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Bella at Midnight
In the little village of Castle Down, in a kingdom plagued by war, lives a peasant girl called Bella. Blessed with a kind family and a loving friend, she manages to create her own small patch of sunlight in a dark and dangerous world. Bella is a blacksmith's daughter; her friend Julian is a prince -- yet neither seems to notice the great gulf that divides his world from hers.
Suddenly Bella's world collapses. First Julian betrays her. Then it is revealed that she is not the peasant she believed herself to be: She is Isabel, the daughter of a knight who abandoned her in infancy. Now he wants her back, so Bella is torn from her beloved foster family and sent to live with her deranged father and his resentful new wife. Soon Bella is caught up in a terrible plot that will change her life -- and the kingdom -- forever. With the help of her godmother and three enchanted gifts, she sets out on a journey in disguise that will lead her to a destiny far greater than any she could have imagined.
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Suddenly Bella's world collapses. First Julian betrays her. Then it is revealed that she is not the peasant she believed herself to be: She is Isabel, the daughter of a knight who abandoned her in infancy. Now he wants her back, so Bella is torn from her beloved foster family and sent to live with her deranged father and his resentful new wife. Soon Bella is caught up in a terrible plot that will change her life -- and the kingdom -- forever. With the help of her godmother and three enchanted gifts, she sets out on a journey in disguise that will lead her to a destiny far greater than any she could have imagined.
Amazon
278 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2006
53 people are currently reading
4592 people want to read
About the author
Diane Stanley
79 books177 followersDiane Stanley is an American children's author and illustrator, a former medical illustrator, and a former art director for the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons. Born in 1943 in Abilene, Texas, she was educated at Trinity University (in San Antonio, TX) and at Johns Hopkins University. She is perhaps best known for her many picture-book biographies, some of which were co-authored by her husband, Peter Vennema. (source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 563 reviews
July 18, 2011
I'm going to have to say that Bella at Midnight is now my favorite fairytale retelling. I can't believe I put off reading it for so long! Well, actually I can. The cover is ugly, and the description on the jacket is less than amazing.
At any rate, this is a loose retelling of Cinderella. I had no idea what fairytale this was based on when I picked it up. In fact, that it wasn't until mid-way through the book that I even began to see that there were a few Cinderellaish threads woven into the plot.
What really made this retelling stand out for me was that the characters had a depth you just don't typically find in this genre. The constant switching of POVs may turn some people off, but in this case, I really think it really worked well. You got to know each character in a way you don't normally get a chance to. I was amazed that Stanley managed to make me feel sorry for the evil stepmother. From listening to her point of view in this story you find her a sympathetic character, who found herself in an impossible situation. You may not like her, but it's hard to dislike her.
The romance between Bella and her prince is not at all what I've come to expect from fairytales, either. They don't meet at a ball...or instantly fall in love. They are childhood friends who have been confiding in each other for years, and from that friendship springs the love that drives them both to do great things in the future. The fact that Prince Julian is a three-dimensional character, was also a pleasant surprise.
Of course, because it is a fariytale/fantasy, there are a few unexplained magical powers, magical objects, and magical happenings. And if you're looking for a deep exploration of characters and motivations...just keep on looking. This isn't the right genre for you.
However, if you're already a fan of fairytales, and you haven't checked this one out yet, then you're missing out on a quite a hidden gem. You can bet I'll be digging around for other books by this author!
At any rate, this is a loose retelling of Cinderella. I had no idea what fairytale this was based on when I picked it up. In fact, that it wasn't until mid-way through the book that I even began to see that there were a few Cinderellaish threads woven into the plot.
What really made this retelling stand out for me was that the characters had a depth you just don't typically find in this genre. The constant switching of POVs may turn some people off, but in this case, I really think it really worked well. You got to know each character in a way you don't normally get a chance to. I was amazed that Stanley managed to make me feel sorry for the evil stepmother. From listening to her point of view in this story you find her a sympathetic character, who found herself in an impossible situation. You may not like her, but it's hard to dislike her.
The romance between Bella and her prince is not at all what I've come to expect from fairytales, either. They don't meet at a ball...or instantly fall in love. They are childhood friends who have been confiding in each other for years, and from that friendship springs the love that drives them both to do great things in the future. The fact that Prince Julian is a three-dimensional character, was also a pleasant surprise.
Of course, because it is a fariytale/fantasy, there are a few unexplained magical powers, magical objects, and magical happenings. And if you're looking for a deep exploration of characters and motivations...just keep on looking. This isn't the right genre for you.
However, if you're already a fan of fairytales, and you haven't checked this one out yet, then you're missing out on a quite a hidden gem. You can bet I'll be digging around for other books by this author!
April 1, 2022
2022 Review
A lovely, Medieval Cinderella retelling that does not get nearly enough recognition.
2015 Review
In many ways, I like the idea of leaving my review with the cryptic: "A well-thumbed favorite." Because that is a pretty good description. There is something charming about this book that belongs to who I am and what I was, especially as a young teenager.
Bella has been raised by peasants, the only family she knows. Life is simple, even her friendship from childhood with Prince Julian. As a fourth prince, he was shipped off as a youngster to live with his uncle and train to be a knight. But suddenly the world starts slipping, a horribly betrayal from Julian and a discovery that her parents aren't really her parents at all. She is a knight's daughter, sent away as a baby because the grieving man couldn't stand the sight of her. Now she is back, a thorn to her new step-mother, unwanted by her cold father. When a peace treaty is broken and Julian's life endangered, Bella must decide whether or not she will save her prince.
There is a kind of dorky "catcher" on the back of the book that says "Will The Worthy Knight appear in time to save Bella's prince?"
That is not a good description of this book.
Or maybe it is, if really wanted to take the entire plot of this book and put it into one sentence.
But I still don't like it.
I didn't really mention The Worthy Knight in my synopsis, because he is a part of the plot that is to intertwined not to talk about without giving away spoilers. But the way this book plays out is really cool.
Seriously, allow me to repeat a phrase I seem fond of:
I love this book.
I really do. "A well-thumbed favorite." It isn't very well known, especially as far as Cinderella-retellings go, and that really is a pity. It has the flavor of medieval historical fiction mixed with fairy-tale.
Bella...gosh I love her character. The story is told through many different voices, which surprisingly doesn't get to confusing. Bella's voice is so sweet. The story follows her from her birth, so you get some unique perspective as you watch her grow and change. She is strong, yet pure. Beautiful, though not traditionally (okay, I admit. She is a fellow red-head, I'd consider her beautiful even if they called her ugly!) I just love the innocence of her character.
Prince Julian also is an awesome character. I mean, he has his issues. You see how he changes, grows up, learns life lessons. (Despite what it may sound like, the book is only 278 pages)
Though they are the two "main" characters, there is a host of wonderful supporting cast. Because the story is told through multiple voices, you get to know a variety of people, from Bella's foster peasant Mom to her step-sisters.
The story tells about a girl "coming of age" in a way, trusting in God (not preachy, the little bits of Christianity are really neat)and intermixed with battles, disguises, the importance of family. It is an "innocent", book in a way, absolutely perfect for pre- and young teens. One of my favorites :)
A lovely, Medieval Cinderella retelling that does not get nearly enough recognition.
2015 Review
In many ways, I like the idea of leaving my review with the cryptic: "A well-thumbed favorite." Because that is a pretty good description. There is something charming about this book that belongs to who I am and what I was, especially as a young teenager.
Bella has been raised by peasants, the only family she knows. Life is simple, even her friendship from childhood with Prince Julian. As a fourth prince, he was shipped off as a youngster to live with his uncle and train to be a knight. But suddenly the world starts slipping, a horribly betrayal from Julian and a discovery that her parents aren't really her parents at all. She is a knight's daughter, sent away as a baby because the grieving man couldn't stand the sight of her. Now she is back, a thorn to her new step-mother, unwanted by her cold father. When a peace treaty is broken and Julian's life endangered, Bella must decide whether or not she will save her prince.
There is a kind of dorky "catcher" on the back of the book that says "Will The Worthy Knight appear in time to save Bella's prince?"
That is not a good description of this book.
Or maybe it is, if really wanted to take the entire plot of this book and put it into one sentence.
But I still don't like it.
I didn't really mention The Worthy Knight in my synopsis, because he is a part of the plot that is to intertwined not to talk about without giving away spoilers. But the way this book plays out is really cool.
Seriously, allow me to repeat a phrase I seem fond of:
I love this book.
I really do. "A well-thumbed favorite." It isn't very well known, especially as far as Cinderella-retellings go, and that really is a pity. It has the flavor of medieval historical fiction mixed with fairy-tale.
Bella...gosh I love her character. The story is told through many different voices, which surprisingly doesn't get to confusing. Bella's voice is so sweet. The story follows her from her birth, so you get some unique perspective as you watch her grow and change. She is strong, yet pure. Beautiful, though not traditionally (okay, I admit. She is a fellow red-head, I'd consider her beautiful even if they called her ugly!) I just love the innocence of her character.
Prince Julian also is an awesome character. I mean, he has his issues. You see how he changes, grows up, learns life lessons. (Despite what it may sound like, the book is only 278 pages)
Though they are the two "main" characters, there is a host of wonderful supporting cast. Because the story is told through multiple voices, you get to know a variety of people, from Bella's foster peasant Mom to her step-sisters.
The story tells about a girl "coming of age" in a way, trusting in God (not preachy, the little bits of Christianity are really neat)and intermixed with battles, disguises, the importance of family. It is an "innocent", book in a way, absolutely perfect for pre- and young teens. One of my favorites :)
January 27, 2023
A thoroughly delightful medieval Cinderella retelling - or reimagining is perhaps a better name. I like this better than Ella Enchanted, which I grew up reading, so there’s a compliment. A lovely story appropriate for middle grade and up, but fairy tale lovers of all ages will enjoy Bella at Midnight .
October 28, 2017
*happy sigh*
I love a good middle grade/young adult fantasy, and this one was fantastic. It drew me in from the beginning and initially reminded me of Ella Enchanted, though it turned out to be quite different.
This is a retelling of Cinderella, and I have to say that it's shot pretty far up on my list thereof. I really, really liked it, guys.
One thing that surprised and impressed me about this book was the pervasive inclusion of Christian faith. I wouldn't call it a Christian retelling, per se, but God and Christianity were spoken of often. (Also, there's an almost Joan of Arc-esque plot twist at the end -- no spoilers -- which I found interesting.)
ANDI LOVE THE FACT THAT BELLA AND THE PRINCE GREW UP TOGETHER. Hearts. <3
The writing style overall was deliciously well-suited to a period-appropriate fairytale retelling. True, the author's use of italics was possibly a BIT excessive, and at times certain lines or phrases seemed to slip into more of a "real world" lingo than the rest of the book, BUT STILL. It was great. :D
Character dev. was awesome, and the ending was adorable, and BASICALLY I JUST REALLY LOVED IT, OKAY??
It won't be everybody's thing, and that's fine, but it was just what I needed and I loved it. <3
I love a good middle grade/young adult fantasy, and this one was fantastic. It drew me in from the beginning and initially reminded me of Ella Enchanted, though it turned out to be quite different.
This is a retelling of Cinderella, and I have to say that it's shot pretty far up on my list thereof. I really, really liked it, guys.
One thing that surprised and impressed me about this book was the pervasive inclusion of Christian faith. I wouldn't call it a Christian retelling, per se, but God and Christianity were spoken of often. (Also, there's an almost Joan of Arc-esque plot twist at the end -- no spoilers -- which I found interesting.)
ANDI LOVE THE FACT THAT BELLA AND THE PRINCE GREW UP TOGETHER. Hearts. <3
The writing style overall was deliciously well-suited to a period-appropriate fairytale retelling. True, the author's use of italics was possibly a BIT excessive, and at times certain lines or phrases seemed to slip into more of a "real world" lingo than the rest of the book, BUT STILL. It was great. :D
Character dev. was awesome, and the ending was adorable, and BASICALLY I JUST REALLY LOVED IT, OKAY??
It won't be everybody's thing, and that's fine, but it was just what I needed and I loved it. <3
March 17, 2023
What a charming story!!! I loved this one as a kid but remembered nothing about it, so I wanted to reread, and it was so good!! Such a beautiful, sweet Cinderella retelling.
August 15, 2011
Eh. It was alright. It's an interesting re-write of Cinderella, with Bella taking on a more girl power sort of role. I didn't like that the POW kept changing for most of the chapters. And it wasn't just between two or three characters, it was a whole slew of people, and they all sounded the same.
February 5, 2013
Isabel is the central character who is unknowingly being raised by a foster family of peasants in a kingdom that has been in war for over one hundred years. She befriends Prince Julian who had the same wet nurse and lives with his uncle nearby. The characters are from four families and face challenges due to differences in class, family expectations, change in position and growing up. The book shows that in the end, it is not class that matters but friendship and self-worth. Also important to note is that although it is a Cinderella tale, it is not just Cinderella that is saved- everyone in the story either helps to save someone else or finds the strength to save themselves.
This book is complex as the narrators change among and between families. Two of the families' story lines do not come together until near the end of the book. The constant turnover in perspective leads to a lot of foreshadowing of things to come. Although the ending was a tad predictable, I found myself thinking of this book for days after finishing it (for me, the sign of a great book).
This would be a great book for a middle school girl to read independently or as part of a traditional literature unit. The book helps to show how everyone faces their own struggle and that looking at things from another’s perspective can ease judgment and lead to greater understanding and compassion.
This book is complex as the narrators change among and between families. Two of the families' story lines do not come together until near the end of the book. The constant turnover in perspective leads to a lot of foreshadowing of things to come. Although the ending was a tad predictable, I found myself thinking of this book for days after finishing it (for me, the sign of a great book).
This would be a great book for a middle school girl to read independently or as part of a traditional literature unit. The book helps to show how everyone faces their own struggle and that looking at things from another’s perspective can ease judgment and lead to greater understanding and compassion.
October 5, 2010
Bella at Midnight is about a girl named Bella. The story follows her as she grows from infancy to womanhood. She befriends Prince Julian in her childhood, and later must rescue him from being killed because of his brother's plans. Each chapter is told by a different character - a technique that I find adds to the story.
I really enjoyed this book because it is very exciting and fun to read. It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't stop reading. Don't be fooled by the 'girly' or 'romantic' facade; this is a great book with lots of action and a great message.
September 9, 2024
I absolutely love this book. It is AWESOME !🤩 You will have a satisfied and happy with the ending feeling you don’t get with every book.
Read
March 12, 2021It's been YEARS since I've read this novel, at least 7 because I remember reading it quite a couple times in both elementary and middle school. Regardless, I definitely want to read it sometime soon now as an 18 year old to see if I'll find it to be as good as I did back then. Also, I'm pretty sure I read this for the first time because it was a book that we had to read for the Battle of the Books competition (my team failed miserably by the way- it's fine, I'm fine).
Anyhow, even though it's been years since I've read this book, I remember it really well, and this remains to be one of my favorite Cinderella retellings. I loved Bella, Julian and their romance (I actually think that this is one of the first novels I read with aspects of real, not just little kids having crushes, romance in it). Their childhood friends to lovers journey was just so sweet, and Julian's confession of love for Bella just made me so happy.
Also, I really loved how the author incorporated the stepmother and sisters part of Cinderella in this book because they weren't just evil and had a backstory themselves. In fact, Bella and Julian couldn't have succeeded without one of the sisters. Unlike in most Cinderella retellings, all the characters had a lot more complexity and dimension to them.
Plus, I loved the plot. I don't remember all of it to be honest, but I recall really enjoying it and thinking that it was fast-paced.
That's not much, but hopefully I'll re-read this book soon and will come back to update this!
Anyhow, even though it's been years since I've read this book, I remember it really well, and this remains to be one of my favorite Cinderella retellings. I loved Bella, Julian and their romance (I actually think that this is one of the first novels I read with aspects of real, not just little kids having crushes, romance in it). Their childhood friends to lovers journey was just so sweet, and Julian's confession of love for Bella just made me so happy.
Also, I really loved how the author incorporated the stepmother and sisters part of Cinderella in this book because they weren't just evil and had a backstory themselves. In fact, Bella and Julian couldn't have succeeded without one of the sisters. Unlike in most Cinderella retellings, all the characters had a lot more complexity and dimension to them.
Plus, I loved the plot. I don't remember all of it to be honest, but I recall really enjoying it and thinking that it was fast-paced.
That's not much, but hopefully I'll re-read this book soon and will come back to update this!
May 26, 2008
Was this supposed to be Cinderella? If so, I totally missed out on that.
The plot is that a girl is born, and her father wants her to go away, since he is mourning the loss of her mother, who died giving birth, so she is taken to a nursemaid in another city, who has just finished nursemaiding the prince. Bella and the prince grow up as friends.
Things become complicated, though, when they have a misunderstanding, and before they can clear it up, the prince is taken away to a nearby country they have been warring with as a peace gesture.
Time passes, and when Bella learns that the prince's life is in danger, she goes to rescue him, misunderstanding or not.
Okay. There are random glass slippers in the story, and a prince...but that's about all the connection that I can come up with. Actually, she's more like Joan of Arc than Cinderella in the end.
There was a big flaw in this book, which lowered it's rating to 3 stars, and that is the book is divided into sections and each section has a new narrator. All of a sudden it's someone else (although there isn't that much difference between the voices) and you're left wondering who the heck this is now, and why you're supposed to care about them. It's very disorienting, and serves no real purpose.
The plot is that a girl is born, and her father wants her to go away, since he is mourning the loss of her mother, who died giving birth, so she is taken to a nursemaid in another city, who has just finished nursemaiding the prince. Bella and the prince grow up as friends.
Things become complicated, though, when they have a misunderstanding, and before they can clear it up, the prince is taken away to a nearby country they have been warring with as a peace gesture.
Time passes, and when Bella learns that the prince's life is in danger, she goes to rescue him, misunderstanding or not.
Okay. There are random glass slippers in the story, and a prince...but that's about all the connection that I can come up with. Actually, she's more like Joan of Arc than Cinderella in the end.
There was a big flaw in this book, which lowered it's rating to 3 stars, and that is the book is divided into sections and each section has a new narrator. All of a sudden it's someone else (although there isn't that much difference between the voices) and you're left wondering who the heck this is now, and why you're supposed to care about them. It's very disorienting, and serves no real purpose.
December 23, 2018
This book was an awkwardly-written, fairly unimaginative mishmash of fairytale tropes that was not greater than the sum of its parts. When you introduce three “magical items” and only one has even a remote effect on the plot, there’s an issue. The main character was unrelatably flawless, angelic and beloved, the love story was undeveloped and had absolutely no narrative tension, and every character overexplained their own decisions and motivations as though they were narrating from a subsequent therapy session. Bad.
December 19, 2025
Bella has grown up with a poor but kind family, befriending the young prince Julian who visits his old nanny. When Bella discovers that she is actually the daughter of a nobleman, she is sent to live with her cold and haughty father and his new wife. Bella is torn from all her former friends, including her childhood friend, the prince. Three years later, a terrible plot against the kingdom forces Bella to seek out Prince Julian once more, hoping to avert a disastrous war.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Cinderella, since it reimagines the whole story in such a new way! The plot takes a lot of twists and turns, and the war looming over everything makes the story much more serious than just a fancy ball.
Bella ends up sleeping in the kitchen and working as a servant, because she has grown up with peasants and feels more comfortable in the kitchen. Plus her noble family look down on her as being uncouth and dirty, since she has never been taught the polished court manners of the rich. But Prince Julian knows her true worth.
I loved the sweet romance between Prince Julian and Bella, because they are just friends first, and they know each other really well. Prince Julian is an especially wonderful character, because he is so humble and has a high sense of integrity, but his position as prince becomes a temptation for him to be prideful. His character development was really interesting as he takes a truthful look at his own personality and realizes that he needs to be more humble.
Bella is such a fantastic character, because she is utterly pure of heart. She's so patient and kind with everyone, even when they are horrible to her. I was really inspired by her cleverness and courage!
I really liked that the characters of this country have a devout faith in God. Everyone talks about morality in the context of God's blessings and God delivering them from war. There is a prophecy that God's chosen knight will miraculously intervene and stop the war. People are also very superstitious, and there is some magic, but I really enjoyed the spiritual aspects of the worldbuilding.
The writing is wonderful, and the story structure is somewhat unique. The story is told from a dozen different perspectives, each labeled in a different chapter. Sometimes from Bella's perspective or Prince Julian's, and sometimes from side characters like Bella's godmother Maud, her adopted brother Will, her adopted mother Beatrice, her stepmother Matilda, her stepsisters Marianne and Alice, or Prince Julian's friend Geoffrey. We get to hear the backstory and inner thoughts of all these side characters, which makes for very rich storytelling. Typically, I do not care for head-hopping, but it's very well delineated and very well written, so I liked it okay.
To see sensitive content in this book, check it out on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/bella-...
I really enjoyed this retelling of Cinderella, since it reimagines the whole story in such a new way! The plot takes a lot of twists and turns, and the war looming over everything makes the story much more serious than just a fancy ball.
Bella ends up sleeping in the kitchen and working as a servant, because she has grown up with peasants and feels more comfortable in the kitchen. Plus her noble family look down on her as being uncouth and dirty, since she has never been taught the polished court manners of the rich. But Prince Julian knows her true worth.
I loved the sweet romance between Prince Julian and Bella, because they are just friends first, and they know each other really well. Prince Julian is an especially wonderful character, because he is so humble and has a high sense of integrity, but his position as prince becomes a temptation for him to be prideful. His character development was really interesting as he takes a truthful look at his own personality and realizes that he needs to be more humble.
Bella is such a fantastic character, because she is utterly pure of heart. She's so patient and kind with everyone, even when they are horrible to her. I was really inspired by her cleverness and courage!
I really liked that the characters of this country have a devout faith in God. Everyone talks about morality in the context of God's blessings and God delivering them from war. There is a prophecy that God's chosen knight will miraculously intervene and stop the war. People are also very superstitious, and there is some magic, but I really enjoyed the spiritual aspects of the worldbuilding.
The writing is wonderful, and the story structure is somewhat unique. The story is told from a dozen different perspectives, each labeled in a different chapter. Sometimes from Bella's perspective or Prince Julian's, and sometimes from side characters like Bella's godmother Maud, her adopted brother Will, her adopted mother Beatrice, her stepmother Matilda, her stepsisters Marianne and Alice, or Prince Julian's friend Geoffrey. We get to hear the backstory and inner thoughts of all these side characters, which makes for very rich storytelling. Typically, I do not care for head-hopping, but it's very well delineated and very well written, so I liked it okay.
To see sensitive content in this book, check it out on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/bella-...
September 15, 2014
3.75 stars
So when I was in fourth grade, I read this book, loved it, and then proceeded to forget everything about it, except for a few scattered details, including the title. Then I moved, leaving the library that I'd found the book at. Since I'd forgotten the title, there was no way for me to find the book and reread it. I kept thinking about it on and off, though, until six years later, I had the idea to look on Goodreads for lists of Cinderella adaptations (that this book was an adaptation of Cinderella was one of the few details that had stayed with me) and I found it on a list called "Best Cinderella Adaptations"! Hooray for Goodreads! The question was if the book would hold up to my expectations.
Though this book did enchant me nearly as much as it did when I was in fourth grade, I did forget--or remember incorrectly--a few things, mostly the pace of the book. Bella at Midnight was much shorter and fast-paced than I remembered. I think on the whole that that is the book's main flaw. Because of the fast pace, we don't really have time to become attached to the characters, or to fully inhabit the world that they live in. The story is charming, but it would have been even more so if the author had just expanded on EVERYTHING--the characters, the story, the world they live in.
One thing that I did love was the way the book was narrated. The way the characters talked was really cool--I don't know if I can correctly place the time when people spoke English like these characters did, but I'm going to hazard a guess at maybe the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Anyway, the dialogue and narrative was one of the book's strongest points.
On the whole, this book didn't disappoint me. Though it wasn't quite as good as I remembered, it was still an entertaining book loosely based on the story of Cinderella. Go check it out! It's a quick read!
So when I was in fourth grade, I read this book, loved it, and then proceeded to forget everything about it, except for a few scattered details, including the title. Then I moved, leaving the library that I'd found the book at. Since I'd forgotten the title, there was no way for me to find the book and reread it. I kept thinking about it on and off, though, until six years later, I had the idea to look on Goodreads for lists of Cinderella adaptations (that this book was an adaptation of Cinderella was one of the few details that had stayed with me) and I found it on a list called "Best Cinderella Adaptations"! Hooray for Goodreads! The question was if the book would hold up to my expectations.
Though this book did enchant me nearly as much as it did when I was in fourth grade, I did forget--or remember incorrectly--a few things, mostly the pace of the book. Bella at Midnight was much shorter and fast-paced than I remembered. I think on the whole that that is the book's main flaw. Because of the fast pace, we don't really have time to become attached to the characters, or to fully inhabit the world that they live in. The story is charming, but it would have been even more so if the author had just expanded on EVERYTHING--the characters, the story, the world they live in.
One thing that I did love was the way the book was narrated. The way the characters talked was really cool--I don't know if I can correctly place the time when people spoke English like these characters did, but I'm going to hazard a guess at maybe the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Anyway, the dialogue and narrative was one of the book's strongest points.
On the whole, this book didn't disappoint me. Though it wasn't quite as good as I remembered, it was still an entertaining book loosely based on the story of Cinderella. Go check it out! It's a quick read!
May 30, 2013
Bella at Midnight started out pretty well, vivid descriptions; a new twist on the usual telling; and even some really connactable characters!
However, despite the great beginning and quick pace of the book, all the problems really happen at the end. Thinking about it, a lot of authors have trouble with this area-either making it to fast paced, sparce in detail, or just becoming overwhelmed and spitting out a complete disaster onto their paper.' Bella at Midnight' was much like these descriptions, the ending was weak, poorly written, and predictable. The flare I felt at the beginning vanished as I finished the book somewhere around 11pm last night. The ending was just rediculous, and I nearly laughed out loud at the complete failure staring back at me. To quote the finnal lines "'I am' she said"
WHAT!? Where is the smile, description, where is the emotion!?
This really was a good book though, dont mistake me. With a rewriting of the ending it would have made a 5 star book!
((Content: Clean))
However, despite the great beginning and quick pace of the book, all the problems really happen at the end. Thinking about it, a lot of authors have trouble with this area-either making it to fast paced, sparce in detail, or just becoming overwhelmed and spitting out a complete disaster onto their paper.' Bella at Midnight' was much like these descriptions, the ending was weak, poorly written, and predictable. The flare I felt at the beginning vanished as I finished the book somewhere around 11pm last night. The ending was just rediculous, and I nearly laughed out loud at the complete failure staring back at me. To quote the finnal lines "'I am' she said"
WHAT!? Where is the smile, description, where is the emotion!?
This really was a good book though, dont mistake me. With a rewriting of the ending it would have made a 5 star book!
((Content: Clean))
May 8, 2013
I absolutely adored this book. Though it is a retelling of Cinderella, it is a story of its own. I love that the Fairy God Mother was left out and instead the protagonist decided her own fate with a faith in God, and belief in the truths she was raised with, namely kindness and hard work.
I was halfway through the book before I realized the similarities to Cinderella, and I was thoroughly engrossed in the journey as Bella grows from a peasant child to a beautiful, courageous, yet humble Lady. I was also impressed with the way the author showed the progression of the stepmother to become the bitter, worn out woman she was. It was all believable and presented an enjoyable story.
The messages of this book may not have been deep but are important and well presented. I love that the author shows how good things can come to good people, in spite of hardship. I especially liked the insight of Bella's aunt that she would live a happier life as an illiterate peasant in a nursemaids care than as a knight's daughter in a heartless, unfeeling household.
Highly recommended. Very well done.
I was halfway through the book before I realized the similarities to Cinderella, and I was thoroughly engrossed in the journey as Bella grows from a peasant child to a beautiful, courageous, yet humble Lady. I was also impressed with the way the author showed the progression of the stepmother to become the bitter, worn out woman she was. It was all believable and presented an enjoyable story.
The messages of this book may not have been deep but are important and well presented. I love that the author shows how good things can come to good people, in spite of hardship. I especially liked the insight of Bella's aunt that she would live a happier life as an illiterate peasant in a nursemaids care than as a knight's daughter in a heartless, unfeeling household.
Highly recommended. Very well done.
May 4, 2015
This book is one of my favorites and gets all five stars! Here is a summary, it shouldn't spoil any more than what you can read on the back. So sorry if I messed up and it does. Enjoy.
This book is sort of a retelling of the Cinderella story but it is changed a lot. The story is told through the eyes of the many characters, each chapter being from a different perspective which really lets you get to know all of the characters. Bella is a young girl who is being raised on a farm with who she thinks is her family. But when a messenger calls for her announcing that her father wants her back Bella's whole story is turned upside down. Living with her new family is difficult and they often mistreat her and shun her. Things grow worse as friendships become broken and war begins to brew.
Overall it is a great book about change, friendships, and family and has a very satisfying plotline and ending.
This book is sort of a retelling of the Cinderella story but it is changed a lot. The story is told through the eyes of the many characters, each chapter being from a different perspective which really lets you get to know all of the characters. Bella is a young girl who is being raised on a farm with who she thinks is her family. But when a messenger calls for her announcing that her father wants her back Bella's whole story is turned upside down. Living with her new family is difficult and they often mistreat her and shun her. Things grow worse as friendships become broken and war begins to brew.
Overall it is a great book about change, friendships, and family and has a very satisfying plotline and ending.
August 28, 2012
This was a cute and easy read. But some things chapped my khakis. Bella was supposed to be Cinderella. Or at least that's what it SAID. I didn't find a lot of traces of that in the story. Also, although this was an easy read, some things were hard to understand. They just happened so fast and suddenly. Otherwise, this was a great read. Not something I'd recommend to an older teen, though. It's easy to get bored. Also, I loved how the story was told from many people's perspectives.
March 9, 2015
This is a version of the Cinderella tale, though it is altered almost beyond recognition. I found the multiple points of view a bit hard to follow at times, but it comes together eventually. Enjoyable.
February 17, 2017
What a nice book!
It's supposedly a fairy-tale retelling of Cinderella, but there are only a few Cinderella shout-outs such as sleeping by the fireplace and an unpleasant stepmother. For all intents and purposes, this book is an original peasant-princess story. It's a kids' book, so it's fast and short, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The only real issue is that I'm no fan of the cover, and the title is pretty meaningless and irrelevant. I would have gotten around to reading it way before now if these factors hadn't held me back.
It's supposedly a fairy-tale retelling of Cinderella, but there are only a few Cinderella shout-outs such as sleeping by the fireplace and an unpleasant stepmother. For all intents and purposes, this book is an original peasant-princess story. It's a kids' book, so it's fast and short, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The only real issue is that I'm no fan of the cover, and the title is pretty meaningless and irrelevant. I would have gotten around to reading it way before now if these factors hadn't held me back.
April 23, 2017
Was pleasantly surprised. Good plot, and though I guessed the ending, it was a good one. Interesting characters and backstories. The writing style was sometimes annoying, but it was based on a specific time period and the author was trying to stay true to the time the characters lived in. Overall a good read!
June 2, 2018
an interesting take on the classic Cinderella tale, but it was hard to get into. The characters speak directly to you and kept hinting at something that would happen in the future that would change everything and i wished it just left us to find out on our own.
January 4, 2021
This was cute and refreshing! There were tons of POVs, and I ended up really liking the style, even if it did make each POV all sound kinda the same.
3.5
3.5
January 31, 2022
The last 3 pages are adorable....also I've definitely read this before but it wasn't marked as read 🤔
June 22, 2022
Good retelling of Cinderella
February 17, 2024
This was my favorite book as a kid, and it was so fun reading it again as an adult. So nostalgic and fun, such a clever story, and so sweet having all the words come back to me.
December 9, 2024
Read for Popsugar: A book where someone dies in the first chapter
A really lovely Cinderella story with a Joan of Arc twist. Multiple POVs that humanize even the wicked stepfamily.
A really lovely Cinderella story with a Joan of Arc twist. Multiple POVs that humanize even the wicked stepfamily.
August 13, 2018
A little bit like the Cinderella story, but mostly different. Wonderful characters; fascinating plot; and the story is told from multiple viewpoints. I loved how the characters, especially Bella, put their faith and trust in God.
June 28, 2025
It was a cute Cinderella retelling
May 1, 2019
3.5
Loved the twist of the story, and it was a heartwarming story. However, it lacked the romantism and hopefulness typical to my most beloved fairytale.
Loved the twist of the story, and it was a heartwarming story. However, it lacked the romantism and hopefulness typical to my most beloved fairytale.
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