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Thief Liar Lady
"Happily Ever After" is a total scam, but at least this time the princess is the one controlling the grift--until her true love arrives and threatens to ruin the whole scheme. Intrigue, magic, and wit abound in this Cinderella fairytale reimagining, perfect for fans of Heather Walter and Naomi Novik.
I'm not who you think I am.
My transformation from a poor, orphaned scullery maid into the enchantingly mysterious lady who snagged the heart of the prince did not happen--as the rumors insisted--in a magical metamorphosis of pumpkins and glass slippers. On the first evening of the ball, I didn't meekly help my "evil" stepmother and stepsisters primp and preen or watch forlornly out the window as their carriage rolled off toward the palace. I had other preparations to make.
My stepsisters and I had been trained for this--to be the cleverest in the room, to be quick with our hands and quicker with our lies. We were taught how to get everything we want in this world, everything men always kept for themselves: power, wealth, and prestige. And with a touchingly tragic past and the help of some highly illegal spells, I would become a princess, secure our fortunes, and we would all live happily ever after.
But there's always more to the story. With my magic running out, war looming, and a handsome hostage prince--the wrong prince--distracting me from my true purpose with his magnetic charm and forbidden flirtations, I'm in danger of losing control of the delicate balance I've created...and that could prove fatal.
There's so much more riding on this than a crown.
I'm not who you think I am.
My transformation from a poor, orphaned scullery maid into the enchantingly mysterious lady who snagged the heart of the prince did not happen--as the rumors insisted--in a magical metamorphosis of pumpkins and glass slippers. On the first evening of the ball, I didn't meekly help my "evil" stepmother and stepsisters primp and preen or watch forlornly out the window as their carriage rolled off toward the palace. I had other preparations to make.
My stepsisters and I had been trained for this--to be the cleverest in the room, to be quick with our hands and quicker with our lies. We were taught how to get everything we want in this world, everything men always kept for themselves: power, wealth, and prestige. And with a touchingly tragic past and the help of some highly illegal spells, I would become a princess, secure our fortunes, and we would all live happily ever after.
But there's always more to the story. With my magic running out, war looming, and a handsome hostage prince--the wrong prince--distracting me from my true purpose with his magnetic charm and forbidden flirtations, I'm in danger of losing control of the delicate balance I've created...and that could prove fatal.
There's so much more riding on this than a crown.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2023
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14768 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 630 reviews
March 12, 2023
This was an experience...
I think the main issue I had with the book were the version of a lying thief of a Cinderella-esque character and the version that was actually in the book were so far removed from each other that it was hard for me to reconcile them. But also that because the book was set after Cinderella had met the prince and left the step sisters behind it felt like we still had to retread all that ground to get the readers caught up, while also giving the reader all this context about the world and the magic and what the plot they were reading about that it got really muddled and simply ran out of runway before the book could conclude.
I truly think that a lot of readers are going to dnf the book far before they get to the conclusion because what the actual plot is supposed to be is incoherent and Aislinn/Ash's actual motivations for doing anything are so unclear to the reader, and not in a way that is going to propel them to read more to get an answer. That's before we get to the readers that are far less forgiving of a magic system that doesn't make sense or a world that was hard to tell if it was Edwardian or Victorian, even some mishmash of the two or a time even earlier. The politics of the world and the way the magic was involved is certainly part of the convoluted mess at the heart of the story, and while it did to a degree make more sense the more of the book I read, the more I read the more questions about the execution I found myself having...
There were some high points. I did enjoy seeing Aislinn/Ash's relation ship to her step sisters evolve over the course of the story. Partly because in the Cinderella mythos what an author does with her family is some of the more interesting ways to reinvent the tale.
Of all the ways you can reinvent a character like Cinderella, I ultimately felt that this didn't work out. I think there are ways to make readers perceive her as being a more active character than doing what Soria does with this book.
I'm also just not sure how good a look it was in 2023 to have such a large part of the love triangle esque plot have love magic at the core... Of the many questions and implications I have about the events of the book, that whole are is responsible for a fair few of them.
My reading experience of this book was a lot of peaks and valleys, times when I have having a good time and times when found myself wishing I had stopped. It's not a book I can recommend because it's so varied and the journey and destination both have just as many faults as they do strengths that I wouldn't even know who to tell to read it to find out where they fall.
I think the main issue I had with the book were the version of a lying thief of a Cinderella-esque character and the version that was actually in the book were so far removed from each other that it was hard for me to reconcile them. But also that because the book was set after Cinderella had met the prince and left the step sisters behind it felt like we still had to retread all that ground to get the readers caught up, while also giving the reader all this context about the world and the magic and what the plot they were reading about that it got really muddled and simply ran out of runway before the book could conclude.
I truly think that a lot of readers are going to dnf the book far before they get to the conclusion because what the actual plot is supposed to be is incoherent and Aislinn/Ash's actual motivations for doing anything are so unclear to the reader, and not in a way that is going to propel them to read more to get an answer. That's before we get to the readers that are far less forgiving of a magic system that doesn't make sense or a world that was hard to tell if it was Edwardian or Victorian, even some mishmash of the two or a time even earlier. The politics of the world and the way the magic was involved is certainly part of the convoluted mess at the heart of the story, and while it did to a degree make more sense the more of the book I read, the more I read the more questions about the execution I found myself having...
There were some high points. I did enjoy seeing Aislinn/Ash's relation ship to her step sisters evolve over the course of the story. Partly because in the Cinderella mythos what an author does with her family is some of the more interesting ways to reinvent the tale.
Of all the ways you can reinvent a character like Cinderella, I ultimately felt that this didn't work out. I think there are ways to make readers perceive her as being a more active character than doing what Soria does with this book.
I'm also just not sure how good a look it was in 2023 to have such a large part of the love triangle esque plot have love magic at the core... Of the many questions and implications I have about the events of the book, that whole are is responsible for a fair few of them.
My reading experience of this book was a lot of peaks and valleys, times when I have having a good time and times when found myself wishing I had stopped. It's not a book I can recommend because it's so varied and the journey and destination both have just as many faults as they do strengths that I wouldn't even know who to tell to read it to find out where they fall.
July 11, 2023
This book made me stay up too late and wake up too early to finish. The writing was well done, and the characters were engaging. A fun twist on a fairytale without going too far dark.
My only quibble on this (and it really isn't against this book in specific but more an industry trend) is that because it is classified as "adult" there is unnecessary cursing and sex on the page. Which is fine, it didn't hurt the story much (the modern curses threw me out of the fantasy realm occasionally, along with a few other anachronisms) it just irks me that you can't have a book be considered for adults without that.
My only quibble on this (and it really isn't against this book in specific but more an industry trend) is that because it is classified as "adult" there is unnecessary cursing and sex on the page. Which is fine, it didn't hurt the story much (the modern curses threw me out of the fantasy realm occasionally, along with a few other anachronisms) it just irks me that you can't have a book be considered for adults without that.
March 11, 2023
What an enchanting concept—what if Cinderella’s ball wasn’t a serendipitous and romantic night, but rather the result of careful plotting by a family of magical con artists? D.L. Soria does an excellent job exploring the ripple effects of that framing in this retelling! I really enjoyed the cast of characters, the romance elements, and political intrigue. I thought the ending was a bit rushed, and have a few qualms about Everett’s arc, but overall really enjoyed this one!!
I received an ARC of this book at Emerald City Comic Con! Thanks to Del Rey and D.L. Soria for sharing this story with me!
I received an ARC of this book at Emerald City Comic Con! Thanks to Del Rey and D.L. Soria for sharing this story with me!
November 11, 2024
How dare you make me care about a Cinderella this much? She isn't even Lily James!
.
.
February 1, 2023
This is a creative reimagining of the classic Cinderella story, except that our Cinderella character is actually in cahoots with her stepmother and stepsisters to use magic to seduce the prince and take over the country's magical resources. I struggled to like the main character, Ash, because I felt like I never really got to know her since she was always trying to be somebody else. In fact, the only character I really found interesting at all was mysterious and brooding Lord Verance. The story got better once we got to see more of him. In all honestly, this book should have been about 10% shorter. It has a very slow start, and it takes too long to get interesting. Once the plot started moving, I was hooked, but that didn't happen until about halfway. The magic system of lustre was also not well-defined. Lustre is just this magical substance that can basically do anything that you want it to do. We know that Ash is trained in some kind of way, but there are never any details about that, making her use of lustre to get through every situation a bit of a cop out. Again, I thought this was a creative spin on a classic fairy tale, and I also thought the writing was good, but it needed some edits and a more believable world.
February 19, 2023
I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a chance at reading this fun take on Cinderella.
There are some positives about this book, which is that Cinderella isn't quite who she says she is and that's the entire plot. There is also an interesting romance...
But that's about it.
The problem I had with this book is there is little to no world building. You learn hardly anything or see anything in regards to the political issues with the neighboring kingdoms. Magic is used / dropped so casually in this book that there is little to no explanation on the magic and where it comes from.
I'm also confused on what this kingdom is supposed to look like - including the dress of the characters. The men appear to wear suits and ties, but they ride around in carriages and seem to have paupers and princesses. It's really a mishmash of things that don't quite make sense. And my visual reading mind cannot seem to envision any of this.
It is also told in first person narrative and the narrative is wordy - the dialogue is not used enough in my opinion, and neither is the build up between the lead and her ML of choice.
Idk, I really expected a more heavier story and more development as to what was going on with the stepmother and her daughters, but it seemed to just skirt past the surface.
There are some positives about this book, which is that Cinderella isn't quite who she says she is and that's the entire plot. There is also an interesting romance...
But that's about it.
The problem I had with this book is there is little to no world building. You learn hardly anything or see anything in regards to the political issues with the neighboring kingdoms. Magic is used / dropped so casually in this book that there is little to no explanation on the magic and where it comes from.
I'm also confused on what this kingdom is supposed to look like - including the dress of the characters. The men appear to wear suits and ties, but they ride around in carriages and seem to have paupers and princesses. It's really a mishmash of things that don't quite make sense. And my visual reading mind cannot seem to envision any of this.
It is also told in first person narrative and the narrative is wordy - the dialogue is not used enough in my opinion, and neither is the build up between the lead and her ML of choice.
Idk, I really expected a more heavier story and more development as to what was going on with the stepmother and her daughters, but it seemed to just skirt past the surface.
July 8, 2023
dnf at ~50% bc good GOD i’m bored
February 3, 2023
4.75/5 stars! The premise for this Cinderella retelling was fun and I was excited to sit down and read it. It was so weird yet intriguing to have Cinderella and her stepsisters be secret masterminds, plotting to get their hands on more magic. With war on the horizon, the stakes couldn't be higher and the feminist undertones brought this story to life.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
July 4, 2023
This is a creative reimagining of the Cinderella fairy tale. I enjoyed reading this alternative version and it kept me turning the pages. The book is chock full of magic and spells. Of course, there is a handsome prince and a romance too. It was a fun read with some devious plotting going on as well as some manipulative politics.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication is July 11, 2023.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication is July 11, 2023.
July 9, 2023
This Cinderella retelling is longer than it needs to be, and an unclear premise and confusing character motivations make the first third or so feel like a slog. Still, it eventually picks up and overall is a fun twist on the fairy tale.
April 15, 2023
*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Our MC has been trained to be a seductress/thief/liar all her life by her stepmother, and a spy for the resistance by her grandmother, but she’s bad at all these things. We later learn another character has also been acting as part of the resistance in secret in the palace, and has been able to keep it under wraps much longer than she has and much better. There’s one point where a dog that tracks magic powder alerts to her, and she thinks she’s been found out, so she lies and says she’s been given some by her sewing circle to help with headaches (because Lady Aislinn would get headaches. No one gets headaches but weak women). Her sewing circle has not done this, but you know a lie that can be corroborated? Her future sister in law sits next to her and is sewing the magic powder into her wearing veil one teaspoon at a time. It could have easily gotten onto our MC b/c the women are in such close proximity.
Also did we need magic in this story? Why did we need magic that takes away consent in this story? Our MC has literally been trained to be appealing and appeasing to men her whole life. It’s believable that she could be lying to and seducing him in other ways, and she does, so why include date-rape/SA magic?
How does the magic work? How is it refined and crafted? There was a 20 year war over this stuff to take it from a population who only used it for sacred religious practices so Solis could use it for industry, but we never see those affects. Magic is mostly used for subterfuge. We also never learn much about the religion besides that it has a goddess and they used the magic powder.
Rance (awful name, sounds like Rancid, why would you name your character something so harsh?) is described as having golden skin like all Elorians. Idk if this was the author’s intent, but I can’t stand seeing “golden” used as a stand in for “racially ambiguous brown that could just be tan so maybe it’s a white guy or actually a BIPOC person you can fetishize.” Our MC is also *spoiler* half Elorian but has the look of Solis. This isn’t helped by the fact that Eloria has been occupied/colonized/enslaved by Solis for its magic materials (again, could have been any other resource so we don’t need to include the magical SA plot point) and the citizenry are forced to work in the mines to gather these materials, or as servants. Rance is nicknamed “The Hostage Prince” even, so none of the Elorian characters who are visibly Elorian or known to be Elorian hold any positions of power or equality. I understand they’re meant to have lost a war, but when the only brown (though calling their skin golden might be a way to claim plausible deniability to this fact in the face of criticism, but I digress) people in your story are slaves, hostages, and servants it speaks to the greater racism within publishing and society, and the poor ways BIPOC people are viewed and treated.
The story also tries to have some feminist-y girl power moments where the women roll their eyes at the traditions, or ways men think, but this story hinges on the fact that our MC has to play a very specific role to play that hinges on her ability to play into demure female stereotypes.
And none of that is to mention that the story is too long, convoluted, and internal. We learn basically nothing about this world, its customs, its people, because we spend so much time locked in the palace and inside our MC’s head with her thoughts. We don’t even get to read the conversations she has with other people. It’s pages upon pages of “I talked to this person and got nowhere. There’s no one else I could possibly talk to”. Or giving us a synopsis of the conversations she had rather than getting to read the conversations she’s having. She’s constantly claiming she’s not a bad spy or bad at securing marriage prospects for her stepsisters, but she is. She isn’t the one to do any of the important stuff besides SA the prince!
This is an adult retelling of Cinderella, but the only thing that makes it adult is that the sex isn’t fade to black, and the characters are all (?) adults. They don’t act like it though. This read so much like bad YA, mostly in the fact that it treated the reader like a teen, holding their hand through a story that, while convoluted and overwritten, isn’t complicated.
These are adults. Ash is an adult. She made the choice to join the resistance and gain entry into the royal family/the palace of Solis for the rebellion. As soon as things get hard she gives up because she doesn’t actually care about Eloria, only about Rance. But Rance cares about Eloria, about its people and their place in the world. If she cared for him and what he stands for she would do a better job at using her position to make life better for them.
All the characters are just so flat. There’s no growth. They all just do a thing, but it never really changes how they think or go about actions in the future.
I started off intrigued and liking this book, excited to see where it went. As I read on and became less and less optimistic about characterization (forget about development, give me someone who’s not a paper bag), worldbuilding, and plot I began to hate this book. It doesn’t help that we tread and retread the same scenes and conversations over and over and over. This book could have been 100 pages shorter. It would still get a 1 star, but wouldn’t have wasted so much of my time.
Our MC has been trained to be a seductress/thief/liar all her life by her stepmother, and a spy for the resistance by her grandmother, but she’s bad at all these things. We later learn another character has also been acting as part of the resistance in secret in the palace, and has been able to keep it under wraps much longer than she has and much better. There’s one point where a dog that tracks magic powder alerts to her, and she thinks she’s been found out, so she lies and says she’s been given some by her sewing circle to help with headaches (because Lady Aislinn would get headaches. No one gets headaches but weak women). Her sewing circle has not done this, but you know a lie that can be corroborated? Her future sister in law sits next to her and is sewing the magic powder into her wearing veil one teaspoon at a time. It could have easily gotten onto our MC b/c the women are in such close proximity.
Also did we need magic in this story? Why did we need magic that takes away consent in this story? Our MC has literally been trained to be appealing and appeasing to men her whole life. It’s believable that she could be lying to and seducing him in other ways, and she does, so why include date-rape/SA magic?
How does the magic work? How is it refined and crafted? There was a 20 year war over this stuff to take it from a population who only used it for sacred religious practices so Solis could use it for industry, but we never see those affects. Magic is mostly used for subterfuge. We also never learn much about the religion besides that it has a goddess and they used the magic powder.
Rance (awful name, sounds like Rancid, why would you name your character something so harsh?) is described as having golden skin like all Elorians. Idk if this was the author’s intent, but I can’t stand seeing “golden” used as a stand in for “racially ambiguous brown that could just be tan so maybe it’s a white guy or actually a BIPOC person you can fetishize.” Our MC is also *spoiler* half Elorian but has the look of Solis. This isn’t helped by the fact that Eloria has been occupied/colonized/enslaved by Solis for its magic materials (again, could have been any other resource so we don’t need to include the magical SA plot point) and the citizenry are forced to work in the mines to gather these materials, or as servants. Rance is nicknamed “The Hostage Prince” even, so none of the Elorian characters who are visibly Elorian or known to be Elorian hold any positions of power or equality. I understand they’re meant to have lost a war, but when the only brown (though calling their skin golden might be a way to claim plausible deniability to this fact in the face of criticism, but I digress) people in your story are slaves, hostages, and servants it speaks to the greater racism within publishing and society, and the poor ways BIPOC people are viewed and treated.
The story also tries to have some feminist-y girl power moments where the women roll their eyes at the traditions, or ways men think, but this story hinges on the fact that our MC has to play a very specific role to play that hinges on her ability to play into demure female stereotypes.
And none of that is to mention that the story is too long, convoluted, and internal. We learn basically nothing about this world, its customs, its people, because we spend so much time locked in the palace and inside our MC’s head with her thoughts. We don’t even get to read the conversations she has with other people. It’s pages upon pages of “I talked to this person and got nowhere. There’s no one else I could possibly talk to”. Or giving us a synopsis of the conversations she had rather than getting to read the conversations she’s having. She’s constantly claiming she’s not a bad spy or bad at securing marriage prospects for her stepsisters, but she is. She isn’t the one to do any of the important stuff besides SA the prince!
This is an adult retelling of Cinderella, but the only thing that makes it adult is that the sex isn’t fade to black, and the characters are all (?) adults. They don’t act like it though. This read so much like bad YA, mostly in the fact that it treated the reader like a teen, holding their hand through a story that, while convoluted and overwritten, isn’t complicated.
These are adults. Ash is an adult. She made the choice to join the resistance and gain entry into the royal family/the palace of Solis for the rebellion. As soon as things get hard she gives up because she doesn’t actually care about Eloria, only about Rance. But Rance cares about Eloria, about its people and their place in the world. If she cared for him and what he stands for she would do a better job at using her position to make life better for them.
All the characters are just so flat. There’s no growth. They all just do a thing, but it never really changes how they think or go about actions in the future.
I started off intrigued and liking this book, excited to see where it went. As I read on and became less and less optimistic about characterization (forget about development, give me someone who’s not a paper bag), worldbuilding, and plot I began to hate this book. It doesn’t help that we tread and retread the same scenes and conversations over and over and over. This book could have been 100 pages shorter. It would still get a 1 star, but wouldn’t have wasted so much of my time.
February 14, 2023
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
This might be one of my favorite retellings now. It was very chill at first, and I thought it would go on like that, but in the second part of the book, things just went wild and I never expected it. Everything slotted into place so well that by the end I'd decided that I'm going to give it 5 stars after all, and not the 4 I'd planned previously. It's a lovely story.
This book was very engrossing, and very emotional. It definitely transported me into a court full of intrigue and secrets. The plot is actually more serious than just a Cinderella story - I definitely enjoyed that. It was a quick read as well, just a couple of evenings and I breezed through the story.
The story had quite a lot of strong and capable female characters as well, and I loved that. I also know that I spent half the book trying to decide whether this is YA or not, and I don't think it is. While the main character is 18, I also think it's a little bit of an afterthought, because nobody else is - everyone else is a lot older, with a lot more baggage. (There is also a very open steamy scene, although that's not always an obstacle to YA.) And while it does have that YA dynamic, it's still sort of like a good mix between a YA and adult novel, if you know what I mean? Things are unfolding slower and in a less provocative manner than YA will usually have it, but it still has that sense of adventure that you look for in a good YA book, and it's also a retelling of a fairytale, which is often a thing you'll find in YA. Interesting format, and I liked it.
Definitely worth a read!
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
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This might be one of my favorite retellings now. It was very chill at first, and I thought it would go on like that, but in the second part of the book, things just went wild and I never expected it. Everything slotted into place so well that by the end I'd decided that I'm going to give it 5 stars after all, and not the 4 I'd planned previously. It's a lovely story.
This book was very engrossing, and very emotional. It definitely transported me into a court full of intrigue and secrets. The plot is actually more serious than just a Cinderella story - I definitely enjoyed that. It was a quick read as well, just a couple of evenings and I breezed through the story.
The story had quite a lot of strong and capable female characters as well, and I loved that. I also know that I spent half the book trying to decide whether this is YA or not, and I don't think it is. While the main character is 18, I also think it's a little bit of an afterthought, because nobody else is - everyone else is a lot older, with a lot more baggage. (There is also a very open steamy scene, although that's not always an obstacle to YA.) And while it does have that YA dynamic, it's still sort of like a good mix between a YA and adult novel, if you know what I mean? Things are unfolding slower and in a less provocative manner than YA will usually have it, but it still has that sense of adventure that you look for in a good YA book, and it's also a retelling of a fairytale, which is often a thing you'll find in YA. Interesting format, and I liked it.
Definitely worth a read!
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
February 17, 2023
I actually really loved this book! I haven't read many Cinderella retellings, but even without I know this one is unique and it was absolutely a thrill.
There was no gilded carriage turning back into pumpkins at midnight-- but we do get magic, murder, and the machinations of a woman at war and willing to do whatever it takes. Even win over Prince Charming. Only things, and people, are always a surprise and Ash learns that lesson over in over as she tries to navigate the royal family, courtiers, and politics.
I'm a sucker for all of the above, and this book ticked all of them. The romance is light, so if that is what you're expecting from this re-telling, look elsewhere. Still, the tension is real and Rance is… le sigh, the one for me I'm sure of it.
There was no gilded carriage turning back into pumpkins at midnight-- but we do get magic, murder, and the machinations of a woman at war and willing to do whatever it takes. Even win over Prince Charming. Only things, and people, are always a surprise and Ash learns that lesson over in over as she tries to navigate the royal family, courtiers, and politics.
I'm a sucker for all of the above, and this book ticked all of them. The romance is light, so if that is what you're expecting from this re-telling, look elsewhere. Still, the tension is real and Rance is… le sigh, the one for me I'm sure of it.
June 29, 2023
Review coming soon.
May 22, 2024
I love fairy tales and retellings and intrigue and cons so I *really* should have liked this book more. It just isn't....very good, and it doesn't really have any of these things that I love in it.
1. The whole story takes place after Cinderella's happy ending, which is cool—except not only do we have to painstakingly go through pretty much the whole story *before* the happy ending, getting the "con" and plot explained over and over again, but the original Cinderella story doesn't really have anything to do with the plot of *this* story. Ash is a commoner inside the castle; that's kind of it. Nothing about the Cinderella story *specifically* matters here: this could have happened after Beauty and the Beast, and the stepmother is Belle's scheming dad. It could have happened after Sleeping Beauty, and the stepmother is the thirteenth fairy. Not a lot about the con or the plot of this novel would change. Cinderella is here here as an aesthetic, a set dressing, not a real part of the plot; so it's not really a retelling or a sequel, it's a marketing ploy. This aggravates me.
2. This is one of those stories where we're repeatedly told that the protagonist is smart, skilled, and resourceful, but all her decisions are stupid or predictable. We never see Ash being smart in practice; we're told she's a good actor even though she's constantly (constantly!) slipping up and saying/doing things she shouldn't have, then blinking innocently to allay suspicion. She doesn't do any real scheming or strategizing on her own. She takes orders from her stepmother and her grandmother and carries out the tasks they give her; any time she does take an action of her own, it's almost instantly stymied by someone else. Then, Also, Ash gives up her primary motivation very quickly when her love interest is threatened. This is never really dealt with or confronted at all: we're supposed to think it's fine that she no longer wants to do the thing she's wanted to do her whole life because there's a Man there. Uh.
3. The girlboss is real here. There are a couple out of place, gender studies major interjections that I think are supposed to show that Ash is actually smart and capable ("she's not grieving quietly enough for you?") which read extremely oddly in the context of a not very feminist fairy tale, in a not very feminist novel—Ash has to maintain the sweet blinking innocent persona and she doesn't like it, but that's about all the engagement with gender or power we get. And I was a gender studies major, but this is a fairy tale in an explicitly sexist society; the book doesn't confront or interrogate power at all, so having Ash shout Twitter distillations of feminism is weird.
3. The happy ending hinges on That's such a lazy, implausible, forced ending it makes it VERY clear the writer really didn't know how to get her characters out of the pickle they'd gotten themselves into and chose the most obvious, laziest way out.
4. The love interest's name is Rance. What? This is an unbelievably bad name for the LOVE INTEREST. This is the name of an evil duke AT BEST.
4a. The love interest's dog's name is "Puppy." I think this is supposed to be cute.
5. The early sex scenes are uncomfortable and awful to read because Ash is uncomfortable and having an awful time. They're well done because they convey how bad the sex is. The later sex scenes that are supposed to be good, though, gave me the exact same icky feeling—I don't know if it's the language, the coyness around naming body parts, the incredibly forced argument immediately beforehand that is obviously a copy-paste of an argument that used to be in a different place in the novel but got shoved in here because "they used to be enemies!" or what, but they were *painful* to read. Clumsy, unsexy, extremely and transparently pandering to romantasy trends. Come on now.
6. Speaking of aesthetics. What the hell is the world of this novel? The men wear suits and ties, the women wear giant gowns all the time. They play cards and drink brandy, but there are apparently no books. They have running water but no watches. They have FACTORIES to manufacture magic, but apparently no other industry. There are warring countries, but that doesn't make for "intrigue" especially when we know so little about any of the countries including the one the book is set in. This doesn't feel like a fairy tale world OR a historical era; there are no real details to anchor it in any particular place, real or imagined; it's a jumble without taste or truth.
7. The writing......this book over-explains everything, all the time. When someone shouts, you don't need to explain that the character flinches "in shock at the volume." You can just say they flinched, we KNOW what it's referring to. This is specifically aggravating to me here because it makes the book much, much longer—there are paragraphs upon paragraphs of repeated information, so many phrases and clarifications that anyone with a pulse wouldn't need when reading a book. The writing is also full, FULL of cliches—sometimes three or four in one sentence—and I'm sorry, fairy tale characters should not be saying the phrase "clarifying questions." These cliches don't save time; they often add extra words (you could just say QUESTION) and bring the tone of the writing down several notches. It's a pity because in a lot of ways the writing is good, but there is too much of it.
This book could be 100 pages shorter and it would be better for it.
1. The whole story takes place after Cinderella's happy ending, which is cool—except not only do we have to painstakingly go through pretty much the whole story *before* the happy ending, getting the "con" and plot explained over and over again, but the original Cinderella story doesn't really have anything to do with the plot of *this* story. Ash is a commoner inside the castle; that's kind of it. Nothing about the Cinderella story *specifically* matters here: this could have happened after Beauty and the Beast, and the stepmother is Belle's scheming dad. It could have happened after Sleeping Beauty, and the stepmother is the thirteenth fairy. Not a lot about the con or the plot of this novel would change. Cinderella is here here as an aesthetic, a set dressing, not a real part of the plot; so it's not really a retelling or a sequel, it's a marketing ploy. This aggravates me.
2. This is one of those stories where we're repeatedly told that the protagonist is smart, skilled, and resourceful, but all her decisions are stupid or predictable. We never see Ash being smart in practice; we're told she's a good actor even though she's constantly (constantly!) slipping up and saying/doing things she shouldn't have, then blinking innocently to allay suspicion. She doesn't do any real scheming or strategizing on her own. She takes orders from her stepmother and her grandmother and carries out the tasks they give her; any time she does take an action of her own, it's almost instantly stymied by someone else. Then, Also, Ash gives up her primary motivation very quickly when her love interest is threatened. This is never really dealt with or confronted at all: we're supposed to think it's fine that she no longer wants to do the thing she's wanted to do her whole life because there's a Man there. Uh.
3. The girlboss is real here. There are a couple out of place, gender studies major interjections that I think are supposed to show that Ash is actually smart and capable ("she's not grieving quietly enough for you?") which read extremely oddly in the context of a not very feminist fairy tale, in a not very feminist novel—Ash has to maintain the sweet blinking innocent persona and she doesn't like it, but that's about all the engagement with gender or power we get. And I was a gender studies major, but this is a fairy tale in an explicitly sexist society; the book doesn't confront or interrogate power at all, so having Ash shout Twitter distillations of feminism is weird.
3. The happy ending hinges on That's such a lazy, implausible, forced ending it makes it VERY clear the writer really didn't know how to get her characters out of the pickle they'd gotten themselves into and chose the most obvious, laziest way out.
4. The love interest's name is Rance. What? This is an unbelievably bad name for the LOVE INTEREST. This is the name of an evil duke AT BEST.
4a. The love interest's dog's name is "Puppy." I think this is supposed to be cute.
5. The early sex scenes are uncomfortable and awful to read because Ash is uncomfortable and having an awful time. They're well done because they convey how bad the sex is. The later sex scenes that are supposed to be good, though, gave me the exact same icky feeling—I don't know if it's the language, the coyness around naming body parts, the incredibly forced argument immediately beforehand that is obviously a copy-paste of an argument that used to be in a different place in the novel but got shoved in here because "they used to be enemies!" or what, but they were *painful* to read. Clumsy, unsexy, extremely and transparently pandering to romantasy trends. Come on now.
6. Speaking of aesthetics. What the hell is the world of this novel? The men wear suits and ties, the women wear giant gowns all the time. They play cards and drink brandy, but there are apparently no books. They have running water but no watches. They have FACTORIES to manufacture magic, but apparently no other industry. There are warring countries, but that doesn't make for "intrigue" especially when we know so little about any of the countries including the one the book is set in. This doesn't feel like a fairy tale world OR a historical era; there are no real details to anchor it in any particular place, real or imagined; it's a jumble without taste or truth.
7. The writing......this book over-explains everything, all the time. When someone shouts, you don't need to explain that the character flinches "in shock at the volume." You can just say they flinched, we KNOW what it's referring to. This is specifically aggravating to me here because it makes the book much, much longer—there are paragraphs upon paragraphs of repeated information, so many phrases and clarifications that anyone with a pulse wouldn't need when reading a book. The writing is also full, FULL of cliches—sometimes three or four in one sentence—and I'm sorry, fairy tale characters should not be saying the phrase "clarifying questions." These cliches don't save time; they often add extra words (you could just say QUESTION) and bring the tone of the writing down several notches. It's a pity because in a lot of ways the writing is good, but there is too much of it.
This book could be 100 pages shorter and it would be better for it.
September 2, 2023
DNF @13%
It's not YA, but it reads like YA.
First person POV. Lots of words. So many empty words. (please imagine me saying this like Mrs Bennett complaining about her nerves)
Motive? Why is Ash doing this? I'm fine with slow reveals but this is no reveal, not a single solid hint at why(!) Ash is doing this con.
World-building? I cannot imagine this world. Not enough information. And I can only presume so much from lace bodices on ballgowns and men wearing suits and ties.
Magic system? How does the magic work? Furthermore, dear Ash, why use magic in the first place? You've been trained to dazzle, you shouldn't need drugs, erm sorry Magic, to charm the prince.
And the final nail in the coffin: I can smell the sweet stench of a love-triangle.
It's not YA, but it reads like YA.
First person POV. Lots of words. So many empty words. (please imagine me saying this like Mrs Bennett complaining about her nerves)
Motive? Why is Ash doing this? I'm fine with slow reveals but this is no reveal, not a single solid hint at why(!) Ash is doing this con.
World-building? I cannot imagine this world. Not enough information. And I can only presume so much from lace bodices on ballgowns and men wearing suits and ties.
Magic system? How does the magic work? Furthermore, dear Ash, why use magic in the first place? You've been trained to dazzle, you shouldn't need drugs, erm sorry Magic, to charm the prince.
And the final nail in the coffin: I can smell the sweet stench of a love-triangle.
June 13, 2023
It's been a couple of days since I've finished THIEF LIAR LADY, but I still can't shake off the disappointment at only being able to state that this one was an okay read. Personally, it just felt like every aspect was underdeveloped (especially the plot, characters and relationships), the pacing was also all over the place and I wasn't entirely fond of the use of magic to manipulate other characters (there were definitely parts that made me uncomfortable). It's not one I can personally recommend, as I only finished it because it read pretty quick and the writing itself was decent enough.
March 30, 2023
The first time I read this I blazed through it in one sitting. A fantastic twist on the Cinderella story with a creative magic system, deception and intrigue, ROMANCE with a swoonworthy prince (because, duh), lots of politics (with themes around industrialization and imperialism), and satisfying character growth.
I especially loved the development of Ash’s relationship with her step/sisters. T_T
BUT ALSO LOTS OF TEARS BECAUSE PLOT TT_TT
I especially loved the development of Ash’s relationship with her step/sisters. T_T
BUT ALSO LOTS OF TEARS BECAUSE PLOT TT_TT
July 16, 2023
Thief Liar Lady took me by surprise with its depth and complexity. Initially expecting a light Cinderella retelling, I found myself immersed in a politically dense and unexpectedly dark world that left me captivated (and at times, disturbed) until the very end.
The protagonist, far from the traditional meek Cinderella, is a clever and mysterious con artist who follows her stepmother's schemes to secure her future as a princess. The book doesn't shy away from exploring the darker aspects of Ash's past, and she and her stepsisters are taught to be the most cunning and quick-witted in the room. Their goal is to claim power, wealth, and prestige under their stepmother's strict and abusive guidance - even if it means resorting to illegal spells.
As Ash's magic runs out, rebellion looms, and she finds herself entangled with the wrong prince, her carefully crafted plans start to crumble. The complexity of the characters and their disturbing childhoods adds depth to the narrative, and the forbidden flirtations between the protagonist and the hostage prince create a sense of danger and uncertainty.
What a refreshing twist in a beloved classic.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eARC. This is my honest review.
The protagonist, far from the traditional meek Cinderella, is a clever and mysterious con artist who follows her stepmother's schemes to secure her future as a princess. The book doesn't shy away from exploring the darker aspects of Ash's past, and she and her stepsisters are taught to be the most cunning and quick-witted in the room. Their goal is to claim power, wealth, and prestige under their stepmother's strict and abusive guidance - even if it means resorting to illegal spells.
As Ash's magic runs out, rebellion looms, and she finds herself entangled with the wrong prince, her carefully crafted plans start to crumble. The complexity of the characters and their disturbing childhoods adds depth to the narrative, and the forbidden flirtations between the protagonist and the hostage prince create a sense of danger and uncertainty.
What a refreshing twist in a beloved classic.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eARC. This is my honest review.
February 5, 2023
I’ve read my fair share of Cinderella retelling but this one was definitely different than I was expecting. The story begins after the events of the traditions Cinderella Fairy Tale, but you get flashbacks of the events through out the book. The author draws you in from the beginning and I was intrigued the whole time never quite sure how it was going to end. While the end felt a little rushed and the rules of magic were not quite defined l, I enjoyed the book over all. It had romance, political intrigue, magic, betrayal, spies, and plenty of twist. Thanks Net Galley and Del Rey books for the advanced copy.
not-going-to-finish
August 29, 2023I was hoping to push through on this one since most of the 1 and 2 star reviews DNF'ed within the first quarter of the book. But despite the incredibly intriguing premise (Cinderella! Heists! Political intrigue!) I'm bored and I have zero interest in finding out what happens...even if this does get more interesting. I think that's a sign to be done.
October 21, 2023
It made me tear up… over the young main het couple… what witchcraft is this… and it has political intrigue? The only thing it’s missing is fae hijinks (but that’s a personal gripe). What a fantastic standalone
July 9, 2023
The pitch for this one is “What if Cinderella was actually running a con?” Upon reading, this is a little disingenuous. This book starts after Cinderella has successfully completed her con. Prince Charming is in love with her, they’re engaged to be married, and Cinderella is installed in the royal palace ready to begin Phase 2.
Cinderella Ash, known publicly as Lady Aislinn, has further schemes. As far as her stepmother is concerned, Ash is working towards securing advantageous marriages towards her stepsisters (something of a challenge, given how they are widely reviled for being cruel and abusive ever since Ash was “rescued” from her situation by the Prince). But Ash is playing her own game. Her dead mother was secretly from a nearby, conquered kingdom, and Ash is working in secret to liberate, or at least improve, the lives of her people.
Living in the palace as a hostage ever since the conquest is the son of the king and queen of the conquered kingdom. The Hostage Prince is handsome, and has the reputation of being a lazy, sloppy wastrel, though in their encounters with each other Ash gets the sense that he is much more than meets the eye.
He’s also the best friend of Prince Charming, the two of them having grown up together.
You can see where this is going.
I won’t call this a book with a love triangle, per se. Ash is never even remotely interested in Prince Charming; she is using him, but that does make any kind of an affair with the Hostage Prince a non-starter. But there’s a lot of drama and tension that is love triangle-esque.
It’s a fun story, and a tense one. I generally didn’t know where this was going to go until I went there. It kept me guessing on whether or not it would be a happy ending right up to the very end. Easy four stars.
My blog
Living in the palace as a hostage ever since the conquest is the son of the king and queen of the conquered kingdom. The Hostage Prince is handsome, and has the reputation of being a lazy, sloppy wastrel, though in their encounters with each other Ash gets the sense that he is much more than meets the eye.
He’s also the best friend of Prince Charming, the two of them having grown up together.
You can see where this is going.
I won’t call this a book with a love triangle, per se. Ash is never even remotely interested in Prince Charming; she is using him, but that does make any kind of an affair with the Hostage Prince a non-starter. But there’s a lot of drama and tension that is love triangle-esque.
It’s a fun story, and a tense one. I generally didn’t know where this was going to go until I went there. It kept me guessing on whether or not it would be a happy ending right up to the very end. Easy four stars.
My blog
August 29, 2023
Dnf @ 25%
The problem with retelling a fairytale is you’ve got to make it interesting and while this was an interesting concept and twist on the story it also lacks any charm.
So I’ll brief why I had to dnf this.
Firstly, it was boring and I found the main character unlikeable. I can get behind people doing terrible things but I couldn’t understand the main character’s motivations.
The story starts after the prince met Cinderella (ash). They are engaged and planning their wedding but actually she manipulated him into this with the use of enchantment magic. That’s kind of not okay considering we live in 2023 and the main character feels bad about it but continues to do it. If she had perhaps charmed him with a faker persona and that was it maybe I’d have been more behind this.
So we have that but also there seems to be political intrigue. I started to think that this was why she had secured herself in the palace. The prince and his family took over another country 20 years ago and she even frees the rebel leader. Her love interest is quite obviously the deposed price of that nation who is best friends with her fiancée. But next thing you know you find out her step mother engineered this to help her daughters get good matches and money and she wasn’t meant to go after the prince at all.
So I was just at a loss to why this story was happening at all. The love interest doesn’t do much other than loaf around fucking maids and being churlish and Ash just feels bad about enchanting the prince (but not that much), and hanging out with the royal family who are actually all very accepting and nice to her despite being treated (apparently) as a scullery maid for many years.
Overall, the lack of direction, no understanding of the MCs motivations or goals to make me like or be interested in her, and the love magic made this book a no from me.
The problem with retelling a fairytale is you’ve got to make it interesting and while this was an interesting concept and twist on the story it also lacks any charm.
So I’ll brief why I had to dnf this.
Firstly, it was boring and I found the main character unlikeable. I can get behind people doing terrible things but I couldn’t understand the main character’s motivations.
The story starts after the prince met Cinderella (ash). They are engaged and planning their wedding but actually she manipulated him into this with the use of enchantment magic. That’s kind of not okay considering we live in 2023 and the main character feels bad about it but continues to do it. If she had perhaps charmed him with a faker persona and that was it maybe I’d have been more behind this.
So we have that but also there seems to be political intrigue. I started to think that this was why she had secured herself in the palace. The prince and his family took over another country 20 years ago and she even frees the rebel leader. Her love interest is quite obviously the deposed price of that nation who is best friends with her fiancée. But next thing you know you find out her step mother engineered this to help her daughters get good matches and money and she wasn’t meant to go after the prince at all.
So I was just at a loss to why this story was happening at all. The love interest doesn’t do much other than loaf around fucking maids and being churlish and Ash just feels bad about enchanting the prince (but not that much), and hanging out with the royal family who are actually all very accepting and nice to her despite being treated (apparently) as a scullery maid for many years.
Overall, the lack of direction, no understanding of the MCs motivations or goals to make me like or be interested in her, and the love magic made this book a no from me.
Read
July 3, 2023DNF at 38%
This had so much potential, but I just started to get bored and wasn't motivated to continue. There was a lot that needed to be explained- how Aislinn and the prince met, Rance's backstory, the fragile relationship between countries, and Aislinn's many schemes- and it felt like I read so much without the story really moving forward. I really wanted to explore the romance that seemed inevitable between Aislinn and Rance, but I just don't have the patience to continue on in hopes that it will be worth it. I think this would have been a great fantasy read if it had been simplified a bit and given me more reasons to stick it out.
This had so much potential, but I just started to get bored and wasn't motivated to continue. There was a lot that needed to be explained- how Aislinn and the prince met, Rance's backstory, the fragile relationship between countries, and Aislinn's many schemes- and it felt like I read so much without the story really moving forward. I really wanted to explore the romance that seemed inevitable between Aislinn and Rance, but I just don't have the patience to continue on in hopes that it will be worth it. I think this would have been a great fantasy read if it had been simplified a bit and given me more reasons to stick it out.
June 17, 2023
Book Review: Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria
Thief Liar Lady is an Cinderella reimagined fantasy novel about a young woman that uses magic to make a prince fall in love with her. But his country is on the verge of war and our heroine finds herself trapped between a fairy tale and two kingdoms.
Just like Cinderella the heroine of Thief Liar Lady attends the birthday gala of the Prince of Solis and captures the heart of a royal. She even leaves behind a slipper in a hasty retreat and he’s forced to track her down. Her tale is spread far and wide and everyone loves the story of the lowly scullery maid who will become a queen but no one really knows the truth. Lady Aislinn is really Ash and part of a scheme devised by her stepmother to marry all of her daughters off to powerful men. But Ash is also running a separate con for her grandmother and working behind the scenes to help the rebels of Eloria, a nearby country conquered by Solis. As Ash uses magic to keep Prince Everett under her spell she takes bigger and bigger risks to help Eloria and their heir “the hostage prince” Verance who has been held as a “guest” in the palace for decades.
D.L. Soria does an excellent job of taking a story we know well and giving it an alternative telling. Ash is treated cruelly by her stepmother and competitive with her step sisters but not in the way we’ve always heard the tale. I liked that she was tough and smart but still cared about bigger issues. I wish there was more of Ash’s backstory because although there are anecdotes of her past we don’t really see on the page what she was doing in the years leading up to the ball. It was like she and her sisters were being raised to hustle and con but was this their first con? Did they practice on other people? What was their education like? The physical abuse during Ash’s stepmother’s attempts to toughen her up are mentioned a few times but we never see her skills in action except for in the palace where she is (I assume) already an adult. And even then she relies mostly on the magical lustre dust that has the Prince under her spell. Despite the talk of her stepmother’s intense training she doesn’t really seem that tough or skilled at anything in particular except maybe keeping the cover story intact and using the lustre dust.
Although it is an adult fantasy it still has similarities to young adult so I think audiences of all ages will enjoy Thief Liar Lady (although there is cursing and intimate scenes). It has an entertaining Cinderella reimagining plot, a nice romance and a main character you can root for.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thief Liar Lady is an Cinderella reimagined fantasy novel about a young woman that uses magic to make a prince fall in love with her. But his country is on the verge of war and our heroine finds herself trapped between a fairy tale and two kingdoms.
Just like Cinderella the heroine of Thief Liar Lady attends the birthday gala of the Prince of Solis and captures the heart of a royal. She even leaves behind a slipper in a hasty retreat and he’s forced to track her down. Her tale is spread far and wide and everyone loves the story of the lowly scullery maid who will become a queen but no one really knows the truth. Lady Aislinn is really Ash and part of a scheme devised by her stepmother to marry all of her daughters off to powerful men. But Ash is also running a separate con for her grandmother and working behind the scenes to help the rebels of Eloria, a nearby country conquered by Solis. As Ash uses magic to keep Prince Everett under her spell she takes bigger and bigger risks to help Eloria and their heir “the hostage prince” Verance who has been held as a “guest” in the palace for decades.
D.L. Soria does an excellent job of taking a story we know well and giving it an alternative telling. Ash is treated cruelly by her stepmother and competitive with her step sisters but not in the way we’ve always heard the tale. I liked that she was tough and smart but still cared about bigger issues. I wish there was more of Ash’s backstory because although there are anecdotes of her past we don’t really see on the page what she was doing in the years leading up to the ball. It was like she and her sisters were being raised to hustle and con but was this their first con? Did they practice on other people? What was their education like? The physical abuse during Ash’s stepmother’s attempts to toughen her up are mentioned a few times but we never see her skills in action except for in the palace where she is (I assume) already an adult. And even then she relies mostly on the magical lustre dust that has the Prince under her spell. Despite the talk of her stepmother’s intense training she doesn’t really seem that tough or skilled at anything in particular except maybe keeping the cover story intact and using the lustre dust.
Although it is an adult fantasy it still has similarities to young adult so I think audiences of all ages will enjoy Thief Liar Lady (although there is cursing and intimate scenes). It has an entertaining Cinderella reimagining plot, a nice romance and a main character you can root for.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 22, 2023
Headlines:
Irreverent, morally grey heroine
One messed up tale of lies
Triangles
Thief Liar Lady was a twisted retelling loosely based on Cinderella, but don’t expect a genteel heroine who is at one with the forest creatures. Ashlinn was a double, triple crosser, out to snag the ultimate match for nefarious reasons but as a reader, I suspended my judgement. Right at the end, I felt Ashlinn remained utterly morally grey and sometimes corrupt. It certainly made for interesting reading.
There was a backdrop of political warring between lands and a hostage prince had been taken years ago in payment for actions of the Elorians. Meanwhile, Ashlinn was finding her feet in palace life, trying to appear meek and pliable when she was really one step from effing at all and sundry, giving them a piece of her mind.
There was a relationship triangle which I resist calling a love triangle and with some hefty twists and shocks, I had no idea where the story direction would go once it diverted from my expectations. Suffice it to say, I was satisfied with the final play while feeling discomfort at the journey. I would have appreciated a little more what happened next, I’ve been left a bit wanting.
This standalone tale of twisted proportions was a great fantasy piece that kept the intrigue going.
Thank you to DelReyUK for the review copy.
Irreverent, morally grey heroine
One messed up tale of lies
Triangles
Thief Liar Lady was a twisted retelling loosely based on Cinderella, but don’t expect a genteel heroine who is at one with the forest creatures. Ashlinn was a double, triple crosser, out to snag the ultimate match for nefarious reasons but as a reader, I suspended my judgement. Right at the end, I felt Ashlinn remained utterly morally grey and sometimes corrupt. It certainly made for interesting reading.
There was a backdrop of political warring between lands and a hostage prince had been taken years ago in payment for actions of the Elorians. Meanwhile, Ashlinn was finding her feet in palace life, trying to appear meek and pliable when she was really one step from effing at all and sundry, giving them a piece of her mind.
There was a relationship triangle which I resist calling a love triangle and with some hefty twists and shocks, I had no idea where the story direction would go once it diverted from my expectations. Suffice it to say, I was satisfied with the final play while feeling discomfort at the journey. I would have appreciated a little more what happened next, I’ve been left a bit wanting.
This standalone tale of twisted proportions was a great fantasy piece that kept the intrigue going.
Thank you to DelReyUK for the review copy.
September 11, 2024
narrator slayed the accents so hard but my god no book has ever dragged on this long in the history of dragging on
Read
June 26, 20233 ⭐️
The premise of this book was super intriguing and fun. A different take on a retelling of Cinderella, where Cinderella has ulterior motives and it's all an illusion to get the Prince to fall in love with her. I really was excited for this book concept, but on delivery I just couldn't connect with it. I really struggled with the writing style for this one. It's a super slow beginning, that never really took off and sucked me in.
Although this book was not for me, I do believe others will enjoy it. The characters have depth and connecting the dots to the original story was fun. The cover of this book is also just absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Ray, and Random House Ballantine for this advanced read copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
The premise of this book was super intriguing and fun. A different take on a retelling of Cinderella, where Cinderella has ulterior motives and it's all an illusion to get the Prince to fall in love with her. I really was excited for this book concept, but on delivery I just couldn't connect with it. I really struggled with the writing style for this one. It's a super slow beginning, that never really took off and sucked me in.
Although this book was not for me, I do believe others will enjoy it. The characters have depth and connecting the dots to the original story was fun. The cover of this book is also just absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Ray, and Random House Ballantine for this advanced read copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
February 24, 2023
I’m not sure of the category this book will be marketed in, but the problem with it is that it’s not able to sustain itself as an adult fantasy, because it’s just too simple and undeveloped, but also seems to be unable to call itself YA precisely because it’s trying so hard to be taken as what it couldn’t be. Poorly developed characters and motivations on top of an inconsistent plot and hasty conclusion built up a disappointing read. This is actually not a bad book, it has a number of interesting elements and ideas but it’s clear that the author spent a great amount of pages trying to go big and ultimately decided to go home.
Despite her affirmations about loyalty and a sense of purpose, Ash’s motivations for at least half of the story seemed to lean more on spite, to prove that she could accomplish her goal (and simply because there was no way back), than on an actual desire to fulfill her purpose. And then things just derailed from there. Most of the secondary characters lacked charisma, and somehow Ash spent more time with those characters than with her established romantic pair. So the romance didn’t convince me either, not even the sparse moments of banter showed any spark between them.
The political plot had potential and wasn’t entirely poorly done, it was just strung along for too long to be resolved so quickly. The inconsistency of the characters’ personalities as well as their actions and motivations messed with the pacing of the story. I hoped for a fast paced book, considering its premise, but got a tiresome one instead.
A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this edition in exchange for an honest review.
Despite her affirmations about loyalty and a sense of purpose, Ash’s motivations for at least half of the story seemed to lean more on spite, to prove that she could accomplish her goal (and simply because there was no way back), than on an actual desire to fulfill her purpose. And then things just derailed from there. Most of the secondary characters lacked charisma, and somehow Ash spent more time with those characters than with her established romantic pair. So the romance didn’t convince me either, not even the sparse moments of banter showed any spark between them.
The political plot had potential and wasn’t entirely poorly done, it was just strung along for too long to be resolved so quickly. The inconsistency of the characters’ personalities as well as their actions and motivations messed with the pacing of the story. I hoped for a fast paced book, considering its premise, but got a tiresome one instead.
A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this edition in exchange for an honest review.
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