There is almost more attention paid to using the story as a vehicle to critique misogyny and homophobia than creating an engaging world. To be honest, it’s bland. Except for the whole Cinderella-as-a-creation-myth aspect, there is nothing that really stands out about the world compared to every other YA fantasy.

An unapologetic roar at the conventional fairytale, Cinderella is Dead challenges readers with a whole new story of justice, revenge, and queer love.” - Sami Thomason, Square Books It’s risky… But sometimes that’s the only way to get things done. Take the risk, light the fuse. Onward.” – Cinderella is Dead SETTING

I do enjoy a retelling of classic fairytale stories, but this one is a little too 'out there' for me, I have recently read better plotted retellings. However, I can fully understand how some YA's would relate to the strong female protagonist. The author has added lots of side characters, which had promise to add excitement to the tale, sadly they faded away, except for one, the witch in the woods who adds depth to the story. No Woman's Land: The women of Mersailles are seen as the men's property and nothing else. A woman's body, finances, and even life belong to her husband. It's so bad that soldiers can casually talk about killing their old wives to get new younger ones right in the open.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bloomsbury YA and Kalynn Bayron for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I think this was creative and had a very solid set-up. The ideas explored were interesting and I loved the use of the actual fairy tale to set up the basis for the functioning of this system. Cinderella is Dead is fun and adventurous. It’s always entertaining to see a new interpretation of a well-known fairytale. There’s magic, mystery, and thrills so it’s appealing in many ways. It’s escapist fantasy with an in-your-face feminist message. Let’s all say it together, “Girl power!” Excerpt from Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn BayronSixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all--and in the process, they learn that there's more to Cinderella's story than they ever knew . . . Domestic Abuser: Sadly a common occurrence in Lille. Due to the system's inherent sexism, no one bats an eye at husbands who abuse their wives, as they're seen as little more than men's property. Right at the beginning of the book, Sophia walks in on a seamstress being beaten by her husband when he suspects she's been keeping her earnings from him. Marriage of Convenience: Luke offers this to Sophia. Due to both of them being homosexual, neither would have expectations of the marriage the other couldn't fulfill, allowing both parties at least a modicum of freedom. The main character, Sophia, wants to live with and marry her childhood best friend, Erin. For Sophia and Erin to live like this, they will need to escape Mersailles. Sophia is sure that this is what she wants, but Erin is not sure she wants to escape. Instead, Sophia is befriended by Constance (a descendant of the stepsisters in the original story). Constance recounts the history of Cinderella from her perspective—one that is very different from how the fairy tale is usually told. Sophia and Constance join forces to visit the fairy godmother and to confront the King Manford, hoping to change these patriarchal laws for good.

I've never been a fan of the Cinderella fairytale. It's a lovely fairytale, don't get me wrong. And I certainly appreciate it. But it's not one of my favorites. “Why then would you read this book?” I too would ask. Well, it's a retelling, right? Retellings build upon the skeleton of the original and from there, the writer can go anywhere, do anything—create something new on that foundation. It's why I enjoy reading retellings. Cinderella Is Dead went past the early stages of the story we all know, and gave us a picture of the setting 200 years after Cinderella dies.

This article about a young adult novel of the 2020s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. It's 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl's display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sophia sees living out her life like Lille's society expects her to as this, since the last thing she wants is being a plaything for a husband she could never love and being forever separated from her actual love, Erin.