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Ashes of Glass
A servant struggling to survive. A prince becoming a leader. A snake seeking power. Arella Marceau, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, finds herself diminished to a lowly servant who must obey the every whim of her stepmother. Then she meets Freddie who is handsome, kind, strong, and of course, very charming. They spend an afternoon together, exploring ruins, becoming lost in the forest, and dealing with gypsies and Arella begins to fall for the young man. When a mysterious debt arises, it inevitably tears Arella away from what she thought might have been a shred of happiness. Arella accepts her dismal fate, but working as a scullery maid at the palace is a tumultuous task. For it is soon revealed to her that Freddie is Prince Friederic, heir to the throne of Ormandy. Even though discovery would mean life-shattering consequences, Freddie and Arella defy social expectations and meet in the safety of a secret garden. To complicate things further, Arella’s creditor seems to be frighteningly fascinated with her, as well as with the monarchy. What kind of secrets does he keep behind his black eyes? As Arella’s life spins out of control, she must hold to her love for Freddie and to her belief that God has a perfect plan.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2018
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 28, 2018
Oh my word, please tell me why I didn’t read this sooner?? This is probably my favorite Cinderella retelling!! It was amazing and had the story line of the original fairytale but was 100% better!! This was definitely a unique and original book. And can I just say that Prince Freddie is amazing!! He and Arella are just so cute together and deserve an award for cutest couple ever!! Also the bad guy in this story was so cruel and wicked that I literally had chills at times. *shudders*
If you haven’t read this AMAZING book already, I recommend you get yourself a copy and read it! If you like Romance, Christianity, and fairytale retelling then this book is for you!!!!
If you haven’t read this AMAZING book already, I recommend you get yourself a copy and read it! If you like Romance, Christianity, and fairytale retelling then this book is for you!!!!
May 26, 2019
Okay, so to be fair, I read this almost all in one sitting late into the night when I was feeling really bad... so my memories are a bit foggy even though I read it less than 24 hours ago. HOWEVER, this book was beautiful! Disregard the author's apology in the beginning... this book is *not* "full of flaws".
The characters were the best part. Especially the side characters (not that the MC's were bad). I also loved Freddie's father (and appreciated how Freddie included him in his relationship with Arella), and I also very much liked the Grand Advisor (unless my mind is blanking on his official title). Antonio was also a great side character and all of Ella's friends, mentors, and of course her "fairy godmother".
The author did a good job of deepening the classic Cinderella tale. It's didn't deviate too much, just added bits and pieces that made it all the sweeter.
I'd definitely recommend it if this sounds like your thing.
The only thing to be wary of is the villain... he creeped me out. He was just so... evil and twisted. Thankfully he didn't have much screen time, though. :)
Also, it may just be me, but I never fully understood how the title of the book applied? (Though the title is partly what drew me to the book in the first place)
Content: There were a few kisses, which didn't bother me. And a girl was threatened by a man who wanted her to be his mistress against her will, which made me uncomfortable, but thankfully they were mostly verbal threats and there wasn't much physical touch between the two.
2nd Read-Through:
Well, sadly reading it again and not all in one late-night sitting, I actually saw the weak points in the writing a lot more. There were a few typos, and the writing could have been -- stronger. It also didn't keep my attention quite so commandingly as that one late night previously. (Usually rereads still keep my attention.) But this book still holds a special place in my heart despite that because of where I was when I first read it and even ways it touched me on an emotional level this time. :)
The characters were the best part. Especially the side characters (not that the MC's were bad). I also loved Freddie's father (and appreciated how Freddie included him in his relationship with Arella), and I also very much liked the Grand Advisor (unless my mind is blanking on his official title). Antonio was also a great side character and all of Ella's friends, mentors, and of course her "fairy godmother".
The author did a good job of deepening the classic Cinderella tale. It's didn't deviate too much, just added bits and pieces that made it all the sweeter.
I'd definitely recommend it if this sounds like your thing.
The only thing to be wary of is the villain... he creeped me out. He was just so... evil and twisted. Thankfully he didn't have much screen time, though. :)
Also, it may just be me, but I never fully understood how the title of the book applied? (Though the title is partly what drew me to the book in the first place)
Content: There were a few kisses, which didn't bother me. And a girl was threatened by a man who wanted her to be his mistress against her will, which made me uncomfortable, but thankfully they were mostly verbal threats and there wasn't much physical touch between the two.
2nd Read-Through:
Well, sadly reading it again and not all in one late-night sitting, I actually saw the weak points in the writing a lot more. There were a few typos, and the writing could have been -- stronger. It also didn't keep my attention quite so commandingly as that one late night previously. (Usually rereads still keep my attention.) But this book still holds a special place in my heart despite that because of where I was when I first read it and even ways it touched me on an emotional level this time. :)
July 2, 2018
3.5 stars
This book was fairly good. Sometimes the prose wasn't great, but I don't consider that a major thing.
Those of you who know me know I don't usually formally review books, but I feel like this one deserves a formal review, as it will communicate my thoughts better. Soooo...
Prose: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Prose
I already mentioned the prose so I won't go into so much detail here. It was mostly just lacking a little pizzaz. Sometimes the sentences could have been reworded.
Romance
Lovely! I totally ship no need to go further in depth here, other than to mention that it felt a bit rushed at first
Characters
I feel like some things could have been improved. Freddie is pretty stereotypical, but overall they are fairly well-developed characters. I do love the Grand Duke. At first, I wasn't so keen on him, but I like him now.
Plot
This is another weak point of the story. It would have been nice to learn more about the villain, and why he did what he did. But it was a good idea. The best part (well-written- not happy) was when
Overall
Overall it was a great book. I loved reading it, although the prose would have made the reading go smother.
This book was fairly good. Sometimes the prose wasn't great, but I don't consider that a major thing.
Those of you who know me know I don't usually formally review books, but I feel like this one deserves a formal review, as it will communicate my thoughts better. Soooo...
Prose: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Prose
I already mentioned the prose so I won't go into so much detail here. It was mostly just lacking a little pizzaz. Sometimes the sentences could have been reworded.
Romance
Lovely! I totally ship no need to go further in depth here, other than to mention that it felt a bit rushed at first
Characters
I feel like some things could have been improved. Freddie is pretty stereotypical, but overall they are fairly well-developed characters. I do love the Grand Duke. At first, I wasn't so keen on him, but I like him now.
Plot
This is another weak point of the story. It would have been nice to learn more about the villain, and why he did what he did. But it was a good idea. The best part (well-written- not happy) was when
Overall
Overall it was a great book. I loved reading it, although the prose would have made the reading go smother.
November 11, 2018
Emma reached out to me and asked if I would be willing to review her book. First of all, I am honored, Emma. Thank you! When I asked her what her book was about, I got really excited. I love fairy tales! Her synopsis intrigued me and, I'm a fool for retellings, so that's how Ashes of Glass came to my attention. And, I'm very glad that it did.
Let's start with the not-so-strong points. I don't know if it was specifically the copy of the book I received or if all of the books are formatted this way, but I couldn't stand the formatting. It drove me insane. There were single or double lines that broke in the middle of the sentence, and often in the middle of the word. I eventually got used to it enough to read it, but I honestly wondered if the formatting would give me a headache! The chapters ran one directly after another and there was no bold or anything to set them apart, so it was sometimes difficult to tell that one was coming to an end. Also, I found many grammatical errors and a few typos. One chapter had the title inserted three or four times in the middle of the chapter, and once in the middle of a sentence! I took note of several run-ons, but they weren't three or four sentence run ons; they were just two short sentences connected by commas instead of a semicolon or separated by periods. Eventually, I tuned those out. There were a few other examples of grammatical errors that need fixed, but suffice it to say none of them were jarring (though a few did make me shake my head XD). I'm just a grammar Nazi and noticed each of them as I read. I believe this is self-published, and that takes an incredible amount of work. I'm so proud for Emma to have gotten this far! But, at least the copy I read, was very poorly formatted.
Secondly, the plot. From the very start, even as I read the synopsis, I noticed similarities between Ashes of Glass and the film Ever After. The first few chapters resembled the film in many regards, which kind of had me worried at first, but they were only similarities. Truthfully, the exposition felt like Disney's Cinderella mashed up with Ever After with a few strains of this new Cinderella retelling I was still feeling my way around. Now, that said, there came a point about 25% in that those similarities stopped and quite abruptly. I only found one or two more throughout the rest of the book. And the plot for the entire book was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed Emma's retelling. It was beautiful. She nodded to our favorite Cinderella qualities, but fleshed them out with her own ideas and made a story we wanted to follow. It was very well-paced and I loved the mystery and intrigue thrown in. (I do wish it had been expanded on just a tad, but I wasn't displeased with it.) I remember wondering more than once, "I'm only x% through the book...what could she possibly have left to do?" It seemed like we kind of sped through some of the traditional Cinderella plot points, though not uncomfortably so. I liked the ending, though I do feel there were a few things left unresolved. Nothing major was omitted and everything that should have been resolved was given attention, but I wanted one or two specific elements to have a final say and I kind of missed those. That said, I was positively grinning by the end.
The setting was simplistic, traditional. I enjoyed the reality of Emma's world. This is a retelling void of magic; and though I enjoy magic in fairytales and other stories, I'm always intrigued by those who can tell a story which traditionally employs magic without it. It's like a puzzle to me. How is the author going to get around this obstacle? How will she handle this plot element or that character, etc? I wouldn't say the setting was underdeveloped, but I also wouldn't really say there was anything particularly enchanting about it. I enjoyed the variety in the setting. We had a castle, a few homes, a forest, etc. It kept things fresh and interesting and made the world feel full.
I honestly and truly loved the characters. Arella and Freddie were fun to root for. They were endearing and a truly beautiful example of true love, love and friendship that develops and grows, love that sacrifices and protects. I had a wonderful time getting to know each of them and I'm really glad we got so many scenes from Freddie's perspective; those were quite the treat (even though the transition from one pov to the next was entirely nonexistent and somewhat confusing on occasion). I loved the side characters. The step-family felt a little flat and resembled, again, both Disney and Ever After's interpretations, but I like how they were incorporated into the plot. I wish we had seen a little more of some of the others like Agatha and Cecily. Oh, and I would read a whole book on Antonio! He was one of my very favorites! I think Izabella could have had more development, but I really liked her. I really wish we'd seen more of the king. I adored him!
Overall, I really did enjoy the book. I liked reading it and it wasn't poorly done. I did wish for a little more here and there though. I feel like the book...it isn't shallow, but it only touches the tip of the iceberg, if you know what I mean. It had great potential for depth, but rarely dove in and took the plunge. A book doesn't have to be heavy to be deep. This is a light read, but there were some plot elements and characters I wish had been given more development.
The romance was sweet and genuine. It was clean, but still heartwarming, and of course, there were a few fluffy kisses that make all the girls smile and sigh. There was no foul language at all and a very few, mild instances of violence.
I'd recommend this sweet indie retelling. It has a lot of potential to become great, I think. It's one to add to the collection for sure.
Note: I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for a review. This in no way affects my feelings toward the book, clearly.
Let's start with the not-so-strong points. I don't know if it was specifically the copy of the book I received or if all of the books are formatted this way, but I couldn't stand the formatting. It drove me insane. There were single or double lines that broke in the middle of the sentence, and often in the middle of the word. I eventually got used to it enough to read it, but I honestly wondered if the formatting would give me a headache! The chapters ran one directly after another and there was no bold or anything to set them apart, so it was sometimes difficult to tell that one was coming to an end. Also, I found many grammatical errors and a few typos. One chapter had the title inserted three or four times in the middle of the chapter, and once in the middle of a sentence! I took note of several run-ons, but they weren't three or four sentence run ons; they were just two short sentences connected by commas instead of a semicolon or separated by periods. Eventually, I tuned those out. There were a few other examples of grammatical errors that need fixed, but suffice it to say none of them were jarring (though a few did make me shake my head XD). I'm just a grammar Nazi and noticed each of them as I read. I believe this is self-published, and that takes an incredible amount of work. I'm so proud for Emma to have gotten this far! But, at least the copy I read, was very poorly formatted.
Secondly, the plot. From the very start, even as I read the synopsis, I noticed similarities between Ashes of Glass and the film Ever After. The first few chapters resembled the film in many regards, which kind of had me worried at first, but they were only similarities. Truthfully, the exposition felt like Disney's Cinderella mashed up with Ever After with a few strains of this new Cinderella retelling I was still feeling my way around. Now, that said, there came a point about 25% in that those similarities stopped and quite abruptly. I only found one or two more throughout the rest of the book. And the plot for the entire book was well done. I thoroughly enjoyed Emma's retelling. It was beautiful. She nodded to our favorite Cinderella qualities, but fleshed them out with her own ideas and made a story we wanted to follow. It was very well-paced and I loved the mystery and intrigue thrown in. (I do wish it had been expanded on just a tad, but I wasn't displeased with it.) I remember wondering more than once, "I'm only x% through the book...what could she possibly have left to do?" It seemed like we kind of sped through some of the traditional Cinderella plot points, though not uncomfortably so. I liked the ending, though I do feel there were a few things left unresolved. Nothing major was omitted and everything that should have been resolved was given attention, but I wanted one or two specific elements to have a final say and I kind of missed those. That said, I was positively grinning by the end.
The setting was simplistic, traditional. I enjoyed the reality of Emma's world. This is a retelling void of magic; and though I enjoy magic in fairytales and other stories, I'm always intrigued by those who can tell a story which traditionally employs magic without it. It's like a puzzle to me. How is the author going to get around this obstacle? How will she handle this plot element or that character, etc? I wouldn't say the setting was underdeveloped, but I also wouldn't really say there was anything particularly enchanting about it. I enjoyed the variety in the setting. We had a castle, a few homes, a forest, etc. It kept things fresh and interesting and made the world feel full.
I honestly and truly loved the characters. Arella and Freddie were fun to root for. They were endearing and a truly beautiful example of true love, love and friendship that develops and grows, love that sacrifices and protects. I had a wonderful time getting to know each of them and I'm really glad we got so many scenes from Freddie's perspective; those were quite the treat (even though the transition from one pov to the next was entirely nonexistent and somewhat confusing on occasion). I loved the side characters. The step-family felt a little flat and resembled, again, both Disney and Ever After's interpretations, but I like how they were incorporated into the plot. I wish we had seen a little more of some of the others like Agatha and Cecily. Oh, and I would read a whole book on Antonio! He was one of my very favorites! I think Izabella could have had more development, but I really liked her. I really wish we'd seen more of the king. I adored him!
Overall, I really did enjoy the book. I liked reading it and it wasn't poorly done. I did wish for a little more here and there though. I feel like the book...it isn't shallow, but it only touches the tip of the iceberg, if you know what I mean. It had great potential for depth, but rarely dove in and took the plunge. A book doesn't have to be heavy to be deep. This is a light read, but there were some plot elements and characters I wish had been given more development.
The romance was sweet and genuine. It was clean, but still heartwarming, and of course, there were a few fluffy kisses that make all the girls smile and sigh. There was no foul language at all and a very few, mild instances of violence.
I'd recommend this sweet indie retelling. It has a lot of potential to become great, I think. It's one to add to the collection for sure.
Note: I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for a review. This in no way affects my feelings toward the book, clearly.
July 17, 2018
I loved this fabulous story. A wholesome, Christian twist to the Cinderella story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Trusting in the Lord when things seemed impossible. This Christian romance was very well written. The characters capture your attention and hold them throughout the entire story.
E.J. Hill is one author I will be watching, waiting for more excellent stories to enjoy.
E.J. Hill is one author I will be watching, waiting for more excellent stories to enjoy.
April 16, 2018
Ashes of Glass is a young adult novel that is romantically inclined. The focuses on Arella Marceau. She is the daughter of a wealthy merchant but situation changes and she finds herself working as a maid at a palace. The prince is charming and she falls for him creating this beautiful story of love, romance, survival, and power.
I fell in love with the story from the beginning and was just intensely connected with Arella. Her personality and character description was spot on. I found myself bonding with a perfectly drawn story and a lovely swaying flow of connectivity between something similar to pride and prejudice.
I particularly enjoyed the levels of integration between the classes. The story had a nice flow to it and I enjoyed the concept of the work. Prince Friederic was a charming character. He meets the young girl in a fairly surprising way and their relationship is not to be found out. He also possesses some secrets of his own which made the story quite intriguing.
The cover design is very appealing and the book is suitable for romance and young adult readers. I recommend it to this particular reader.
I fell in love with the story from the beginning and was just intensely connected with Arella. Her personality and character description was spot on. I found myself bonding with a perfectly drawn story and a lovely swaying flow of connectivity between something similar to pride and prejudice.
I particularly enjoyed the levels of integration between the classes. The story had a nice flow to it and I enjoyed the concept of the work. Prince Friederic was a charming character. He meets the young girl in a fairly surprising way and their relationship is not to be found out. He also possesses some secrets of his own which made the story quite intriguing.
The cover design is very appealing and the book is suitable for romance and young adult readers. I recommend it to this particular reader.
May 23, 2018
This is an awesome book! I don’t like to start off my reviews with such a blunt statement but that is the very first thing that comes to mind when I think of this story. It was introduced to me as a Christian romance and I have to say, it most definitely is! BUT not in the way that you would think. This isn’t about two shy Christians trying to wait until marriage before they can truly express their love. Its not about a sweet, innocent ‘good girl’ charming the rebellious man of her dreams into a stable, God-fearing church lifestyle. Ashes of Glass is a very well and very loveable retelling of the story of Cinderella.
Arella, or ‘Ella’, is the daughter of a wealthy merchant who soon finds herself in a very unfortunate situation. Through unforeseen mishaps she ends up being overworked and abused as she grinds out backbreaking chores everyday for her stepmother. Somehow, in this dark moment of her life, Arella finds a light in a young man she declares as her very own ‘Prince Charming’. His name is Freddie, and for Arella he’s just a handsome distraction but she later finds out that he is indeed a Prince. And because he happens to be a Prince, their romance is doomed due to the strict social norms of the Kingdom of Ormandy. Desperately in love, Prince Friederic and Arella decide they are going to fight for their relationship—determined to follow the plan they believe God has laid out for them.
What I loved most about this story was the writing itself. It was very detailed without getting nitpicky or boring—I don’t need ten pages of endless droning just to tell me Ella is blonde and beautiful. I also really liked the characterization, especially on Ella’s behalf. One thing I greatly dislike about romance is the classic ‘damsel in distress’ attitude but Arella is not like that at all. Hill built a very lovable protagonist with an understanding and intelligent personality. Arella is not a victim, she’s a strong woman in an unfortunate situation and Hill made sure this was clear to audiences.
I think I should also point out that the cover of this book is very appealing, and it fits the story so well! I was pulled in before I ever read a page. I highly recommend it to any fans of romance, YA readers, those who enjoy Christian fiction, and anyone looking for a great fairytale novel.
Arella, or ‘Ella’, is the daughter of a wealthy merchant who soon finds herself in a very unfortunate situation. Through unforeseen mishaps she ends up being overworked and abused as she grinds out backbreaking chores everyday for her stepmother. Somehow, in this dark moment of her life, Arella finds a light in a young man she declares as her very own ‘Prince Charming’. His name is Freddie, and for Arella he’s just a handsome distraction but she later finds out that he is indeed a Prince. And because he happens to be a Prince, their romance is doomed due to the strict social norms of the Kingdom of Ormandy. Desperately in love, Prince Friederic and Arella decide they are going to fight for their relationship—determined to follow the plan they believe God has laid out for them.
What I loved most about this story was the writing itself. It was very detailed without getting nitpicky or boring—I don’t need ten pages of endless droning just to tell me Ella is blonde and beautiful. I also really liked the characterization, especially on Ella’s behalf. One thing I greatly dislike about romance is the classic ‘damsel in distress’ attitude but Arella is not like that at all. Hill built a very lovable protagonist with an understanding and intelligent personality. Arella is not a victim, she’s a strong woman in an unfortunate situation and Hill made sure this was clear to audiences.
I think I should also point out that the cover of this book is very appealing, and it fits the story so well! I was pulled in before I ever read a page. I highly recommend it to any fans of romance, YA readers, those who enjoy Christian fiction, and anyone looking for a great fairytale novel.
February 13, 2021
Cinderella💃💘 and the Prince👑
Historical Romance and Retelling of Cinderella with a Murder💀 and Villains.
This is a mostly SWEET retelling of the age old story of Cinderella. In this book Arella💃💔, now an orphan and under the control of her stepmother, meets Freddie, the disguised Prince 👑 at the street market where she is sent as a servant by her evil stepmother.
She💃💔 goes to work in the palace🏰 as a maid when her stepmother loses her childhood home to debt, and sees the Freddie again, now recognizing him as the true Prince👑. He is still interested in her and doesn't care that she is a maid. He sees the good that is in her heart💘 and mind.
ARC Provided by Book 📚Sirens💃
I also got this ebook with KU.
This is probably an ADULT read because of the violence and murders in the book. It's definitely not for young children.
The main problem I had with this book was the total lack of the author to identify the character who is currently speaking. It is told in first person from dual points of view, but the author switches back and forth between characters without identifying which one is telling the story. Sometimes it was pages before I figured out which character was telling the story.
If the author would remedy this major problem by putting the character's name as a title at the beginning of the chapter or using their name as a title when switching between characters, it would have really helped with story continuity.
The age old angsty plot of not being good enough to marry👰 the hero which is used in many books, is also used here.
Historical Romance and Retelling of Cinderella with a Murder💀 and Villains.
This is a mostly SWEET retelling of the age old story of Cinderella. In this book Arella💃💔, now an orphan and under the control of her stepmother, meets Freddie, the disguised Prince 👑 at the street market where she is sent as a servant by her evil stepmother.
She💃💔 goes to work in the palace🏰 as a maid when her stepmother loses her childhood home to debt, and sees the Freddie again, now recognizing him as the true Prince👑. He is still interested in her and doesn't care that she is a maid. He sees the good that is in her heart💘 and mind.
ARC Provided by Book 📚Sirens💃
I also got this ebook with KU.
This is probably an ADULT read because of the violence and murders in the book. It's definitely not for young children.
The main problem I had with this book was the total lack of the author to identify the character who is currently speaking. It is told in first person from dual points of view, but the author switches back and forth between characters without identifying which one is telling the story. Sometimes it was pages before I figured out which character was telling the story.
If the author would remedy this major problem by putting the character's name as a title at the beginning of the chapter or using their name as a title when switching between characters, it would have really helped with story continuity.
The age old angsty plot of not being good enough to marry👰 the hero which is used in many books, is also used here.
May 13, 2021
*I received a free digital copy through BookSirens for an honest review*
Ashes of Glass is a cute and fun Cinderella retelling. I love how the author made this story non-magical while still preserved the essence of the original fairytale. The plot was well-paced, with both romantic moments and shocking twists that held my interest.
The only thing preventing it to be a five-star was the ending. I knew it was supposed to be a happy ending, but it still felt too rush and too convenient. I also wish we could see what happened to the side characters.
It’s not a perfect book, yet definitely enjoyable. I would recommend this book to fairytale retelling lovers. If you’re looking for other books from the author, or other fairytale retellings, check out Beautiful Beast and my review.
Ashes of Glass is a cute and fun Cinderella retelling. I love how the author made this story non-magical while still preserved the essence of the original fairytale. The plot was well-paced, with both romantic moments and shocking twists that held my interest.
The only thing preventing it to be a five-star was the ending. I knew it was supposed to be a happy ending, but it still felt too rush and too convenient. I also wish we could see what happened to the side characters.
It’s not a perfect book, yet definitely enjoyable. I would recommend this book to fairytale retelling lovers. If you’re looking for other books from the author, or other fairytale retellings, check out Beautiful Beast and my review.
August 16, 2018
As a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, when I found out about Emma's Christian Cinderella retelling, I jumped at the opportunity to read it and review for her. I thoroughly enjoyed this author's version of the story.
The first portion of the book is extremely similar to the movie Ever After, so much so that it felt like I might be reading a novelized version of the movie. I found this slightly disappointing, but was pleased when the similarities started thinning out in a new twist and more unique perspective. As a whole, the plot was intricate enough to keep the reader's attention and add greater depth to the traditional story of Cinderella. I especially enjoyed how both the prince and peasant girl hide their true identities.
Emma's characters were well-developed and much loved—or despised—depending on the authors intent. A reader feels as though he know the characters well and are rooting for Prince Friederic and Arella. The side characters are also interesting and add more insight into the main characters.
Prince Friederic and Arella's romance is sweet and clean—just how I like it. Their interactions are tender and their love persistent.
Written in first person, the transitions from one character to the next could be smoother, and are slightly confusing. However, for the author's age, the writing style is very good. Other than several minor typos and mistakes, the writing is consistently enjoyable to read. There were very few times I found myself jarred from the story by writing errors.
As a whole, Emma's story is a wonderful version of one of my favorite fairy tales. She did a fantastic job changing the plot just enough to give it a “new” feel and creating characters you love.
The first portion of the book is extremely similar to the movie Ever After, so much so that it felt like I might be reading a novelized version of the movie. I found this slightly disappointing, but was pleased when the similarities started thinning out in a new twist and more unique perspective. As a whole, the plot was intricate enough to keep the reader's attention and add greater depth to the traditional story of Cinderella. I especially enjoyed how both the prince and peasant girl hide their true identities.
Emma's characters were well-developed and much loved—or despised—depending on the authors intent. A reader feels as though he know the characters well and are rooting for Prince Friederic and Arella. The side characters are also interesting and add more insight into the main characters.
Prince Friederic and Arella's romance is sweet and clean—just how I like it. Their interactions are tender and their love persistent.
Written in first person, the transitions from one character to the next could be smoother, and are slightly confusing. However, for the author's age, the writing style is very good. Other than several minor typos and mistakes, the writing is consistently enjoyable to read. There were very few times I found myself jarred from the story by writing errors.
As a whole, Emma's story is a wonderful version of one of my favorite fairy tales. She did a fantastic job changing the plot just enough to give it a “new” feel and creating characters you love.
April 10, 2024
*ARC ebook provided by publisher*
Lucy Anne Holland’s Ashes of Glass is a retelling of classic Cinderella, though the plot is a lot deeper in this one compared to the original, and I must admit, I like this version much better. The novel starts out sounding quite a bit like Cinderella; the main character, Arella Marceau, endures both her mother’s death and her father’s, leaving her in the house and care of her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters, though they care much less for her than she does them. Over time, while being practically bound in servitude to her step-family, she happens upon a charming young man named Freddie, and soon the two become great friends. However, Arella soon realizes that “Freddie” is really Prince Friederic, the crown prince who is most likely the soon-to-be king of Ormandy due to his father’s untimely and unfortunate declining health. As Freddie and Arella attempt to keep and secure their unusual relationship, and Arella attempts to pay off a debt she supposedly owes to a sinister and suspicious man named Lord Francilo DiFortunato, they rely on both each other and God to guide them. Without giving anything away, I can’t get much deeper into the mystery of the plot, but I will say that Freddie and Arella’s secret relationship soon becomes only one of the many problems they’ll have to face.
This book at first was only three stars for me, I think due to the fact that I found the first quarter a bit slow-paced and repetitive. However, I had to bump it up another when the plot thickened, because the suspense and excitement definitely picked things up. Aside from the plot, which I found well-thought-out and very conclusive at the end, with no plot holes or mistakes that I could find, the characters themselves were very well-developed and always acted and answered in ways that completely suited them. Arella is very kind, compassionate, and friendly, though that doesn’t stop her from being brave and firm in any way. Freddie is loyal to his country and to Arella, and though he was not an absolutely perfect king, this only deepened his character and totally suited his role, and he still always wanted what was best for his kingdom and people.
I really liked the side characters Antonio, the captain of the guard, Cecily, one of the maids Arella works with in the palace, and Eunice, the Marceaus’ kitchen cook, all of whom had defined personalities and really added to the main characters. The villain, Lord Francilo DiFortunato, is established right away as a sneaky weaselly kind of man, as it is obvious from the beginning that he is not to be trusted, though the reason is uncovered only much later in the story. I think maybe it would have been nice to doubt his wickedness, if only at the beginning, just so that I didn’t immediately know the bad from good, but he was a well-portrayed man anyways, and I mean it as a compliment when I say that I really did not like him. At all.
There were more aspects I liked about this book than I didn’t, but I’ve already mentioned much of the good stuff, so I’m writing now about the things I didn’t love. I’m not trying to demean it in any way, I’m just stating what I thought of it.
The story was almost too similar to Cinderella, by which I mean that her family situation was the same, her siblings were the same, and she was even called Cinder Ella by her sister Josette occasionally. There was nothing wrong about it being like that, and it definitely got better later on, but I thought that too much was the same at the beginning. I actually did wish her step-family was in it more, as it seemed Arella barely saw them, and they did have some very clever and fun dialogue that I liked reading.
As I mentioned, I think Francilo DiFortunato was casted as bad just a little early, although that might partly be me judging him based on his creepy appearance.
One of the biggest things that got me wasn’t the novel itself, but the grammar in it. I am NOT saying that it was badly edited, because it wasn’t. The only two things that I didn’t like were that, one, commas often seemed to be placed instead of semicolons or periods, and two, that sometimes there were commas where I felt they were unnecessary and awkward, such as, “A pair of manservants carrying vases of carefully arranged flowers, bow as I pass.”
Despite these things, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I almost always felt like reading it, no matter what time of day, which shows that it’s intriguing and enjoyable. This book is DEFINITELY worth the read. The characters are awesome, the writing is overall well-written, the plot is solid with a clean and neat conclusion, and it is a rare but very much desired clean but not cringey-clean YA novel. I would highly recommend reading Ashes of Glass.
Lucy Anne Holland’s Ashes of Glass is a retelling of classic Cinderella, though the plot is a lot deeper in this one compared to the original, and I must admit, I like this version much better. The novel starts out sounding quite a bit like Cinderella; the main character, Arella Marceau, endures both her mother’s death and her father’s, leaving her in the house and care of her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters, though they care much less for her than she does them. Over time, while being practically bound in servitude to her step-family, she happens upon a charming young man named Freddie, and soon the two become great friends. However, Arella soon realizes that “Freddie” is really Prince Friederic, the crown prince who is most likely the soon-to-be king of Ormandy due to his father’s untimely and unfortunate declining health. As Freddie and Arella attempt to keep and secure their unusual relationship, and Arella attempts to pay off a debt she supposedly owes to a sinister and suspicious man named Lord Francilo DiFortunato, they rely on both each other and God to guide them. Without giving anything away, I can’t get much deeper into the mystery of the plot, but I will say that Freddie and Arella’s secret relationship soon becomes only one of the many problems they’ll have to face.
This book at first was only three stars for me, I think due to the fact that I found the first quarter a bit slow-paced and repetitive. However, I had to bump it up another when the plot thickened, because the suspense and excitement definitely picked things up. Aside from the plot, which I found well-thought-out and very conclusive at the end, with no plot holes or mistakes that I could find, the characters themselves were very well-developed and always acted and answered in ways that completely suited them. Arella is very kind, compassionate, and friendly, though that doesn’t stop her from being brave and firm in any way. Freddie is loyal to his country and to Arella, and though he was not an absolutely perfect king, this only deepened his character and totally suited his role, and he still always wanted what was best for his kingdom and people.
I really liked the side characters Antonio, the captain of the guard, Cecily, one of the maids Arella works with in the palace, and Eunice, the Marceaus’ kitchen cook, all of whom had defined personalities and really added to the main characters. The villain, Lord Francilo DiFortunato, is established right away as a sneaky weaselly kind of man, as it is obvious from the beginning that he is not to be trusted, though the reason is uncovered only much later in the story. I think maybe it would have been nice to doubt his wickedness, if only at the beginning, just so that I didn’t immediately know the bad from good, but he was a well-portrayed man anyways, and I mean it as a compliment when I say that I really did not like him. At all.
There were more aspects I liked about this book than I didn’t, but I’ve already mentioned much of the good stuff, so I’m writing now about the things I didn’t love. I’m not trying to demean it in any way, I’m just stating what I thought of it.
The story was almost too similar to Cinderella, by which I mean that her family situation was the same, her siblings were the same, and she was even called Cinder Ella by her sister Josette occasionally. There was nothing wrong about it being like that, and it definitely got better later on, but I thought that too much was the same at the beginning. I actually did wish her step-family was in it more, as it seemed Arella barely saw them, and they did have some very clever and fun dialogue that I liked reading.
As I mentioned, I think Francilo DiFortunato was casted as bad just a little early, although that might partly be me judging him based on his creepy appearance.
One of the biggest things that got me wasn’t the novel itself, but the grammar in it. I am NOT saying that it was badly edited, because it wasn’t. The only two things that I didn’t like were that, one, commas often seemed to be placed instead of semicolons or periods, and two, that sometimes there were commas where I felt they were unnecessary and awkward, such as, “A pair of manservants carrying vases of carefully arranged flowers, bow as I pass.”
Despite these things, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I almost always felt like reading it, no matter what time of day, which shows that it’s intriguing and enjoyable. This book is DEFINITELY worth the read. The characters are awesome, the writing is overall well-written, the plot is solid with a clean and neat conclusion, and it is a rare but very much desired clean but not cringey-clean YA novel. I would highly recommend reading Ashes of Glass.
March 30, 2021
Thanks to Book Sirens for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!
2.5 stars*
Ashes of Glass is a nice wholesome Cinderella retelling. However, I found it to be too close to the original. Especially in the beginning. There were some things that were different from the original, but even those weren’t new. I liked reading this book, but it wasn’t anything unique. Though, seeing from the prince’s perspective was interesting.
The execution of this book wasn’t what it could have been. Many times, the dialogue or action of the characters felt forced or unnatural. You could easily tell that certain things were said or happened because the author wanted it to lead to something else, even when that said thing wasn’t what somebody would normally say in that situation. Kind of a suspension of disbelief type thing at times.
The atmosphere and world building fell flat for me. The author threw in a few regal words, but it just sounded off with the majority of contemporary wording. The scope of the world was small as well, but that isn’t a huge deal. It’s that both the world and characters were 2 dimensional. The characters were nothing special or distinctive.
Overall, if you want just a nice time and can overlook some of the flaws, then you will enjoy this book.
2.5 stars*
Ashes of Glass is a nice wholesome Cinderella retelling. However, I found it to be too close to the original. Especially in the beginning. There were some things that were different from the original, but even those weren’t new. I liked reading this book, but it wasn’t anything unique. Though, seeing from the prince’s perspective was interesting.
The execution of this book wasn’t what it could have been. Many times, the dialogue or action of the characters felt forced or unnatural. You could easily tell that certain things were said or happened because the author wanted it to lead to something else, even when that said thing wasn’t what somebody would normally say in that situation. Kind of a suspension of disbelief type thing at times.
The atmosphere and world building fell flat for me. The author threw in a few regal words, but it just sounded off with the majority of contemporary wording. The scope of the world was small as well, but that isn’t a huge deal. It’s that both the world and characters were 2 dimensional. The characters were nothing special or distinctive.
Overall, if you want just a nice time and can overlook some of the flaws, then you will enjoy this book.
May 25, 2018
Palace intrigue, social inequality, greed and murder...and of course, romance make up this story.
The main character finds herself in the midst of despair after her father's death. Now she is having to navigate her new life with a nasty stepmother and step-siblings.
The author does a wonderful job using poetic phrases to lead the reader into the main character's world. The story moves at a good pace, leaving the reader to wonder what happens next.
I love the way the author mixes faith and witnessing into the story at just the right moments. Powerful life lessons are intertwined throughout the story which only serves to make the story richer.
However, I believe the story could have flowed better at certain points with less day to day explanations.
All in all, this is a book worth reading.
Angela Pisaturo
Author, Speaker and Writing Instructor
The main character finds herself in the midst of despair after her father's death. Now she is having to navigate her new life with a nasty stepmother and step-siblings.
The author does a wonderful job using poetic phrases to lead the reader into the main character's world. The story moves at a good pace, leaving the reader to wonder what happens next.
I love the way the author mixes faith and witnessing into the story at just the right moments. Powerful life lessons are intertwined throughout the story which only serves to make the story richer.
However, I believe the story could have flowed better at certain points with less day to day explanations.
All in all, this is a book worth reading.
Angela Pisaturo
Author, Speaker and Writing Instructor
February 13, 2021
Loved this retelling of Cinderella! It reminded me in many ways of "Ever After" the movie, but this had a few unexpected but significant additions. One thing that bothered me was the repeated homophone mistake in the book; nearly every time the author intended to use "past" the homophone "passed" was used instead. There were a couple of other misspellings or homophones that I noticed, but overall the book certainly rates 4.5 if not 4.75 stars. If asked would I be interested in reading more by this author, there is no hesitation: yes, absolutely! Very clean, very tender, sweet story even with the bad guys being truly evil.
Nicely done, Ms. Hill. Thank you.
I'm leaving this review voluntarily, having received an ARC for free.
Nicely done, Ms. Hill. Thank you.
I'm leaving this review voluntarily, having received an ARC for free.
December 10, 2018
A refreshing of the Cinderella story with a faith foundation. Very nice. Good writing, character development, and interesting intrigue. I quite enjoyed this novel. It is a fairly quick read, and isn't as predictable as it might seem.
You'll enjoy getting to know Ella, who is a scullery maid promoted to chamber maid. She is a very good girl with some very unsavory characters out to see to her harm.
I received this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
4 of 5 stars
You'll enjoy getting to know Ella, who is a scullery maid promoted to chamber maid. She is a very good girl with some very unsavory characters out to see to her harm.
I received this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
4 of 5 stars
June 23, 2018
I really, really loved this book. It was a truly great love story between a servant and a Prince. I loved the characters and the palace was described very nice. To me, it was a Cinderella type fairy tale, and that's what made it even more enjoyable. I hope the King and Arella live happily ever after together. The author done a really excellent job with this book. I hope to read more books like it in the future. I give it 5 stars. Keep up the great work, Emma!
June 21, 2020
When her father remarried Lady Durante a widowed mother with two daughters, Arella Marceau thought their family would be whole again after the death of her mother and that her father would be happy. But when her father suddenly passes away whilst traveling, leaving her alone with her stepmother and stepsisters, her world turns upside down when she is forced to take the role as their servant in her own home. Life takes a positive turn when Arella is rescued at the market after being knocked down by a passerby. Freddie, her ‘Prince Charming’, is keen to meet her again to which she instantly agrees.
When it is discovered that her father left behind a huge debt after his death, Lady Durante has no choice but to sell the house and put Arella to work for the remaining debt to be paid. Her new disturbing creditor, Lord Francilo Difortunato, sets up residence in her father’s old house, whilst Arella finds a position as a scullery maid at the royal palace. It’s there where she discovers her Freddie is non other than the Prince himself, heir to the Kingdom of Ormandy.
‘”What are you doing here?” I ask breathlessly, already wishing this had not happened.
“I might ask you the same question,” Freddie says.
For a moment I am left speechless, lost for the right words to answer, but then I ask, “You are a Prince?”
At the same time, he asked,
“You are a servant?”
We stare at each other wide-eyed while our brains attempt to comprehend what is happening.’
My Thoughts
Ashes of Glass is a retelling of Cinderella which was an absolute pleasure to read. I was worried at first that the story was too similar to the original and Disney remake, Arella’s mother dies, her father remarries to make the family whole again bringing along two stuck up stepsisters both with no compassion or any likeable factors, her father dies, and she’s forced to become a servant in her old family home. Thankfully at this stage it begins it’s own story whilst keeping the traditional happily ever after we’d expect from a Cinderella retelling. The main difference that I liked in this retelling is how the Prince and Arella find out the truth about each other’s station in life and decide that it doesn’t matter right from the start. This was very refreshing for a fairytale not to be swept up in lies. The story continues with them meeting up in secret as Prince and servant which I found even more enticing, each time wondering if this will be the time they get caught whilst building up their relationship. I also liked how the evil stepmother and horrible stepsisters weren’t actually the main villain in this tale, in-fact, they rarely make appearances at all after Arella starts working at the palace.
‘He sees me the instant I step into the pearly light. A smile lights up his eyes, it makes them sparkle brighter than the stars.
I move nearer and say timidly, “Hello, Prince Friederic.”
He frowns at my words, “Don’t call me that, it’s just Freddie.”
I move to stand beside him, “It’s not right.”
“Then let it not be right. I care not.”
For a moment we are silent, neither of us exactly sure what to say. I want to speak, but his position as Prince separates us.’
I really did enjoy this Cinderella story, however I must say I felt it was a bit stale at times when it came to the relationship between Arella and the Prince. I felt more first-love flirty excitement was needed. They meet almost every single day, constantly leaving notes for each other, but you don’t get to witness all of their discourse which could have been used to bring more spark to their relationship, for them to get to know each other more personally with an audience rather than ‘Arella told me of this…’ later on. When they both found out who the other really was, it didn’t change a single thing, they still wanted to see each other. The author did a great job with their meet-cute, the first time they saw each other they knew, but after that I didn’t feel the passionate emotional enthusiasm as much as I’d hoped too as both characters have a similar reserved disposition.
The characters overall were told very well. Most of them didn’t need a big part or much dialogue for the author to express how important or uncomfortable they made each scene. Lady Durant brought an essence of power and expected status which you could perceive through the pages. Prince Friederic brought a sense of comfort and safety, even before we discovered who he is as just Freddie. Using the settings in particular to introduce Francilo Difortunato definitely improved his dark demeanour, how Arella walked into her old home, a place she had felt safe and happy growing up, and felt instead uneasy and tense even before being introduced to her new disturbing creditor in her father’s old office.
I really liked how parts of the story were told in Prince Friederics perspective to get a small glimpse into the role of royalty and responsibility, plus the relationship he has with his father, King Albert of Ormandy. I absolutely adored his father and his bizarre passion for elephants, it made his character all the more innocent and lovely for a man in such high status.
Overall Ashes of Glass was a delightfully sweet story that I really enjoyed. Thank you Emma for approaching me and providing me with a copy. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.
When it is discovered that her father left behind a huge debt after his death, Lady Durante has no choice but to sell the house and put Arella to work for the remaining debt to be paid. Her new disturbing creditor, Lord Francilo Difortunato, sets up residence in her father’s old house, whilst Arella finds a position as a scullery maid at the royal palace. It’s there where she discovers her Freddie is non other than the Prince himself, heir to the Kingdom of Ormandy.
‘”What are you doing here?” I ask breathlessly, already wishing this had not happened.
“I might ask you the same question,” Freddie says.
For a moment I am left speechless, lost for the right words to answer, but then I ask, “You are a Prince?”
At the same time, he asked,
“You are a servant?”
We stare at each other wide-eyed while our brains attempt to comprehend what is happening.’
My Thoughts
Ashes of Glass is a retelling of Cinderella which was an absolute pleasure to read. I was worried at first that the story was too similar to the original and Disney remake, Arella’s mother dies, her father remarries to make the family whole again bringing along two stuck up stepsisters both with no compassion or any likeable factors, her father dies, and she’s forced to become a servant in her old family home. Thankfully at this stage it begins it’s own story whilst keeping the traditional happily ever after we’d expect from a Cinderella retelling. The main difference that I liked in this retelling is how the Prince and Arella find out the truth about each other’s station in life and decide that it doesn’t matter right from the start. This was very refreshing for a fairytale not to be swept up in lies. The story continues with them meeting up in secret as Prince and servant which I found even more enticing, each time wondering if this will be the time they get caught whilst building up their relationship. I also liked how the evil stepmother and horrible stepsisters weren’t actually the main villain in this tale, in-fact, they rarely make appearances at all after Arella starts working at the palace.
‘He sees me the instant I step into the pearly light. A smile lights up his eyes, it makes them sparkle brighter than the stars.
I move nearer and say timidly, “Hello, Prince Friederic.”
He frowns at my words, “Don’t call me that, it’s just Freddie.”
I move to stand beside him, “It’s not right.”
“Then let it not be right. I care not.”
For a moment we are silent, neither of us exactly sure what to say. I want to speak, but his position as Prince separates us.’
I really did enjoy this Cinderella story, however I must say I felt it was a bit stale at times when it came to the relationship between Arella and the Prince. I felt more first-love flirty excitement was needed. They meet almost every single day, constantly leaving notes for each other, but you don’t get to witness all of their discourse which could have been used to bring more spark to their relationship, for them to get to know each other more personally with an audience rather than ‘Arella told me of this…’ later on. When they both found out who the other really was, it didn’t change a single thing, they still wanted to see each other. The author did a great job with their meet-cute, the first time they saw each other they knew, but after that I didn’t feel the passionate emotional enthusiasm as much as I’d hoped too as both characters have a similar reserved disposition.
The characters overall were told very well. Most of them didn’t need a big part or much dialogue for the author to express how important or uncomfortable they made each scene. Lady Durant brought an essence of power and expected status which you could perceive through the pages. Prince Friederic brought a sense of comfort and safety, even before we discovered who he is as just Freddie. Using the settings in particular to introduce Francilo Difortunato definitely improved his dark demeanour, how Arella walked into her old home, a place she had felt safe and happy growing up, and felt instead uneasy and tense even before being introduced to her new disturbing creditor in her father’s old office.
I really liked how parts of the story were told in Prince Friederics perspective to get a small glimpse into the role of royalty and responsibility, plus the relationship he has with his father, King Albert of Ormandy. I absolutely adored his father and his bizarre passion for elephants, it made his character all the more innocent and lovely for a man in such high status.
Overall Ashes of Glass was a delightfully sweet story that I really enjoyed. Thank you Emma for approaching me and providing me with a copy. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.
May 21, 2018
I received a copy of this novel for free from the author for review.
A charming young-adult retelling of the Cinderella story. This version takes place in the fictional kingdom of Ormandy. The beginning of this story will be familiar to one and all, but the story of "Ella" takes a different twist when she meets a young man she declares as her "Prince Charming". As they spend time together discussing each other's dreams, hopes and shared faith, they deal with the required wicked stepmother, encounter gypsies, discover plots against the king and solve a mystery. Without revealing too much, one part of the story had an almost gothic feel to it. No magical fairy godmothers in this Christian version of the story, but there are kind women in Ella's life who help her when troubles arise to give this an HEA ending.
A charming young-adult retelling of the Cinderella story. This version takes place in the fictional kingdom of Ormandy. The beginning of this story will be familiar to one and all, but the story of "Ella" takes a different twist when she meets a young man she declares as her "Prince Charming". As they spend time together discussing each other's dreams, hopes and shared faith, they deal with the required wicked stepmother, encounter gypsies, discover plots against the king and solve a mystery. Without revealing too much, one part of the story had an almost gothic feel to it. No magical fairy godmothers in this Christian version of the story, but there are kind women in Ella's life who help her when troubles arise to give this an HEA ending.
May 6, 2021
Fairytale retellings are a weakness of mine, which is why I was very excited to read a copy of Ashes of Glass by E.J. Hill. A Cinderella retelling, it focused on Arella and her very own Prince Charming, Freddie. At the start, the first few chapters seemed like a retelling of Ever After, and I debated on whether I should continue reading. Thankfully, I did and this tale became one of more than just love, but also of intrigue.
As a whole, I loved the book. The plot was engaging, the characters memorable, and even though I figured out the bad guy pretty easily, I was still interested enough to see how he met his justice. What I didn’t so much love was the writing itself. It was very simplistic, and maybe geared more toward a YA audience. Truth be told, it’s been a long time since I last read a YA book so I could be mistaken. The writing here simply lacked depth. It was told in first person, but back and forth between Arella and Freddie. Freddie’s portions were unnecessary, in my opinion. It would’ve been fine to read the entire story from Arella’s perspective only. Last but not least, there were multiple grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
The book cover is beautiful, and the romantic elements of this sweet fairytale made this book worth my reading time. I would like to see it edited to give another reader a more enjoyable experience. There is lots to love in this dreamy story.
As a whole, I loved the book. The plot was engaging, the characters memorable, and even though I figured out the bad guy pretty easily, I was still interested enough to see how he met his justice. What I didn’t so much love was the writing itself. It was very simplistic, and maybe geared more toward a YA audience. Truth be told, it’s been a long time since I last read a YA book so I could be mistaken. The writing here simply lacked depth. It was told in first person, but back and forth between Arella and Freddie. Freddie’s portions were unnecessary, in my opinion. It would’ve been fine to read the entire story from Arella’s perspective only. Last but not least, there were multiple grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
The book cover is beautiful, and the romantic elements of this sweet fairytale made this book worth my reading time. I would like to see it edited to give another reader a more enjoyable experience. There is lots to love in this dreamy story.
September 16, 2018
For anyone who likes the timeless story of Cinderella, I would recommend this one.
June 24, 2019
This story starts a bit slow, in a traditional Cinderella manner, but then changes gears, adding twists and points of interest that keep the pages turning.
I enjoyed the character development and thought Emma did a good job of setting up real-life situations to prove it through their actions. I was also glad that the stepmom and stepsisters were not a major part of the plot.
One of the things I liked best about this story is that Ella and Freddie tell each other everything, which keeps things honest and helps them battle the villain together. This way Emma avoids the lame conflict that usually occurs— “Oh, I didn’t know you were a commoner . . .” Refreshing!
I liked this book so much that I read it twice!
Arleen Jennings
I enjoyed the character development and thought Emma did a good job of setting up real-life situations to prove it through their actions. I was also glad that the stepmom and stepsisters were not a major part of the plot.
One of the things I liked best about this story is that Ella and Freddie tell each other everything, which keeps things honest and helps them battle the villain together. This way Emma avoids the lame conflict that usually occurs— “Oh, I didn’t know you were a commoner . . .” Refreshing!
I liked this book so much that I read it twice!
Arleen Jennings
January 4, 2021
Ashes of Glass is a gorgeous retelling of Cinderella, and you all know what a sucker I am for a retelling!
Arella's upbringing is one we have heard numerous times, both through print and on screen. For this reason Emma Hill presents this chapter of Arella's life almost as a misty, memory montage; preferring to focus on the upcoming tale she has to tell. I must say I greatly appreciated this originality and confindence: Hill knows she has an absolute gem of a story here and doesn't need to pad it out with the sad turn of events we all know.
Anyone who has read "So, This is Love" by Elizabeth Lim will see some similarities within the two storylines in that Ella begins working in the Palace. However, Hill's Ella is , in my opinion, a much stronger character from the outset. She has no qualms in challenging Prince Freddie's prejudices in respects to gypsies and, on the whole, does not change her behaviour towards Freddie once she discovers he is the Prince.
Ella and Freddie are only two of a whole cast of characters who are beautifully portrayed within this novel. I really loved the added details such as the King's interest in elephants, the fact that the Duke was nicer (but still quite strict) and the fact that Ella had a friend alongside her. All of these factors made the story a lot more real than the classic fairy tale. Hill made it so easy for the reader to fall in love with Ella and Freddie as a couple, especially because they were not perfect and experienced real emotions such as doubt and jealousy. If anything, our love for these two made it even easier for us to hate the villain, Lord DiFortunato.
Now, we all love to hate the sleazy, slimy villain in a story, but this guy was something else! Emma Hill's villain literally made my skin crawl and, at the point in the story where Ella's curiosity puts her in a whole heap of danger, the suspense was too much I had to skim read just to know whether she was going to be OK.
The one character I did want a bit more of was Lady Izabella: I suspect she was likely Freddie's godmother due to her friendship with the Queen and I think this could have been cleverly played on a little more. Don't get me wrong she was a charming (and necessary) background character but I would have liked to see her a little more.
EJ Hill also included a lot of nods to the original fairy tale which were really appreciated. Of course the iconic pink dress becomes ruined and the ballgown is a must but Ella's affectionate use of Prince Charming as a nickname for Freddie was just gorgeous. Oh and losing the shoe: genius!
This is not to say this story lacks originality though. There is a thrilling sub plot into the investigation into the King's death which moves alongside and intersects Arella's plotline beautifully.
I would say that the chapters do shift from Arella to Freddie quite often and this could be quite confusing at times. Also faith plays a huge part within the story. I already knew Emma Hill was a Christian so this wasn't a surprise and it didn't put me off the story at all. I do think that it was included quite heavily though.
If you want the story of Cinderella, with a swoon-worthy Prince, more action, less Stepmother/sisters and an underlying murder mystery. This is the book for you!
Arella's upbringing is one we have heard numerous times, both through print and on screen. For this reason Emma Hill presents this chapter of Arella's life almost as a misty, memory montage; preferring to focus on the upcoming tale she has to tell. I must say I greatly appreciated this originality and confindence: Hill knows she has an absolute gem of a story here and doesn't need to pad it out with the sad turn of events we all know.
Anyone who has read "So, This is Love" by Elizabeth Lim will see some similarities within the two storylines in that Ella begins working in the Palace. However, Hill's Ella is , in my opinion, a much stronger character from the outset. She has no qualms in challenging Prince Freddie's prejudices in respects to gypsies and, on the whole, does not change her behaviour towards Freddie once she discovers he is the Prince.
Ella and Freddie are only two of a whole cast of characters who are beautifully portrayed within this novel. I really loved the added details such as the King's interest in elephants, the fact that the Duke was nicer (but still quite strict) and the fact that Ella had a friend alongside her. All of these factors made the story a lot more real than the classic fairy tale. Hill made it so easy for the reader to fall in love with Ella and Freddie as a couple, especially because they were not perfect and experienced real emotions such as doubt and jealousy. If anything, our love for these two made it even easier for us to hate the villain, Lord DiFortunato.
Now, we all love to hate the sleazy, slimy villain in a story, but this guy was something else! Emma Hill's villain literally made my skin crawl and, at the point in the story where Ella's curiosity puts her in a whole heap of danger, the suspense was too much I had to skim read just to know whether she was going to be OK.
The one character I did want a bit more of was Lady Izabella: I suspect she was likely Freddie's godmother due to her friendship with the Queen and I think this could have been cleverly played on a little more. Don't get me wrong she was a charming (and necessary) background character but I would have liked to see her a little more.
EJ Hill also included a lot of nods to the original fairy tale which were really appreciated. Of course the iconic pink dress becomes ruined and the ballgown is a must but Ella's affectionate use of Prince Charming as a nickname for Freddie was just gorgeous. Oh and losing the shoe: genius!
This is not to say this story lacks originality though. There is a thrilling sub plot into the investigation into the King's death which moves alongside and intersects Arella's plotline beautifully.
I would say that the chapters do shift from Arella to Freddie quite often and this could be quite confusing at times. Also faith plays a huge part within the story. I already knew Emma Hill was a Christian so this wasn't a surprise and it didn't put me off the story at all. I do think that it was included quite heavily though.
If you want the story of Cinderella, with a swoon-worthy Prince, more action, less Stepmother/sisters and an underlying murder mystery. This is the book for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2021
So, I have an interesting relationship with this book. We all have a hill (or many) we are willing to die on, and one of mine is that the world can never have too many Cinderella retellings. I've read many and loved them all -- there is just something magical about this story and all of the variations that have been inspired by the earlier versions of the tale. I love the premise of Cinderella -- you have your main character who is at core a good person, stuck in less than ideal circumstances, whose goodness eventually helps them to rise into greatness. I loved Arella's character and the way that the author built her character into a woman with more dimension than the earlier Cinderellas while still staying true to the core. Arella was kind, hard working, and and stuck with her stepfamily, but also stubbornly independent and passionate in her opinions. I also liked that the stepfamily members were much less important; they were there, but not the main villains of this particular tale, with made for an excellent twist! I also enjoyed that the "Prince Charming" (Freddie) was more present in the story. Romances where the leads actually spend time together are always far better. Their relationship and the plot of this book read in a comfortably familiar way. I had a basic idea of what to expect out of this tale and it read exactly the way I'd hoped it would!
That all being said -- while I love this book, I simultaneously recognize that there are several large technical issues. Firstly, there are a significant number of spelling/grammar errors. A small amount of errors is expected and will not take away from the overall experience of the read; the quantity of errors present in Ashes of Glass did diminish the overall reading experience. Secondly, the overarching character arcs/plots in Ashes of Glass feel as though they were very heavily inspired by the movies Ever After (with Drew Barrymore) and/or Disney's most recent live action Cinderella (with Lily James), with some Christian elements thrown in. This didn't affect my enjoyment of the story, but it does impact how highly I feel I can rate this book. The similarities were rampant and while resultant hybrid story was lovely, it isn't particularly unique.
Overall, I'm giving a three stars -- it was such a lovely read but not likely to be life changing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
That all being said -- while I love this book, I simultaneously recognize that there are several large technical issues. Firstly, there are a significant number of spelling/grammar errors. A small amount of errors is expected and will not take away from the overall experience of the read; the quantity of errors present in Ashes of Glass did diminish the overall reading experience. Secondly, the overarching character arcs/plots in Ashes of Glass feel as though they were very heavily inspired by the movies Ever After (with Drew Barrymore) and/or Disney's most recent live action Cinderella (with Lily James), with some Christian elements thrown in. This didn't affect my enjoyment of the story, but it does impact how highly I feel I can rate this book. The similarities were rampant and while resultant hybrid story was lovely, it isn't particularly unique.
Overall, I'm giving a three stars -- it was such a lovely read but not likely to be life changing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 30, 2023
2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this Cinderella retelling, but it just didn’t impress me. It’s not a bad book–simply not as good as other fairy tale retellings I’ve read.
Characters: Both Arella and Freddie were completely without flaws, making them uninteresting to read about. Arella’s physical beauty and inner perfection were annoying at times. As for Freddie, I was never drawn to him. The main reason for that is probably that I am unable to take seriously a hero with the name of Freddie. His name made it sound like he should be in the nursery rather than on the throne. Additionally, he was rather one-dimensional and like Arella, perfect. Francilo DiFortunato was a frightening though slightly cliche villain. I liked King Albert’s fascination with elephants–quite creative. In fact, he might have been my favorite character. The other side characters were not fleshed out, even the step-sisters. It was strange to read about a character named Marielle who was both mean and vain. Nothing could be farther from dear Marielle Austin of Kelsey Bryant’s Six Cousins series.
Setting: This book is set in the traditional fairy-tale historical fantasy setting with nothing to make it unique, except maybe the gypsies in the forest. I didn’t notice any details to connect it with a specific time in history.
Style: This book had a clear, interesting style, though not remarkable. Unfortunately, errors of punctuation and otherwise were plentiful. This depends on the reader, but I found the first person present tense narration awkward-sounding. However, I was not extremely confused by the head-hopping.
Theme: This is a Christian book. I loved that references to God were included, but the theme wasn’t deep. I feel like it was at its best in the end when
Content: DiFortunato wants to make Arella his mistress, but this is handled in a veiled and clean way. Arella and Freddie kiss and hug frequently in my opinion and are alone together a lot. This is a clean book that I would recommend to anyone over 11 or 12.
I would like to thank the author for giving me a free review copy to honestly review.
I really wanted to love this Cinderella retelling, but it just didn’t impress me. It’s not a bad book–simply not as good as other fairy tale retellings I’ve read.
Characters: Both Arella and Freddie were completely without flaws, making them uninteresting to read about. Arella’s physical beauty and inner perfection were annoying at times. As for Freddie, I was never drawn to him. The main reason for that is probably that I am unable to take seriously a hero with the name of Freddie. His name made it sound like he should be in the nursery rather than on the throne. Additionally, he was rather one-dimensional and like Arella, perfect. Francilo DiFortunato was a frightening though slightly cliche villain. I liked King Albert’s fascination with elephants–quite creative. In fact, he might have been my favorite character. The other side characters were not fleshed out, even the step-sisters. It was strange to read about a character named Marielle who was both mean and vain. Nothing could be farther from dear Marielle Austin of Kelsey Bryant’s Six Cousins series.
Setting: This book is set in the traditional fairy-tale historical fantasy setting with nothing to make it unique, except maybe the gypsies in the forest. I didn’t notice any details to connect it with a specific time in history.
Style: This book had a clear, interesting style, though not remarkable. Unfortunately, errors of punctuation and otherwise were plentiful. This depends on the reader, but I found the first person present tense narration awkward-sounding. However, I was not extremely confused by the head-hopping.
Theme: This is a Christian book. I loved that references to God were included, but the theme wasn’t deep. I feel like it was at its best in the end when
Content: DiFortunato wants to make Arella his mistress, but this is handled in a veiled and clean way. Arella and Freddie kiss and hug frequently in my opinion and are alone together a lot. This is a clean book that I would recommend to anyone over 11 or 12.
I would like to thank the author for giving me a free review copy to honestly review.
February 17, 2021
I love a good fairy tale retelling, but I have learned that I really prefer one set in an alternate setting from “once upon a time, in a land far away.” So, I was disappointed with the setting, but that’s really a personal problem. No stars off for that.
While I can accept the way Ms. Hill stuck pretty closely to the characters of the original Disney version of the Cinderella fairy tale (mean step-mother and step-sisters, downtrodden and orphaned Cinderella, handsome prince – all European), I think she missed a great opportunity to make them more realistic. There is little to no change to these characters. The good ones have no real flaws, so no need for growth. The bad ones have no good traits, no moments when we can understand their choices. There is no complexity.
The story line is pretty good. The step-mother and step-sisters disappear for a significant portion of the book so that another villain can come in, which was different and interesting, though that villain came straight out of a melodrama. Ms. Hill fleshed out the story with several appealing side characters that added some nice richness. But we are left with questions about what happened to some of them, as their stories are dropped without tying off those loose ends. The spiritual (Christian) themes are a little heavy-handed, but not too bad.
There are several spelling errors (there is a difference between “passed” and “past”) and typos, and I had some sort of weird technical difficulty with the book on the Kindle app of my iPhone. Most chapters ended and went on to the next chapter with no problem, but some had several blank pages between. And there was a glitch in one place where I’m pretty sure at least one or two sentences got cut off. I only mention those technical issues for the publisher to research, so they did not affect my score.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While I can accept the way Ms. Hill stuck pretty closely to the characters of the original Disney version of the Cinderella fairy tale (mean step-mother and step-sisters, downtrodden and orphaned Cinderella, handsome prince – all European), I think she missed a great opportunity to make them more realistic. There is little to no change to these characters. The good ones have no real flaws, so no need for growth. The bad ones have no good traits, no moments when we can understand their choices. There is no complexity.
The story line is pretty good. The step-mother and step-sisters disappear for a significant portion of the book so that another villain can come in, which was different and interesting, though that villain came straight out of a melodrama. Ms. Hill fleshed out the story with several appealing side characters that added some nice richness. But we are left with questions about what happened to some of them, as their stories are dropped without tying off those loose ends. The spiritual (Christian) themes are a little heavy-handed, but not too bad.
There are several spelling errors (there is a difference between “passed” and “past”) and typos, and I had some sort of weird technical difficulty with the book on the Kindle app of my iPhone. Most chapters ended and went on to the next chapter with no problem, but some had several blank pages between. And there was a glitch in one place where I’m pretty sure at least one or two sentences got cut off. I only mention those technical issues for the publisher to research, so they did not affect my score.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 13, 2021
I enjoyed the fun new twist on the classic Cinderella Story. And while it falls under the "Inspirational Fiction" umbrella, I never found the inclusion of God in Arella's narrative to be preachy or heavy handed. Instead, it gave her the faith and strength to persevere through her toughest times because she never felt alone or without guidance.
I am also grateful that her abusive step-family were not part of the main storyline for long. I can only stand so much odiousness before I start to feel angry and frustrated with the dependence on the nasty characters to move the plot along.
Instead, we were able to see the story flow between Arella and Freddie - getting the perspectives from not only the lowly servant, but also the charming Prince who is just as restricted by position and birthright as any peasant.
Like many others have previously observed, I did upon occasion, have difficulty discerning who was speaking to whom throughout a conversation. Other than that, I had no troubles with the writing style or vocabulary chosen. The pacing of the plot moved without dragging, and I found the descriptions eloquent and easily visualized.
Recommended for fans of Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiera Cass, Mel Stone, and Elizabeth Lim.
* I received an eARC from BookSirens. I am leaving the review voluntarily. *
I am also grateful that her abusive step-family were not part of the main storyline for long. I can only stand so much odiousness before I start to feel angry and frustrated with the dependence on the nasty characters to move the plot along.
Instead, we were able to see the story flow between Arella and Freddie - getting the perspectives from not only the lowly servant, but also the charming Prince who is just as restricted by position and birthright as any peasant.
Like many others have previously observed, I did upon occasion, have difficulty discerning who was speaking to whom throughout a conversation. Other than that, I had no troubles with the writing style or vocabulary chosen. The pacing of the plot moved without dragging, and I found the descriptions eloquent and easily visualized.
Recommended for fans of Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiera Cass, Mel Stone, and Elizabeth Lim.
* I received an eARC from BookSirens. I am leaving the review voluntarily. *
February 19, 2021
Ashes of Glass is not at all what I was expecting based on the description. I was expecting a sweet faith based love story. Instead what I got was yet another retelling of the classic Cinderella story. Sure there were a few twists in that the main evil character wasnt the stepmom, but it goes even so far as her step sisters calling her Cinder Ella, stepsisters ripping the dress before the ball, and losing a shoe while leaving the ball.That being said I instantly fell in love with the characters. The book is well paced and so sweet. I love Arella's innocence and overall kind soul. The supporting characters of Cecily, Agatha and Eunice were also a sweet reprieve that made the overall feel of the book seem lighter. There really isn't much focus on the Christian aspect at all except maybe a few prayers and a theme more toward the end of the book that focuses on finding the right path in life and trusting God. The writing is better than alot of newer authors but didnt strike me as outstanding, there are a few typos and the writing isn't elegant by any means. Overall though a quick enjoyable read that will hold your attention. Perfect for YA and teen readers!
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2023
Been a little while, but I'm going to try to remember what impressions I can...
Style wasn't my favorite, but that's definitely personal preference
First third or so had me wondering whether anything was going to diverge from the standard Cinderella (or at least Ever After) format, but after that it did diverge quite a bit with some very unexpected twists
Liked the sweet relationship between Freddie and Arella, although there was one bit I wasn't so fond of (they have a conversation where they decide it's not wise to continue meeting each other because people might draw wrong conclusions, then decide they're going to continue anyway)
Had a hard time with the way that most obstacles seemed to be overcome by a single conversation or a single meeting with the person who was being unfairly judged--it was nice, but didn't feel very realistic
The mystery element was pretty interesting and had me suspecting a number of people at different points
Overall, not my favorite, but it might be right up someone else's alley. :)
Style wasn't my favorite, but that's definitely personal preference
First third or so had me wondering whether anything was going to diverge from the standard Cinderella (or at least Ever After) format, but after that it did diverge quite a bit with some very unexpected twists
Liked the sweet relationship between Freddie and Arella, although there was one bit I wasn't so fond of (they have a conversation where they decide it's not wise to continue meeting each other because people might draw wrong conclusions, then decide they're going to continue anyway)
Had a hard time with the way that most obstacles seemed to be overcome by a single conversation or a single meeting with the person who was being unfairly judged--it was nice, but didn't feel very realistic
The mystery element was pretty interesting and had me suspecting a number of people at different points
Overall, not my favorite, but it might be right up someone else's alley. :)
May 9, 2021
Fairy tales are often read by little girls but there aren’t always fairy tales as we get older. Emma Hill provides the perfect remedy for this problem with Ashes of Glass. It is a retelling of Cinderella with twists and turns that brings the well known story to life in a new way.
To the reader, there were many similarities to the stories we have read in the past. The similarities were fun to unwrap and see how they were explained within Hill’s point of view. The story was told from both characters point of view which added to the story line.
I liked the faith component mixed within the storyline subtly. I appreciate a clean romance that can be read by young adults as well, so they don’t miss out on a great book. This book had several components that added up to an intriguing tale.
I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.
To the reader, there were many similarities to the stories we have read in the past. The similarities were fun to unwrap and see how they were explained within Hill’s point of view. The story was told from both characters point of view which added to the story line.
I liked the faith component mixed within the storyline subtly. I appreciate a clean romance that can be read by young adults as well, so they don’t miss out on a great book. This book had several components that added up to an intriguing tale.
I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.
August 24, 2021
3/5 Stars
In this Cinderella retelling, we follow Arella as she loses her father and must settle his debts since her stepmother won't.
I immensely enjoyed that Arella and her prince charming, Freddie, actually had a relationship for most of the book. It made it so much more believable that they would fall in love and try to be together, rather than our classic love at first sight story.
This is a really easy read that can be read in one sitting. The characters are interesting and evoke emotions from readers.
My biggest peeve was that it would switch between Arella's and Freddie's POVs with no real indication as to who it was until they mentioned the other's name. It just threw me out of the story for a few moments.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from BookSirens.
In this Cinderella retelling, we follow Arella as she loses her father and must settle his debts since her stepmother won't.
I immensely enjoyed that Arella and her prince charming, Freddie, actually had a relationship for most of the book. It made it so much more believable that they would fall in love and try to be together, rather than our classic love at first sight story.
This is a really easy read that can be read in one sitting. The characters are interesting and evoke emotions from readers.
My biggest peeve was that it would switch between Arella's and Freddie's POVs with no real indication as to who it was until they mentioned the other's name. It just threw me out of the story for a few moments.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from BookSirens.
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