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A Time Lord Fairy Tale #3
Cinderella and the Magic Box
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Cinderella and the Magic Box: A Time Lord Fairy Tale read by Ingrid Oliver.
Cinderella has lost all hope of attending the royal ball with her stepmother and sisters when a strange man in a blue box arrives and begins to grant her every wish. But at the palace, Cinderella soon discovers not all the guests are as noble as they seem....
A captivating fairy tale, read by Doctor Who star Ingrid Oliver and written by Justin Richards.
Cinderella has lost all hope of attending the royal ball with her stepmother and sisters when a strange man in a blue box arrives and begins to grant her every wish. But at the palace, Cinderella soon discovers not all the guests are as noble as they seem....
A captivating fairy tale, read by Doctor Who star Ingrid Oliver and written by Justin Richards.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
About the author
Justin Richards
314 books243 followersJustin Richards was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure fiction. He wrote science fiction and fantasy novels, including series set in Victorian and early 20th-century London, as well as contemporary adventure stories. He was best known for writing numerous spin-off novels, reference books, and audio plays based on the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. Richards served as Creative Consultant for the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels until 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 27, 2023
4.5
a variation of 'Cinderella', where her Fairy Godmother is the eleventh Doctor and the pumpkin-coach is the TARDIS. also, there were vampires involved. very enjoyable.
a variation of 'Cinderella', where her Fairy Godmother is the eleventh Doctor and the pumpkin-coach is the TARDIS. also, there were vampires involved. very enjoyable.
December 16, 2024
Initial rating was 3 stars but looking back on this book a few hours later it just had so much that I loved and so I'm gonna bump it up to a 3.5! Round down to 3
This was actually really nice! I'm a bit surprised since I was actually the most skeptical about this book but it's actually my favorite so far in the series!! Not only do we get a fairly tale vibe but I got an appearance of one of my absolute favorite Doctors but and one of my favorite monsters!!! And this book really reminds me of one of my favorite Doctor Who Episodes, where the 10th Doctor lands himself in a Castle and meets Madame de Pompadour and helps her while also fighting monsters! Idk I actually really liked this and got a nice feel good vibe from it. I still wish the pacing was a bit slower because then I would've been able to connect to it so much more, but other than that and the slow beginning I honestly have no complaints!
This was actually really nice! I'm a bit surprised since I was actually the most skeptical about this book but it's actually my favorite so far in the series!! Not only do we get a fairly tale vibe but I got an appearance of one of my absolute favorite Doctors but and one of my favorite monsters!!! And this book really reminds me of one of my favorite Doctor Who Episodes, where the 10th Doctor lands himself in a Castle and meets Madame de Pompadour and helps her while also fighting monsters! Idk I actually really liked this and got a nice feel good vibe from it. I still wish the pacing was a bit slower because then I would've been able to connect to it so much more, but other than that and the slow beginning I honestly have no complaints!
July 4, 2016
As a long-ish disclaimer, I want to say that Cinderella is one of the Patriarchal traditional fairy tales I dislike the most: It equates 'beautiful' with 'valid' and 'good' (Cinderella is beautiful and 'good', her stepsisters are 'selfish' and 'evil', so they're ugly); it equates 'good' with being practically a pushover who puts up with everyone's rubbish; there's a nearly complete lack of female bonding (mother who dies, 'evil' stepmother and sisters as competition regarding other men), apart from the fairy godmather, who pretty much supports patriarchy and only helps her by giving her a makeover so that she can atract a man (where was she when she was miserable and toiling away in the house before the ball??); meanwhile, the father figure, who actually pretty much neglects her 'kind' daughter is forever glorified; On the other hand, a man is the woman's recompense for being good (and beautiful!) -practically the only choice for a woman lacking her own means in those times, but definitely not the ideal 'happy ending' or even a 'choice', as it's exalted in such an anachronistic way today; the man is interested in her mainly because of her good looks, and the ball was there in the first place so that he could choose a (pretty) bride - and he's also so stupid he needs the freaking slipper to recognise her in the first place when she's not in her make-overed ball look. I could go on.
So why 3 stars? Well, apart from the fact that it's Ingrid Oliver aka Osgood reading :), I have to admit that the Whovian and less traditional twists of this tale were refreshing, compared to the stifling patriarchy of the original one (although nothing beats the feminist rendition of Ever After, in my opinion), so, although the general idea of the tale remains the same, there are some interesting changes (includes some spoilers):
-The fairy godmother is the Eleventh Doctor, and that's pretty cool, and also pretty subsersive :D. Enjoyed the descriptions about the TARDIS' bath (time-locked so that you can take as long as you want in your bath without any time actually passing outside) and wardrobe. And although Cinderella ends up wearing the Whovian variation of glass slippers ('Midnight crystal', a softer variation which adapts to the shape of your foot), I enjoyed Eleven confirming that 'glass shoes would just be silly', something that I've always thought xD (also, HIGH-heeled glass slippers? No obvious these tales were written by men who don't have to wear such shoes!!)
-The ball is hosted by Lord and Lady Dark, and it's not meant to search for a bride for any prince, it's just a masquerade ball. The Doctor actually sends Cinderella on a mission against the *spoiler* actually vampire nobles (he's unable to do it himself because they'd instantly notice the artron energy in him). So the 12 am deadline does not involve Cinderella escaping from the prince, but actually beating the vampires with the sonic screwdriver, and saving the story's prince and everyone else in the process. A more proactive Cinderella, which I appreciate.
-The prince is not seeking a bride (he was a guest at the ball, lured by the Darks), and, while Cinderella ends up getting engaged to him in the ending, in the typical we-have-just-met-but-who-cares way of traditional fairy tales, at least he doesn't do the stupid stunt with the slipper (he just gives it back a short while after she loses it, and doesn't chase her without her consent, as in the original tale) and thanks her for saving his life. Not enough reasons to actually immediately want to marry someone (I guess he thinks she's pretty and she still has no other way out), but ah well.
So why 3 stars? Well, apart from the fact that it's Ingrid Oliver aka Osgood reading :), I have to admit that the Whovian and less traditional twists of this tale were refreshing, compared to the stifling patriarchy of the original one (although nothing beats the feminist rendition of Ever After, in my opinion), so, although the general idea of the tale remains the same, there are some interesting changes (includes some spoilers):
-The fairy godmother is the Eleventh Doctor, and that's pretty cool, and also pretty subsersive :D. Enjoyed the descriptions about the TARDIS' bath (time-locked so that you can take as long as you want in your bath without any time actually passing outside) and wardrobe. And although Cinderella ends up wearing the Whovian variation of glass slippers ('Midnight crystal', a softer variation which adapts to the shape of your foot), I enjoyed Eleven confirming that 'glass shoes would just be silly', something that I've always thought xD (also, HIGH-heeled glass slippers? No obvious these tales were written by men who don't have to wear such shoes!!)
-The ball is hosted by Lord and Lady Dark, and it's not meant to search for a bride for any prince, it's just a masquerade ball. The Doctor actually sends Cinderella on a mission against the *spoiler* actually vampire nobles (he's unable to do it himself because they'd instantly notice the artron energy in him). So the 12 am deadline does not involve Cinderella escaping from the prince, but actually beating the vampires with the sonic screwdriver, and saving the story's prince and everyone else in the process. A more proactive Cinderella, which I appreciate.
-The prince is not seeking a bride (he was a guest at the ball, lured by the Darks), and, while Cinderella ends up getting engaged to him in the ending, in the typical we-have-just-met-but-who-cares way of traditional fairy tales, at least he doesn't do the stupid stunt with the slipper (he just gives it back a short while after she loses it, and doesn't chase her without her consent, as in the original tale) and thanks her for saving his life. Not enough reasons to actually immediately want to marry someone (I guess he thinks she's pretty and she still has no other way out), but ah well.
December 26, 2018
So far, my favourite Time Lord fairy tale ♡
December 31, 2017
Last little book for 2017!
March 18, 2017
Two reasons: the Eleventh Doctor, and his interaction with Cindy. The subtle way that 11 insinuates
himself in every situation and tries to fix it (and in most cases manages to mostly do it, too) is what I love about him. His conversation with Cindy, and the absolute indignation he demonstrates when he's told she won't be going to the ball, is what so endears him to me.
The writing, for the most part, was spot on. You could envision glimpses of that adorable, calculated goofiness that puts people off guards and makes them do what he wants to do. The way the fairy tale was reimagined, while not too adventurous, was quite decent. Liked it much better than some of the other stories in the series, but maybe that's just me talking as a fanboy.
himself in every situation and tries to fix it (and in most cases manages to mostly do it, too) is what I love about him. His conversation with Cindy, and the absolute indignation he demonstrates when he's told she won't be going to the ball, is what so endears him to me.
The writing, for the most part, was spot on. You could envision glimpses of that adorable, calculated goofiness that puts people off guards and makes them do what he wants to do. The way the fairy tale was reimagined, while not too adventurous, was quite decent. Liked it much better than some of the other stories in the series, but maybe that's just me talking as a fanboy.
October 16, 2015
Best Cinderella retelling EVER!!!! I've made my decision, this is the version I'll be reading to my kids, Cinderella was far more awesome and the Doctor was there and seriously... this was amazing!!! <3
August 7, 2018
Such a cute story
January 24, 2020
Third entry in the Time Lord Fairy Tales series is a great little read, spinning Cinderella into a tale where the Doctor is of course the Fairy Godmother, that is after all the Doctor summed up, with baddies and the whole midnight thing having added meaning.
A swift great little book.
Time Lord Fairy Tales #3
Justin Richards #3
A swift great little book.
Time Lord Fairy Tales #3
Justin Richards #3
December 17, 2019
The Doctor himself actually makes an appearence in this one. That may or may not be one of the reasons I enjoyed this more. It's the story of Cinderella, but with some supernatual and sci-fi twists. Again, okay story.
July 22, 2017
Loved this one but in fairness I'm a total sucker for Cinderella. It gives me all the warm and fuzzies.
January 1, 2018
Mesmo sem ler a sinopse notamos logo: a história exala Smitty. lol Like must of the "A Time Lord Fairy Tale": short and simple, but sweet and fun.
August 6, 2018
The 11th Doctor was just inside the world of Cinderella... and somehow, fit perfectly! He made the perfect fairy godmother! oh, and there were vampires involved. 😃
December 31, 2018
This is a delightful spin on an otherwise highly overdone story.
January 5, 2019
This was a lovely read with an interesting twist. Eleven as the fairy godmother alone is worth reading this. Very fitting, very sweet.
February 20, 2019
The Doctor (I'm pretty sure it's the Tenth) as Cinderella's fairy godparent was a DELIGHT. Cute little story, much like the rest of the Time Lord Fairy Tales!
July 20, 2020
3.25 stars
August 6, 2020
Just awesome 🥰
February 24, 2021
CINDERELLA AND THE MAGIC BOX.
The only story so far to include the Doctor.. kind of... the "blue box" certainly is present.
The only story so far to include the Doctor.. kind of... the "blue box" certainly is present.
October 11, 2024
Adorable update to the cinderella story and read by Ingrid Oliver!
December 3, 2024
Cute! Kinda didn't need the monsters! Liked the idea of Doctor as Fairy God Mother enough without it! Honestly! Do that as an episode!
October 8, 2026
The Doctor as The Fairy Godmother with Vampires involved? Yes.
October 1, 2025
My favourite of this series. Many of the stories in the series don't feature the doctor. This one does and the retelling/twist in the traditional story is fun.
November 14, 2015
Alright for a fairytale, though i really miss more doctor-action. It wasn't even clarified which incarnation she met until the authour mentioned the bow tie, and even then, the doctor talked like tennant ...
November 18, 2015
I'm petering on the edge of 'loved it' and 'not so much'. It was an interesting re-telling, but I kinda of wish it was a little more fleshed out.
January 16, 2016
I didn't expect to but I loved it! A surprisingly good combination that I never thought would have worked. But it really does.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews