Cinder

Fractured Fairy Tales #2

by J.E. Taylor

Elle must escape a life of despair to find magic in a Prince’s arms.Elle Seeley’s world turns upside down when her mother passes unexpectedly. Her father brings her into his business, teaching her the art of negotiation in the marketplace and how to defend herself against attack. All his training and grooming comes to a halt when he brings home a new wife and the woman’s daughter.Elle’s father makes her promise to listen and obey.The minute her father leaves, her new step-mother transforms into a monster with one goal—to humiliate Elle into submission.When news of a ball is announced, Elle wants to escape her mentally unstable captor, but she is forbidden to go.Will Elle find a way to escape a life meant only for despair?

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2018

About the author

J.E. Taylor is an award winning, USA Today Bestselling author, a publisher, an editor, a mother, a wife, a business analyst, and a Supernatural fangirl, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:

“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”

From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back.

In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing (www.novelconceptpublishing), Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory (www.allegoryezine.com), an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.

She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.

Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com

Reviews

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle Seeley’s world is turned upside down when her mother passes away unexpectedly. Her father, not completely sure how to raise a daughter on his own, brings her into his business, teaching her the art of negotiation in the marketplace and how to defend herself against attack. But, all of this training and grooming come to a complete halt when he remarries and brings home a new wife and stepdaughter. Elle’s father makes her promise to listen and obey her new stepmother but the moment he leaves her stepmother shows her true nature. She becomes a monster with only one goal, humiliating Elle into total servitude. When news of a ball being held so the Prince can find a bride is announced, Elle desperately longs to escape her mentally unstable, sociopathic captor, but she’s forbidden to go. Will Elle find a way to escape her life of despair?

I really enjoyed this fresh take on the Cinderella story. With a story that’s been retold as many times as this one , it’s hard to find a truly new, unique point of view, and J.E. Taylor manages to do so. One of the things that didn’t change is that Elle, our “Cinderella”, doesn’t let her circumstances make her bitter and vengeful. She remains compassionate and kind. She’s not a doormat, however, our Elle is strong and independent. She does what needs to be done. She goes from having never cooked anything to running the entire household. This Cinderella story has some surprises in how Elle escapes her stepmother and marries the Prince, who is absolutely wonderful, but I don’t want to give them away and spoil the book. You really need to read Cinder, it’s not just another stale retelling of the classic story but a new revitalized version that can stand on its own.

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great! I'm loving this series so far! Fairytale reimaginings are such fun! I love seeing the twists on a classic story. Cinder follows along with the story of Cinderella, this installment follows fairly close to the original, but does have some difference and goes more depth into some aspects of the story. There's also a mystery trunk in the attic! I always hated how blind Cinderella's father was to the evilness of the stepmother, and in this one he's even worse. Cinderella still has her problems, but I loved seeing her have some more fire to her character. Cinder also has a shot of passion to the story, and the romance is also sweet. I liked Red a tinge more than Cinder, but both are great! I'm looking forward to the rest of this series! I'm really enjoying J.E. Taylor's take on the classic fairytales!

[Katt Faëhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow that moved fast.

It's not a bad book but it's not great. It's okay. It definitely would've been better as a longer book.

I think some topics were not taken seriously enough. I was also kinda left questioning what really happened at some places ( what scared the man off?)


Also... The prince just knew after a few words that she was THE one??

Idk man... Just i know it's fantasy but just most of the book just seemed toooo unrealistic.

But it's not the worst Cinderella retelling and I don't regret reading it. I actually quite liked the whole idea of the book. Especially where she saved herself. She stayed strong. She got some really cool magic. I mean this book could've been great. If only it wasn't so rushed.

[Airwreckah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cinderella is a hard tale to tell to a modern audience. And this did not do it for me at all. The writing is fine, but the heroine makes herslef a punching bag for no good reason. I didnt buy it and it pissed me off. It makes me angry when there is domestic abuse and not even an attempt at escape when it would totally be possible and its not like she was brainwahsed before. Like, it all happened when she was 18; and could SWORD! No. Just no.

She was passive and weak, but “she swords!” And can defend herself so dont pay attention to her weak ass character. Bleh. Couldnt make it to the ball.

But if pansy waif /stepping stones are your thing, go on ahead.

[Fifi’s Bookshelf · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh man. I hate to write negative reviews for indie fairytales like this but this was...really bad. The plot was all over the place, every plot point sprouted up randomly with no development, the most annoying case of insta love I’ve ever witnessed, unoriginal and undeveloped characters, I could go on for ages. I get that this is a self published book by an unprofessional author but this was like a middle school creative writing essay. I might read more of the series out of morbid curiosity cuz I’ve never seen a fairytale retelling of Brave before, but I honestly don’t think I could get through any more of this unless I read it ironically because I can’t take this seriously. I just, can’t.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strongly wronged Cinderella girl with intense scenes, action, suspense, violence, magic and heated passion. Kept me wide-eyed with the narrations and descriptions that awoke my interest until the end. I was so incensed against the step mother that I was imagining her death in mind. But I could not expect anything less from J.E. Taylor. Like how the author arouses intense emotions in her stories. I devoured this book.

[Susan Harrowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional Cinderella retelling

I think this version might become a new favorite retelling of this classic. Parts were emotional and heartbreaking, yet an undercurrent of hope is woven throughout. Beautifully done.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a totally different take on Cinderella. Delightful. Elle is so different. Loved it, wish it was longer.

[Kety · Rating 4 out of 5]

A world full of surprise and magic.
Few things will be as you aspect... you will love the difference, the surprises.
Don't miss it!

[Ola Adamska · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read is another Great read from this author. Ideal combination of retrlling and more adult contents.
Ella is a character That will make you cheer for Her
Warning: contains trigers.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinderella finds herself, finally!!!

Few have written a story with such depth. Ella is phenomenally written and goes thru hell to find her Prince Charming!!!

[Tracy's Place · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but it was sometimes hard to read as Taylor didn’t skimp on showing us the brutal way the stepmother treated Elle.

[Nigel Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://nigelbaker.name/?p=10957