serious wounds while escaping.)
Sexual Content: 1/10 (characters is referenced as being a womanizer, but that is the extent. one light kiss, not described.)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review!*
For more reviews, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com and fullofbooks.com
This was such a beautiful book. Not super intense, or suspenseful, but just enough to keep me hooked. The pacing was not extremely fast, but it wasn't so slow it was dull, either. It was more like climbing a staircase--steady, but relentless. The plot itself was great--it stuck with more of the traditional feel of fairytales while still being fresh. There was no Prince Charmings , no magical fairy godmothers , and no pumpkin coaches. But it still was very much a Cinderella story. If you've seen Ever After (if you haven't, you must--right now), you will understand what I mean.
The main characters were not perfect, but flawed. They were relatable and understandable. They were real. They would make a decision and I would think "Yes! That's exactly what you should do in this situation." Then I would see how that would turn out and be like "Oh. I didn't expect that to happen. Should have thought things through." Can't fault them too much for making bad decisions--I probably would have done the same things. I also loved their sense of humor, and the brilliant, witty banter that went on back and forth. The characters were definitely the best part of this book.
Another thing about this book that amazed me was the incredible vocabulary the author possesses. I came across words such as wastrel, supposition, pungency, and insouciance (the last one was a bit over-used in the first part of the book.) It is rare for me to find a book containing words I am not already familiar with, but this one did the trick. Now, to find a way to incorporate insouciance into everyday language...
Some minor quibbles: I took one star off for the combination of the following: first of all, the setting--while being very traditional--could be improved. I'm a big fan of amazing world-building (think Nadine Brandes' Out of Time trilogy), so I would have liked to see more in Traitor's Masque. Another thing: the stepmother and stepsisters could use some rounding out, and something to make them a little more sympathetic. They felt flatly villainous. And last of all, it had a good bit of profanity. Not a fan. Other than that, I'm satisfied.
Wrap-up: Traitor's Masque is a perfect retelling of Cinderella. It is traditional without feeling dull, and features characters that could be easily transplanted to the real world (as long as it was back in the 17th or 18th century). You also might wish to keep a dictionary on hand while reading.
Rating: 4 stars
Recommended: 13 and up (mostly due to language concerns and one violent scene)
Content guide (may contain minor spoilers):
Language: 6/10 (profanity used fairly regularly)
Violence: 6/10 (violent death of a character, a bit gruesome. characters incurs serious wounds while escaping.)
Sexual Content: 1/10 (characters is referenced as being a womanizer, but that is the extent. one light kiss, not described.)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review!*
For more reviews, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com and fullofbooks.com
November 8, 2024
3 stars ✨
This was a different take on a Cinderella retelling! She’s not your normal taking-it-all-in-stride / loving-her-stepfamily-anyway Cinderella. She’s sassy and I quite liked it 😂 I would say this was more inspired by Cinderella than an actual retelling, but tomato tomato.
It reads kind of like a regency setting? The writing style, the way things are described, and their talking all felt similar to a regency novel for me, which I liked once I was able to get into it as they used unique words/descriptions I don’t see often.
But that would be my main complaint for this book: it dragged for a looooong while. It wasn’t until the last 25% where the book and plot picked up that I was truly engaged into the story. I think it was a little too dragged out and wordy at times. The pacing was fine, but I think it could have been a bit more dynamic if it was at least fifty pages less. It took over a hundred pages to get into the meat of the plot, though the prior pages set the stage well-enough. Not a major complaint by any means, but when a book is over 400 pages—especially a fairytale retelling—I start to question if that’s really needed.
I will say that I was glad to have both of their POVs and certain others sprinkled in as it helped the book flow. The romance was pretty light in regards to the touchy/feely parts as well, which I appreciated.
There was some language throughout the book that I didn’t care for and lowered my rating. I think I may try out the rest of the series, but I can’t say that I’m eagerly wanting to read them. I’ll probably get to them at some point, sooner rather than later, but I’m in no great hurry. It was an overall neat twist to the story (the forced bath scene was my absolute favorite part) and I’m glad I took a chance on it. :)
Main Content-
No magic in this country, but there’s rumors that another country that everyone knows little about has a belief that everyone has a gift that is magic; Mentions of talismans of that country that represent everyone’s gift; A mention of pixies.
No religious content but there is a couple mentions of praying for something to happen (but not said towards Whom the characters are praying towards); Also the word “gods” is used in regards to “the gods alone knew [something]” and “may the gods spare [someone from something]”.
Language: bastard (x8, not including ones regarding illegitimate children), b*tch (x1), damn (x9 forms), gad (x1), hellish (x1), and whore (x1); Also “what in all the hells”, “hells”, and “heavens forfend” are said; Minor phrases like “what/why the devil”, “devil take it”, and “like the devil” are said; Curses are said by main characters and others, but not written out on page; Ramsey almost makes a rude gesture to his friend; Sarcasm & Eye rolling.
As with the typically Cinderella story, Trystan’s stepmother is cruel and mistreats her (including slapping, pinching, and verbally abusive); Trystan begins to wonder if her father didn’t love her (because of the stepmother); Ramsey and his older brother have a very strained relationship because of his brother’s attitude and actions; Trystan and Ramsey both drink at parties and has hangover-like symptoms even though they didn’t drink much or only had punch; Trystan hopes that the punch is stronger than just punch and says she needs a drink at one point.
Being kidnapped/tied-up, being attacked/choked, fighting/self-defense, injuries, blood/bleeding, pain, seeing someone fall down stairs and die, & seeing someone stabbed (a handful+ of sentences); Seeing a planned suicide and suicide note.
Mentions of murders and planned murders, deaths, & grief (including Trystan for her father); Mentions of slavery, slaves, & another country partaking in selling men, women, and children; Mentions of kidnappings; Mentions of revenge & planning for others to grief the deaths of loved ones passing away slowly; Mentions of poisons/drugs & poisoning/drugging others; Mentions of a young man smoking with his friends and pranking a young boy to partake in it (he gets very sick and throws up while the guys are laughing at him); Mentions of alcohol. drinking, drinking too much at parties, being tipsy/drunk, & taverns; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of possible wars; A mention of someone being accused of having “profound depression of the spirits”.
1 fingers-to-lips touch,
1 not-detailed kiss,
Touches, Blushes, Noticing (but none are heavy-handed nor lusty feeling, pretty light, up to a couple sentences at most); Ramsey’s father talks to him about it being his duty to produce sons and have heirs (also mentioning that some of the advisors will talk to him about the girls’ “dowry, property, even fertility” and “may the gods spare you from that”; A man looks at Trystan in a suggestive and insulting manner.
Mentions of illegitimate children (also called “bastards”), how they can’t inherit properties, & rumors of illegitimate children; Mentions of flirting, flirts, & a guy stealing all the attention from women (with scandals following him); Mentions of a woman running off with a man (eloping) much to her father’s disapproval; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of other women’s’ curvy figures (noticed by Trystan); A few mentions of a man being embarrassed by running away and marrying someone beneath his station when he was young; A couple mentions of a possible affair (that’s quickly figured out to not be an affair); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of women throwing themselves wantonly to a guy.
This was a different take on a Cinderella retelling! She’s not your normal taking-it-all-in-stride / loving-her-stepfamily-anyway Cinderella. She’s sassy and I quite liked it 😂 I would say this was more inspired by Cinderella than an actual retelling, but tomato tomato.
It reads kind of like a regency setting? The writing style, the way things are described, and their talking all felt similar to a regency novel for me, which I liked once I was able to get into it as they used unique words/descriptions I don’t see often.
But that would be my main complaint for this book: it dragged for a looooong while. It wasn’t until the last 25% where the book and plot picked up that I was truly engaged into the story. I think it was a little too dragged out and wordy at times. The pacing was fine, but I think it could have been a bit more dynamic if it was at least fifty pages less. It took over a hundred pages to get into the meat of the plot, though the prior pages set the stage well-enough. Not a major complaint by any means, but when a book is over 400 pages—especially a fairytale retelling—I start to question if that’s really needed.
I will say that I was glad to have both of their POVs and certain others sprinkled in as it helped the book flow. The romance was pretty light in regards to the touchy/feely parts as well, which I appreciated.
There was some language throughout the book that I didn’t care for and lowered my rating. I think I may try out the rest of the series, but I can’t say that I’m eagerly wanting to read them. I’ll probably get to them at some point, sooner rather than later, but I’m in no great hurry. It was an overall neat twist to the story (the forced bath scene was my absolute favorite part) and I’m glad I took a chance on it. :)
Main Content-
No magic in this country, but there’s rumors that another country that everyone knows little about has a belief that everyone has a gift that is magic; Mentions of talismans of that country that represent everyone’s gift; A mention of pixies.
No religious content but there is a couple mentions of praying for something to happen (but not said towards Whom the characters are praying towards); Also the word “gods” is used in regards to “the gods alone knew [something]” and “may the gods spare [someone from something]”.
Language: bastard (x8, not including ones regarding illegitimate children), b*tch (x1), damn (x9 forms), gad (x1), hellish (x1), and whore (x1); Also “what in all the hells”, “hells”, and “heavens forfend” are said; Minor phrases like “what/why the devil”, “devil take it”, and “like the devil” are said; Curses are said by main characters and others, but not written out on page; Ramsey almost makes a rude gesture to his friend; Sarcasm & Eye rolling.
As with the typically Cinderella story, Trystan’s stepmother is cruel and mistreats her (including slapping, pinching, and verbally abusive); Trystan begins to wonder if her father didn’t love her (because of the stepmother); Ramsey and his older brother have a very strained relationship because of his brother’s attitude and actions; Trystan and Ramsey both drink at parties and has hangover-like symptoms even though they didn’t drink much or only had punch; Trystan hopes that the punch is stronger than just punch and says she needs a drink at one point.
Being kidnapped/tied-up, being attacked/choked, fighting/self-defense, injuries, blood/bleeding, pain, seeing someone fall down stairs and die, & seeing someone stabbed (a handful+ of sentences); Seeing a planned suicide and suicide note.
Mentions of murders and planned murders, deaths, & grief (including Trystan for her father); Mentions of slavery, slaves, & another country partaking in selling men, women, and children; Mentions of kidnappings; Mentions of revenge & planning for others to grief the deaths of loved ones passing away slowly; Mentions of poisons/drugs & poisoning/drugging others; Mentions of a young man smoking with his friends and pranking a young boy to partake in it (he gets very sick and throws up while the guys are laughing at him); Mentions of alcohol. drinking, drinking too much at parties, being tipsy/drunk, & taverns; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of possible wars; A mention of someone being accused of having “profound depression of the spirits”.
1 fingers-to-lips touch,
1 not-detailed kiss,
Touches, Blushes, Noticing (but none are heavy-handed nor lusty feeling, pretty light, up to a couple sentences at most); Ramsey’s father talks to him about it being his duty to produce sons and have heirs (also mentioning that some of the advisors will talk to him about the girls’ “dowry, property, even fertility” and “may the gods spare you from that”; A man looks at Trystan in a suggestive and insulting manner.
Mentions of illegitimate children (also called “bastards”), how they can’t inherit properties, & rumors of illegitimate children; Mentions of flirting, flirts, & a guy stealing all the attention from women (with scandals following him); Mentions of a woman running off with a man (eloping) much to her father’s disapproval; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of other women’s’ curvy figures (noticed by Trystan); A few mentions of a man being embarrassed by running away and marrying someone beneath his station when he was young; A couple mentions of a possible affair (that’s quickly figured out to not be an affair); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of women throwing themselves wantonly to a guy.
February 25, 2021
Yep! I have decided to dive into another fairytale retelling series! What can I say? I have an addiction. Traitor’s Masque by Kenley Davidson is the first book in the Andari Chronicles and is a retelling of Cinderella. It also narrated by Esther Wane who narrated the Four Kingdoms Series by Melanie Cellier and she is amazing!
Trystan lives in a loveless home. Her father died years ago but now she is stuck with her step-mother and step-sisters. Every once in awhile she is able to escape and go for a horse ride to clear her mind and work through her emotions. On this particular day, she meets a man. He is a bit disheveled, but he can make her laugh. They soon become friends but both agree to not reveal their identities because of their home situations. As her home life gets worse, she gets an offer from her father’s old friend. She needs to attend the royal masque and pass a message to an unknown person. In exchange, she will get a new life. She craves this freedom so badly that she agrees. However, when she attends the masque she realizes she is a part of something dangerous and people’s lives are at stake. She is going to have to make a decision. It doesn’t matter what she decides, her heart will be crushed forever.
YESSSSSSS! This book has the outline of Cinderella but filled with a suspenseful spy story. I listened to this book in ONE weekend. I was addicted from beginning to end and even the ending left me wanting more. Book 2, I am coming for you as soon as I finish The Hero of Ages. The plot of this book has so many layers! One of the best parts is the political intrigue. Donevan or Prince Ramsey is the second son but is the heir to the throne. His older brother has committed too many crimes and is no longer the heir. Ramsey doesn’t want the throne but he is consumed with finding out what is best for his people. He has a great support system! It is heartwarming how he describes his best friends as his brothers. I love the theme that family doesn’t just mean blood relations. Speaking of which, Kyril is amazing. I really hope we get a book where he is the main character. He deserves love!
Ramsey and Trystan’s relationship is so lovable! They establish a friendship first. Their relationship doesn’t grow like typical fairytale books. There is betrayal and danger every step of the way. But goodness, I could listen to Ramsey talk all day. I really recommend listening to the audiobook because Esther Wane is the narrator! Overall, I rate this audiobook 5 out of 5 stars!
Trystan lives in a loveless home. Her father died years ago but now she is stuck with her step-mother and step-sisters. Every once in awhile she is able to escape and go for a horse ride to clear her mind and work through her emotions. On this particular day, she meets a man. He is a bit disheveled, but he can make her laugh. They soon become friends but both agree to not reveal their identities because of their home situations. As her home life gets worse, she gets an offer from her father’s old friend. She needs to attend the royal masque and pass a message to an unknown person. In exchange, she will get a new life. She craves this freedom so badly that she agrees. However, when she attends the masque she realizes she is a part of something dangerous and people’s lives are at stake. She is going to have to make a decision. It doesn’t matter what she decides, her heart will be crushed forever.
YESSSSSSS! This book has the outline of Cinderella but filled with a suspenseful spy story. I listened to this book in ONE weekend. I was addicted from beginning to end and even the ending left me wanting more. Book 2, I am coming for you as soon as I finish The Hero of Ages. The plot of this book has so many layers! One of the best parts is the political intrigue. Donevan or Prince Ramsey is the second son but is the heir to the throne. His older brother has committed too many crimes and is no longer the heir. Ramsey doesn’t want the throne but he is consumed with finding out what is best for his people. He has a great support system! It is heartwarming how he describes his best friends as his brothers. I love the theme that family doesn’t just mean blood relations. Speaking of which, Kyril is amazing. I really hope we get a book where he is the main character. He deserves love!
Ramsey and Trystan’s relationship is so lovable! They establish a friendship first. Their relationship doesn’t grow like typical fairytale books. There is betrayal and danger every step of the way. But goodness, I could listen to Ramsey talk all day. I really recommend listening to the audiobook because Esther Wane is the narrator! Overall, I rate this audiobook 5 out of 5 stars!
May 23, 2017
I stumbled on this book entirely by chance when it was free, and ended up tearing through it in two days and loving it! Fairytale retellings as a genre have really grown on me lately—but once I got well into Traitor's Masque, I found myself paying less attention to the retelling aspect and simply enjoying it as a good story. It takes some of the key elements of Cinderella—an unkind stepmother, a prince, an important ball, an errant slipper—and uses them as the jumping-off points for an original story full of intrigue, emotion and suspense.
I suppose one must technically call it fantasy, as it takes place in an imaginary kingdom/world, though there's no actual magic in the story. Had it been set in an imaginary European country I'd call it almost Ruritanian, with its themes of political intrigue—and that's largely what makes it so enjoyable. The kingdom of Andar is simmering with unrest over the issue of succession, with the scandal-plagued eldest prince having been disinherited in favor of his steadier younger brother, Prince Ramsey. The story's heroine, Trystan Colbourne (I admit, the one thing I never could quite get used to was her name; even with the different spelling it seems more like a boy's name to me) is offered a chance at escaping her stepmother's persecution in exchange for performing an apparently simple task: attending a masked ball in disguise to receive a message from an unknown contact. But before the evening is over, Trystan begins to realize that she may be playing a part in something much more sinister than she ever stopped to consider.
Another thing I liked is that the story squarely undercuts the insta-love aspect of the original fairytale by giving the hero and heroine a chance to meet and form a believable friendship early on—and then gives it a twist by making their unawareness of each other's real identity a major part of the plot's conflict later on. Both Trystan and Ramsey are well-developed, relatable characters with struggles of their own to work through—a Cinderella who's more prickly than sweet, and a prince who is seldom called handsome and is certainly not free from care. Elegantly and intelligently written, with sparkling dialogue a strong point; and filled out with a great cast of supporting characters (Kyril and Lizbet were among my favorites), Traitor's Masque is sure to appeal to anyone who loves retellings, suspenseful tales of intrigue in imaginary kingdoms, and subtle but ultimately heartwarming romance.
I suppose one must technically call it fantasy, as it takes place in an imaginary kingdom/world, though there's no actual magic in the story. Had it been set in an imaginary European country I'd call it almost Ruritanian, with its themes of political intrigue—and that's largely what makes it so enjoyable. The kingdom of Andar is simmering with unrest over the issue of succession, with the scandal-plagued eldest prince having been disinherited in favor of his steadier younger brother, Prince Ramsey. The story's heroine, Trystan Colbourne (I admit, the one thing I never could quite get used to was her name; even with the different spelling it seems more like a boy's name to me) is offered a chance at escaping her stepmother's persecution in exchange for performing an apparently simple task: attending a masked ball in disguise to receive a message from an unknown contact. But before the evening is over, Trystan begins to realize that she may be playing a part in something much more sinister than she ever stopped to consider.
Another thing I liked is that the story squarely undercuts the insta-love aspect of the original fairytale by giving the hero and heroine a chance to meet and form a believable friendship early on—and then gives it a twist by making their unawareness of each other's real identity a major part of the plot's conflict later on. Both Trystan and Ramsey are well-developed, relatable characters with struggles of their own to work through—a Cinderella who's more prickly than sweet, and a prince who is seldom called handsome and is certainly not free from care. Elegantly and intelligently written, with sparkling dialogue a strong point; and filled out with a great cast of supporting characters (Kyril and Lizbet were among my favorites), Traitor's Masque is sure to appeal to anyone who loves retellings, suspenseful tales of intrigue in imaginary kingdoms, and subtle but ultimately heartwarming romance.
April 5, 2023
TL;DR: A beautiful story of secrets, betrayals, sacrifice, forgiveness, the complexities of relationships, and deep, true romance.
I feel very silly that I put this off as long as I have. You see, I adore Legends of Abreia, which I encountered first. But I was suspicious of this series.
"Cinderella retelling" for some reason is a turn-off. This makes no sense, as I love Brandy's R&H Cinderella and love Ever After, and I've read two retellings I loved, but I always feel suspicious of Cinderella retellings, as if I expect them to be inane or boring. Perhaps this will finally disabuse me of that notion. 😆 This is a very loose retelling with a lot added, but TBH, I tend to prefer those.
And then there's the names. Trystan for the female lead? Ramsey puts me thoroughly in mind of pharaohs. I'm fully aware this is a stupid reason to put off a book, but I did, and admittedly, I wish their first names/names used in the narrative were Embrie and Donevan. 🤷♀️
I'd also heard this series is not very "fantasy," at least at first, which diminished my interest, and truthfully, it's basically non-magical kingdom fantasy. The secondary-world setting is perhaps a touch vague, relative-history-wise, but politically and socially rich and realistically complex. There is a brief mention of magic as a rumor, but there is none in the book, nor are there any fantastical creatures, and certainly there are no elves. But it does not need those things to be great.
It had everything I expected from a Davidson book--humor, twisty plot, shocking revelations, deep emotions, steady character growth, nuanced characters and complicated problems, a scene or two that made me emotional, deep truths, a healthy romance despite the betrayals and mistakes between two imperfect but good people who see and understand each other.
Trystan does start out pretty selfish and spoiled, but still likeable, and her arc is well done. It felt for a bit like, not in her thoughts, but in the book, she had a bit of a not-like-other-girls thing going on where she's so wildly different from every girl Ramsey has known, but it ended up not being so, as 1) Trystan doesn't think of herself as better than the entire female population, 2) Ramsey's aunt provides a good balance, and 3) some twists with a couple minor female characters allowed for a greater breadth of female representation than "the MC is great and every other female is stupid, catty, or conniving."
Ooooo, I hated Rowan. A skillfully written manipulative and incredibly charming narcissist with a talent for twisting the truth.
It admittedly took me a little bit to get really invested. I was mildly interested, then it was mostly holding my attention but still pause-able, but by the ~40% mark, I was totally sucked in. I could barely bring myself to put down the book to sleep even I was so tired my reading pace was super slow and my eyes would hardly stay open and I was getting a headache from reading on my phone, and then I struggled to get my brain to stop thinking about it and what was going to happen so I could go to sleep at 3am. 😆
It's a fairly long book, partly just because it's longer and a somewhat denser writing style than most of the books I've read recently 😅 (another thing I can expect from a Davidson book is probably using my Kindle app's dictionary 😅), and a few parts did feel a touch slow/drawn out, especially toward the end. Although maybe that was my wavering focus because I went to bed at 3am. 🤔 But overall, it was a suspenseful and captivating read.
And it definitely gave me the noble but flawed hero and complicated but healthy romance I was craving. 💜
I feel very silly that I put this off as long as I have. You see, I adore Legends of Abreia, which I encountered first. But I was suspicious of this series.
"Cinderella retelling" for some reason is a turn-off. This makes no sense, as I love Brandy's R&H Cinderella and love Ever After, and I've read two retellings I loved, but I always feel suspicious of Cinderella retellings, as if I expect them to be inane or boring. Perhaps this will finally disabuse me of that notion. 😆 This is a very loose retelling with a lot added, but TBH, I tend to prefer those.
And then there's the names. Trystan for the female lead? Ramsey puts me thoroughly in mind of pharaohs. I'm fully aware this is a stupid reason to put off a book, but I did, and admittedly, I wish their first names/names used in the narrative were Embrie and Donevan. 🤷♀️
I'd also heard this series is not very "fantasy," at least at first, which diminished my interest, and truthfully, it's basically non-magical kingdom fantasy. The secondary-world setting is perhaps a touch vague, relative-history-wise, but politically and socially rich and realistically complex. There is a brief mention of magic as a rumor, but there is none in the book, nor are there any fantastical creatures, and certainly there are no elves. But it does not need those things to be great.
It had everything I expected from a Davidson book--humor, twisty plot, shocking revelations, deep emotions, steady character growth, nuanced characters and complicated problems, a scene or two that made me emotional, deep truths, a healthy romance despite the betrayals and mistakes between two imperfect but good people who see and understand each other.
Trystan does start out pretty selfish and spoiled, but still likeable, and her arc is well done. It felt for a bit like, not in her thoughts, but in the book, she had a bit of a not-like-other-girls thing going on where she's so wildly different from every girl Ramsey has known, but it ended up not being so, as 1) Trystan doesn't think of herself as better than the entire female population, 2) Ramsey's aunt provides a good balance, and 3) some twists with a couple minor female characters allowed for a greater breadth of female representation than "the MC is great and every other female is stupid, catty, or conniving."
Ooooo, I hated Rowan. A skillfully written manipulative and incredibly charming narcissist with a talent for twisting the truth.
It admittedly took me a little bit to get really invested. I was mildly interested, then it was mostly holding my attention but still pause-able, but by the ~40% mark, I was totally sucked in. I could barely bring myself to put down the book to sleep even I was so tired my reading pace was super slow and my eyes would hardly stay open and I was getting a headache from reading on my phone, and then I struggled to get my brain to stop thinking about it and what was going to happen so I could go to sleep at 3am. 😆
It's a fairly long book, partly just because it's longer and a somewhat denser writing style than most of the books I've read recently 😅 (another thing I can expect from a Davidson book is probably using my Kindle app's dictionary 😅), and a few parts did feel a touch slow/drawn out, especially toward the end. Although maybe that was my wavering focus because I went to bed at 3am. 🤔 But overall, it was a suspenseful and captivating read.
And it definitely gave me the noble but flawed hero and complicated but healthy romance I was craving. 💜
June 29, 2021
This was such a lovely book!
Some key things that I especially enjoyed:
-The writing style. It was unique, interesting, and I even learned new big words so that's awesome. It reminded me of Jane Austen's style, in the beginning especially.
-The plot was good, and had few slow moments. It flowed well and kept me on my toes pretty much cover-to-cover.
-The characters. Trystan and Ramsay were delightful characters. They felt real, like I was just watching what was happening to them instead of reading it. I loved their banter and Trystan's sarcasm. The side characters like Kyril, Vianne, and Larissa were written very well. Kyril is awesome, and I loved Vianne's 'sternness'.
This is a great retelling of Cinderella! Highly recommend it if you're a fan of retellings. :)
5 stars
Some key things that I especially enjoyed:
-The writing style. It was unique, interesting, and I even learned new big words so that's awesome. It reminded me of Jane Austen's style, in the beginning especially.
-The plot was good, and had few slow moments. It flowed well and kept me on my toes pretty much cover-to-cover.
-The characters. Trystan and Ramsay were delightful characters. They felt real, like I was just watching what was happening to them instead of reading it. I loved their banter and Trystan's sarcasm. The side characters like Kyril, Vianne, and Larissa were written very well. Kyril is awesome, and I loved Vianne's 'sternness'.
This is a great retelling of Cinderella! Highly recommend it if you're a fan of retellings. :)
5 stars
June 17, 2019
Finally, finally read this book and started this series! I've seen so many people rave about these books, and now I finally understand the hype!
Also, I LOVE the new covers. The original cover, which is the version I have on the audiobook, makes this look kind of dark and creepy while the new covers fit the sweet, fun fairy tale genre so much better. I probably would've picked this up a lot quicker if the new cover had been my first impression.
Anyway, after delaying reading this for too long (because it for some reason looked like it wasn't going to be my kind of book), I listened to this in a matter of days. It is an unique take on the Cinderella tale while still hitting all the main beats of the story, and I found it really well done. I kept holding my breath wondering how in the world the two characters were going to end up together with all the barriers in their way.
The audiobook narrator also does a really good job. She's one of my favorite narrators for fairy tales. So glad at least this first book is in audiobook to get me started on the series, even if the others aren't. I'll have to squeeze in time to read the rest of this series on Kindle, that's for sure!
There are a few scattered bits of language. PM me for details. But very minor.
Overall, I loved this book and I can't wait to start the next one in the series!
Also, I LOVE the new covers. The original cover, which is the version I have on the audiobook, makes this look kind of dark and creepy while the new covers fit the sweet, fun fairy tale genre so much better. I probably would've picked this up a lot quicker if the new cover had been my first impression.
Anyway, after delaying reading this for too long (because it for some reason looked like it wasn't going to be my kind of book), I listened to this in a matter of days. It is an unique take on the Cinderella tale while still hitting all the main beats of the story, and I found it really well done. I kept holding my breath wondering how in the world the two characters were going to end up together with all the barriers in their way.
The audiobook narrator also does a really good job. She's one of my favorite narrators for fairy tales. So glad at least this first book is in audiobook to get me started on the series, even if the others aren't. I'll have to squeeze in time to read the rest of this series on Kindle, that's for sure!
There are a few scattered bits of language. PM me for details. But very minor.
Overall, I loved this book and I can't wait to start the next one in the series!
April 8, 2025
This is my favorite fairy tale retelling I've read since discovering Beauty several years ago.
Imagine Cinderella, not as the default grudge, but as the despised stepdaughter kept on the outskirts of family life. Imagine her not as a paradigm of virtue but as strong, stubborn, somewhat self-focused gentility beginning to learn to see and appreciate the friendship and sacrifices made on her behalf. Imagine a ball where Cinderella is not whisked into dream world by a fairy godmother, but is thrust into an unfamiliar world of political intrigue.
Traitor's Masque takes the familiar Cinderella fairy tale and imagines it more realistically. The heroine is both good and flawed. The prince is a responsible, caring, and conflicted soon-to-be-monarch.
This book was good clean fun that I would recommend to any fan of fairy tales and retellings, and perhaps lovers of historical fantasy as well.
Imagine Cinderella, not as the default grudge, but as the despised stepdaughter kept on the outskirts of family life. Imagine her not as a paradigm of virtue but as strong, stubborn, somewhat self-focused gentility beginning to learn to see and appreciate the friendship and sacrifices made on her behalf. Imagine a ball where Cinderella is not whisked into dream world by a fairy godmother, but is thrust into an unfamiliar world of political intrigue.
Traitor's Masque takes the familiar Cinderella fairy tale and imagines it more realistically. The heroine is both good and flawed. The prince is a responsible, caring, and conflicted soon-to-be-monarch.
This book was good clean fun that I would recommend to any fan of fairy tales and retellings, and perhaps lovers of historical fantasy as well.
May 10, 2020
This book was not for me ;
First ,I felt like there was so much fluff in just the first few chapters . A majority of the dialogue could have been condensed in my opinion . A majority of the dialogue from the Princes POV was world building . It was just too much at once to remember . I also went into this expecting a Cinderella retelling so all of that was a bit unexpected .
Second was our MC was one of those
#I'd rather be in the stables kind of girls which I've had about enough of . Can we actually have a MC who has a hobby besides horse riding ?
Read
April 14, 2017This is an excellent loose retelling of Cinderella. Beautiful writing, and a well-fleshed-out story world. I particularly enjoyed the hero--he truly made the book, in my opinion. Not your typical godlike, snarky action-hero--this prince has actual character. The heroine was appealing as well, and their interactions are fun. I also really enjoyed the side characters, although I would have enjoyed seeing more about a few of them.
Fully intend to read more of this series!
Fully intend to read more of this series!
March 7, 2025
A non-magical Cinderella retelling...that lasted way too long. Honestly it would probably have been better if it'd been at least 100 pages less, maybe even novella length.
The Cinderella character was refreshingly not a doormat and had some intelligence. But I did found it hard to connect with her and also the romance--both characters had thought to themselves that they weren't sure how they felt about the other up til the very end.
Also, there were several words I felt would have been more appropriate in an academic or professional work instead of a YA novel, just seemed a bit much.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the servants' plot was quite entertaining.
For me, the story was an average Cinderella retelling.
Language: several uses of bastard, 1 use of bitch, 1 use of whore, a few damns, a few hells
Content: mild to medium language, reference to a far away kingdom rumored to dally in magic, rumor of an item being thought of as a talisman by another people, death, death of a spouse (past event vaguely described), bullying , sibling rivalry
Christian faith rating: -1 or 0/3 (clean as far as physical intimacy- only one kiss-- but has some swearing
The Cinderella character was refreshingly not a doormat and had some intelligence. But I did found it hard to connect with her and also the romance--both characters had thought to themselves that they weren't sure how they felt about the other up til the very end.
Also, there were several words I felt would have been more appropriate in an academic or professional work instead of a YA novel, just seemed a bit much.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the servants' plot was quite entertaining.
For me, the story was an average Cinderella retelling.
Language: several uses of bastard, 1 use of bitch, 1 use of whore, a few damns, a few hells
Content: mild to medium language, reference to a far away kingdom rumored to dally in magic, rumor of an item being thought of as a talisman by another people, death, death of a spouse (past event vaguely described), bullying , sibling rivalry
Christian faith rating: -1 or 0/3 (clean as far as physical intimacy- only one kiss-- but has some swearing
March 5, 2021
3.5 stars.
I must admit that this type of story which features more of a YA heroine isn't really my thing. Having said that however, I also must admit that I quite enjoyed it. Even at 400+ pages, I finished most of it in one sitting, much to the detriment of last night's sleep quality.
The despair that the heroine experienced, the medium amount of political intrigue and drama, and a genuinely wonderful hero, all made for an engaging tale. I also appreciated the clean content (no intimate scenes, fade-to-black or otherwise, a non-manho hero, and absolutely no OP drama. Needless to say, I will be continuing on with this series and hopefully we'll get to see the MCs from this story again.
I must admit that this type of story which features more of a YA heroine isn't really my thing. Having said that however, I also must admit that I quite enjoyed it. Even at 400+ pages, I finished most of it in one sitting, much to the detriment of last night's sleep quality.
The despair that the heroine experienced, the medium amount of political intrigue and drama, and a genuinely wonderful hero, all made for an engaging tale. I also appreciated the clean content (no intimate scenes, fade-to-black or otherwise, a non-manho hero, and absolutely no OP drama. Needless to say, I will be continuing on with this series and hopefully we'll get to see the MCs from this story again.
Read
March 11, 2017So I started this book a long time ago and I became too distracted and busy to finish it, but that being said, I read most of it and thought it pretty good!
This Cinderella story is pretty unique in its approach and the characters are well-developed. Also, its clean! There is some violence and I think mild language, but in a time where I was discouraged finding clean books without even descriptive kissing, this was refreshing! So I'd recommend it to people who like mysteries or Cinderella stories!
This Cinderella story is pretty unique in its approach and the characters are well-developed. Also, its clean! There is some violence and I think mild language, but in a time where I was discouraged finding clean books without even descriptive kissing, this was refreshing! So I'd recommend it to people who like mysteries or Cinderella stories!
February 1, 2021
This was a retelling of Cinderella. I almost gave it 4 stars but the more I read the more frustrated I became. It was a good story and I was invested I just needed more of the prince and her together. When a couple only meets a couple of times it is hard for me. WHat was happening all around these two was fun to read though! The evil brother plot was a nice touch and lots of mystery surrounds Trystan. Kenley tells a good story, without the magic to make things run more smoothly these are nail bitters! They are a bit wordy which is another reason I have it 3 stars. I really want to love every bit I read.
These are great for teens. This had some violence and palace intrigue and one kiss. Ya just one.....that might be another reason it only got 3 stars.
These are great for teens. This had some violence and palace intrigue and one kiss. Ya just one.....that might be another reason it only got 3 stars.
January 28, 2021
This was a cute, fun Cinderella retelling. I thought it was a little bit longer than it needed to be but it was enjoyable and the main characters were very likable. Actually Prince Ramsey was lovable and ridiculously adorable. I don’t know if I’ll read the other books in the series anytime soon but I do recommend this one to anyone who loves fairytale retellings.
July 24, 2017
I loved the fact that this Cinderella retelling had a smart, thinking Cinderella who wasn't washing floors and doing housework. Rather, she was thinking. Unfortunately, that's where the story broke down for me. I know one is to suspend disbelief when reading books like these. However, some of the rationales given for why some characters did or didn't do what they did, forced disbelief too far for me. A very promising teaser, but the execution needed help.
Read
August 9, 2020DNF. Made it to 30%, nothing interesting is happening, and I'm not invested in these characters at all.
May 27, 2016
What if Cinderella didn’t go to the ball to dance with the prince?
What if she went to betray him?
Why, I believe Davidson captured my attention with two sentences.
I feel like this month should be dubbed Fairytale May for me because I felt like I have read quite a few fairytale retellings in the past week or so (what is it? Four? Five, now?).
I was rather hesitant to try Traitor's Masque, but then those two sentences kept poking out at me, and I thought, why not? Now the question is, Why on earth didn't you pick up this sooner?
I have read quite a few Cinderella retellings, (even wrote a few unfinished ones myself), but Traitor's Masque is probably the most polished one I have come across. The reinvention of this Cinderella was very cleverly thought out. Who wouldn't be intrigued at the notion of a traitor painted in all the blues and blondes and silver slipper shades of Cindy herself? (Although, Trystan wore neither blue or silver slippers, and was not blonde. <--- This doesn't particularly bother me, and I was delighted in a rather pleasant change of view. Neither was Trystan drop dead gorgeous)
Overall, there were a few cliche scenes, but I felt the novel satisfying. The character growth between Trystan and Ramsey was pleasing. My favorite characters were actually both them, and Ramsey's friend Kyril, who I believe will find his love interest in the third book...
(which I simply must have now--- because I positively adore more witty, loyal, and charming protagonists)
And trust me, Davidson's characters had plenty of that in her characters. The clever banter of both Trystan and Ramsey is enough to put any movie or book to shame. Kyril follows closely behind them, and I am eager to read the third book to see more of him.
Overall, beautiful.
What if she went to betray him?
Why, I believe Davidson captured my attention with two sentences.
I feel like this month should be dubbed Fairytale May for me because I felt like I have read quite a few fairytale retellings in the past week or so (what is it? Four? Five, now?).
I was rather hesitant to try Traitor's Masque, but then those two sentences kept poking out at me, and I thought, why not? Now the question is, Why on earth didn't you pick up this sooner?
I have read quite a few Cinderella retellings, (even wrote a few unfinished ones myself), but Traitor's Masque is probably the most polished one I have come across. The reinvention of this Cinderella was very cleverly thought out. Who wouldn't be intrigued at the notion of a traitor painted in all the blues and blondes and silver slipper shades of Cindy herself? (Although, Trystan wore neither blue or silver slippers, and was not blonde. <--- This doesn't particularly bother me, and I was delighted in a rather pleasant change of view. Neither was Trystan drop dead gorgeous)
Overall, there were a few cliche scenes, but I felt the novel satisfying. The character growth between Trystan and Ramsey was pleasing. My favorite characters were actually both them, and Ramsey's friend Kyril, who I believe will find his love interest in the third book...
(which I simply must have now--- because I positively adore more witty, loyal, and charming protagonists)
And trust me, Davidson's characters had plenty of that in her characters. The clever banter of both Trystan and Ramsey is enough to put any movie or book to shame. Kyril follows closely behind them, and I am eager to read the third book to see more of him.
Overall, beautiful.
May 14, 2016
I loved this book. The writing is smooth. I immediately felt drawn into the story world and empathized with both Trystan and Ramsey. I thought both characters were well-drawn and the romance was definitely swoon-worthy. I desperately wanted them to be together.
I'm a huge fan of fairytale retellings, but Cinderella has never been my favorite story. Despite that, I absolutely loved what Davidson did with the tale, especially in adding a whole layer of political intrigue. It kept me guessing and made the familiar story feel fresh and new. As a heroine, Trystan was strong and independent, but also had a great capacity to love and be loved. Ramsey was smart and strong, too. They were a well-matched team.
Fans of fairytales retold should definitely read this story. If you loved the movie Ever After or are a fan of Robin McKinley or Melanie Dickerson's tales, definitely add Traitor's Masque to the top of your to read list!
I'm a huge fan of fairytale retellings, but Cinderella has never been my favorite story. Despite that, I absolutely loved what Davidson did with the tale, especially in adding a whole layer of political intrigue. It kept me guessing and made the familiar story feel fresh and new. As a heroine, Trystan was strong and independent, but also had a great capacity to love and be loved. Ramsey was smart and strong, too. They were a well-matched team.
Fans of fairytales retold should definitely read this story. If you loved the movie Ever After or are a fan of Robin McKinley or Melanie Dickerson's tales, definitely add Traitor's Masque to the top of your to read list!
August 4, 2017
This book was so damn adorable!!! I cant get over how well it was written, it kept me on the edge for the entire book *-* I loved the uniqueness of this Fairytale re-telling, it was captivating and my heart can't deal with it. I literally cannot wait to start the next novels in this series!
June 17, 2021
I so appreciate a romance that isn't gushingly romantic. There is some mild language in here, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under thirteen, but it is a well plotted Cinderella retelling. The main character and villain's motivations and reasoning are frighteningly realistic.
April 19, 2025
4.05～4.2 stars?? Well, that was a pleasant surprise, I haven't enjoyed a book this much in months. I would have liked a little more on their relationship, or more of an epilogue, or even a second book, but I know we don't get one with them 😮💨.
December 17, 2021
I didn't like this very much and I think that's probably because of the betrayal double agent vibes with Trystan and Ramsey. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful retelling.
June 12, 2022
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started, I've read a bunch of Cinderella retellings (my favorite being Soot and Slipper by Kate Stradling) and wasn't sure that I'd be able to find another one with any originality to it. This one surprised me. I really enjoyed it, and the author had a lot of new ideas and twists to the story. After the usual masquerade ball, I assumed the story was nearly over. I'd been reading the kindle version, so I clicked out and was shocked to see I had only finished half of the book. I was a little worried at what else the author would possibly have to add, but the second half really did make it worth it. I haven't finished the rest of the series yet but I'm excited to see where she takes the story.
April 13, 2025
Let me start this review by saying I absolutely LOVED this book! This is my first introduction to Kenley Davidson's books and I am very much impressed. I entered having only read the back part and I am glad, because spoilers might have ruined some of the plot twists.My head is still reeling from the fast paced discoveries and several innocent bystanders must have wondered why on earth I was smiling so much. Without further ado, I shall try my best to compose as coherent a review as possible. Here goes!
Plot summary:
A Retelling of Cinderella: She has one job-attend a masqued ball and dance with a handsome prince. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, that's what. After years of submitting to her stepmother's unreasonable demands, Trystan finally has a chance to be free. The promise of a new life, in exchange for her help. Simple, right? After all, the old woman has only asked for one night. One night, one beautiful gown, one dance... and one message to be delivered to a mysterious recipient.
It should be easy. Maybe even fun. Especially when she can slip away into the night after the dance, leaving no clue as to her identity. But before she can escape the ball, Trystan makes a shocking discovery that leaves all her hopes in ruins. She will be forced to confront two very different princes-and choose whether to betray her kingdom... or her heart. If she's lucky, maybe she'll even survive to tell about it later. A thrilling, suspenseful retelling of Cinderella, Traitor's Masque is the first book of the Andari Chronicles, a series of interconnected but stand-alone fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, romance, mystery, and deeply satisfying happily ever afters.
About the plot:
The plot was absolutely wonderful, albeit unexpected. I went into this book knowing it was a Cinderella retelling and, for a while, everything seemed to be going along to the plan. Soon enough, things took a turn and it definitely became its own story. There were enough hidden references to the original to make me excited when I found them, but it was different enough to keep me guessing the whole time. In fact, at a particular point of the story (which shall remained unnamed) I gasped aloud when I realized what was happening and its significance to the story.
The writing was amazing and kept me connected to the story at all times. As a reader I could also appreciate the sophisticated words that the author dropped normally. As a particularly verbose girl, I truly enjoyed that. The book had everything needed to make a good book: Romance, Action, Questions, Secrets, Political Intrigue, World Building, Banter, and so much more!
And, can I just take a moment to appreciate the banter? Honestly, it was on a whole other level!, which brings me to my next point: Characters.
Characters: (⚠️Slight spoilers ahead ⚠️)
The characters were all very real. They had depth and motivations. Some characters I liked and others I couldn't stand, but I could understand them all. Did they make wrong decisions? Sometimes, yes. But, don't we all? They were funny one moment and heart wrenching the next and I truly cared what happened to them. As unlikely as it might sound, I truly relate to them and saw a bit of myself in them (not in all of them, of course *shudders*). Their character growth was amazing and I felt they were truly different people at the end of the book. I definitely appreciated this because I feel it would be impossible not to change after the difficult ordeal they went through.
Romance:
Clean/No spice
One (1) kiss, not at all descriptive.
The romance in this book was very sweet. I particularly like how it focused more on a meeting of the mind and soul rather than physical attraction, although it was there. It was done very tastefully and it was believable, regardless of the difficult circumstances.
⚠️Content Warnings ⚠️:
Note: These are the warnings that I currently remember, but this is not an exhaustive list. The appropriate age levels ultimately depend on how much danger the reader is able to tolerate. Recommended for readers aged 13+ with discretion among the younger readers.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book is absolutely amazing. The intrigue was so well planned out that I found myself believing this could actually happen in such a world. I loved getting close to the inner workings of the court and being able to see things from and outsider's point of view who is trying to fit in and understand what is going on. The characters were lovable and made me laugh and, although they didn't alway make the best decisions, they were human and believable. The plot kept me hooked and I was totally blindsided by several of the plot twists. Kenley Davidson outdid herself!
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh, clean Cinderella retelling with a sassy heroine and chivalrous hero with a lot of intrigue, danger, and plot twists. Aged 13+, but with discretion among the younger readers.
I grabbed this book for free during a fairy-tale retelling event, but this has in no way influenced my opinions on this book.
- Camila I.
Plot summary:
A Retelling of Cinderella: She has one job-attend a masqued ball and dance with a handsome prince. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, that's what. After years of submitting to her stepmother's unreasonable demands, Trystan finally has a chance to be free. The promise of a new life, in exchange for her help. Simple, right? After all, the old woman has only asked for one night. One night, one beautiful gown, one dance... and one message to be delivered to a mysterious recipient.
It should be easy. Maybe even fun. Especially when she can slip away into the night after the dance, leaving no clue as to her identity. But before she can escape the ball, Trystan makes a shocking discovery that leaves all her hopes in ruins. She will be forced to confront two very different princes-and choose whether to betray her kingdom... or her heart. If she's lucky, maybe she'll even survive to tell about it later. A thrilling, suspenseful retelling of Cinderella, Traitor's Masque is the first book of the Andari Chronicles, a series of interconnected but stand-alone fairy tale retellings that feature strong heroines, romance, mystery, and deeply satisfying happily ever afters.
About the plot:
The plot was absolutely wonderful, albeit unexpected. I went into this book knowing it was a Cinderella retelling and, for a while, everything seemed to be going along to the plan. Soon enough, things took a turn and it definitely became its own story. There were enough hidden references to the original to make me excited when I found them, but it was different enough to keep me guessing the whole time. In fact, at a particular point of the story (which shall remained unnamed) I gasped aloud when I realized what was happening and its significance to the story.
The writing was amazing and kept me connected to the story at all times. As a reader I could also appreciate the sophisticated words that the author dropped normally. As a particularly verbose girl, I truly enjoyed that. The book had everything needed to make a good book: Romance, Action, Questions, Secrets, Political Intrigue, World Building, Banter, and so much more!
And, can I just take a moment to appreciate the banter? Honestly, it was on a whole other level!, which brings me to my next point: Characters.
Characters: (⚠️Slight spoilers ahead ⚠️)
The characters were all very real. They had depth and motivations. Some characters I liked and others I couldn't stand, but I could understand them all. Did they make wrong decisions? Sometimes, yes. But, don't we all? They were funny one moment and heart wrenching the next and I truly cared what happened to them. As unlikely as it might sound, I truly relate to them and saw a bit of myself in them (not in all of them, of course *shudders*). Their character growth was amazing and I felt they were truly different people at the end of the book. I definitely appreciated this because I feel it would be impossible not to change after the difficult ordeal they went through.
Romance:
Clean/No spice
One (1) kiss, not at all descriptive.
The romance in this book was very sweet. I particularly like how it focused more on a meeting of the mind and soul rather than physical attraction, although it was there. It was done very tastefully and it was believable, regardless of the difficult circumstances.
⚠️Content Warnings ⚠️:
Note: These are the warnings that I currently remember, but this is not an exhaustive list. The appropriate age levels ultimately depend on how much danger the reader is able to tolerate. Recommended for readers aged 13+ with discretion among the younger readers.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book is absolutely amazing. The intrigue was so well planned out that I found myself believing this could actually happen in such a world. I loved getting close to the inner workings of the court and being able to see things from and outsider's point of view who is trying to fit in and understand what is going on. The characters were lovable and made me laugh and, although they didn't alway make the best decisions, they were human and believable. The plot kept me hooked and I was totally blindsided by several of the plot twists. Kenley Davidson outdid herself!
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh, clean Cinderella retelling with a sassy heroine and chivalrous hero with a lot of intrigue, danger, and plot twists. Aged 13+, but with discretion among the younger readers.
I grabbed this book for free during a fairy-tale retelling event, but this has in no way influenced my opinions on this book.
- Camila I.
February 25, 2017
I'm having a little trouble understanding my reaction to this book. It was decently well-written, well plotted; the main characters were pleasant (though the antagonists seemed pretty flat) and it had an active, motivated heroine. But somehow it lacked something for me, and left me feeling -- well -- "meh".
Maybe it was the fact that I like a little magic in my fairy tales. Maybe it was the fact that there didn't seem to be any real surprises -- or for that matter, any real suspense, because it was a Cinderella retelling. Maybe it was the fact that the first quarter of the book dragged (though it did pick up after that point). Maybe it was all of those things. I'm not quite sure.
I appreciate good writing -- there is so much bad stuff out there right now that just having an author who can put together coherent sentences and who knows what all the words mean is a tremendous relief (and though I don't put her up on the top echelon of writing skill, she is a solid and reasonably skillful wordsmith). I also give full props to the author for coming up with a reason for the romantic couple to misunderstand each other that _didn't_ seem contrived.
But I wanted twists that weren't obvious. I wanted the villains to be people who weren't set up to be the villains from the minute they were introduced (or before, in one case). I wanted the stepmother to have hidden depths that got more than a brief nod (or perhaps the stepsisters). As it is, only two extremely minor characters turned out to be more than they were presented as. And maybe that's what it came down to -- this was, despite the more complex plot, clearly just a retelling of Cinderella. And I wanted it to be more.
Maybe it was the fact that I like a little magic in my fairy tales. Maybe it was the fact that there didn't seem to be any real surprises -- or for that matter, any real suspense, because it was a Cinderella retelling. Maybe it was the fact that the first quarter of the book dragged (though it did pick up after that point). Maybe it was all of those things. I'm not quite sure.
I appreciate good writing -- there is so much bad stuff out there right now that just having an author who can put together coherent sentences and who knows what all the words mean is a tremendous relief (and though I don't put her up on the top echelon of writing skill, she is a solid and reasonably skillful wordsmith). I also give full props to the author for coming up with a reason for the romantic couple to misunderstand each other that _didn't_ seem contrived.
But I wanted twists that weren't obvious. I wanted the villains to be people who weren't set up to be the villains from the minute they were introduced (or before, in one case). I wanted the stepmother to have hidden depths that got more than a brief nod (or perhaps the stepsisters). As it is, only two extremely minor characters turned out to be more than they were presented as. And maybe that's what it came down to -- this was, despite the more complex plot, clearly just a retelling of Cinderella. And I wanted it to be more.
February 20, 2019
This book is beautifully written. Davidson’s style is absolutely stunning and she uses a colorful vocabulary. It is not often that I read a book which strikes me like this one did; it left me wanting more. The pacing was fairly good as well, however, there was a lot of stuff in between. Often it was backstory or the character's thought. Unfortunately, the large amount of this caused me, at times, to skim. As for the plot, I loved that Trystan’s role in her household was different than your typical Cinderella story; it gave this novel fresh taste to it.
On a related note, the characters were charming. Trystan was smart; she thought through things instead of acting rashly. But she wasn’t perfect. She messed up, big time. Trystan’s banter with Ramsey was adorable and made me smile more than once. I just wish that there had been more development with their relationship. Up till about 85% it felt like we were just skimming the surface and then all of a sudden they jumped in. Although he was a minor character, I loved Kyril. I hope he shows up again in a later book.
Altogether, I definitely recommend this book. It is a beautifully written and captivating fairytale retelling.
On a related note, the characters were charming. Trystan was smart; she thought through things instead of acting rashly. But she wasn’t perfect. She messed up, big time. Trystan’s banter with Ramsey was adorable and made me smile more than once. I just wish that there had been more development with their relationship. Up till about 85% it felt like we were just skimming the surface and then all of a sudden they jumped in. Although he was a minor character, I loved Kyril. I hope he shows up again in a later book.
Altogether, I definitely recommend this book. It is a beautifully written and captivating fairytale retelling.
October 27, 2020
This book is simply fabulous. The author has a great vocabulary which can be seen very well throughout the book. The charming way in which the story has been presented clearly indicates how well equipped and educated she is with royal classics and fairy tales. I kept highlighting every alternate dialogue in every single page and the later gave up on it because clearly this is a book I would most definitely be reading again atleast once and the only thing that I was managing to achieve by marking was a rather colourful book.
I'm quite in awe of the book- the story , the characters, the basic plot, the beautiful witty dialogues, amazingly worded phrases, it was just fantastic. This was quite an educating experience for me unlike any other fairy tale reimaginings that I've read before. I was completely enthralled by its charming style .
I'm quite in awe of the book- the story , the characters, the basic plot, the beautiful witty dialogues, amazingly worded phrases, it was just fantastic. This was quite an educating experience for me unlike any other fairy tale reimaginings that I've read before. I was completely enthralled by its charming style .
February 25, 2021
Oh my
Since I was expecting pleasant tropes and predictable repetition from this Cinderella retelling, I was thrilled and upset to find myself - stressed - to say the least. Yes, I know how it will end, but so often I wondered what in the world the author was doing and how would she resolve the chaos. I'm happy to report a book full of court intrigue, but mostly about authenticity, character and upright morality even at high personal cost. It was just .... good.
Anxiety alert: Besides the stress written above, a suprisingly stressful part of the book is the gaslighting by the eldest brother, which was masterfully written. Overall, I wanted faster resolution to my discomfort in the lies, but at the end was happy it was not quickly resolved and happier at how the author walked us through it.
Since I was expecting pleasant tropes and predictable repetition from this Cinderella retelling, I was thrilled and upset to find myself - stressed - to say the least. Yes, I know how it will end, but so often I wondered what in the world the author was doing and how would she resolve the chaos. I'm happy to report a book full of court intrigue, but mostly about authenticity, character and upright morality even at high personal cost. It was just .... good.
Anxiety alert: Besides the stress written above, a suprisingly stressful part of the book is the gaslighting by the eldest brother, which was masterfully written. Overall, I wanted faster resolution to my discomfort in the lies, but at the end was happy it was not quickly resolved and happier at how the author walked us through it.
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