Werewolf Cinderella

by Amanda Milo

Every eligible female *must* attend the ball by decree of the king.
On account of my tendency to suddenly turn from a woman into a wolf, I'd really prefer if I wasn't being forced into attending.
Anger burns in my throat, making me growl.
Stepmother covers my hand with hers, gently squeezing my fingers.
That's my stepmother. Grace above all; even under fire... or the threat of a noose. She's a better woman than I.
What? You thought the rumors were true? That she's my wicked stepmother, who's kept me as her indentured servant under the stairs?
Oh my friend, you don't know the half of this story.
To tell it, I'd best begin at the beginning.

**Note: This is a 28K word Short Story standalone romance for readers 18 and up with Explicit language and situations.

Genres: Romance, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Novella, Fairy Tales

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2019

Reviews

[Umaiya ❄️Ramblings of a Scattered Mind❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hah! This was so cute!!
Usually retelling get either pretty serious or kinda fluffy cause let's be honest, so much pressure!
But I liked how light hearted this was. Smutty too 😉 but light hearted is what I wanna emphasise.

I love Amanda Milo. I adore just about all her books. They make me smile and feel good and they all deliver HEAs with no need of extensive brain cell involvement. Sounds like a winning recipe to me 😋

[Erika ♥OwlwaysReading♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book I found because of Umaiya (Thank You😍😍😍).
A PNR spin on Cinderella. I loved it❣️
On Kindle Unlimited ✅
Perfect Shory or short story (98 pages) ✅

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun play on fairy tale, with a couple madly in love and playing 'just the tip'. After that their lives change and not for the better. It is a super short story, sad, sweet and funny and at a fast pace. Liked it a lot, and of course it had a HEA.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I went into this book with fairly low expectations, Amanda Milo is a new author to me so I didn't know what to expect from her writing but I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings so I couldn't resist requesting Werewolf Cinderella when I saw a request for blog tour participants. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the story and I hope she's going to write more retellings in the future!

We all know the story of Cinderella, most of us grew up watching the Disney version but I've also read the original story and multiple retellings over the years so it's not easy to put a new spin on it but Amanda Milo has managed to do exactly that. I love that the "evil" stepmother is not all she seems and that there is far more to the romance between Ella and Gareth's romance than in the original tale. The added paranormal aspect really worked for the story and this ended up being a really easy story to devour in one sitting.

Werewolf Cinderella was humorous, sweet and a little bit sexy. I would have loved a full length book about these two because I'd have been happy to spend more time in their world but the story didn't feel rushed and because we see so much of their history it didn't feel like insta-love either which is unusual for a novella. I'll definitely be checking out more of Amanda Milo's books in the future, especially if she decides to tackle more fairytales and give them her own unique twist.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Give this book a 4.5/5 Start Rating Listing as 4.
I First Received this ARC in my email and then downloaded it, then I Went onto Amazon to see if it was there, it was and I bought it immediately.
I didn’t even see the cover, all I saw was ‘Amanda Milo’, and practically cyber ran to Amazon like my life depended on it! XD
If she writes a book, I don’t care what genre it is, I know immediately that it will be good and I Will buy it without even thinking.

I didn’t know what I was walking into except something to do with Werewolves & Cinderella.
I immediately clicked with this book and got hooked into it (but that’s not hard when its Amanda writing it Lol), I devoured this book in the blink of an eye. I Love Gareth & Ella, I look forward to more short stories to tie me over, till I can plunge back into a New Book that’s in the Amazing World of ‘Stolen by an Alien’ Series

No Spoilers.
HEA(?): Yes! :D
This is a insta-love and a bit fast paced, but believe it or not, it didn’t take away from the book at all. I Love this Book!
Romance: 4.5/5
Heat: 3.5ish-4/5
Drama: 3/5, not in a bad way. :)
Suspense: 3.5/5

Will I Read more from this Author? Oh Come On! Is my Obsession NOT Clear?!! XD

Will I recommend this Book? Absolutely, it’s a Hot Fast Paced Book that Still Is Able To Capture and Warm Your Heart!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not fun.

The synopsis of this story was promising but the execution was just horrible. I get that the H/h are teenagers, but the writing sounded like a 15 year olds high school project who was incredibly eager to put sex in her book bc the teacher said it was okay. I didn’t finish it. I’m said I even paid for it and I will probably delete it from my library.... or leave it to remind me never again to pick this author.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every eligible female *must* attend the ball by decree of the king.
On account of my tendency to suddenly turn from a woman into a wolf, I'd really prefer if I wasn't being forced into attending.
Anger burns in my throat, making me growl.
Stepmother covers my hand with hers, gently squeezing my fingers.
That's my stepmother. Grace above all; even under fire... or the threat of a noose. She's a better woman than I.
What? You thought the rumors were true? That she's my wicked stepmother, who's kept me as her indentured servant under the stairs?
Oh my friend, you don't know the half of this story.
To tell it, I'd best begin at the beginning.

Heather's Notes
This was a cute retelling of Cinderella. I really liked the story and the characters. I liked what she changed and would have liked it even more if it had been longer. Still she managed to get all the key elements in the story and it didn't feel rushed.

[Elizabeth]

This book starts out pretty heavy and I want fluffy and fun. DNF at 19% because I’m so sad about it. Maybe in a different mood I could keep reading until it turns happy but I just can’t.

[Kimbot the Destroyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you had a shit day and want to read something adorable and easy, this is your novella.

[eevee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella is minding her business one day when she turns into a fluffy wolf. Well, there was some drama that happened before then, but that’s the result. She “awoo”s and everything. While panicking over what to do, prince Gareth comes calling. Gareth is Ella’s soulmate and unofficial boyfriend, but she’s worried that he’ll be dismayed about her being a FRICKIN’ WEREWOLF. So she scampers off with her 4 little paws, leaving Gareth in the dust. He chases. She dodges. And however long later, a ball is held where Ella is strong-armed into attending. She sees Gareth, her human beau, the one she ditched out of fear. And he looks a little upset. Ruh-roh.

This is such a cute and unique idea for a story. Amanda Milo is great. I mean, it’s all in the title. That’s basically all you need to know: this is a Cinderella retelling, but with werewolves.

I would keep on my shelf and reread.

[Serena Buffaloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fairy tale TOTALLY makes sense !!!! I LOVED IT !!!

Oh my Gosh !!! What a book !!!!
I remember what young love feels like , and it felt a Lot like this book !! The innocence of it all....
The angst.....
The loneliness......
I felt so sorry for both of them.
It was a wonderful thing to see their HEA !!!
Loved the end , when AMANDA MILO was describing their children !! Laughed out loud at the GEPETO reference !!!
As a matter if fact , with Ella s smart mouth and the Prince Gareth 's funny comebacks , this is the funniest ,not funny faux fairy tale Eva !!!!
I LOVED IT !!!!

[MLL · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Tragic and Trite

This book was so tragic. It was horrible. Pointless deaths and unnecessary mutilation. Then the happily ever after was dreadful. The Epilogue refers to almost every single Disney "princess". It's ridiculous.

[SheLove2Read · Rating 1 out of 5]

An hour of my life wasted.

[LMR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Werewolf Cinderella By: Amanda Milo
A Great Li'l Read That Surely Doesn't Disappoint!! One-Click "Werewolf Cinderella!"
She's Head'n OFF to Her FairyTale Ball,
But this Cinderella is hav'n trouble stay'n TRUE to Form,
Only NOT for the Usual Reasons...
YOU See...
She's "Werewolf Cinderella" & it's Shifting THAT'S Her particular problem!
At least this lass has the fortune to have a supportive Step,
Instead of the Wicked sorta MOTHER from all the other Tales!
Now, if only She didn't grow a Tail...
But then, IT wouldna be "Werewolf Cinderella" would IT!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of Amanda Milo's "Werewolf Cinderella." I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!

[Melanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-A-AAW - WOOO - OOOoooo‼️

OK, fellow readers, admit it: we've read the fairy-tale takeoffs on the venerable Cinderella story, and we know how it's s 'posed to go. We've read Cinderella translated into alien SF romance, into historical romance, into urban fantasy, contemporary romance etc. We've done Cinderella sweet and clean, Cinderella down and dirty, Cinderella dystopian and Cinderella fantasy. Now, along comes writer Amanda MIlo, and we get THE MOST ORIGINAL, INGENIOUS TAKE ON THE CINDERELLA TROPE EVAH: Cinderella as the werewolf! Prince Charming is even more than charming. And the Wicked Stepmother? HAH! Anything but!! This is sheer genius, people. I don't know how she comes up with these brilliant ideas, except she's Amanda freakin' Milo and a godsend to romance readers of any and all subgenres, and has more than her fair share of imagination (not to mention her own, personal, unique writer's voice and the chops to lay it all out and let it fly). I can only do 5 stars, but this little gem deserves a whole friggin' galaxy. DO NOT STOP. DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT $200. JUST GRAB THIS BOOK, AND READ, RINSE, REPEAT. It's a classic in the making, a to-be-read-and-re-read treasure, and I JUST CAN"T EVEN.

[Bubbles The Book Pimp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when one of your all time favourite authors releases a super secret fairytale retelling of Cinderella??

You buy that sucker pronto and dive in... neglecting your children and husband, screaming 'fend for yourselves...I'm reading!!'
(Side note: it's a good job the husband does all the cooking in our house anyway!!)
And so you read until your little hearts content, laughing and chuckling and reeling from the feels that aforementioned author has wrapped into her wonderful new book!

It's called Werewolf Cinderella...that gives you a clue...but prepare for a whole lot of fantastic twists to the Cinderella story of our childhoods.

I'm not a fan of spoiling stories for anyone... but my gawd! If you love all things fairytale then you don't just GOT TO..You NEED TO..read this book ASAP!!

It's short ( whilst giving great story ) steamy ( Prince Charming did WHUT..WHERE??...dirty boy...I think I lust him ) and just bloody fantastic!!

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Man, I wish this had been good. Cinderella as a werewolf is such a fun premise! It gives an interesting reason for her to be mistreated by her stepmother. It adds higher stakes to her midnight curfew. And the idea of losing a shoe because you’re shedding your clothing while going through a werewolf transformation is soooooo fun.

None of that happens in this story. I’m not actually sure why this was a Cinderella story to begin with, instead of a generic fantasy story about a werewolf girl who’s engaged to a prince. This Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters (named Anastasia and Drizella, like in the Disney movie) are kind. Ella does no housework, and the cinder element is explained away by the color of her werewolf fur (“I’m reddish gold, and grey-furred everywhere. A cinder wolf, they call this pelt color, because it resembles cinders and ash.”). There’s no fairy godmother or transformation sequence at all, and no stipulation that Cinderella has to leave the ball before midnight. We get one mention of pumpkins (Stepmother likes to bake pumpkin tarts), but no carriage or footman or magic horses. The ball happens so quickly, it feels like the author is trying to get it over with to get back to dialogue between her OCs. I don’t understand why she chose Cinderella as the plot engine for this story.

Even within the story, there’s this constant issue of setting up a premise, then immediately neutralizing it. The set-up of Ella becoming a wolf is insane, so forgive me for this long-winded summary. A talking wolf shows up to her house making vague threats about taking her away, and it being Ella’s ‘time.’ Her father seems fine with this. Stepmother is NOT fine with it, and bursts onto the scene with a crossbow, which she fires at the wolf. Father launches himself in front of the wolf, so the bolt kills both of them. Cinderella immediately transforms into a werewolf for the first time in her life, and spends the next two years unable to control when she shifts and how long she stays in her wolf form. Cinderella fakes her death for two years after becoming a werewolf, and is anticipating a huge reaction from her betrothed when he finds out she’s alive. She has no idea how he’ll react to the news that she’s a werewolf, and she’s terrified that her stepmother will be punished if she tries to explain what happened.

But pretty quickly after Ella arrives at the ball, the prince recognizes her, explains that he knew she faked her death, explains that he knows what happened to Cinderella’s father and the wolf (the wolf was his mother the queen? No one noticed she was dead for two years because she’s really introverted????), explains that his father the king pardoned stepmother in secret (but never TOLD her this, just like no one ever told her that the queen or her stepdaughter were werewolves), and explains that he threw the ball to encourage Cinderella to show up when she was ready (instead of, idk, writing her a letter or showing up at her house to have a conversation with her). Why did we build up suspense for two years for everything to be a non-issue? COME ON!!!

The story also makes such a big deal of Cinderella needing this special tiny shoe because (buckle in) during her first night as a wolf, she got her foot caught in a bear trap and had to chew it off. So when she’s human, she’s missing a foot. In order to go to the ball, she has to wear one special tiny but tall shoe in order to stand level with her other foot in a high heel. Why did we spend so much time establishing this for her to NEVER LOSE HER SHOE? WHY IS SHE CINDERELLA AT ALL?????? I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

Let’s move on to smaller nitpicks I have with this book. The first is the way the author constantly over-explains turns of phrase to the reader, such as this instance where we’re taught what a nickname is:

'I sigh and cross my arms under my head. “I don’t know, Duck,” I say, using my pet name for him. One of Gareth’s middle names is Drake, and when we were children, I called him Duck instead and it stuck.'

Or this:

'He squeezes me so hard in answer. He’s going to break me. But not my body: my heart.'

Amanda Milo is also obsessed with hyphens to a maddening degree:

'I feel and hear the fabric tear under my human-nails-turning-to-wolf’s claws…'

“... which nose-out-of-joint busybody dropped this statement…”

'My half-emptied but still heavy elopement rucksack is still hitched on one of my surprise-frozen shoulders.'

'... my slick-feeling heated folds…'

And speaking of the sex scene language, well, it leaves a little something to be desired. I know this is a vulnerable topic, and there’s an extent to which you can’t pick any phrasing that won’t trigger a flinch in at least one person, but some word choices are so bad I just can’t imagine anyone preferring them (“His goo” in Call Me By Your Name is my go-to example). There’s a moment of dialogue in this story where Ella makes fun of the term “sword” as a euphemism:

("Back to the fun part before we waste my sword.”

I make a face. “You’re really calling it your sword?”

“We are.”

“No, we’re not.” I shake my head. “You will NOT get me to call it that.”)

But I have to say, we are throwing many stones from the glass house of acceptable dirty talk in a book that contains such gems as:

“You know what stallions do to their ladies?” [he proceeds to eat her out. You know, like horses do.]

“AHH!” I shriek

“AhhhgGHHRRRRRRRAWW!” I howl.

“Yoo doe-nt haff too sownd sow smug” (we really never have to do this phonetically spelled out muffled dialogue, I promise)

There’s a description of Ella’s breasts “jiggling” and to that I say: the word heave is perfectly serviceable.

“His steel is furrowing between my netherlips.” OH BUT SWORD IS CRINGE?

Suffice to say, I wish this had been better.

[Kristy Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I loved this book SO much!! It was such a cool take on Cinderella. I may even like it better than the original I watched so much as a kid! I love this adult grown up version. I also love that it was short. It was just perfect.

Ella and Prince Gareth's banter cracked me up. I just loved them together. I will definitely be rereading this. I freaking love this author!

There is a lot of LOVE being thrown around in this review.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Werewolf Cinderella by Amanda Milo is an awesome story that I have read. I have loved reading this new take on Cinderella story and I can not wait to see what this author writes about next. I highly recommend this story to everyone who love reading about fantasy, romantic comedy and paranormal romances.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mel Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

How absolutely cute!! I just loved this story! The beginning had me almost in tears but it made up for it and then some. Amanda Milo has a way of making you burst into laughter so hard out of nowhere the strangers around you look at you like you've lost your mind. It's epic!

[Leyns · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

The writing wasn’t bad, but the whole story was extremely weird. Sorry but I would not recommend this book. If you’d like to try something from this author, choose one of her other books.

[Rasa Ievkalne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lets start that this is a nice story. But...the buildup sputtered out without climax. It was all roses and cakes and kisses. So while I did enjoy reading it,it is barely a story at all,too easy to forget,not enough to really love. And I disliked the epilogue.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how this story started out. I was okay with the first 75% of the book. I hated the epilogue. The end of the story is at 81% so there is a lot of stuffing at the end. I agree with most of the other 3 star reviews.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Another adorable read by Amanda Milo! Anyone that loves sweet romances and Disney will adore this book! It's so cute!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not going to lie, Amanda Milo always gives good story. This time around, it's Ella and her honey-bunny prince (not actually a bunny, mind you!) who get their story told.

A nice twist on Cinderella with bonus hanky-panky between Ella and her prince. As said in the blurb, the stepmother isn't wicked. Although she did something that caused a lot of pain for multiple people, it was accidental and she suffered right alongside all the others.

To be frank, the biggest issue rose from a massive lack in communication. Ella doesn't know that she has the ability to turn into a wolf and that causes problems when it happens. She goes on the run and only a series of events force her back to her home and the castle.

The rest, as they say, is history. Because Gareth loves Ella no matter the form she's in and AWWWWW. I *heart* it!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friggin ADORABLE. Love the salty-sweet combo of this reimagining, as all good fables have a dark underbelly, hee hee. An hour well-spent before bedtime, with spicy details and brave choices.

Some of us like when characters are maimed and/or die, thank you very much. (˵ ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°˵)ﾉ⌒♡*:･。.

Perhaps better without the epilogue though; feel free to skip them naming all their kids Disney hero names, and listing off who they got married to. It gave me anxiety, cuz I felt like they might be fun spin-offs, and I didn't want their ending spoiled, lol.

[Ashley Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming novella

Exactly as the title states this is werewolf Cinderella. Milo puts her own twist on it in a very charming way. With a step mother who is kind instead of wicked. The reader comes into the story at a point were the romance is already well developed between the two main characters. But we do get to follow them through a turning point in their relationship. It does thankfully end happily.
Overall this was a charming novella from delightful author.

[Jessica Gorgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

An interesting twist to the fairy tale. Definitely really sad catalyst. If that person had approached in person instead of as a wolf, no sorrow. If they had told their kids, no sorrow. So much heartache could have been prevented. Although I’m confused why the sons couldn’t shift, it didn’t mention it only followed female lines.

[CiCi | bookameme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really fun with a super hot spicy scene. I loved the different take on Cinderella because it made family a positive thing. The relationship between the MMCs was equally sweet, spicy, and sad. I miss Amanda's books and I wish she was still writing because I loved every single one that she published.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

*WARNING* story contains explicit adult content
Personally, I think this story is very sad. Don't get me wrong, it has the HEA we expect, but the journey getting there is sad. I enjoyed this book. I liked that it wasn't all rainbows flowers, it was a short story, but it was an extremely heartwarming journey. RECOMMENDED