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Pretty Deadly
Cinna would quite literally kill for the throne.
For years, Cinna has been forced to serve her wealthy cousins rather than attend society events alongside them. She has waited for the chance to prove herself and exact revenge. When a ball at the castle is announced, promising to bring many powerful people to town, she seizes the opportunity to strike.
She bets her best friend, Johann, a small-time thief and con-man, that she can land a greater score the night of the ball than he can. They embark on parallel heists. But as their plots unfold, things begin to unravel: by the end of the night, the castle’s on lock down, a duchess is dead, a mansion has burnt to the ground – and Cinna hasn’t even stolen anything.
Or has she captured something far more valuable than gold and jewels?
Praise for Pretty Deadly:
5 Stars
"...a gripping tale that will appeal to lovers of suspense novels. Betrayal, deceit, scheming, manipulation, and elements... The plot was brilliant and airtight! I never saw the many twists and turns coming." -- Jennifer Ibiam, Reader's Favorite
5 Stars
"Josund knows how to spin a fantasy. She takes some of the familiar building blocks and constructs something fresh and different, which will delight steadfast fans and new ones alike. ...Josund has a firm grasp on the heist theme and pulls it off convincingly and entertainingly. ...It's easy to see the parallels between this novel and Cinderella, but this version is a more exciting and mature fairytale for adults. ... If you like leading ladies with attitude and an agenda, you will love Pretty Deadly by Kelsey Josund." -- Tammy Ruggles, Readers' Favorite
5 Stars
"[Cinna] is calculating, patient, and despite her thievery, she remains sympathetic...There is a sort of eat-the-rich attitude to her secret preoccupation." -- Vincent Dublado, Readers' Favorite
5 Stars
"...blends romance, intrigue, and action in a delightful story that will build thriller enthusiasts from YA audiences unused to the experience, while attracting adult readers with a special blend of action that revolves around royalty, heists, and a relationship doomed to explode." -- Diane Donovan, Editor, Midwest Book Review
For years, Cinna has been forced to serve her wealthy cousins rather than attend society events alongside them. She has waited for the chance to prove herself and exact revenge. When a ball at the castle is announced, promising to bring many powerful people to town, she seizes the opportunity to strike.
She bets her best friend, Johann, a small-time thief and con-man, that she can land a greater score the night of the ball than he can. They embark on parallel heists. But as their plots unfold, things begin to unravel: by the end of the night, the castle’s on lock down, a duchess is dead, a mansion has burnt to the ground – and Cinna hasn’t even stolen anything.
Or has she captured something far more valuable than gold and jewels?
Praise for Pretty Deadly:
5 Stars
"...a gripping tale that will appeal to lovers of suspense novels. Betrayal, deceit, scheming, manipulation, and elements... The plot was brilliant and airtight! I never saw the many twists and turns coming." -- Jennifer Ibiam, Reader's Favorite
5 Stars
"Josund knows how to spin a fantasy. She takes some of the familiar building blocks and constructs something fresh and different, which will delight steadfast fans and new ones alike. ...Josund has a firm grasp on the heist theme and pulls it off convincingly and entertainingly. ...It's easy to see the parallels between this novel and Cinderella, but this version is a more exciting and mature fairytale for adults. ... If you like leading ladies with attitude and an agenda, you will love Pretty Deadly by Kelsey Josund." -- Tammy Ruggles, Readers' Favorite
5 Stars
"[Cinna] is calculating, patient, and despite her thievery, she remains sympathetic...There is a sort of eat-the-rich attitude to her secret preoccupation." -- Vincent Dublado, Readers' Favorite
5 Stars
"...blends romance, intrigue, and action in a delightful story that will build thriller enthusiasts from YA audiences unused to the experience, while attracting adult readers with a special blend of action that revolves around royalty, heists, and a relationship doomed to explode." -- Diane Donovan, Editor, Midwest Book Review
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
106 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Josund
4 books68 followersI am a software engineer and author living and working on the road -- I've been traveling full time while working remotely since October 2022. I studied computer science at Stanford University, but I’ve always loved stories in all their forms. I approach writing fiction the same way I approach writing code: I like to know where it’s going, but I want to figure out the details as I go along. Good software is a lot like a good story, full of neat and clever solutions to tricky problems, beautiful at a granular level but also from a distance.
Originally from Seattle, I love getting outdoors to escape to the mountains on the weekends. I care deeply about the ecosystems that humans impact and that impact us. My writing explores these issues while also following classic coming-of-age arcs in science fiction and fantasy.
Originally from Seattle, I love getting outdoors to escape to the mountains on the weekends. I care deeply about the ecosystems that humans impact and that impact us. My writing explores these issues while also following classic coming-of-age arcs in science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
November 14, 2021
5☆ Utterly Brilliant.
A Highly Compelling and Engrossing Dark Fairytale!
Pretty Deadly is the perfect title for this book, as quiet frankly Cinna is pretty Deadly and I certainly wouldn't want to cross her. Even her so called friends aren't safe!
This book is very loosely based on the fairytale Cinderella. I mean Cinna was a slave to her overbearing cousins and she did attend a ball but that's really it.
Except this book, Cinna the main character is dark, revengeful, ruthless, calculating and manipulative and I loved it!
I really enjoyed the plot twists they were so cleverly calculated I really didn't see them coming...especially how she treated Johann her best friend and accomplice.
I don't want to risk giving anything away so I'm going to finish my review by summing it up.
Most Fairytales end with a Happy Ending don't they?... I guess you're just going to discover the answer for yourself!
Pretty Deadly is not a book I would normally read and I'm so glad R&RTours gave me a chance to read it, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was deliciously Dark, Twisty and unpredictable.
Did I like Cinna... not particularly but wow was her character spot on.
So if you like Twisted Fairytales that are entwined with Murder, Crime, Revenge, Plots, Secrets and a few explosions along the way then Pretty Deadly is the book for you!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and Darkstroke Books for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/1...
A Highly Compelling and Engrossing Dark Fairytale!
Pretty Deadly is the perfect title for this book, as quiet frankly Cinna is pretty Deadly and I certainly wouldn't want to cross her. Even her so called friends aren't safe!
This book is very loosely based on the fairytale Cinderella. I mean Cinna was a slave to her overbearing cousins and she did attend a ball but that's really it.
Except this book, Cinna the main character is dark, revengeful, ruthless, calculating and manipulative and I loved it!
I really enjoyed the plot twists they were so cleverly calculated I really didn't see them coming...especially how she treated Johann her best friend and accomplice.
I don't want to risk giving anything away so I'm going to finish my review by summing it up.
Most Fairytales end with a Happy Ending don't they?... I guess you're just going to discover the answer for yourself!
Pretty Deadly is not a book I would normally read and I'm so glad R&RTours gave me a chance to read it, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was deliciously Dark, Twisty and unpredictable.
Did I like Cinna... not particularly but wow was her character spot on.
So if you like Twisted Fairytales that are entwined with Murder, Crime, Revenge, Plots, Secrets and a few explosions along the way then Pretty Deadly is the book for you!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and Darkstroke Books for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/1...
October 30, 2023
Well. Ok, then.
Where do I even begin?
This book was a lot–like, A LOT, a lot–darker than I was expecting. And also a lot of fun! Like Grimm Brothers' Cinderella meets Ocean's Eleven. Or maybe more like Now You See Me
But, oh, what fun I had trying to figure it out! I haven't read many heist type books, only Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, and those didn't really work out all that well for me. I'd originally thought it was because I simply didn't like heist books (as much as I enjoy those kinds of movies). Turns out, the key to my enjoying such stories is to shroud them in a thick fog of mystery and let me try to figure stuff out as I read along. I need secrecy alongside my con-artist's shenanigans. The suspense is definitely where it's at for me!
Now, let's talk characters.
Johann. Sweet, gullible, friend-zoned Johann. For a criminal, he was just too pure. I wanna give him a hug and reassure him that everything is gonna be fine. And, much like him, I both loved and hated Cinna. It's not everyday that you come across a book where the main character is a villain and they actually get away with their nefarious plans. She was an evil mastermind. A stone-cold sociopath. Girl had being manipulative down to a science! She was twisted and deceitful and 100% proud of it. Unremoserful, uncaring and willing to betray anyone to achieve her objectives. She'll lie, cheat and kill without batting a single eyelash.
The book was told in dual POV and I actually thought that was a great idea since Johann and Cinna carried their own scheming and plotting individually. However, I would have liked there to be a little clarification at the start of each of their parts, because sometimes it wasn't immediately obvious whose point of view we were currently on and I found myself having to go back and re-read more than once.
Another addition I would have appreciated was a map (if you know me, you know I love books having maps!). There were a few instances when kingdoms and territories were mentioned and I was embarrassingly confused throughout it
Now, in case I still haven't convinced you to read this fantastic book, I have two aces under my sleeve. Number one, a little, lovely quote:
[...]her victory remained incomplete. She still stood in the shadows of an entire monarchy. No, she was not yet victorious. She had only just begun.
And maybe more importantly, you have time until Halloween to get yourself a pre-release free copy of this–and plenty of other–titles. Trust me when I tell you, you do not want to miss this opportunity!
October 28, 2021
Title: Pretty Deadly
Author: Kelsey Josund
Book #103 -2021
Start/Finish: 10/26 - 10/28
Rating: 2 stars
Setting:
Length: 221 pgs ; 19 chapters
Published: 10/21
Stand Alone (or Series): not sure it sounds like it can continue as of today it's a stand alone as far as I can tell.
Loved the way her brain worked how she thought of every little detail and so much hinged on others, and what she thought they would do. She was patient and brilliant. How to get a way with murder has seen it match! (I loved that show). She is a cold hearted female, to the point of maybe a sociopath.
I would like to see what she plans to do, I really want to see if she is successful or if she will fail. I usually root for the main character, but this time I'm rooting for the other side. I want her to go down and get a taste of her own medicine. But she has all the time in the world to plan and wait for the right opportunity, and if one doesn't come around then I'm sure she will more than likely make her own.
She is absolutely out of her ever loving mind and very calculating. It's exciting, I'll be biting my nails till I know if there's a second book.
Author: Kelsey Josund
Book #103 -2021
Start/Finish: 10/26 - 10/28
Rating: 2 stars
Setting:
Length: 221 pgs ; 19 chapters
Published: 10/21
Stand Alone (or Series): not sure it sounds like it can continue as of today it's a stand alone as far as I can tell.
Loved the way her brain worked how she thought of every little detail and so much hinged on others, and what she thought they would do. She was patient and brilliant. How to get a way with murder has seen it match! (I loved that show). She is a cold hearted female, to the point of maybe a sociopath.
I would like to see what she plans to do, I really want to see if she is successful or if she will fail. I usually root for the main character, but this time I'm rooting for the other side. I want her to go down and get a taste of her own medicine. But she has all the time in the world to plan and wait for the right opportunity, and if one doesn't come around then I'm sure she will more than likely make her own.
She is absolutely out of her ever loving mind and very calculating. It's exciting, I'll be biting my nails till I know if there's a second book.
October 30, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily: -
Plot
A complex heist is the feature of this retelling, and it far surpassed my expectation in details and intrigue. There is no way I had anticipated the events that unfold in the book; it is a real page-turner! If you are a follower of my blog and keep up with my weekly Sunday Summary updates, you will know that I read Cinderella’s Crimes in just a handful of days earlier this month. If that doesn’t prove my point, then I don’t know what does!
Regardless of the intricacies, the plot is easy to follow and engaging to the reader. The narrative is also full of plot twists, with us not knowing what will happen next at any given moment.
Who scores the greatest haul on the night? Well, I’m not going to tell you that! You’ll just have to read the book for yourself!
Characters
Cinna, unlike her fairytale counterpart, is a cold and calculating individual. Subjected to a fall of grace in her family as a result of mistreatment by her stepmother and step-siblings, she plots her revenge every day. In order to break out of her desperate circumstances, she plans the most daring of heists, and sets herself against her friend Johann in scoring the greatest haul on the night. Cinna is a complex character and a fun perspective to enjoy this story from.
Johann is also an interesting counterpart to Cinna. Like Cinna, he is far from altruistic, and this isn’t his first criminal venture. It’s by far the biggest yet, however, and he rises to the challenge! With little time to prepare, Johann is incredibly resourceful and determined to best Cinna, even though he suspects deep down she’ll trump him. He’s determined pull it off anyway.
The dynamic between the two adds intrigue to an already high stakes story. I enjoyed their complicated relationship at every stage of the book.
Narrative Style
The short and concise chapters make this already compulsively readable story even easier to read.
The chapters intertwine between Johann and Cinna’s perspective, combining two different angles of the heist into one comprehensive story. As these two seemingly separate parts come together into the full picture, we’re surprised by how their daring endeavours unravel in tandem.
Summary
Cinderella’s Crimes is a dark twist to a classic fairytale with high stakes, daring adventure, and a shot at revenge that is best served cold!
Plot
A complex heist is the feature of this retelling, and it far surpassed my expectation in details and intrigue. There is no way I had anticipated the events that unfold in the book; it is a real page-turner! If you are a follower of my blog and keep up with my weekly Sunday Summary updates, you will know that I read Cinderella’s Crimes in just a handful of days earlier this month. If that doesn’t prove my point, then I don’t know what does!
Regardless of the intricacies, the plot is easy to follow and engaging to the reader. The narrative is also full of plot twists, with us not knowing what will happen next at any given moment.
Who scores the greatest haul on the night? Well, I’m not going to tell you that! You’ll just have to read the book for yourself!
Characters
Cinna, unlike her fairytale counterpart, is a cold and calculating individual. Subjected to a fall of grace in her family as a result of mistreatment by her stepmother and step-siblings, she plots her revenge every day. In order to break out of her desperate circumstances, she plans the most daring of heists, and sets herself against her friend Johann in scoring the greatest haul on the night. Cinna is a complex character and a fun perspective to enjoy this story from.
Johann is also an interesting counterpart to Cinna. Like Cinna, he is far from altruistic, and this isn’t his first criminal venture. It’s by far the biggest yet, however, and he rises to the challenge! With little time to prepare, Johann is incredibly resourceful and determined to best Cinna, even though he suspects deep down she’ll trump him. He’s determined pull it off anyway.
The dynamic between the two adds intrigue to an already high stakes story. I enjoyed their complicated relationship at every stage of the book.
Narrative Style
The short and concise chapters make this already compulsively readable story even easier to read.
The chapters intertwine between Johann and Cinna’s perspective, combining two different angles of the heist into one comprehensive story. As these two seemingly separate parts come together into the full picture, we’re surprised by how their daring endeavours unravel in tandem.
Summary
Cinderella’s Crimes is a dark twist to a classic fairytale with high stakes, daring adventure, and a shot at revenge that is best served cold!
November 13, 2021
This isn't just your average twist on a fairytale. PRETTY DEADLY is a wild and dark ride that ventures into the trickster mind of Cinna: Kelsey Josund's "cinderella".
Within the first few chapters you get a taste of the Cinna-cal (haha, get it?), vengeful, and altogether thrilling main character. She has her eye on the prize and no one will take it away from her. She's the kind of character you love to hate and hate to love. The novel is such a refreshing retelling, leaving behind the ever-so-merry versions of Cinderella we've come to know in the dust and replacing her with a character whose anger and determination leap off the pages.
The descriptive prose breathes this world to life (just as Cinna is ready to burn it all down) and the heist was absolutely terrific. P.S. I also want to bottle Johann and bring him everywhere I go.
A great read and thrilling adventure! If you took the show Revenge, molded it with Ocean's Eleven, and used its pointy edge to shatter the Disney ceiling, you'd get PRETTY DEADLY.
Within the first few chapters you get a taste of the Cinna-cal (haha, get it?), vengeful, and altogether thrilling main character. She has her eye on the prize and no one will take it away from her. She's the kind of character you love to hate and hate to love. The novel is such a refreshing retelling, leaving behind the ever-so-merry versions of Cinderella we've come to know in the dust and replacing her with a character whose anger and determination leap off the pages.
The descriptive prose breathes this world to life (just as Cinna is ready to burn it all down) and the heist was absolutely terrific. P.S. I also want to bottle Johann and bring him everywhere I go.
A great read and thrilling adventure! If you took the show Revenge, molded it with Ocean's Eleven, and used its pointy edge to shatter the Disney ceiling, you'd get PRETTY DEADLY.
October 21, 2021
PRETTY DEADLY - let’s get into it.
As a big fan of retellings, I was beyond excited to receive an ARC copy of Pretty Deadly in exchange for an honest review. I have a pretty busy life, and going about my day, I swear this book was lurking in the back of my mind until I’d finished it. I was immediately drawn in by the realistic (and kind of scary - in the very best way) character of Cinna — she’s written so believably that I found myself utterly absorbed from the very start.
The plot itself is wonderfully complex with many clever subtleties I really enjoyed, but so easy to read at the same time that I found myself completely drawn into their world almost immediately. It’s dark, gritty, and hair-raisingly tense in parts, and had me very much gripped.
Johann is written incredibly well - I tend to attach myself to side characters, and he’s no exception! I particularly loved his interactions with Cinna, and their dialogue together - Kelsey has a way of painting such a vivid picture with her characters’ voices.
And that cover though - I’m going to need a poster of that for sure.
Overall, undoubtedly a 5 star read. Wickedly sharp and fast-moving storytelling - I loved it!
October 31, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
And man, I wanted to like this.
The initial pitch for the story is super fun; Johann, the side character, is pretty amazing; the world building is intriguing.
But Cinna is a bust.
I could have lived with thief Cinderella and even with a desperate one - generally speaking I find the original Disney cartoon one a fool. But this one was a psychopath and sociopath both!
You have to empathize with the main character and they need a redeeming trait. Cinna has none and is a highly disturbing individual. We also never know WHY she does the things she does. Yes she was wronged but, people are wronged all the time. What makes THESE wrongs so bad? The glimpses of her childhood just show she was born completely void of the capability for normal interactions, and the ending shows even more that for reasons not identified she believes she should be adored and universally worshipped.
A narcissist to boot? It sounds close enough.
Unfortunately this ruins the book for me. The writing is amazing and everything around Cinna is basically worth it, despite the slow start and then a quick wrap-up. But the main character being unlikeable kills any possibility of me wanting to pick up another book featuring them.
It's a shame, because I was excited for a different Cinderella - just not this maniac.
And man, I wanted to like this.
The initial pitch for the story is super fun; Johann, the side character, is pretty amazing; the world building is intriguing.
But Cinna is a bust.
I could have lived with thief Cinderella and even with a desperate one - generally speaking I find the original Disney cartoon one a fool. But this one was a psychopath and sociopath both!
You have to empathize with the main character and they need a redeeming trait. Cinna has none and is a highly disturbing individual. We also never know WHY she does the things she does. Yes she was wronged but, people are wronged all the time. What makes THESE wrongs so bad? The glimpses of her childhood just show she was born completely void of the capability for normal interactions, and the ending shows even more that for reasons not identified she believes she should be adored and universally worshipped.
A narcissist to boot? It sounds close enough.
Unfortunately this ruins the book for me. The writing is amazing and everything around Cinna is basically worth it, despite the slow start and then a quick wrap-up. But the main character being unlikeable kills any possibility of me wanting to pick up another book featuring them.
It's a shame, because I was excited for a different Cinderella - just not this maniac.
December 4, 2023
Well. Ok, then.
Where do I even begin?
Full disclosure, I was already familiar with this book as I'd read—almost two years ago to the date—the original version of it. This review is pretty much the one I wrote back then, with some new thoughts and impressions.
This book was a lot–like, A LOT, a lot–darker than I was expecting. And also a lot of fun! Like Grimm Brothers' Cinderella meets Ocean's Eleven. Or maybe more like Now You See Me
But, oh, what fun I had trying to figure it out! I haven't read many heist type books, only Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, and those didn't really work out all that well for me. I'd originally thought it was because I simply didn't like heist books (as much as I enjoy those kinds of movies). Turns out, the key to my enjoying such stories is to shroud them in a thick fog of mystery and let me try to figure stuff out as I read along. I need secrecy alongside my con-artist's shenanigans. The suspense is definitely where it's at for me!
Now, let's talk characters.
Johann. Sweet, gullible, friend-zoned Johann. For a criminal, he was just too pure. I wanna give him a hug and reassure him that everything is gonna be fine. And, much like him, I both loved and hated Cinna. It's not everyday that you come across a book where the main character is a villain and they actually get away with their nefarious plans. She was an evil mastermind. A stone-cold sociopath. Girl had being manipulative down to a science! She was twisted and deceitful and 100% proud of it. Unremoserful, uncaring and willing to betray anyone to achieve her objectives. She'll lie, cheat and kill without batting a single eyelash.
The book was told in dual POV and I actually thought that was a great idea since Johann and Cinna carried their own scheming and plotting individually. And I loved how in this new edition of the book, the story was broken into three parts: the preparation for each of our main character's heists, the carrying out of those plans and then the fall out. I'm not exactly sure what other changes were made in comparison to the first version of this tale, but I feel like the switch between POVs was a lot cleaner and clearer.
However, an addition I'm still wishing and hoping will be eventually added is a map (if you know me, you know I love books having maps!). There were a few instances when kingdoms and territories were mentioned and I was embarrassingly confused throughout it
Now, in case I still haven't convinced you to read this fantastic book, I have an ace under my sleeve—a little, lovely quote:
[...]her victory remained incomplete. She still stood in the shadows of an entire monarchy. No, she was not yet victorious. She had only just begun.
If there's a quote that to me encapsulates Cinna as a character that one is it. And if you'd like to dive into a story about a ruthless anti-hero, quite literally willing to do anything and backstab anyone to achieve her long desired goals, this one it definitely it. I can't wait to see what other crazy schemes Kelsey Josund will come up with for her twisted, enthralling main character.
November 9, 2021
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the tour organiser (RRBookTours)
A compelling tale of revenge, PRETTY DEADLY by Kelsey Josund is a fabulous retelling of the classic Cinderella tale but with a dark edge that will blow your mind.
Treated appallingly by her wealthy relatives and surviving by her wits and intelligence throughout her life, Cinna has plans to pull off the heist of all heists at the royal ball of the century which will be held at the castle. Placing a bet with her best friend and loveable thief, Johann, to make the stakes that little bit more interesting, Cinna is prepared to get what she wants. But when things start to go wrong and unexpected happenings throw everything off course for the pair, will Cinna achieve her goal, or will she get more than she bargained for?
Everyone knows the tale of Cinderella and while this story definitely has elements of the classic, PRETTY DEADLY is unique in its own right with characters and a plot that will keep you gripped from start to finish. Murder, misdirection, secrets, and more all lie waiting among these pages, and I couldn't put this book down until I had reached the end.
PRETTY DEADLY by Kelsey Josund is a wonderful novel and I cannot wait for more!!!
A compelling tale of revenge, PRETTY DEADLY by Kelsey Josund is a fabulous retelling of the classic Cinderella tale but with a dark edge that will blow your mind.
Treated appallingly by her wealthy relatives and surviving by her wits and intelligence throughout her life, Cinna has plans to pull off the heist of all heists at the royal ball of the century which will be held at the castle. Placing a bet with her best friend and loveable thief, Johann, to make the stakes that little bit more interesting, Cinna is prepared to get what she wants. But when things start to go wrong and unexpected happenings throw everything off course for the pair, will Cinna achieve her goal, or will she get more than she bargained for?
Everyone knows the tale of Cinderella and while this story definitely has elements of the classic, PRETTY DEADLY is unique in its own right with characters and a plot that will keep you gripped from start to finish. Murder, misdirection, secrets, and more all lie waiting among these pages, and I couldn't put this book down until I had reached the end.
PRETTY DEADLY by Kelsey Josund is a wonderful novel and I cannot wait for more!!!
September 24, 2021
I had the distinct pleasure of getting to read the ARC edition of Pretty Deadly, and I could not put it down. Billed as a feminist fairy tale retelling, this take on the classic Cinderella story is anything but what you'd expect. Cinna has been taken for granted, forced into servitude by her rich relatives, and is driven to seek a revenge that runs so deep, she'll do just about anything to get it. This is whimsical, fast-paced read, full of action and intrigue, beautiful characters you both love and love to hate, and a central friendship/rivalry that is charged with authenticity. I don't read a ton of genre fiction, and I honestly cannot wait for the sequel. Cinna's dangerous penchant for vengeance aside, Johann is hands down the most delightfully lovable thief literature has to offer. Highly recommend. I'm also buying myself a hardcopy to have the next time I need a sure revenge fix. Modern, yet reminiscent of the original fairy tale charm—but with murder, intrigue, elaborate heists, sexual tension, and a little good ol' fashioned collateral damage. A grown-up Cinderella from a fantasy world that feels all too real.
October 27, 2021
This was a truly unique twist on Cinderella. I wasn’t 100% sure how the story was going to be laid out when I first started reading it. It was almost like reading something else entirely but the further it went along, the more parts of the fairy tale kind of fell into place to guide you with it. Cinna is one sneaky, terrifyingly intelligent and calculating woman with no real conscience. Poor, foolish Johann.
This is not at all a lovely little fairy tale. I thought it was brilliant and it really kept me captivated.
This is not at all a lovely little fairy tale. I thought it was brilliant and it really kept me captivated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2021
While teased as a Cinderella story, this is no trite tale. Josund’s retelling is twisty and dark, far from the fairy tale story you’d expect… but with enough clever familiarity sprinkled throughout to invoke nostalgic connections to the classic.
I was pleased to see another project from Josund so quickly after Platformed, and even more so because this provides a stark contrast in storytelling that signals she has plenty of range that will (hopefully) inspire surprising future reads as well!
I was pleased to see another project from Josund so quickly after Platformed, and even more so because this provides a stark contrast in storytelling that signals she has plenty of range that will (hopefully) inspire surprising future reads as well!
October 26, 2021
So good! I loved the dark, kick-butt variation on the classic Cinderella. I most appreciated the well-thought out plot - a genius heist!
September 28, 2021
An interesting twist to the retelling of the fairy tale "Cinderella". This was an overly suspenseful yet satisfying read. After years of being sidelined, disrespected, taken for granted and forced to work as a slave for her cousins, ambitious Cinna hears about the announcement of a ball. With opportunity coming her way she's ready to do whatever it takes.
This novel is intriguing, well paced and leaves you in awe of the author. The characters are interesting and well written, the descriptions and details are on point. I hope the author enjoyed writing this as much as I enjoyed reading it.
Greatful to the author, as I received an ARC edition of Pretty Deadly
This novel is intriguing, well paced and leaves you in awe of the author. The characters are interesting and well written, the descriptions and details are on point. I hope the author enjoyed writing this as much as I enjoyed reading it.
Greatful to the author, as I received an ARC edition of Pretty Deadly
November 8, 2021
Cinna knows what she deserves. Her cousins have spent years trying to get her to forget it, but she has held onto the hope that her life will not be this way forever. Now, Cinna has a plan. On the night of the ball, her entire life will change. She’s so confident that she bets her best friend Johann that she will land a greater score than he will that night, and he has a large scheme of his own. This retelling of Cinderella stars a strong main female character and two grand heists that take place on the most magical night of the year, the night of the ball.
The pacing of this book is both slow and fast. Yeah, that sounds like a contradiction. The time from the heist to the ball is a short period of time, probably a few days to a couple of short weeks. I couldn’t really keep track as I was reading. Nevertheless, it felt like AGES before we got to the ball part of the book. Almost every detail of both heists was carefully laid out and analyzed as both Cinna and Johann have plans to change their lives that night. If you are into heist novels, this is definitely the book for you. It goes so in-depth to every aspect of the plan that I felt like I was at the drawing board with the characters.
Johann was definitely my favorite character of this book. He secretly admires and has feelings for Cinna and he hopes that if this plot goes well that he will be able to help her escape her horrid cousins. But this plan has to go perfectly for him to get enough money to do so. His parts of the book were definitely more fun for me to read as his plot seemed a little less sinister and mostly focused on the fun parts of sneaking around the castle/town. I would have read an entire book about his interesting life as a con man before he met Cinna.
Cinna was a character who I came into the book hoping to like. I knew she wasn’t supposed to be your typical sweet, innocent, submissive Cinderella. She had thoughts of her own, plans of her own, and wasn’t going to let her horrible “family” ruin her life any longer. Nevertheless, I didn’t love how many innocent people she drags down with her plot. I knew that she wanted revenge against her cousins, but the end result of her plan (which isn’t revealed until the end of the book) just didn’t feel…right to me. I didn’t fully understand her motive for that goal, and I didn’t think that what she gained was worth those she hurt along the way to get there. This is really what bumped the book from 5 stars to 3 stars for me. If you don’t come into the book expecting to like Cinna, you are going to enjoy this story FAR more. Come to this book for the heist shenanigans and the action-packed story, not necessarily for Cinderella.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a dark fairy tale retelling.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 books.
The pacing of this book is both slow and fast. Yeah, that sounds like a contradiction. The time from the heist to the ball is a short period of time, probably a few days to a couple of short weeks. I couldn’t really keep track as I was reading. Nevertheless, it felt like AGES before we got to the ball part of the book. Almost every detail of both heists was carefully laid out and analyzed as both Cinna and Johann have plans to change their lives that night. If you are into heist novels, this is definitely the book for you. It goes so in-depth to every aspect of the plan that I felt like I was at the drawing board with the characters.
Johann was definitely my favorite character of this book. He secretly admires and has feelings for Cinna and he hopes that if this plot goes well that he will be able to help her escape her horrid cousins. But this plan has to go perfectly for him to get enough money to do so. His parts of the book were definitely more fun for me to read as his plot seemed a little less sinister and mostly focused on the fun parts of sneaking around the castle/town. I would have read an entire book about his interesting life as a con man before he met Cinna.
Cinna was a character who I came into the book hoping to like. I knew she wasn’t supposed to be your typical sweet, innocent, submissive Cinderella. She had thoughts of her own, plans of her own, and wasn’t going to let her horrible “family” ruin her life any longer. Nevertheless, I didn’t love how many innocent people she drags down with her plot. I knew that she wanted revenge against her cousins, but the end result of her plan (which isn’t revealed until the end of the book) just didn’t feel…right to me. I didn’t fully understand her motive for that goal, and I didn’t think that what she gained was worth those she hurt along the way to get there. This is really what bumped the book from 5 stars to 3 stars for me. If you don’t come into the book expecting to like Cinna, you are going to enjoy this story FAR more. Come to this book for the heist shenanigans and the action-packed story, not necessarily for Cinderella.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a dark fairy tale retelling.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 books.
December 14, 2021
If you are a fan of retellings but craving something a little bit different then Pretty Deadly could be the book for you!
Featuring much violence and murder this dark retelling of Cinderella brings something very unique to the table and I have to say that although I had some issues with it, overall I really enjoyed it!
.
.
.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
-The uniqueness of the storyline. With a lot of books you sort of have expectations of where it will take you. With this I really had no idea. Would Cinna ever redeem herself? Would there be a happy ending?
-The ruthlessness of Cinna... as a character I really did hate her but I could not fault her intelligence. I loved the way that her plans all came together by the end.
-The plot twist involving Johann! I was completely shocked by the way Cinna treated him in the end. No spoilers but yeah... yikes!
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆:
-The characters. I know Cinna was obviously not written to be likable but there were no "good" characters in this story. No one that I felt like I connected with.
-Johann... his character just didn't make sense to me at all. I couldn't understand his motivations.
-The pacing... the first half of the book in particular felt really slow. Nothing seemed to really happen until the second half and then everything sort of kicked off all at once.
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍:
I would recommend this to fans of thrillers, dark fairytales or anyone who wants to try something a big different!
Featuring much violence and murder this dark retelling of Cinderella brings something very unique to the table and I have to say that although I had some issues with it, overall I really enjoyed it!
.
.
.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅:
-The uniqueness of the storyline. With a lot of books you sort of have expectations of where it will take you. With this I really had no idea. Would Cinna ever redeem herself? Would there be a happy ending?
-The ruthlessness of Cinna... as a character I really did hate her but I could not fault her intelligence. I loved the way that her plans all came together by the end.
-The plot twist involving Johann! I was completely shocked by the way Cinna treated him in the end. No spoilers but yeah... yikes!
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆:
-The characters. I know Cinna was obviously not written to be likable but there were no "good" characters in this story. No one that I felt like I connected with.
-Johann... his character just didn't make sense to me at all. I couldn't understand his motivations.
-The pacing... the first half of the book in particular felt really slow. Nothing seemed to really happen until the second half and then everything sort of kicked off all at once.
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍:
I would recommend this to fans of thrillers, dark fairytales or anyone who wants to try something a big different!
October 23, 2023
This book was crazy!
I enjoy a good heist and this book delivered. Cinna makes a wager with Johann to see who can pull off the better heist. It is a dual point of view story where we get to see each person go about their plans. Johann’s plans are transparent to the reader, whereas Cinna’s are not. We are still not entirely sure of her motivations by the end of the book. Quite frankly, here we have a Cinderella retelling where Cinderella is a sociopath!
I took a few days to since on my thoughts for this one, and in the end, I have to say that it is a well written book. It is not predictable (or at least, it didn't end the way I would have thought or wanted it to) and I feel very strongly not in favour of one of the characters right now, while really hoping for others. I can't say more without spoiling anything, so I won't.
There is definitely more to this story and I look forward to it.
If a dark Cinderella is what you're looking for, then this is the book for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoy a good heist and this book delivered. Cinna makes a wager with Johann to see who can pull off the better heist. It is a dual point of view story where we get to see each person go about their plans. Johann’s plans are transparent to the reader, whereas Cinna’s are not. We are still not entirely sure of her motivations by the end of the book. Quite frankly, here we have a Cinderella retelling where Cinderella is a sociopath!
I took a few days to since on my thoughts for this one, and in the end, I have to say that it is a well written book. It is not predictable (or at least, it didn't end the way I would have thought or wanted it to) and I feel very strongly not in favour of one of the characters right now, while really hoping for others. I can't say more without spoiling anything, so I won't.
There is definitely more to this story and I look forward to it.
If a dark Cinderella is what you're looking for, then this is the book for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2021
Pretty Deadly is a re-telling of the Cinderella story, except Cinna is a maid and a thief. I found it very hard to like her, but I liked Johann and felt bad for the way she treated him. While the premise of the story was interesting, I thought the build-up to the heist was very slow and didn't pick up until near the middle. After that things got interesting right up to the unexpected ending. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
October 12, 2021
What if Cinderella was a con artist? In Kelsey Josund's Pretty Deadly, that's what we get to find out. Cinna is a maid for her awful family by day and a petty criminal by night. Readers get to meet her through the eyes of her closest confidante, Johann. When Johann's not wrapped up in his own schemes, he runs an antique shop. Upon hearing news of a large gathering of their kingdom's nobility, Cinna goads Johann into a friendly competition. The goal is to see who can get the biggest score the night of the ball. The night arrives, and suddenly there's a chandelier crash, several fires, and more than one dead body, leaving everyone wondering what went so wrong.
Pretty Deadly is a fairytale retelling unlike any other. Every plot twist, every level of deception, and each act of violence will take readers by surprise. Cinna is the type of character that you love to hate and hate to love. She is wonderfully wicked, and readers will spend half of the time reading wondering if she or her partner in crime will get caught.
The countless side characters are superb as well. Each person has a part to play, willingly or not. The reader gets to watch it all play out from different points of view, seeing how each minute detail and every small interaction creates a domino effect for everyone involved. Because of this, sometimes the reader will be able to see trouble coming before the characters do, creating overwhelming suspense.
There are times in Pretty Deadly that the pacing is a bit slow. During the setup for some of the finer details of the con, there's a lot of overexplaining. It's a minor issue, but it may require just a little bit of patience from the readers to reach the incredible pay-off. Additionally, a lot of the plot depends on all the secondary characters being gullible and naive. It's a bit of a stretch at times, but the arrogance of nobility and royalty plays into their gullibility, and that makes it believable.
The things mentioned above don't take away much from the story, so I give it a 4.5 out of 5. It's a shocking, dark, convoluted heist novel, lead by a protagonist who is just the perfect amount of sinister and cunning. There are no explicit adult scenes, but I would still only recommend Pretty Deadly to an audience in the older YA range, as the violence is pretty gruesome. If you like the Six of Crows duology, this novel will be right up your alley.
Pretty Deadly is a fairytale retelling unlike any other. Every plot twist, every level of deception, and each act of violence will take readers by surprise. Cinna is the type of character that you love to hate and hate to love. She is wonderfully wicked, and readers will spend half of the time reading wondering if she or her partner in crime will get caught.
The countless side characters are superb as well. Each person has a part to play, willingly or not. The reader gets to watch it all play out from different points of view, seeing how each minute detail and every small interaction creates a domino effect for everyone involved. Because of this, sometimes the reader will be able to see trouble coming before the characters do, creating overwhelming suspense.
There are times in Pretty Deadly that the pacing is a bit slow. During the setup for some of the finer details of the con, there's a lot of overexplaining. It's a minor issue, but it may require just a little bit of patience from the readers to reach the incredible pay-off. Additionally, a lot of the plot depends on all the secondary characters being gullible and naive. It's a bit of a stretch at times, but the arrogance of nobility and royalty plays into their gullibility, and that makes it believable.
The things mentioned above don't take away much from the story, so I give it a 4.5 out of 5. It's a shocking, dark, convoluted heist novel, lead by a protagonist who is just the perfect amount of sinister and cunning. There are no explicit adult scenes, but I would still only recommend Pretty Deadly to an audience in the older YA range, as the violence is pretty gruesome. If you like the Six of Crows duology, this novel will be right up your alley.
November 11, 2021
🗡️ Pretty Deadly Review:⠀
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⠀
This Dark Fantasy is a chilling fairytale retelling of Cinderella that's not for the faint of heart. ⠀
⠀
The novel stars Cinna, a clever, beautiful former debutante, and Johann, a small-time thief and conman, who make a bet to steal something from the castle the night of a grand ball. The one with the biggest score wins. As they both plan their heists we see that Cinna is motivated by much, much more than the riches held in the castle. She wants it all and will kill to get it. ⠀
⠀
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark take on the classic Cinderella story. Cinna is intelligent, manipulative, and cunning and each glimpse of her grand plan makes you realize that she was always in control. Johann is so easy to root for as he develops a "Mission Impossible" scheme that goes off without a hitch. He is smart and careful but Cinna is definitely his blind spot. ⠀
⠀
Kelsey Josund brilliantly crafts this fast paced tale in a way that has you guessing until the last page. Her complex characters give the heist energy and purpose and I found myself holding my breath each time a new facet of Cinna's plan was revealed.⠀
⠀
Pretty Deadly was a five star read for me! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves The Lunar Chronicles, The Splintered Series, or The Plated Prisoner Series. ⠀
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ⠀
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⠀
This Dark Fantasy is a chilling fairytale retelling of Cinderella that's not for the faint of heart. ⠀
⠀
The novel stars Cinna, a clever, beautiful former debutante, and Johann, a small-time thief and conman, who make a bet to steal something from the castle the night of a grand ball. The one with the biggest score wins. As they both plan their heists we see that Cinna is motivated by much, much more than the riches held in the castle. She wants it all and will kill to get it. ⠀
⠀
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark take on the classic Cinderella story. Cinna is intelligent, manipulative, and cunning and each glimpse of her grand plan makes you realize that she was always in control. Johann is so easy to root for as he develops a "Mission Impossible" scheme that goes off without a hitch. He is smart and careful but Cinna is definitely his blind spot. ⠀
⠀
Kelsey Josund brilliantly crafts this fast paced tale in a way that has you guessing until the last page. Her complex characters give the heist energy and purpose and I found myself holding my breath each time a new facet of Cinna's plan was revealed.⠀
⠀
Pretty Deadly was a five star read for me! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves The Lunar Chronicles, The Splintered Series, or The Plated Prisoner Series. ⠀
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ⠀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
Kelsey Josund’s dark and gritty retelling of Cinderella is absolutely fantastic. Focusing on a heist challenge between Cinna and Johanne, Josund has effortlessly woven together a thrilling and engaging story that kept my attention until the very end (I finished the last third of the book in one sitting). I grew very fond of her characters, especially Johanne, and the tension between himself and Cinna. Regarding worldbuilding, the culture and setting of Scanmark, as well as the backstory to its growth as the reigning kingdom in her world, was very well done. The time period (a creative mashup of a sort of post-medieval period on the brink of a revolution in the development of electricity), was very interesting and made me want to learn more about her world in future books. Her writing was top notch with excellent descriptions and very natural dialogue. Nothing about the book felt repetitive or drawn out, and I loved her attention to detail in every scene, especially regarding Johanne’s and Cinna’s preparations for their individual heists. Finally, I loved how Josund left just enough mystery throughout the story to keep me wanting more. I high recommend this book and I cannot wait for a sequel!
November 7, 2021
Pretty Deadly is described as a feminist retelling of Cinderella. Our main character, Cinna, challenges her friend Johann to a competition of sorts. Both will find a way into the royal ball, and whoever steals the item of highest value is the winner. Who doesn’t love a good heist? I thought this was a super interesting take on the Cinderella story, and I liked the callbacks to the original story. It felt new and familiar all at the same time, and the parallel heists make for easy, compulsive reading.
🗡
That being said, you will seriously have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to the finer details of Cinna’s heist. Some of it just feels too unbelievable (like crafting brass knuckles out of silverware)… Really, everything seems to work out for her too easily, and it takes some of the fun out of it. This might be easier to take if I was rooting for her, but I really didn’t like Cinna as a character. She’s ruthless, cunning and not afraid to kill innocent people to get what she wants, but there’s nothing likable or relatable about her. It reads more like a villain story more than anything else, but she’s not even a villain I would root for.
🗡
That being said, I did enjoy this take on the classic story, and I liked the way Josund really made this retelling their own! I just wish that Cinna had been more approachable as a character. If you’re looking for a quick read with cunning characters, heists and a healthy dose of violence, you can’t go wrong here!
🗡
That being said, you will seriously have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to the finer details of Cinna’s heist. Some of it just feels too unbelievable (like crafting brass knuckles out of silverware)… Really, everything seems to work out for her too easily, and it takes some of the fun out of it. This might be easier to take if I was rooting for her, but I really didn’t like Cinna as a character. She’s ruthless, cunning and not afraid to kill innocent people to get what she wants, but there’s nothing likable or relatable about her. It reads more like a villain story more than anything else, but she’s not even a villain I would root for.
🗡
That being said, I did enjoy this take on the classic story, and I liked the way Josund really made this retelling their own! I just wish that Cinna had been more approachable as a character. If you’re looking for a quick read with cunning characters, heists and a healthy dose of violence, you can’t go wrong here!
November 3, 2021
What an extremely unique and fresh take on the tale of Cinderella. I really loved that the story was turned into a heist. And that the twists just kept coming.
Johann was a fairly lovestruck character and for as smart as he was in pulling of the heist, his love for Cinna wildly blinded him and ultimately lead to his downfall. I wouldn’t call him a weak character, but I had trouble identifying with him to say the least.
While Cinna was much more wild and intelligent, she can’t even be called morally gray… she’s just morally corrupt. By the end of the book she’s killed five people and framed Johann for murder. Like how she pulled it off is wild, but as the book progresses I disliked her more and more.
The world building was a little hard to figure out. It’s a monarchy with castles and women still dressing in what I imagine to be 1500s attire yet they have trains, guns, and electricity. It created a dissonance that made it hard to truly feel comfortable in the world.
The book ends with the intention of being a sequel and I’m interested in seeing where the story goes from here.
Johann was a fairly lovestruck character and for as smart as he was in pulling of the heist, his love for Cinna wildly blinded him and ultimately lead to his downfall. I wouldn’t call him a weak character, but I had trouble identifying with him to say the least.
While Cinna was much more wild and intelligent, she can’t even be called morally gray… she’s just morally corrupt. By the end of the book she’s killed five people and framed Johann for murder. Like how she pulled it off is wild, but as the book progresses I disliked her more and more.
The world building was a little hard to figure out. It’s a monarchy with castles and women still dressing in what I imagine to be 1500s attire yet they have trains, guns, and electricity. It created a dissonance that made it hard to truly feel comfortable in the world.
The book ends with the intention of being a sequel and I’m interested in seeing where the story goes from here.
November 26, 2021
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of this book for an honest review.
4/5 stars
This is a violent and thrilling twist on Cinderella. I thought Cinna was a captivating character, and the author’s writing style was super easy to follow. The story kept me hooked almost the whole time.
I thought the pacing in the beginning was a little bit off, and this made it hard to stay interested in the story. I liked the back and forth between Cinna and Johann, but I felt like there was a bit too much of the prepping for the ball, and not enough actual action leading up to this. The pacing got better in the second half, and this is where the author really had me hooked. I wanted to learn all of the different plans Cinna had in place, and I was guessing at her different endgames.
I preferred Cinna’s character to Johann’s, but I thought both were good characters. They felt realistic, and Cinna was kind of scary at times.
This was a violent, thrilling, exciting, and captivating read, and I enjoyed it a lot.
4/5 stars
This is a violent and thrilling twist on Cinderella. I thought Cinna was a captivating character, and the author’s writing style was super easy to follow. The story kept me hooked almost the whole time.
I thought the pacing in the beginning was a little bit off, and this made it hard to stay interested in the story. I liked the back and forth between Cinna and Johann, but I felt like there was a bit too much of the prepping for the ball, and not enough actual action leading up to this. The pacing got better in the second half, and this is where the author really had me hooked. I wanted to learn all of the different plans Cinna had in place, and I was guessing at her different endgames.
I preferred Cinna’s character to Johann’s, but I thought both were good characters. They felt realistic, and Cinna was kind of scary at times.
This was a violent, thrilling, exciting, and captivating read, and I enjoyed it a lot.
November 5, 2021
A one-of-a-kind take on a classic! I often find retellings predictable and gimmicky, but turning this fairytale into a scheming heist takes it in a totally different direction. The plot starts off a bit slowly, dangling carrot after carrot, taunting the reader to cobble together guesses as the characters’ plans, as they outsmart you right under your nose.
I particularly loved the dance between Cinna and Johann, as they challenge each other to what you might call a heist-off, and from the very beginning I was immediately reminded of Villanelle and Konstantin from Killing Eve. Their expert trash talking rooted in immense respect for one another, will always end in Villanelle/Cinna running circles around everyone else - and Konstantin and Johann know it.
If you, like me, love books with morally corrupt protagonists, viciously conniving Strong Female Leads, and wonderfully descriptive language with pacing that taunts you as a meta-voice of the main character, this is one you’ll love diving into!!
I particularly loved the dance between Cinna and Johann, as they challenge each other to what you might call a heist-off, and from the very beginning I was immediately reminded of Villanelle and Konstantin from Killing Eve. Their expert trash talking rooted in immense respect for one another, will always end in Villanelle/Cinna running circles around everyone else - and Konstantin and Johann know it.
If you, like me, love books with morally corrupt protagonists, viciously conniving Strong Female Leads, and wonderfully descriptive language with pacing that taunts you as a meta-voice of the main character, this is one you’ll love diving into!!
January 7, 2024
This is not your ordinary fairytale retelling! This take is more of a dark and deadly version of Cinderella's story. I enjoyed the direction the author took with this, albeit the story doesn't leave you really rooting for her in the end. This version of Cinderella is the complete opposite of the classic "Disney" version most know. If you're into dark retellings, this one is for you.
I would have liked more character interaction and dialogue; much of the story unfolded by way of explanation of what the 2 main characters were doing and how they executed their plans. Usually that makes for getting through a book more challenging for me, but this book provided good imagery and helped the story unfold in my mind. I was just hoping for more connection and dialogue. I hope there is more to come as far as providing more backstory for both main characters, that seemed to fall a little flat.
The author is an exceptional writer, her descriptions and storytelling were well done.
I would have liked more character interaction and dialogue; much of the story unfolded by way of explanation of what the 2 main characters were doing and how they executed their plans. Usually that makes for getting through a book more challenging for me, but this book provided good imagery and helped the story unfold in my mind. I was just hoping for more connection and dialogue. I hope there is more to come as far as providing more backstory for both main characters, that seemed to fall a little flat.
The author is an exceptional writer, her descriptions and storytelling were well done.
November 8, 2021
I received an ARC via Booksirens and this is my honest review.
Cinna, a tantalising and confident thief has a rocky relationship with her cousins because they treat her like their own personal slave. Johann owns a pawn shop and feels like petty crime won't satisfy him anymore. So, Cinna and Johann make a deal on which one of them that can score more at the ball. For both Cinna and Johann, this robbery could give them freedom that they dream of.
Wow, I'm so amazed by this book. It's not your typical Cinderella retelling. Cinna was so manipulative that even the readers might not can guess what her next action will be. Johann's side of crime was nail-biting experience too.
Overall, I loved this book!
Cinna, a tantalising and confident thief has a rocky relationship with her cousins because they treat her like their own personal slave. Johann owns a pawn shop and feels like petty crime won't satisfy him anymore. So, Cinna and Johann make a deal on which one of them that can score more at the ball. For both Cinna and Johann, this robbery could give them freedom that they dream of.
Wow, I'm so amazed by this book. It's not your typical Cinderella retelling. Cinna was so manipulative that even the readers might not can guess what her next action will be. Johann's side of crime was nail-biting experience too.
Overall, I loved this book!
November 1, 2023
Cinderella's Crimes is a dark fantasy by author Kelsey Josund. I loved how legitimately dark and twisted this story was. Cinna is a little unhinged, in a creepy but interesting way. She is certainly not someone I would want to cross, that is for sure. There is also a great mystery element woven into the story that I really enjoyed. Overall, Cinderella's Crimes was a fun read! I really liked it!
Cinna was a slave and she is definitely what I would now call a villain. I love a dark and twisted character, and Cinna is complicated, which kept me completely invested in what she was going to do next. But Cinna is not the only character, we also get to see the POV of Johann, who is super interesting in his own regard. They have a great push and pull going on between them, with each one trying to one-up and out smart/out manipulate the other one. It was a ton of fun to read.
If you are fan of heist stories and love dark and twisted characters who will stop at nothing to get what they want, then you will love Cinderella's Crimes. This book was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it!
Cinna was a slave and she is definitely what I would now call a villain. I love a dark and twisted character, and Cinna is complicated, which kept me completely invested in what she was going to do next. But Cinna is not the only character, we also get to see the POV of Johann, who is super interesting in his own regard. They have a great push and pull going on between them, with each one trying to one-up and out smart/out manipulate the other one. It was a ton of fun to read.
If you are fan of heist stories and love dark and twisted characters who will stop at nothing to get what they want, then you will love Cinderella's Crimes. This book was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it!
November 2, 2023
I was intrigued by the cover of this book and was thrilled that Cinna wasn't a pure soled woman who sang with birds and had mice friends. This Cinna was wicked. As the story went on, I was almost disgusted by her wickedness, but by the end of it, I was shook. She played everything so well. I didn't like her when she was staying with Johann and I felt sorry for him but by the end of the book I was in awe of Cinna and her wicked ways.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 7, 2021
A refreshing take on a centuries-old fairytale, Pretty Deadly is a fast-paced, entertaining read.
Humiliated and mistreated by her cousins, Cinna seems slated for a life of mind-numbing servitude. Well, not if she can help it. Cinna hatches a plan, rolls up her sleeves and gets down and dirty. And unlike Cinderella, she does not rely on magic to get what she wants.
Cinna is smart, cunning and drop-dead gorgeous. A dangerous combination, but even the best-laid plans often go awry. The stakes are high and despite her painstaking preparation, with so many moving parts, the success of Cinna’s plan is a touch and go. It’s not until the very end that we find out whether she lands the prize or lands in the dungeons.
I loved the plotting and the intrigue, and thoroughly enjoyed following Cinna – and her fellow schemer – Johann on their adventures.
As you might expect, there is a ball at the castle and a lost shoe, but that's where the similarities end. Prepare to be surprised!
I received a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Humiliated and mistreated by her cousins, Cinna seems slated for a life of mind-numbing servitude. Well, not if she can help it. Cinna hatches a plan, rolls up her sleeves and gets down and dirty. And unlike Cinderella, she does not rely on magic to get what she wants.
Cinna is smart, cunning and drop-dead gorgeous. A dangerous combination, but even the best-laid plans often go awry. The stakes are high and despite her painstaking preparation, with so many moving parts, the success of Cinna’s plan is a touch and go. It’s not until the very end that we find out whether she lands the prize or lands in the dungeons.
I loved the plotting and the intrigue, and thoroughly enjoyed following Cinna – and her fellow schemer – Johann on their adventures.
As you might expect, there is a ball at the castle and a lost shoe, but that's where the similarities end. Prepare to be surprised!
I received a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
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