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Dragon by Midnight #1
Dragon by Midnight
When the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella turns into a dragon.
Her dream twisted into a nightmare, she flees from the ball into the wilderness. Cinderella’s only hope? Sikandar, a sorcerer banished from a faraway land, who promises to break the dragon curse. Even at her most beastly, he finds beauty within her. But he’s hiding his own dark past, and saving Cinderella might be his last chance of redemption.
Together, Cinderella and Sikandar must untangle dangerous secrets and deadly magic before happily ever after is forever out of reach.
Dragon by Midnight features sweet romance, twists on fairytales, an obsession with breakfast, and a cinnamon roll hero who’s too good to be bad.
Her dream twisted into a nightmare, she flees from the ball into the wilderness. Cinderella’s only hope? Sikandar, a sorcerer banished from a faraway land, who promises to break the dragon curse. Even at her most beastly, he finds beauty within her. But he’s hiding his own dark past, and saving Cinderella might be his last chance of redemption.
Together, Cinderella and Sikandar must untangle dangerous secrets and deadly magic before happily ever after is forever out of reach.
Dragon by Midnight features sweet romance, twists on fairytales, an obsession with breakfast, and a cinnamon roll hero who’s too good to be bad.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2021
103 people are currently reading
2270 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kincy
24 books741 followersKaren Kincy writes books when she isn’t writing code. She has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and an MS in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
September 2, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was different to most retelling's of Cinderella because it starts at the ball, where Cinderella dances with Prince Benedict and is having a wonderful time, until the clock strikes midnight an Cinderella turns into a dragon. This is when everything goes pear shaped and the Prince and a sorcerer Sikandar are order to hunt the dragon(Cinderella). She can only be saved from death if Sikandar can break the curse, and turn her back into a girl. This is pretty fast pace for most of the book and the characters are delightful, wholesome, and a bit too trusting, I really enjoyed the story.
Happy Reading 😊🎈
This was different to most retelling's of Cinderella because it starts at the ball, where Cinderella dances with Prince Benedict and is having a wonderful time, until the clock strikes midnight an Cinderella turns into a dragon. This is when everything goes pear shaped and the Prince and a sorcerer Sikandar are order to hunt the dragon(Cinderella). She can only be saved from death if Sikandar can break the curse, and turn her back into a girl. This is pretty fast pace for most of the book and the characters are delightful, wholesome, and a bit too trusting, I really enjoyed the story.
Happy Reading 😊🎈
Want to read
July 27, 2021I'm excited to share Cinderella and Sikandar's story with you all! It's been years since I wrote a young adult novel, so I hope I'm not too rusty and readers enjoy this one. :)
July 9, 2022
3.5
Well, that was wholly enjoyable. I liked our main characters and the concept. I feel as enough some things could have been expanded on more and dealt with better but on the whole, I’m pretty happy. Going into this I didn’t realise it was a series, I assumed it was just a standalone. Personally, I think this would work better on its own, maybe then it would have felt like the ended was more well rounded.
Well, that was wholly enjoyable. I liked our main characters and the concept. I feel as enough some things could have been expanded on more and dealt with better but on the whole, I’m pretty happy. Going into this I didn’t realise it was a series, I assumed it was just a standalone. Personally, I think this would work better on its own, maybe then it would have felt like the ended was more well rounded.
August 22, 2021
I received an ARC via BookSirens in exchange for a honest review.
This book has an interesting idea for a retelling that immediately caught my eye, What would happen if Cinderella's magical transformation came with a curse?
On the surface, it looks like a "Cinderella" rehash that's going the way the expected plot we all know, with the first scene being the girl arriving at the palace's ball as in countless other takes. But then, the surprises start: you see the "Beauty and the Beast" element crash into the ballroom, literally, in the form of the dragon in the title as the clock strikes midnight, and then you see the influence of "The Thousand and One Nights" appear, specifically vibes from "Aladdin," in the form of the sorcerer from Azurum and his entire backstory. It was a pleasant and creative idea to see developed because, although combinations of the first two tales aren't new to me, the combination of all three definitely is.
What I liked best besides the premise was the characterisation of Sikandar, whose Bad Boy/Evil Sorcerer is hilariously deceptive, because he couldn't be a sweeter boy if you coated him with an extra layer of honey. His chemistry with Cinderella is... mixed. It does exist, but it's not what it could be, as he has to carry the weight of the plot on his shoulders far more than the girl, making theirs look like a mentor/pupil dynamic more than one of equals, which is curious given that they're bofh of an age, but he's more mature and initially gave off the impression that he was older than he is. His story was by far my favourite.
As for the aspects I found in need of improvement: the structure of the book is very flawed. There's a lot of plot-convenient scenes and plotholes, by which I mean scenes that are there for no discernible reason and that have no follow-up. The most glaring one would be the vain Prince Benedict proclaiming he'll go dragonslaying, only to make one appearance out of nowhere at a too convenient point, and then adieu. It's not even an anomaly, there's scenes that could've been disposed of because they add nothing to the plot, and it only makes the story read like a collection of loosely-connected vignettes in the beginning (it improves along the way, thankfully). And, as a result of this style of storytelling, the dialogue is often awkwardly placed and random, and too expository at times, sounding often like two adolescents texting. There's fun banter here, of course, but it has to fight for space with cringey lines.
The writing, too, leaves much to be desired. I haven't read this author's other books to judge whether this is her usual style or if she was experimenting with a new style for YA, but whatever the case, the short and stilted lines and the overabundance of one-line paragraphs made it hard to enjoy the story. There's also the detail that the passage from one scene to the next is weird and difficult to make sense of: first Cinderella arrives to the ball, then she sees the prince and flirts (poorly) with him, then she gets drunk, then she goes to the ladies' room just so we can see the Evil Stepsister, then she's back, then she's a dragon... What was the point in that sequence? The placement of the flashbacks is also awkward and interferes with following the plot. This is definitely the biggest flaw in the book, in my opinion: the plotting and scene structure. Others may point out to the worldbuilding being rather low on the development side, but I'm used to retellings being character-driven more than world or lore-centric, so I have no negative feelings over this personally.
That there's no real plot resolution doesn't help the story, however, and that brutal cliffhanger by the end that screams "read the next book" without convincing readers first that it's going to be worth their while isn't going to sit well. Ultimately, this mightn't keep you turning the pages non-stop, but it's entertaining for a weekend afternoon, especially if you like fairy tales.
This book has an interesting idea for a retelling that immediately caught my eye, What would happen if Cinderella's magical transformation came with a curse?
On the surface, it looks like a "Cinderella" rehash that's going the way the expected plot we all know, with the first scene being the girl arriving at the palace's ball as in countless other takes. But then, the surprises start: you see the "Beauty and the Beast" element crash into the ballroom, literally, in the form of the dragon in the title as the clock strikes midnight, and then you see the influence of "The Thousand and One Nights" appear, specifically vibes from "Aladdin," in the form of the sorcerer from Azurum and his entire backstory. It was a pleasant and creative idea to see developed because, although combinations of the first two tales aren't new to me, the combination of all three definitely is.
What I liked best besides the premise was the characterisation of Sikandar, whose Bad Boy/Evil Sorcerer is hilariously deceptive, because he couldn't be a sweeter boy if you coated him with an extra layer of honey. His chemistry with Cinderella is... mixed. It does exist, but it's not what it could be, as he has to carry the weight of the plot on his shoulders far more than the girl, making theirs look like a mentor/pupil dynamic more than one of equals, which is curious given that they're bofh of an age, but he's more mature and initially gave off the impression that he was older than he is. His story was by far my favourite.
As for the aspects I found in need of improvement: the structure of the book is very flawed. There's a lot of plot-convenient scenes and plotholes, by which I mean scenes that are there for no discernible reason and that have no follow-up. The most glaring one would be the vain Prince Benedict proclaiming he'll go dragonslaying, only to make one appearance out of nowhere at a too convenient point, and then adieu. It's not even an anomaly, there's scenes that could've been disposed of because they add nothing to the plot, and it only makes the story read like a collection of loosely-connected vignettes in the beginning (it improves along the way, thankfully). And, as a result of this style of storytelling, the dialogue is often awkwardly placed and random, and too expository at times, sounding often like two adolescents texting. There's fun banter here, of course, but it has to fight for space with cringey lines.
The writing, too, leaves much to be desired. I haven't read this author's other books to judge whether this is her usual style or if she was experimenting with a new style for YA, but whatever the case, the short and stilted lines and the overabundance of one-line paragraphs made it hard to enjoy the story. There's also the detail that the passage from one scene to the next is weird and difficult to make sense of: first Cinderella arrives to the ball, then she sees the prince and flirts (poorly) with him, then she gets drunk, then she goes to the ladies' room just so we can see the Evil Stepsister, then she's back, then she's a dragon... What was the point in that sequence? The placement of the flashbacks is also awkward and interferes with following the plot. This is definitely the biggest flaw in the book, in my opinion: the plotting and scene structure. Others may point out to the worldbuilding being rather low on the development side, but I'm used to retellings being character-driven more than world or lore-centric, so I have no negative feelings over this personally.
That there's no real plot resolution doesn't help the story, however, and that brutal cliffhanger by the end that screams "read the next book" without convincing readers first that it's going to be worth their while isn't going to sit well. Ultimately, this mightn't keep you turning the pages non-stop, but it's entertaining for a weekend afternoon, especially if you like fairy tales.
October 8, 2021
You know those movies that are very clearly directed at children so they don't actually care to make them good but they still manage to put in a few sexual innuendos that completely ruin the tone?
September 1, 2021
Dragon by Midnight is the first book in the Dragon by Midnight series.Thanks so much bookofmatchesmedia for my ARC 🥰.
It is the story of Cinderella who transforms suddenly into (you got it right!) dragon by midnight 💃🐲🕛
It's a Cinderella retelling with a blend of Beauty and the Beast, and Alladin. What I liked about this book is that it's fast paced and easy to read. The world mixes medieval and modern technology well. The story flows nicely, full of twists and turns albeit a bit predictable but enjoyable.
The characters are likable and well-written. Cinderella is kind and a bit naive. Sikandar is a cinnamon roll! The banters between these two are amusing and adorable. Although it would've been better if Prince Charming has more involvement, too.
Overall, Dragon by Midnight was a fun and whimsical read. I recommend it to people who likes retelling and YA fantasy with fluffy romance.
It is the story of Cinderella who transforms suddenly into (you got it right!) dragon by midnight 💃🐲🕛
It's a Cinderella retelling with a blend of Beauty and the Beast, and Alladin. What I liked about this book is that it's fast paced and easy to read. The world mixes medieval and modern technology well. The story flows nicely, full of twists and turns albeit a bit predictable but enjoyable.
The characters are likable and well-written. Cinderella is kind and a bit naive. Sikandar is a cinnamon roll! The banters between these two are amusing and adorable. Although it would've been better if Prince Charming has more involvement, too.
Overall, Dragon by Midnight was a fun and whimsical read. I recommend it to people who likes retelling and YA fantasy with fluffy romance.
August 4, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of the best Cinderella retellings I've read. I started this book at 11 in the night and stayed up till 3.30 in the morning to finish it. I just couldn't put it down, and even after I finished it I couldn't stop thinking about it.
The story is unique with Cinderella turning into a dragon, and Charming wanting to slay her. Add a mysterious sorcerer into the mix and it's a perfect book! There were many twists and turns throughout the book with unexpected revelations.
The characters were well-written, especially the main ones. I enjoyed the banter between Cinderella and Sikandar and laughed on many occasions. Their backstories helped me connect with them, which in turn helped me get sucked into the story.
There were also some Arabian Nights elements in the book, like a magic lamp, and the kingdom of Azurum gave Middle Eastern vibes. The author has done a wonderful job of blending these elements with the story.
I loved the way the story ended. One problem was solved, but another one has come up, setting the premise for a new adventure. I'm eager to see how Cinderella and Sikandar tackle this new issue.
I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers who enjoy retellings filled with adventure.
One of the best Cinderella retellings I've read. I started this book at 11 in the night and stayed up till 3.30 in the morning to finish it. I just couldn't put it down, and even after I finished it I couldn't stop thinking about it.
The story is unique with Cinderella turning into a dragon, and Charming wanting to slay her. Add a mysterious sorcerer into the mix and it's a perfect book! There were many twists and turns throughout the book with unexpected revelations.
The characters were well-written, especially the main ones. I enjoyed the banter between Cinderella and Sikandar and laughed on many occasions. Their backstories helped me connect with them, which in turn helped me get sucked into the story.
There were also some Arabian Nights elements in the book, like a magic lamp, and the kingdom of Azurum gave Middle Eastern vibes. The author has done a wonderful job of blending these elements with the story.
I loved the way the story ended. One problem was solved, but another one has come up, setting the premise for a new adventure. I'm eager to see how Cinderella and Sikandar tackle this new issue.
I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers who enjoy retellings filled with adventure.
May 29, 2022
A fun retelling of Cinderella (and also Aladdin!)! I don’t really have too many thoughts on this one other than the fact that I enjoyed it! the romance was great and i’m just a sucker for dragons :)
but I didn’t realize it had a sequel and I hate the way it kinda ended with opening up a new plot? it felt very much cheesy cliff hanger ending to a TV episode :/
CW/TW: animal death, fatphobia, blood, murder, emesis, domestic abuse (mention), fantasy racism/xenophobia, grief, death of grandmother (past), death of father (past), death of mother (past), drugging, confinement, non consensual kiss, gun violence, self harm (for magic)
but I didn’t realize it had a sequel and I hate the way it kinda ended with opening up a new plot? it felt very much cheesy cliff hanger ending to a TV episode :/
CW/TW: animal death, fatphobia, blood, murder, emesis, domestic abuse (mention), fantasy racism/xenophobia, grief, death of grandmother (past), death of father (past), death of mother (past), drugging, confinement, non consensual kiss, gun violence, self harm (for magic)
December 28, 2021
Dragon by Midnight is a retelling of Cinderella - with a twist I haven't seen before! It's Cinderella meets Beauty and the Beast meets Aladdin.
The book is easy to read even for non-native speakers and relatively light-hearted. I liked the humor and teasing between Sikandar and Cinderella, even tough it is evident how their relationship is going to end right from the first time they meet.
There are enough mysterious elements to the story (Sikandars past, why Cinderella turned into a dragon) but the reveals where kind of a let down and too anticlimatic.
Cinderella's family is as you expect her family to be but both Sikandars family and the royal family are lacking an actual personality and the royal family acted kind of unrealisticly. Sikandars family tries to be edgy and is just weird.
I also expected Prince Charming to play a bigger role in the story.
The book tried to speak on racism twice, since Sikandar is a POC, but I'm not quite content with the execution.
The story definitely has potential but the execution is lacking, especially character developement. Otherwise, it was ... a book, I didn't feel a lot while reading it. With a bit more work this could turn into a solid YA novel but as it is right now I would put it into the Middle Grade category.
2.5 ⭐
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is easy to read even for non-native speakers and relatively light-hearted. I liked the humor and teasing between Sikandar and Cinderella, even tough it is evident how their relationship is going to end right from the first time they meet.
There are enough mysterious elements to the story (Sikandars past, why Cinderella turned into a dragon) but the reveals where kind of a let down and too anticlimatic.
Cinderella's family is as you expect her family to be but both Sikandars family and the royal family are lacking an actual personality and the royal family acted kind of unrealisticly. Sikandars family tries to be edgy and is just weird.
I also expected Prince Charming to play a bigger role in the story.
The book tried to speak on racism twice, since Sikandar is a POC, but I'm not quite content with the execution.
The story definitely has potential but the execution is lacking, especially character developement. Otherwise, it was ... a book, I didn't feel a lot while reading it. With a bit more work this could turn into a solid YA novel but as it is right now I would put it into the Middle Grade category.
2.5 ⭐
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
shelf-of-dnf
August 18, 2021Thank you to BookSirens for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book had so much potential. A Cinderella retelling but she turns into a dragon after midnight? The prince is in fact a bad guy and a mysterious sorcerer is her actual Prince Charming? I was sold. Not to mention the beautiful cover. However, the book did not live up to my expectations and I actually DNF'd it at 38%.
I am not going to lie, I was intrigued by the concept of the book and the mystery behind Sikandar. The powerful sorcerer who promises to break her curse in order to redeem himself of his past sins. But, the execution killed any interest I had. The writing felt similar to fanfiction and I was unable to really get into the story. Everything (solutions to problems) came so easily to the leads and it felt like they did not work for anything. The world-building wasn't that great (I felt like there was none at all), and the fact that the main protagonist turns into a dragon and is in her dragon-form, but other characters take issue with Sikandar's skin tone is untasteful.
I do not want to leave negative reviews or completely shit on a book since I know how hard it is to get to the publishing stage, however, I felt like this book can be the exception.
This book had so much potential. A Cinderella retelling but she turns into a dragon after midnight? The prince is in fact a bad guy and a mysterious sorcerer is her actual Prince Charming? I was sold. Not to mention the beautiful cover. However, the book did not live up to my expectations and I actually DNF'd it at 38%.
I am not going to lie, I was intrigued by the concept of the book and the mystery behind Sikandar. The powerful sorcerer who promises to break her curse in order to redeem himself of his past sins. But, the execution killed any interest I had. The writing felt similar to fanfiction and I was unable to really get into the story. Everything (solutions to problems) came so easily to the leads and it felt like they did not work for anything. The world-building wasn't that great (I felt like there was none at all), and the fact that the main protagonist turns into a dragon and is in her dragon-form, but other characters take issue with Sikandar's skin tone is untasteful.
I do not want to leave negative reviews or completely shit on a book since I know how hard it is to get to the publishing stage, however, I felt like this book can be the exception.
September 14, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this, exactly what I needed: a short, fast-paced story filled with magic and sweet romance. I loved how we got both Cinderella and Aladdin and the magic lamp vibes from this
September 12, 2021
This book seems to struggle with its identity. It felt like the author didn’t want to commit. Is it middle grade? YA?
I do believe a good book can absolutely be enjoyed by all ages, but sometimes content can place a book into a category that maybe it isn’t meant to be in. This could have been a fairly decent middle grade book, but the multiple references to nudity and one instance of sexual assault keep it out of that category.
I think the author could have left out enough to keep it in that category or added more depth and complexity to make it more suitable for a YA audience. I felt the author tried to include more complex themes, like racism, but brushed against them so lightly that it wasn’t given the space and narrative to explore those themes that is necessary.
It’s a light, easy read. Apparently, it will be a series. I don’t plan to read the second installment. Too many books on my TBR to make time for “okay.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank-you to Karen Kincy for allowing me to read this book!
I do believe a good book can absolutely be enjoyed by all ages, but sometimes content can place a book into a category that maybe it isn’t meant to be in. This could have been a fairly decent middle grade book, but the multiple references to nudity and one instance of sexual assault keep it out of that category.
I think the author could have left out enough to keep it in that category or added more depth and complexity to make it more suitable for a YA audience. I felt the author tried to include more complex themes, like racism, but brushed against them so lightly that it wasn’t given the space and narrative to explore those themes that is necessary.
It’s a light, easy read. Apparently, it will be a series. I don’t plan to read the second installment. Too many books on my TBR to make time for “okay.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank-you to Karen Kincy for allowing me to read this book!
January 14, 2022
Firstly, I want to say a massive thank you to the author Karin Kency and TBR and Beyond tours for providing me a free e-arc of the story for a review. Dragon by Midnight follows our main protagonist Cinderella as she tries to undo a curse that has been placed on her where she turns into a dragon. She enlists the help of an evil, but not so evil, sorcerer called to help her and so their quest, our story, begins.
I loved the concept of the story that Dragon by Midnight was going for, by intertwining different fairy tales together and putting its own spin on them. However, whilst that is what gives Dragon By Midnight its charm, it is also where it struggles because I think that there are too many concepts going on that it does not give them all the space to breathe and take hold. Our prince charming for example is one minute classed as a dragon slayer, making him our antagonist but then he never appears throughout the story to be our villain. Speaking of a villain, I feel like we did not get a villain in our story at all which feels really disjointed as it is meant to be a fairy-tale retelling. Sure, we get horrible people in the story like Cinderella’s stepmom, but she never really poses a real threat to her at all. If anything, she treats Cinderella as more of a nuisance rather than a threat to her, which just makes her very shallow rather than an actual antagonist. The real threat posed to our two protagonists is how the curse happened in the first place, answers that we do not really get in this story. It will be interesting to see if it is revealed in the sequel. However, I did enjoy the character development our two main protagonists go through in the story and I felt like that was handled well.
I actually really liked the pacing, I felt like it was very consistent which helped the story to flow as much as It could with it being plot-heavy. In fact, the way that the plot flowed actually reminded me of Dungeons and Dragons, as it is set up with an overarching plotline that is filled in with many side-quests that our characters have to go through. One thing that I feel could have added to the story is making the characters go to different parts of the world more than what they did as I feel like it would have been great to see more of the different worlds and cultures, especially as Cinderella is a dragon.
Overall, It was nice going on an adventure with our two protagonists and I really enjoyed learning more about the magic system within the story as it seems really interesting. The biggest strength of the story though was the romance, as I felt like it was the best part of it, due to it being a very wholesome romance story. So, if you are looking for a fairy-tale retelling with a wholesome romance this story is for you.
I loved the concept of the story that Dragon by Midnight was going for, by intertwining different fairy tales together and putting its own spin on them. However, whilst that is what gives Dragon By Midnight its charm, it is also where it struggles because I think that there are too many concepts going on that it does not give them all the space to breathe and take hold. Our prince charming for example is one minute classed as a dragon slayer, making him our antagonist but then he never appears throughout the story to be our villain. Speaking of a villain, I feel like we did not get a villain in our story at all which feels really disjointed as it is meant to be a fairy-tale retelling. Sure, we get horrible people in the story like Cinderella’s stepmom, but she never really poses a real threat to her at all. If anything, she treats Cinderella as more of a nuisance rather than a threat to her, which just makes her very shallow rather than an actual antagonist. The real threat posed to our two protagonists is how the curse happened in the first place, answers that we do not really get in this story. It will be interesting to see if it is revealed in the sequel. However, I did enjoy the character development our two main protagonists go through in the story and I felt like that was handled well.
I actually really liked the pacing, I felt like it was very consistent which helped the story to flow as much as It could with it being plot-heavy. In fact, the way that the plot flowed actually reminded me of Dungeons and Dragons, as it is set up with an overarching plotline that is filled in with many side-quests that our characters have to go through. One thing that I feel could have added to the story is making the characters go to different parts of the world more than what they did as I feel like it would have been great to see more of the different worlds and cultures, especially as Cinderella is a dragon.
Overall, It was nice going on an adventure with our two protagonists and I really enjoyed learning more about the magic system within the story as it seems really interesting. The biggest strength of the story though was the romance, as I felt like it was the best part of it, due to it being a very wholesome romance story. So, if you are looking for a fairy-tale retelling with a wholesome romance this story is for you.
August 28, 2021
I've read 4 or 5 mediocre books in a row, and this one just adds to the list. And it's even worse because this one had a strong concept, the execution just fell short.
I think my main problem has to be the length and pacing of this. Because of how short it was, the entire book felt hectic and rushed. We never got to luxuriate in one moment, the plot skipped from action scene to action scene. By the end, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the action, it all felt like it had happened before.
I think this rushed paced also held me back from connecting to the characters. They were ok, but completely one dimensional. Neither of them had any defining personality traits. Their romance lacked chemistry, and considering it was what drove the book, I wasn't interested.
Like some other reviewers have said, this one read more like a Middle Grade novel than YA. I wasn't impressed by the ending, and won't be picking up the next book.
Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy!
I think my main problem has to be the length and pacing of this. Because of how short it was, the entire book felt hectic and rushed. We never got to luxuriate in one moment, the plot skipped from action scene to action scene. By the end, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the action, it all felt like it had happened before.
I think this rushed paced also held me back from connecting to the characters. They were ok, but completely one dimensional. Neither of them had any defining personality traits. Their romance lacked chemistry, and considering it was what drove the book, I wasn't interested.
Like some other reviewers have said, this one read more like a Middle Grade novel than YA. I wasn't impressed by the ending, and won't be picking up the next book.
Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy!
September 2, 2021
Dragon by Midnight is a very unique twist and mix of Cinderella meets Aladin, a very interesting combo that makes the story just as exciting as it sounds. I’ve been obsessed with Cinderella retellings as of lately, so this was very exciting to read. I rated this 3 stars, i really enjoyed it, it’s light hearted, humorous in times, and easy to read. I especially enjoyed the sorcerer Sikander’s character. He stole the show, and really made the story very interesting, i’d say he and Cinderella herself were my favorites of the story.
e-arc provided by book of matches media for an honest review, thank you so much!!
e-arc provided by book of matches media for an honest review, thank you so much!!
January 10, 2022
DRAGON BY MIDNIGHT is a delightfully different Cinderella story that takes the familiar bones of the original tale…and completely tosses them out the window. Cinderella doesn’t turn back into a poor girl once the clock strikes midnight, and her handsome prince, while still handsome, is actually on a mission to kill her. With its many twists, turns, and surprises, this was such a fun and fast-paced book that I didn’t want to end.
*Many thanks to MTMC Tours and the author for providing a copy as part of an Instagram tour.
*Many thanks to MTMC Tours and the author for providing a copy as part of an Instagram tour.
October 8, 2023
Entertainingly silly.
This is a retelling of Cinderella, if she turned into a dragon when the spell broke.
It's a funny read, supremely harmless and a nice break from heavier books.
There were so many inconsistencies and things to pick apart with this, but putting those all aside (most notably the size/logistics of Cinderella in dragon form) I enjoyed this for what it was.
Truthfully my rating is hovering between 2.5 and 3 stars, but I recommend reading it if you need some mindless, silly, fantastical adventure.
This is a retelling of Cinderella, if she turned into a dragon when the spell broke.
It's a funny read, supremely harmless and a nice break from heavier books.
There were so many inconsistencies and things to pick apart with this, but putting those all aside (most notably the size/logistics of Cinderella in dragon form) I enjoyed this for what it was.
Truthfully my rating is hovering between 2.5 and 3 stars, but I recommend reading it if you need some mindless, silly, fantastical adventure.
August 23, 2021
This book was a mix between Cinderella and a little of Aladdin ( or that’s what I felt). I love the main characters : their friendship was unique and I quickly felt related to that.
The book is simple and entertained, I hooked ip from the very beginning and I want to read the sequel to know what will happen next.
I strongly recommend if you wanna read something simple but lovely.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is simple and entertained, I hooked ip from the very beginning and I want to read the sequel to know what will happen next.
I strongly recommend if you wanna read something simple but lovely.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 5, 2022
3,5⭐ - It was very enjoyable
Very different from what I thought it would be, it was interesting 🤭
Very different from what I thought it would be, it was interesting 🤭
April 17, 2023
dnf at 34% 🙃
I expected a cozy fantasy full of wit and banter but instead I got a half-baked story full of yapping cardboards... It seems the author couldn't themselves decide what this book was supposed to be to begin wotg, let alone how to speak about societal issues in a subtle way... It really does have a fun premise though, and I'm sad it left me feeling like reading label description on a detergent bottle is better than trying to read whatever this is 🤷🏻♀️
I expected a cozy fantasy full of wit and banter but instead I got a half-baked story full of yapping cardboards... It seems the author couldn't themselves decide what this book was supposed to be to begin wotg, let alone how to speak about societal issues in a subtle way... It really does have a fun premise though, and I'm sad it left me feeling like reading label description on a detergent bottle is better than trying to read whatever this is 🤷🏻♀️
August 31, 2021
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
The story has an intriguing beginning, Cinderella instead of turning into rags at midnight transforms into a dragon destroying everything in her path on her way out. The story from the very beginning has that fairytale feel which I liked and sucked me into the story.
The story has multiple characters, but we get the pov only from Cinderella and Sikandar.
Sikandar even from the beginning for me has been a mysterious character, he always had this veil of mystery surrounding him that left you with different questions from his past to what brought him to the castle. In the beginning, all we get to know about Sikandar is that he comes from a family of cunnings and he has been banished because of a murder, but even tho he has this dark past you get this feeling that he is not an evil person he tries to be but in fact is kind and very smart.
I liked the fact the story went back and forth between Cinderella and Sikandar’s past, explaining different things till the present and what brought them to this moment, this side of the story I found very interesting because at the beginning I had lots of questions which slowly were answered and gave you that type of closure about their past.
Cinderella, I found her to be very innocent and very inexperienced and with the lack of experience, she was prone on doing some bad decisions and also her attempts of flirting were hilarious to me. There were plenty of funny moments between Sikandar and Cinderella that made me giggle and some of their conversations were hilarious. I really loved the funny mood the story gives and their food talks made me hungry more than once.
There are of course some things I’ve also not been a big fan of them. The book tries to address the race issues since Sikandar is a person of a “dark complexion” but Cinderella instead of being different and keeping his side and somehow protecting him, she doesn’t seem to be any better than the other characters who have a racist tendency and even if Cinderella and Sikandar talk about her behavior it left me to feel a little bit uncomfortable. Cinderella liked and loved Sikandar the way he was and her not standing up for him just rubbed me the wrong way. Other than this issue there is Sikandar’s family and Cinderella’s family who are some horrible beings and in my opinion, they were the evil characters in this story because they’ve caused a lot of destruction and heartbreak for both of them.
Another thing I kind of felt is missing was the action. The prince was on a hunt to kill Cinderella but that action was missing and we barely got to see the prince, we’ve seen more of the side characters than him actually hunting Cinderella. The book for me has been a middle-grade story with a mix between fast-paced and slow-paced, the action wasn’t fully there as I was expecting it to be especially since Cinderella was hunted, but overall the whole story I’ve enjoyed it and I’m excited for the next one in the series. It made me giggle, it made me feel a little bit in love with Sikandar and Cinderella and for sure it made my mouth water so many times.
This book is perfect if you enjoy middle-grade stories and retellings with a twist.. For me, this book has been a mix between Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, and the blending between the 3 of them was really amazing.
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The story has an intriguing beginning, Cinderella instead of turning into rags at midnight transforms into a dragon destroying everything in her path on her way out. The story from the very beginning has that fairytale feel which I liked and sucked me into the story.
The story has multiple characters, but we get the pov only from Cinderella and Sikandar.
Sikandar even from the beginning for me has been a mysterious character, he always had this veil of mystery surrounding him that left you with different questions from his past to what brought him to the castle. In the beginning, all we get to know about Sikandar is that he comes from a family of cunnings and he has been banished because of a murder, but even tho he has this dark past you get this feeling that he is not an evil person he tries to be but in fact is kind and very smart.
I liked the fact the story went back and forth between Cinderella and Sikandar’s past, explaining different things till the present and what brought them to this moment, this side of the story I found very interesting because at the beginning I had lots of questions which slowly were answered and gave you that type of closure about their past.
Cinderella, I found her to be very innocent and very inexperienced and with the lack of experience, she was prone on doing some bad decisions and also her attempts of flirting were hilarious to me. There were plenty of funny moments between Sikandar and Cinderella that made me giggle and some of their conversations were hilarious. I really loved the funny mood the story gives and their food talks made me hungry more than once.
There are of course some things I’ve also not been a big fan of them. The book tries to address the race issues since Sikandar is a person of a “dark complexion” but Cinderella instead of being different and keeping his side and somehow protecting him, she doesn’t seem to be any better than the other characters who have a racist tendency and even if Cinderella and Sikandar talk about her behavior it left me to feel a little bit uncomfortable. Cinderella liked and loved Sikandar the way he was and her not standing up for him just rubbed me the wrong way. Other than this issue there is Sikandar’s family and Cinderella’s family who are some horrible beings and in my opinion, they were the evil characters in this story because they’ve caused a lot of destruction and heartbreak for both of them.
Another thing I kind of felt is missing was the action. The prince was on a hunt to kill Cinderella but that action was missing and we barely got to see the prince, we’ve seen more of the side characters than him actually hunting Cinderella. The book for me has been a middle-grade story with a mix between fast-paced and slow-paced, the action wasn’t fully there as I was expecting it to be especially since Cinderella was hunted, but overall the whole story I’ve enjoyed it and I’m excited for the next one in the series. It made me giggle, it made me feel a little bit in love with Sikandar and Cinderella and for sure it made my mouth water so many times.
This book is perfect if you enjoy middle-grade stories and retellings with a twist.. For me, this book has been a mix between Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, and the blending between the 3 of them was really amazing.
Follow me on my social media for more than just reviews:
BookBub
Reedsy
Blog
August 26, 2021
There are a few things that can always convince me to read a book. One of those things is being a Cinderella retelling. The fairytale of Cinderella is one of my favorites and there is so much room for original and fresh takes on the stories. Another thing is having the princess in your story turn into a dragon. So, when I was browsing through BookSirens and stumbled upon this arc there was no way I could say no. And today I couldn't wait any longer. I HAD to read this book.
What I loved about this story, is that it reads incredibly quickly. The sentences flow nicely, there is a great mix of descriptions and dialogue and the dialogue sounds really natural, which helps to make the characters feel natural and realistic too. For me a fairytale may be a little more flowery, but it's not a must. I was expecting that I might not be able to finish it within a work day, but I even had some time left to start my next book already!
On top of that the story is fresh and very original. And yet, the story does manage to include all the iconic moments, symbols and scenes from the original story. Starting the story at the ball, with some flashbacks to paint a picture of Cinderella's life before she met the prince and was invited to dance with him, also means that there's plenty of room to add new things, to give Cinderella more adventures and to have her deal with some of her childhood issues.
Even though the story takes a very different turn, Cinderella is very much a Cinderella as a Cinderella should be. She's kind. It means that at times she's a little naive and she gives people the benefit of the doubt even though they absolutely don't deserve it, but she learns from her mistakes, she grows and she eventually does realize that sometimes kindness won't get you what you deserve. And it does help that she has a charming, honest, flawed man at her side.
I will certainly read the next book in this series too! There are still a few questions left unanswered...
What I loved about this story, is that it reads incredibly quickly. The sentences flow nicely, there is a great mix of descriptions and dialogue and the dialogue sounds really natural, which helps to make the characters feel natural and realistic too. For me a fairytale may be a little more flowery, but it's not a must. I was expecting that I might not be able to finish it within a work day, but I even had some time left to start my next book already!
On top of that the story is fresh and very original. And yet, the story does manage to include all the iconic moments, symbols and scenes from the original story. Starting the story at the ball, with some flashbacks to paint a picture of Cinderella's life before she met the prince and was invited to dance with him, also means that there's plenty of room to add new things, to give Cinderella more adventures and to have her deal with some of her childhood issues.
Even though the story takes a very different turn, Cinderella is very much a Cinderella as a Cinderella should be. She's kind. It means that at times she's a little naive and she gives people the benefit of the doubt even though they absolutely don't deserve it, but she learns from her mistakes, she grows and she eventually does realize that sometimes kindness won't get you what you deserve. And it does help that she has a charming, honest, flawed man at her side.
I will certainly read the next book in this series too! There are still a few questions left unanswered...
January 7, 2026
I really liked the way this book mashed so many fairy tale influences together, from the titular concept of Cinderella turning into a dragon, to the meeting of European and Arabic fairy tale settings, stories, and creatures.
I also liked the idea of two misfits off on a quest, as well as a magic system where casting different spells takes away your strength to different degrees.
Unfortunately, I feel like the big downfall of this book is that despite seeming well developed, the characters make decisions that don't make sense or seem to only serve the plot, rather than who they are. For instance, why would
This was just one of so many examples.
Another thing I wasn't a fan of is that the book often felt repetitive. As a fellow author who's written about romance between a human and another creature, I know the struggle of things like how to show attraction, etc., and I felt that Kincy struggled with that, too, when I wanted it to feel smooth and well written.
I think it comes down to maybe not having a good beta reader or editor, or Kincy simply not taking the time to sit with this story and work things through a little more. Whatever the reason, it's a shame, because I think this could have been a brilliant book, maybe a 5-star read. As it was, I often felt annoyed, bored, or simply perplexed by these issues.
Dragon by Midnight has a lot going for it in terms of ideas and characters, and it's not a terrible read. But I wish Kincy had given herself more time to cast her writerly spell.
I also liked the idea of two misfits off on a quest, as well as a magic system where casting different spells takes away your strength to different degrees.
Unfortunately, I feel like the big downfall of this book is that despite seeming well developed, the characters make decisions that don't make sense or seem to only serve the plot, rather than who they are. For instance, why would
This was just one of so many examples.
Another thing I wasn't a fan of is that the book often felt repetitive. As a fellow author who's written about romance between a human and another creature, I know the struggle of things like how to show attraction, etc., and I felt that Kincy struggled with that, too, when I wanted it to feel smooth and well written.
I think it comes down to maybe not having a good beta reader or editor, or Kincy simply not taking the time to sit with this story and work things through a little more. Whatever the reason, it's a shame, because I think this could have been a brilliant book, maybe a 5-star read. As it was, I often felt annoyed, bored, or simply perplexed by these issues.
Dragon by Midnight has a lot going for it in terms of ideas and characters, and it's not a terrible read. But I wish Kincy had given herself more time to cast her writerly spell.
July 24, 2021
Well, this book was not quite I expected. In a good way though!
This is a unique take on Cinderella, with a hint of Aladdin. Like the original story, Cinderella’s father died, and she lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters. They treat her like dirt and as their servant having her cleaning, mending clothes, etc. She happens to meet the Prince who invites her to his ball for all maidens. With the help of her Fairy Godmother, she goes to the ball looking like a wealthy lady rather than a raggedy servant. She wants her home back that her father instead had her stepmother inherit, so she appeals to the Prince for her home back. She loses track of time, and midnight strikes. She tries to leave on time, but then the enchantment ends, but instead of turning back to her old self, she turns into a dragon. She escapes, and meets a sorcerer called Sikander who offers to help her break the curse in return for a jewel the king has by bringing her back when the curse is broken.
I was expecting a bit more of a serious take on this story, but it ended up having a lot more humor in it than I expected. It reminded me a lot of Howl’s Moving Castle with the humor, plus Sikander at times made me think of Howl, especially when he acted rather arrogant about his abilities. Cinderella was a bit more of a wimpy lady, but it added to her charm and the humor in the story. The world was an odd mix of modern technology and medieval, so I’m not sure if it had a specific timeline, but I loved how it was incorporated in this book. The romance was very very cute too! Slow burn, and very sweet.
I can hardly wait for the next book to see how the story continues. If you love retellings with a unique twist to them, then I think you’ll love this book! I highly recommend it! I received an advance review copy for free(thank you to BookSirens and the author), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a unique take on Cinderella, with a hint of Aladdin. Like the original story, Cinderella’s father died, and she lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters. They treat her like dirt and as their servant having her cleaning, mending clothes, etc. She happens to meet the Prince who invites her to his ball for all maidens. With the help of her Fairy Godmother, she goes to the ball looking like a wealthy lady rather than a raggedy servant. She wants her home back that her father instead had her stepmother inherit, so she appeals to the Prince for her home back. She loses track of time, and midnight strikes. She tries to leave on time, but then the enchantment ends, but instead of turning back to her old self, she turns into a dragon. She escapes, and meets a sorcerer called Sikander who offers to help her break the curse in return for a jewel the king has by bringing her back when the curse is broken.
I was expecting a bit more of a serious take on this story, but it ended up having a lot more humor in it than I expected. It reminded me a lot of Howl’s Moving Castle with the humor, plus Sikander at times made me think of Howl, especially when he acted rather arrogant about his abilities. Cinderella was a bit more of a wimpy lady, but it added to her charm and the humor in the story. The world was an odd mix of modern technology and medieval, so I’m not sure if it had a specific timeline, but I loved how it was incorporated in this book. The romance was very very cute too! Slow burn, and very sweet.
I can hardly wait for the next book to see how the story continues. If you love retellings with a unique twist to them, then I think you’ll love this book! I highly recommend it! I received an advance review copy for free(thank you to BookSirens and the author), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 1, 2021
The concept of this book is fascinating and I was extremely excited to read it! It's a fun twist on the original fairytale and I think it had a lot of potential.
I was pleasantly surprised with the direction of the story! While marketed as a Cinderella retelling, the books pulls themes and inspiration from multiple fairytales. There's a bit of Beauty and the Beast in there, as well as some from Aladdin. I enjoyed the twists as it made for an interesting read! I did like the characters well enough, specifically Sikandar was well written and I looked forward to his scenes!
My biggest issue with this book was the structure. The plot felt rushed and jumped around a lot. With the concept of the story, Prince Charming gets a surprisingly little amount of page time, and the "big reveals" of the story felt underwhelming. I think more development for the characters as well as some work on the plot structure, and this could have easily been a favorite read.
I received an ARC of this title from the author through Books of Matches Media in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised with the direction of the story! While marketed as a Cinderella retelling, the books pulls themes and inspiration from multiple fairytales. There's a bit of Beauty and the Beast in there, as well as some from Aladdin. I enjoyed the twists as it made for an interesting read! I did like the characters well enough, specifically Sikandar was well written and I looked forward to his scenes!
My biggest issue with this book was the structure. The plot felt rushed and jumped around a lot. With the concept of the story, Prince Charming gets a surprisingly little amount of page time, and the "big reveals" of the story felt underwhelming. I think more development for the characters as well as some work on the plot structure, and this could have easily been a favorite read.
I received an ARC of this title from the author through Books of Matches Media in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2025
The premise of this book truly fascinated me - a Cinderella retelling where she becomes a dragon at midnight? I mean, I love books with dragons so count me in!
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. Each time you read fantasy there's a certain level of suspension of disbelief you must employ and sometimes that gets stretched a tad too far. That is what happened to me for this book. Cinderella does -- very quickly -- become a dragon (happens in chapter one and I honestly thought we'd get a bit more lead-up) but then as a dragon Cinderella is able to do things like carry a book, turn pages of a book, drink from a small cup of tea, bandage a wound, etc. She went from destroying a portion of castle to turning pages of a book and my brain could not get on board with this dichotomy.
Furthermore, the dialogue felt stilted and a lot of the descriptions needed, imho, more finessing.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. Each time you read fantasy there's a certain level of suspension of disbelief you must employ and sometimes that gets stretched a tad too far. That is what happened to me for this book. Cinderella does -- very quickly -- become a dragon (happens in chapter one and I honestly thought we'd get a bit more lead-up) but then as a dragon Cinderella is able to do things like carry a book, turn pages of a book, drink from a small cup of tea, bandage a wound, etc. She went from destroying a portion of castle to turning pages of a book and my brain could not get on board with this dichotomy.
Furthermore, the dialogue felt stilted and a lot of the descriptions needed, imho, more finessing.
August 20, 2021
Thank you for a digital arc of the book from Booksiren and the publisher. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall a Cinderella meets Aladdin kind of tale.
No one would expected this kind of twist. The synopsis intrigued me so much that I had to read. Cinderella turning into a dragon, Prince Charming on the quest to kill her is mind-blowing. The original story is already magically in its way but with the addition of sorcery and adventure thrills me.
It was a fast paced book. The development and pacing of the story comes in a flash. Every flip of the pages is a twist. I love the writing and multiple povs because it shows the true emotions of Cinderella and Sikandar. I love Sikandar. He is trying so hard to become this mysterious sorceror but he is just a softie especially to a dragon Cinderella.
Overall its a 4/5 because I think the happy ending should end as it is.
Overall a Cinderella meets Aladdin kind of tale.
No one would expected this kind of twist. The synopsis intrigued me so much that I had to read. Cinderella turning into a dragon, Prince Charming on the quest to kill her is mind-blowing. The original story is already magically in its way but with the addition of sorcery and adventure thrills me.
It was a fast paced book. The development and pacing of the story comes in a flash. Every flip of the pages is a twist. I love the writing and multiple povs because it shows the true emotions of Cinderella and Sikandar. I love Sikandar. He is trying so hard to become this mysterious sorceror but he is just a softie especially to a dragon Cinderella.
Overall its a 4/5 because I think the happy ending should end as it is.
September 1, 2021
Thank you Book Matches of Media and the publisher/author for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Cinderella mixed with some elements from Aladdian. It was such a fun twist of the original story but stayed fairly true to the story. I really enjoyed the main characters of Cinderella and Sikandar. It was so fun following their journey and seeing them grow as characters as the book and plot went on. They did feel a little flat to start with, but as the story went on, I felt like I learned a lot about them and their pasts that made up for it. I also really enjoyed the world that the story was set in. It was a great mix of the traditional, Cinderella and Aladdin worlds into one. The ending has set up perfectly for a sequel and I can’t wait to see where the next book will go!
I really enjoyed this retelling of Cinderella mixed with some elements from Aladdian. It was such a fun twist of the original story but stayed fairly true to the story. I really enjoyed the main characters of Cinderella and Sikandar. It was so fun following their journey and seeing them grow as characters as the book and plot went on. They did feel a little flat to start with, but as the story went on, I felt like I learned a lot about them and their pasts that made up for it. I also really enjoyed the world that the story was set in. It was a great mix of the traditional, Cinderella and Aladdin worlds into one. The ending has set up perfectly for a sequel and I can’t wait to see where the next book will go!
September 2, 2021
This book was a very quick read and not at all what I was expecting!
Somehow meshing several fairytale aspects together, this Cinderella retelling gave me plenty of Aladdin vibes as well as a mixed role of Beauty and the Beast? Kind of? It’s hard to explain.
It’s a roughly short tale, and while I loved its ability to be read quickly I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was longer and contained more detail. There were a few places where I felt like it jumped around or I got a little confused.
The dragon aspects? Awesome! The magic? Definitely there. This book would be great for someone who loves retellings and wants a fast binge read.
The tale also contained an epilogue, which I liked. I always enjoy reading what comes after the “Happily Ever Afters”!
Overall, I rate this book:
🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars
Somehow meshing several fairytale aspects together, this Cinderella retelling gave me plenty of Aladdin vibes as well as a mixed role of Beauty and the Beast? Kind of? It’s hard to explain.
It’s a roughly short tale, and while I loved its ability to be read quickly I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was longer and contained more detail. There were a few places where I felt like it jumped around or I got a little confused.
The dragon aspects? Awesome! The magic? Definitely there. This book would be great for someone who loves retellings and wants a fast binge read.
The tale also contained an epilogue, which I liked. I always enjoy reading what comes after the “Happily Ever Afters”!
Overall, I rate this book:
🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars
August 12, 2021
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really find this book to be unique. We always hear of Cinderella losing her shoe and Prince Charming going to all the fair maidens to try on the shoe to fit, but we never have seen Prince Charming vowing to kill her because she was cursed to be a dragon. I find this to be refreshing. I really liked Cinderella and Sikandar as characters. I love how he gives her chocolate cake with his magic. I like how both of them try to help one another and find ways to break the curse. I think this book was well done.
I really find this book to be unique. We always hear of Cinderella losing her shoe and Prince Charming going to all the fair maidens to try on the shoe to fit, but we never have seen Prince Charming vowing to kill her because she was cursed to be a dragon. I find this to be refreshing. I really liked Cinderella and Sikandar as characters. I love how he gives her chocolate cake with his magic. I like how both of them try to help one another and find ways to break the curse. I think this book was well done.
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